Source: Dakota Rundschau, 8 March 1929 · 📰

From: Krasna, Bessarabia
20 January 1929

Dear Editor:

You should have seen it when Issue #27 and #28 of the Rundschau arrived here! When the mail was delivered several men were present and all were curious about the news your paper would bring from America. Opening Issue #27, I scanned the headlines and saw the article about the newly founded organization for Catholic immigrants from Canada and in Issue #28 questions from readers. Everyone clamored for my papers and so I lent them out. They were returned the same evening. I had so many guests that night, I ran out of chairs. Well, I only own three of them, but there were nine men and three women.

I mentioned this before, but let me say it again. Many are ready to leave here. Mr. Alexius Riehl was chosen to write to Canada on the immigrants’ behalf. He soon received an answer from Pastor Nierdorf in Canada who is expected to come here in person in the near future. This according to a letter we received from him from Berlin dated January 9. I will tell you more after the pastor arrives to talk with the potential immigrants.

We received a telegram from the Federale (State Agricultural Association) to pick up a wagonload of wheat in Arzis. That was on January 14. Another one arrived on January 29 for a total of 1,100 Pud in all. Not only people in Krasna received such aid, but all the villages. We were also promised seed. A price has not been determined. The wheat will be distributed among the ones without bread starting next week.

Not much else is new here only that our recruits are not on their best behavior. They promised too much to the red brothers and got into an argument with them.

We had 52 deaths in 1928, 21 children and the rest were mostly elderly adults. We recorded 116 births for the year.

We had a big snowstorm on January 17 that lasted into the evening hours of 18 January. Again there was damage to some houses, but not as bad as in November. The current damage is around 50,000 Lei; in November it was 113,000 Lei. The snow is up to 1 Arschin high where it is drifting and on the ground about 5 inches.

I want to let my friends in America know that I am still alive. Think of me once in a while! Let me tell the editor that I am going to have a very interesting story about the origin of the village of Krasna in the near future. I am sure it will be of interest to all current and former Krasna folks as well as other readers of this publication.

Kindest Regards,
Josef Braun