The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-06-25
SOME FACTS UPON WHICH THE COLOR
ED PEOPLE MAY WE'LL
PONDER.
Topeka, KAN, I
May %, 1885,

Ellis Jones, Fairrtec Landing, Coaeor-
dia Parish, La:
DEAR SIR -Your letter addressed
to the Postmaster at this place has
been handed me, with the request
that I reply thereto.
Neither the government of the
United States, or the State of Kan
sas gives to emigrants of any class
lands, mules, money, or provisions,
and any representations made to you
TO that effect are absolutely false,
and without any foundation what
ever and done no doubt by unscrup
nlous parties for the purpose Of mis-
leading you.
Lands in Kansas, Of good quality,
can be purchased at from $3.50 to
$40 per acre, paying one tenth down
and the balance on long time, with a
low rate of interest. Government
land can be ,empted under the
laws of the United States at $l.25
per acre, and complying with the
provisions of law in relation to &C.
cupancy, etc. Homesteads can be
obtained in tracts not exceeding 100
acres, under the homestead laws, by
residing on the land and complying
with the provisions Of law, for Eve
years, a. the close of which time, to
perfect title, it requires an outlay of
about $lS in money. There is very
little desirable government land ex-
cept in the western part Of the State.
All such land in the central and cas-.
tern portion having been taken some
years ago.
1t must be borne in mind that
while land can be had at very low
rate, and Of very excellent quality,
and while homesteads can still be
taken in Kansas, that all of these
lands are wholly unimproved, and
that it requires bone and muscle and
a free will to use it, and money to
buy team and plow with which to
break 1t up, and seed TO plant it, and
\ provisions to sustain the owner with,
until q crop is matured, before it
= will afford a living for the occupant
and his family.
Something over three thousand
colored people have recently come
here from the South, most of whom
were in destitute circumstances, and
have been afforded temporary aid in
the way of provisions, clothing and
assistance in getting work, by onr
Freedmen's Relief Association OF
Kansas. AT the present time all,
with the exception of about fifty or
sixty, are making their own living,
and getting along very comfortably;
but of course, IN view Of the fact
that the funds used by our associa-
ton are raised through contribu-
tions Of the charitable people of the
North, and come to us in limited
sums, it is impossible to give aid to
any very great number of destitute
persons, and it is to the interest Of
the colored people, and to the sue
cess Of the movement they are en'
gagged in now in changing theil
habitation from the South to the
North-to guard against flooding the
country with such large numbers o.
those who are absolutely destitute
as to render it impossible for US te
provide for them. For, should it BY
reason of the great numbers Of thai
class, become impossible for our as
ISOLATION to take care of them, suf
fering would necessarily follow
which fact would at once be used BY
the enemies Of your race to disconr
age your people and force them bacl
into the bondage from they are at
tempting to escape.
Impress upon your people the fac
that coming to Kansas alone is no
all that is necessary to success; Blu
that here, as elsewhere, it require
industry, honesty, sobriety and tn
strictest economy to succeed, ant
that all who come here should cou
pie with their coming determine
ton to demonstrate to the world tina
with: reasonably fair opportunitie
the colored man cannot only sustain
himself, but become prosperous AM
make useful and valuable citizens
For. after oil, upon the success o
the colored people who are migratinI
North now depends to great exten
the prosperity of their race in tn
future. / deeply sympathize Will
the colored people in their presen
condition, as / know that thew neve