New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-19
HOMES IN THE WEST.
POOR CITY BOYS IN KANSAS.


and from homes of poverty in this city, were
sent TO Fort Scott Kan, by Mr. Nmteiaw
Reid for a stranger from the interior of New
England, who had asked him to
make some charitable disposition OF
n sum of money and to print the
results IN THE TRIBUNE The party was placed
under the care of Mr.. Brace, of the Chill
dren's Aid Society. a second party OF boys
will soon he sent to Western homes by Mr..
Reid under somewhat similar circumstances.
Extracts ara given below from the letters of
the boys already sent, and from the families
with which they found homes.
SUCCESS OF THE ENTERPRISE.
FAVORABLE IMPRESSION CREATED BY TIE BOYS
on THEIR ARRIVAL Is KANsAS-AIL Obtaining
GOOD HOMES AND BEGINNING TO EARN LIVE
IIuooD-PRosprCrs OF THE SPEEDY DISPATCH
OF ANorHrE PARTY.
MI Reid's party of boys arrived safely at Fort
Scott Kansas. ON the third day after starting They
were received bv the local committee which had
organized for the purpose of finding suitable
homes for the young immigrants, and on the
dav following their arrival all bad been
selected by men and women of that town and the
neighboring country. The conduct of the boys
both ON their long journey and after their arrival,
was such as argued well for their future, and all
who have communicated with their Ncw-lork
friends since they have become settled speak of be-
ingpcased with tho homes they have found. and
grateful to those who aided them in escaping from
the hopeless life of the ovcr-cTowdcd city to the
fir, cdom and possibilities of a new country.
The fund which was placed at the disposal of Mr..
Reid was not exhausted in sending OFT the cNpcdi-
ton of last month aud has since been considerably
increased by contributions from other sources 1t ls
probable that q second and larger party Of boys
VIII soon DC sent TO Kansas.
Letters are constantly received at the Office of
THE tribune from farmers in all parts OF the
country asking that boy, be selected AND sent TO
them, where good homes can be obtained 10y
those who are honest and industrious. To
ALI such applicants IL may bc briefly
stated that tho Chldrcu's Aid Society
is gathering children for tic purpose of removing
them 10 country homes where "a demand is known
10 exist for them and where homes are already as
surcd before the children leave this city.
BY acting through the organized system OF
the Society, and by taking a large number at the
same timc TO the same place, expenses are greatly
reduced and the cooperation Of the ocalcommlttcc
AT the place of destination facilitates the work OF
placing tho children and furnishes guar
autce that they will be protected and
cared for in the future. Any community
Offering good homes for not less than fifteen boys,
aud organizing q local committee of citizens whose
positions command confidence. can have the
boys sent by paying a portion Of the cost
oil removal from the city. In cases where
a smaller number Of boys are wanted, applicants
must furnish The officers of the Chlldreu's Aid So
cicty in the city unreasonable evidence Of their
fitness TO take charge of young Children
and must provide for their transportation
lac
with them. The Society, through the
officers Of Is numerous lodging-houscs and supcrn-
tendcnts and teachers of misSOn-SchOos with which
il coGpcrues. has knowledge Of the history and
habits of the children whom il sends out and the
small average OF failures among its prOtcgGs Is eyI-
deucc of the judgment exercised in the selection.
A little more than month ago there was gath
cred in tho passengers waitinC-room Of the Eric
Railway station in Jersey City a group Of some
thirty-lour boys, which attracted the alton
ton Of all who passed through or loi-
tered about, waiting for their several trains.
Their ages ranged from seven to eighteen; they
were comfortably clad in rough, seryiccablc gar
mcnts. and the faces of all except those Of the
youngest were lighted up with excitement
and hope. They were waits from the streets
and Iodglughouses Of Ncw-York, who, aided
bv "a generous stranger, were about 10 seek in the
West new homes and n brighter future than they
could hope for here. Young as they were, 10 many
the struggle of life had already begun and
their scanty living had been earned by
their own hands. They had como to the
knowledge Of the officers of the Chldren's
Md Society. through tine supcrintcndents Of
its lodging house. and were recommended TO
Mr.. Reid as worthy objects OF bencvolcncc.
Their simple histories as gathered from
their own lips and published in The tribune at
that time were full of pathos. They had tried life
i'm the ovcrcrowdcd city and found it very hard :;
their hopes Of the future in the West were not cx-
travapaut they expected to work, but hoped to
find homes" aud-in the language Of several
"to become something.p On the afternoon of
March II, these advcutuTcIs into an unknown
world were gathered in the Erie station They
were in charge Of Mr. James Brace, an agent of the
Chidren's Aid Society.
AtGp. IN. the train started the boys, who occu-
pied car by themselves, shouting farewell
through the vidc-Opcn windows They carried with
them provisions sufficient To last until the next
dav. and during the remainder Of the
long Journey food was provided at cities
through which they passed Mr.. Brace telc-
graphing on ahead, so that they found everything
nccdfuI in readiness on their arrival. There was
no halt. for more than few minutes at time, and
the boys aid not leave the car except when
y change was made from one road TO
another The new scenes and rapid movement
kept them full of interest and excitement; there
was as little disorder as would have been possible
among the same number of bows from any station
in life. and no serious disturbance or accident Of
any sort At ] a. n. on Friday, March II, they
reached Font Scott. Kansas, in good health and
spirits.
thu RECEPTION IL KANSAS.
A delegation of the local committee and few