Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-07-01
LETTER FROM THE WEST.

OMAHA, June l3, lSSO.
Lock Hayen Democrat:
Dear SirS-I beg leave for q space il
the columns of your widely circulated
paper, for the benefit of those contem-
plating emigrating to the West with a
view of making it their home; and to
show the suffering condition of those
who have within the past five years en-
igrated to the States of Kansas, Nebra-
ska and the mining districts of Colora-
do. Knowing (as l do) that many of
the readers of your valuable paper will
be benefited thereby, am sure it Will
be conducive to their interest to know
the exact condition of the above States.
have found in my travels through
out many counties of Kansas, NebraS-
ka and the mining districts of Colora-
do, that people with limited means
would be far better off if they totally
ignore the advice of the great and illus
trious Horace Greely, viz: '"Go West, :"
and remain in the East, no matter holc
humble their homes may be.
The wneat crops in many counties
of Kansas for the past two years have
been an entire failure, especially those
i'll the southeastern portion of that
State, and this year there viii only be
0ne-fourth of Il crop throughout the en-
tire State. The tide of emigration is
now flowing much faster than emigra-
tion has ever been, many of the unfor
tunates going farther west to Oregon
and Montana While the majority are
working their way back to their former
homes in the East, many of them are
too poor to get away and are lett with
starvation staring them in the face,
with no possible way to keep the ''grim
wolf" from them without aid from her
sister States. For an Illustration, |
was brought in contact With one fam
lily to-day who were meandering back
to their old homes in truly ptiable
state, entirely destitute of the necessi-
ties that make life even bearable. The
family to whom refer left their home
in Kansas with nothing but a small
push cart. When they reached this
place they had travelled 2SG miles on
foot and have yet to go l60 miles be-
ore they reach their former home i'll
Iowa. There were twelve in the fam
lily. The mother had a babe at her
breast only six months old, and the re-
manning eight children ranging from
that up to nineteen years OF age. They
tell me in all there were forty-three
families, to their personal knowledge,
left Wilson county, and are now on
their way to the East. | can truthful
ly say that portions Of Nebraska are no
better than Kansas, for in many places
they have not received any rain since
last fall.
A word now to the young men who
have the Leadville fever. My advice is
STAY EAST. I must confess [ was
much disappointed. Denver is busy
town, but outside this place there is
not mnch of Colorado. You may be-
lieye as much as you please about East
ern people doing well here and set the
rest down as all talk-nothing more.
For instance, | met carpenter here
from the East. He was glad to see one
from Penn. He received 1925 per day
in the East. At Denver he gets $3.50
per day. 1t costs him $3.50 per week
TO live in the East. In Denver $3.50
at the lowest, and not as good as you
can live in Lock Haven for So. All
whom I have heard of froIn The East as
doing well, with one exception, would
gladly be back to their old homes, if it
was not for pride or fear that they
could not get their old jobs. l have
seen young men in Denver and Lead
vile working at common laborers'
work on small pay, scarcely enough to
exc out scant living on. 1 have ev-
cry reason to believe they were raised in
the clap of luxury" and never knew
what it was to wish a second time for
any thing that parent Of wealth and
influence could procure for them until
they came West,
After living in the mining towns
young men, generally speaking, do not
care to break off their associates as
they fall into the prevalent habit to
which every one from the newsboy to
the merchant seems addicted, viz, gam
bling.
The road from Denver to Leadville
is lined with prOspectOrs, gamblers,
banko steerers cut throats and thieves.
Nearly all that haye money start back
after staying there a day or two, but
the majority ego broke" and fly to the
drinking and gambling shops to see if
they cannot pick up enough to get
away with. Poor devils come to Den
yer from l.eadville on every train and
present sorry sights. 1t is a shame for
veteran newspapers, in whom it's pa
irons place confidence, to sell their
birthrights to railway companies for
the purpose of inducing poor peopl e to
come out here.
That there is large amount Of
wealth in minerals in the mountains no
ono 0o11 1oohf I,{f boro ,,o frooo &broo