Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-19
FACTS ABOUT KANSAS.
Conditions Upon Which Darkies Oan
Obtain Homesteads.
A Letter from Gov. St. John, Ending
With a Vile Slander Of the
Southern Farmer.
STATE OF KANSAS,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
TOneka June q. 1870.


EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ,
Topeka, June 9, 1879. }
B. H. Lanier, Esq.,, Of Louisiana, Kansas
City, No.:
DEAR SIR-In answer to your letter Of
the 7th inst, in which you say that on
behalf of the freedmen of East Carroll
parish, Louisiana, you are visiting Kan
sas for the purpose of ascertaining the
necessary facts, most suitable locality,
as well as the most advantageous means
of settling these black people within the
borders of Kansas, and asking me for
such information as may be pleased to
give, together with such suggestions
bearing upon this proposed immigration
as may deem proper to make, have
to state:
Lands can be taken as homestead
in tracts Of not to exceed 100 acres,
by the party complying with the
homestead laws of the United States,
which are undoubtedly familiar to you.
A homestead thus obtained would re-
quire cash outlay of about $lS for 16O
acres. This would cover the fees, ETC.,
of the government officers in perfecting
the title. Land can be pre-empted and
title obtained from the government at
$1.25 per acre. Other lands can be pur-
chased at from $2.45 to $40 per acre by
paying one-tenth down and the balance
on long time at a low rate of interest.
All these lands as general rule are of
good quality and productive soil. 1t
must be borne in mind that these lands
are all unimproved and that it requires
not only bone, muscle and energy, but a
free will to use it coupled with sufficient
money to buy plow and team to turn
over the sod and place tho land under
cultivation. In addition to this the party
must have sufficient provisions to keep
up and supply the bone and muscle un-
til crop has been matured and this
land made productive of living for
himself and family.
These lands to which have referred
are located in the central and western
portion of the State. Improved lands
in the older settlement portion of the
State can be purchased at from $40 to
$40 per acre, owing to the location and
improvements.
l have been informed that parties
have travelled through the South repre-
senting to the colored people that by
coming to Kansas they would obtain
forty acres of land, mule to tend it
with and provisions to last year. l de-
sire to say that if any such reports have
been circulated among the colored peo-
pie of the South, that they are absolute
ly without any foundation in fact what
ever, but are stories gotten up by those
who have not the welfare of the colOred
men at heart; in fact, such stories only
tend to mislead, deceive and wrong the
colored people.
Kansas offers no inducements to any
one class of people not alike offered to
all other classes of people. Every man
here, be he black or white, high or low,
rich or poor, stand on absolute equality
before the law; equal advantages for
education are extended under our laws
to all children irrespective of race or
color.
The cOlorcd people of your country
must bear one thing in mind and that's,
with us in Kansas as elsewhere, in order
to succeed, it requires honesty, industry,
aud sobricty that loafng and rowdyism
pays no better in Kansas than it does in
Louisiana and that all who come here,
be they black or white, if they wonld
succeed, must expect to be industrious,
economical &nd sober. These three con-
ditions will bring success anywhere pro-
vided the party is protected in his rights
under the law.
In myjndgment the colored people of
the South who are now engaged in farm
ing for the present season had better re-
main there, harvest their crops aud do
the best they oan with them, for if they
should sell now at sacrifice or abandon