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Colored
Emigrants Source: The Lexington (Kentucky) Press, 06 September 1877, p. 4 col. 2 For some weeks agents, white and colored, have been at work among the colored people of this county, urging them to go West to Kansas and settle on Government lands bordering the Kansas Pacific rail road. It is not known exactly what inducements were held out to these people, but about nine hundred heads of families agreed to go. All of these did not come to the depot yesterday. The emigrants did not number over two hundred and fifty, men, women, and children. The talk among them as to what was to be done for them was somewhat wild. The general impression, however, produced was that they would be housed and fed until they were able to raise a crop to support themselves. The leaders, like Preacher Bell and John Nile, did not talk that way when questioned on the subject, but said that they were going out on their own responsibility. Most of the emigrants said they were going to Ellis, Kansas, but they would be dropped along the road wherever they wanted to be dropped. John Nile did not expect that the General Government or the State Government would furnish them any aid, but they had been informed that the city of Ellis, their point of destination, would do something for them until they could support themselves. That, however, would depend altogether upon the option of the people of Ellis. There was a lively competition among the railroad lines to have the business of carrying the emigrants. The Cincinnati Southern, Louisville Short-Line and Kentucky Central, cut down rates in the effort to underbid each other. Finally the Cincinnati Southern reduced the fare from Lexington to Ellis, Kansas to $9.50, whereupon the Short-Line put it down to $7.75, practically excluding all competition. The emigrants surrounded the Short Line depot all the evening buying tickets, and from the crowd, one would have supposed there was to be a general exodus. Mr. Farris, agent of the K.C.R.R., announced during the day that he would sell through tickets for $6.50, and made his office for the time being at the Corner Saloon. It was soon discovered that the tickets were unlimited, whereas the Short-Line tickets were limited. Immediately a ring was formed and a systematic attack was made on Mr. Farris. One gentleman bought a lot of the tickets and sold them in a short time at a profit of $70, the same tickets being worth $17 each in Cincinnati. Others bought and still hold tickets, having as high as ten. Mr. Farris "smelled a mice" after a little and shut up shop, to the no small amusement of the concern over the way. The emigrant train did not leave until quite late in the evening, the passengers having been on board and waiting for four hours. There seemed to be some hitch in the proceedings, some indecision among the negroes as to what route to take. One or two speeches were made to them by the agents of the Kansas Pacific. Mr. Jeff M. Dunlap,
Land and Emigration Agent of the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company,
appears to have been at the head of this movement. He told the colored
people that if they wanted to go to Kansas under his care, they must buy
their tickets and get on board the train. His promises to the emigrants
consisted of assurances of showing them the available points for
settlement along the line of the road, allowing them to select for
themselves, and conducting them safely to their destination. If this
party succeed in obtaining a good settlement and do well, there are
hundreds of their friends in this section that will go out to join them.
But there is the rub. The winter is coming on, and there is not much
money among the party. To obtain preemption right to government lands
requires the building of a house on each section. Where are these poor
people going to get the means of doing this? It would not be at all
strange if some of them soon tried to find their way back to Kentucky.
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