INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. 21 



spread of the Rocky Mountain locust is fixed by Prof. Riley west of 

 the Mississippi river, and his arguments against the possibility of extend- 

 ing further east than the imaginary line fixed in his report and on the 

 maps, will be found in his able report for 1878, page 137. 



Hitherto, I have confined myself to quotations from official publica- 

 tions, not by any means exhausting the material at my disposal, but 

 reserving for future use, should the statements quoted above be ques- 

 tioned. I will now give a few extracts from reliable publications from 

 impartial sources ; using none from publications south of the Ohio river, 

 as I am determined that the impartiality of this communication shall be 

 unquestioned. 



The following extracts are from an article in the Atlantic Monthly 

 for December, 1879,* entitled "Kansas Farmers and Illinois Dairy- 

 men : " 



On the lOth of June last (1879) ^ ^^^^ Boston to make a tour through 

 the grain-producing sections of the West, for the purpose of examining 

 the operations of the small farmer, and of his new competitor upon the 

 great bonanza farms of Kansas, Minnesota, and Dakota ; to learn,' if 

 possible, what are the actual conditions there obtaining, and to what 

 extent, if any, an opportunity is offered for the remunerative employ- 

 ment of the idle and distressed among the people. It is my intention 

 in this paper to confine myself closely to the facts thus ascertained. 



On my arrival at Topeka, the Capital of Kansas, I was particularly" 

 struck with the inquiry that appeared to be on the tongues of all, and 

 was being discussed by the press, and by the State officials, from the 

 Governor down, as to the ways and means of providing for the support, 

 during the coming winter, of the great number of destitute farineTS,\ 

 and others in that State. At the same time, the State, throiigJi every 

 available avenue, was inviting and receiving a large immigration of settlers 

 upon its lands, and assiiring the zuorld that her soil offered competence and 

 comfort to every worker. . . . : 



The plains are dotted with farrn-houses at intervals of from half a mile 

 to ten miles. The larger portion of these dwellings are mere shanties 

 or sheds, that, at a little distance, have the appearance of dry goods 

 boxes, standing in the plain without fence, tree, or out-house that offers 

 the least cheer or relief to the eye. A near approach reveals a rough 

 wooden box, about fourteen or fifteen feet square, of one story, and 

 usually one room — rarely two or more — unlathed, unplastered, without 

 paint inside or out, with very little household furniture, and generally 

 with pipe of the cook-stove projecting through and a little above the 

 roof. These shanties are often without frames, the boarding being 

 upright, and the cracks battened. A residence more desolate or unin- 

 viting it is difficult to imagine. . . . Barns, large or small, are seldom 

 seen, the shelter for animals or tools being generally formed by placing 



*Houghton, Osgood & Co., Boston. Vol. XLIV. This can be found in all public libra- 

 ries, and I advise the reading of the entire article. 

 tWho ever heard of a destitute farmer \:x\. Kentucky? 



