The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-12
WHY THEY COME.
Population Of Little Russia Is
on the Increase.
Residents Send for Relatives
Fast as Possible.
HARD WORK ABROAD.
Must Wait Until Money Can Be
Sent to Them.
just Now Suffering for Neces-
saries of Life.
HARD WORK ABROAD.

There is great oppression in Rus
sia," comes the constant cry across the
waters from the friends and relatives
remaining in the old country to the
more fortunate ones who are now liv-
ing in peace and plenty in their little
settlement in North Topeka
One old peasant woman told Friday
afternoon with tears streaming down
her weather worn cheeks how she had
just received a letter from her daugh-
ter telling of great shortage in the
were ruthlessly collected to satisfy the
greed of the land owners and MOBILES
THE children are standing around me
as write,'' said the daughter, crying
Mama, brod,' and there is no 'brod.' ;"
I'VE will send for her as soon as we
can" said Mrs. Schmidt, but we have
only been here a few months and can
not yet save enough money"
Another family told of receiving let
tiers last winter from friends who wrote
that they were almost without food or
fuel, so light were the crops and so
heavy the taxes. They told that the
poor commissioner of the district had
been furnishing dinnor and supper to
the school children and the parents of
most of them could scarcely find food
for their breakfast.
They all SILVER when asked about
the taxes or duties which they are
forced to pay for the support of the
crown and worthless mobiles. There are
three distinct taxes;- one on the land,
one to the crown and one to the gov
ernor of the province who must be
kept in great style.
The peasants must either pay the
taxes or go to Jail and so great is
their terror of the prisons that they
pay, If it takes the last dollar. They
would take our very souls if they could
get Them" remarked one bright little
woman.
Almost every peasant is forced to
rent as land is so high. about $3.50 per
acre in proportion to. the facilities they
have for earning and saving money that
few are ever able to get enough scrap
ed together to purchase. Each man is
allotted an acre for each son, no pro-
girls of the family. In these tiny tracts
he and his family must slave early
and late to exc out enough to keep
the hunger wolf from the door during
the long cold winter.
Land rental can not be paid in crop
shares, but the grain must be sold and
the tax paid in money. So when the
shortage in the crops comes, 1T is the
peasant alone who must bear the bur
den. Three hundred rubles a year or
a little less than $3.50 is a good in
come for the average peasant family.
Out of this must be bought heavy win
ter clothing, food for many hungry
children and much fuel during the Sc
Ibid you have to work in the felds?"
was asked one bright little. woman,
who has only been in this country
short time and seems to be fairly bub-
bling over with happiness in her new
home.
Nothing but work." she answered In
German. II have always worked in the
fields since 1 was a little child. We
almost never tasted meat" she con-
tinued, at was so high. Always pota-
toes cabbage, flour and cornmeal was
our food dependence"
do you wonder that the peasants in
Russia kill their governors?" asked
Mr. Gerteisen, who has charge of the
Russians who come to North Topeka
over the Santa Fe and who was act
ing as guide and interpreter on this
visit among the Little Russians" 1T
is a wonder to me that they will en-
dure as much as they do he contin-
ued. Being ALMOST starved and fro
zen that the nobility may be kept in
luxurious idleness. 1t was not far from
the province where these people came
from that some of the disturbances oc-
Cured. That government is surely go
ing to pieces"