From: Krasna, Bessarabia
15 November 1929
Esteemed Staats-Anzeiger!
In Edition #30 of your valued newspaper dated 18 October, I found my report printed from 15 September. Unfortunately, I found an error in the published data. It was supposed to have stated that wages for workers during the harvest and threshing season were 2,000 to 4,000 lei, depending on the size of the farm. Larger farms, that had more work, also paid their workers a higher wage. Of course, these wages compared to American wages are very minimal, because there a worker earns in three or four days more than one will earn here during the entire work season. If during this time, not so many workers had streamed in from outside the village, then the wages probably would have settled at 4,000 to 8,000 lei. The influx of Russian workers from the outlying villages was so enormous, that they simply overran everything.
Other than that, there is not much of importance to write about since my last report, except that on 12 December, Martin Weber Sr. was handed over to mother earth’s lap. He died at age 80. He was born on Saint Martin’s Day, 14 November 1849, and now has died on the same day. In reality, a small difference developed during that time in that we changed from the old to a new style of calendar. May he rest in peace, as he has well deserved it! He was a quiet and peace loving man, who never harmed anyone.
Last Tuesday, we again participated in a wedding celebration. Zälestina, the daughter of my brother Korbinian Leinz, married Johannes Kopp, son of Blasius Kopp. Weddings are pretty much over.
Whoever should attempt to start something now just before Christmas, will not fare well, because right now we have such weather that one is afraid to go into the yard. Rain, rain, and nothing but rain! As soon as the sky clears for a few hours, people are out in the fields with ploughs. Everyone would like to get at least some plowing done for spring. Because of the enormous drought one could not accomplish anything before. The soil now is very wet. The beets for fodder are still out in the field and cannot be transported home because of the bad roads. They are still growing in this wet weather and stand there in full splendor. One is afraid that old man winter could arrive overnight; then it would be all over for our beets.
The rain also does not come down anymore as softly as before, but is whipped up by a strong east wind, so that it just rattles against the windowpanes. Migratory birds are no longer seen; they flew off a long time ago over hill and valley to the warm south. So, all precursors are here, and it will not be too long before winter will make its entry with ice and snow. We are prepared and will give it a ‘cold’ welcome. Should the roads remain as they are for a longer time, then there will be a general money shortage to worry about again.
The prices for grain right now are miserable. One expects that they will get better, but instead they decrease more and more with each day, because grain cannot be transported. The deposits and debts of the last quarter are now collected, and again there will be crying and teeth grinding with many. So, poor little farmer, good advice will not come cheap! Otherwise too, there are no trading or business transactions among the people. One can neither sell cattle or horses. Nobody wants anything. Milk and butter, as scarce as these products now are, have no value. Rumania has an abundance of these products and almost no buyers. Only one business does well, and that is money loaning at a 20-40 percent interest rate. Unfortunately, there are only a few lenders, and too many borrowers.
Rain, rain, pour down; maybe we will get rid of Israel’s children yet. These bloodsuckers are the biggest evil for a land.
With greetings in all directions, I remain your friend.
Isidor Leinz