Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1898-02-02
A FILTHY COLONY.
Is the Russian Settlement in EN-
mons and Mercer Counties. N. ID.

DR.. A. O, Flatten, of Edinburg, N
d., gives an interesting account of his
, trip through Emmons, Mercer and
Logan counties Of that state, which
are peopled almost entirely with Rus,
sian farmers, to a st. Paul daily. The
trip, he says, was made for the pur-
pose of investigating the true condi-
ton concerning the prevalence of
contagious diseases existing among
these people. He says:
"There are in the three counties in
the neighborhood of 10000 people of
Russian birth, and in coming to the
United States they have brought with
them the customs, habits, and super
stitions CT the old land, and the Rus
sian settlement on the Missouri is
practically bit of one Of the most
benighted regions of Europe trans
planted to America. The settlers live
in houses built of brick which they
make themselves, the bricks being
about 6x6x10 inches. These are ce-
mented with a mortar made by mix
ing clay and manure, and are natur-
ally the best possible places for the
breeding Of disease germs. The
houses are almost built on the same
general plan, one end being used for
stabling cattle, while in the other end
the members of the family live, eat
and sleep. In the winter time the
door between the dwelling room and
the stable is usually left open, that
the heat from the cattle may find it's
way into the room occupied by the
family. Two windows, about 18x2O
inches, are usually inserted. but, dur
ing the winter these are kept so
closely curtained that no light can
enter, the object being to exclude the
entrance of cold air. Wood is very
seldom used, and practically the only
fuel in use is dried manure. In these
small, pitch dark rooms, with every
crack which could admit fresh air
Theoretically sealed, where the air is
full of the eff1uvia from decaying ami
NAL matter, and the few cubic feet of
air is used over and over again by
men, women, children and cattle un-
til it is thick and heavy with poison
Gus gases, amid such surroundings
families Of ten or fifteen persons often
spend the entire winter. Under these
circumstances it is not strange that
all sorts of germ diseases should be
prevalent, and that 6pidemics should
rage among these people from time
to time, before which they die like
sheep during plague.
Another feature which adds, to the
mortality among them is their super
stitious fatalism, which teaches them
that a disease like diphtheria is a
plague and sent directly by God,
whose rayages they cannot stay, and /
which must run its. !. course until it is
by tke=hand that inflicted it.
They employ no physicians and use
no medicines, as they believe that 1T
is given to man once to die" and that
each person. will die when his APP
pointed time comes, and not before.
Many of their number who have died
could doubtless have been saved had
aid been called in time, but,
as a rule, it is evident that profess,
sional skill could avail little among
the adverse conditions with which it.
would be surrounded. Diphtneria,
scarlet fever, and minor diseases are
fearfully prevalent, and the peasants
appear to have no idea Of the pro-
priety of isolatfng such diseases.
During the terrible epidemic of
last spring, and during the
run of scarlet fever this winter, the
people have moved freely among each
other, public religious services have
been held as usual, and every oppor-
unity has been offered for the spread
IF the plague" DR.. Flaten, in con
rersation with one.of the most infu-
entail residents of one of thesettle-
nents, asked him to use his influence
70 prevent the holding of religious ,
services for a time, and was met with
4 fiat refusal. A friend of the doctors
who was present said that the sheriff
If the county would be called ON to
sorcibly close the church, Unnecessary.
He wouldn't do it, was the reply,
because he knows that if he did, we
vote for him AGAIN y This |