Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-02-22
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
NEosHo RAPIDS. Feb. lst. 1879

NEosHo RAPIDS. Feb. lst. 1875.
Ed. Monitor: presume you imag-
Inc, from my long silence, that the grass
hoppers have ''got away" with me, but
such is not the case. We are having
very nice winter weather, at present.
Have had no rain this winter, and but
very little snow. We had one cold spell
lasting about two weeks. The thermom-
eter indicated twenty degrees below ze-
ro +; but, as whole, the winter has been
uncommonly warm and dry, being very
favorable for stock. The times, as might
be expected, are rather hard and money
scarce, owing to partial failure of the
corn crop for two years In. succession
but the wheat crop was very good with
the exception of spring wheat, which
was ruined by the cnlncn DugJ ana was
harvested and stored in good condition,
and is selling now at one dollar bush
ell. Beef is always plenty and cheap
here, so you see we shall have plenty of
bread and meat, at least.
As much is being said justnow, about
the destitution in Kansas. on account of
the grasshoppers, perhaps [ had better
rise to explain. There is no more snf-
fering on account of grasshoppcrs in Ly-
on county. Kansas. than there is. in Or
leans county, Vt. There may be. and
probably is. some suffering in the border
counties in the western part of the state !;
but the people of Kansas are amply able
to provide for their own poor. In the
| greater portion of this state, the people
are as able and willing to give as the
people of Vermont, and those who are
actually in need will be provided for
without any contributions from other
states. Now. in regard to contributions
from other states, | hope that any who
may feel disposed to give. will think
twice before they do SO; especially, if
they have earned their money by scratch
ing over the rocky hIllsides of Vermont.
Let them remember that the greater por.
ton Of this aid will 60 TO men who have
lived in idleness all summer, having re
fused good, paying wages for work, and
who refuse to work now unless they can
get the highest wages. | was in Nor.
ris county, a short time since. to look al
the 'Kaw Lands, and saw some of the
beauties of this aid business The set
tiers had an agent East. getting eontri
buttons for them. l saw one man come
in and get sack Of -four. He was !
tall. stout. able-bodied young man. anG
at the wages be could get here, able t
earn from one to two dollars day bu
he was doing nothing. and boarding
himself, family and two grown brother
on aid. Another said he had not ap
piled for aid yet, but did not know hoV
, soon he would have to; and the SANE
evening he was telling about having ;
, seventy-fiye dollar gold watch. though
| at the time that | knew of some mel
who would sell that watch. before the,
would live on the charity Of others. Bu
Lyon county. or, rather, a few people il
j it, beat anything have yet seen 70
E hogglshness. Men in this township hav
| applied for aid, who are worth goo'
/ farms and plenty Of stock. Not onl
D have they applied for food for themselye
q and families, but for seed. and for cor
: to feed their horses. | heard. to-day
f that one Of the richest farmers in th
county. had applied for ada man wh
: has two or three thousand dollars wort
!. Of crops on hand, holding for 4 rise i
( price; and don't doubt the truth Of th
n story. Some lack the requisite amour
' of cheek to apply for aid here in KaT
:. sas. 50 they club together and send OF
an agent. who goes over the country J.
r ing about the state Of affairs in Kanss
J, "a disgrace to those who send him. |
!; the state and to every. honest. industr
u Gus citizen. The great majority Of Il
It honest citizens Of the Atase, heartily d