The National tribune., 1902-05-15
Foreign Farm Communities in Kansas.
Hnrnpr's M.eeklvl

The West with its usual hospitality,
has for years attended to the benevolent
assimilation of many bands of stranger
people. For 40 years or more it has been
the terminal-point on the route of foreign
subjects seeking liberty and the peaceful
pursuit of happiness. The central section
to which these uucoath and oppressed
people nockcd was Kansas. To them it
has given homes, happiness, and affluence.
Today the farm communities in which
none other than thesei immigrants live
comprise most important part of Kansas
country life. Indeed they are prosperous
beyond their neighbOrs, who have for
years studied the soil of their native coun-
try. a- 1881 damn
Russians are principal among the for
eigners who have taken their place with
the Kansas farmer, There are 1000 fami-
lies in the State. The Swedish colony in
central Kansas numbers several thousand,
and are equally prosperous folk. One
could not hope to find anywhere in this
land more contendcd lot than he may sec
in these two communities. Instead of en-
tering the political and social discussions
of their adopted country, they have re-
manned apart and worked hard, making
the soil give unto their labors its album
dant possessions.
The Russian colony is located princi-
ton of the State. The first of these came
over as early as 1874, and others, who
could not live under the rulings of Gar,
followed. Nearly all Of them have. for
important state reasons. deserted their
homes in Russa. Many are escaped 81
berian exiles. But if they were law
breakers in their own country they have
certainly reformed since coming here. In
the % years of their residence in Ellis
County no hint of crime has been sug-
gested, and no wild outbreaks have come
to their community. The people are
God-fearing, law-abiding class. attending
/ strictly to their own affairs and following
the narrow path Of rectitude.
Both Russian and Swedish colonies
have their own towns in their communi-
ties. Few Americans can be found in
such places They live i'll these towns
about nine months in the year and then
90 to their country homes for the harvest
ing season. Meanwhile the men folk
make occasional trips to their farms to at
tend to the sowing and cultivating.
There are no better farmers anywhere
| than these Russians. especially when il
comes to embarrassing. They import seed
from Russia every other year, and by
! blowing deep and cutiyating often they
have succeeded in producing remarkably
! large crops. Thirty bushels per acre is Il
usual yield in the Russian settlement.
| Every six or seven miles throughout Ell
| lis County and its contiguous territory
may be found small Russian town.
There are no banks in these foreign towns.
the farmers taking their pay in gold, and
burying the same after nightfall. Thou
sands of dollars are thus buried after ey-
| cry harvesting period.
The Swedish colony surrounds the small
town Of Lindsborg, which has become a
wonderful educational center, and is noted
| all over the West for its amusements. 1t
is here that THE. Messiah" is sung every
Spring, bringing thousands to listen to the
beautiful strains of this oratoriO. 1t is
here also that some of the most noted
singers of the United States are brought.
| The Swedish farmers have found time
enough to erect their own large and
commodious music halls i'll which they
gather at odd times to while away the
! hours ut song. i.-s.
There is no wild scramble for money
amongst any of these foreigners, which
brings them intor striking contrast with
! their neighbors, the kansans. They have
their own stores, where goods are sold at
profit of 10 per cent. or even less, which
is barely sufficient to pay the expenses OF
| living for merchant and clerk.
The farmers work hard it is true, else
they could not raise such abundant crops
nor prosper quite as well as they have
| DONE but they always take time enough to
attend their every church service. and
never miss going to musical entertain
ment. They enjoy every moment of their
lives. whether ut work or play. One is
surprised, in this hurry burly age, to find
clan of people taking life so easily.
1t is in the Russian colony that the
farmers wheat combine was started.
which has attracted so much attention in
the minds of trust makers. They handle
all of their own wheat on plan that is
almost cooperative. For n while the
grain buyers of the East refused to buy
their product, but the farmers took out
their yellow gold from its hiding place.
bought their Winter supplies just the same
and held their wheat This they repeated
for several seasons, and meanwhile their
granaries were being filed TO the burst
! ing. Finally the grain buyers CAME to
terms. The settlers sreak their native
tongue, few of them understanding the
language of their adopted country. al
though they are voters and taxpayers.