From: Konstantinofka, Bessarabia
17 February 1914

This is how it happened. – On the 14th of this month, I traveled by train from the city of Bender. On the trip I met a traveler from the Kutschurgan region, namely from Kandel. He sat down next to me on the bench. During the journey to Kainari he told me that this was the first time that he traveled this stretch, and that he was happy to have met a German man who could give him some information. He wanted to know how he should continue to travel from Kainari to Chutor Bikus to his brother B. Schwengler who intended to embark on a journey to the New World on 22 February.

In line with all this, we talked about various things, including the immigration from Russia to the New World. We touched on the topic about which I recently wrote. The subject was that the immigrants are shamefully double-crossed and swindled by most travel agents. The result is that most people upon arrival in Halifax or in New York hardly have a cent left in their possession. My travel companion also told me that such agents are strongly pursued in the Kutschurgan area.

Fourteen days ago the agent Jakob Schnall supposedly was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary. Police apparently took his colleague, Burgad, into custody last Sunday in church. The third of this alliance, a Jew by the name Sparofski, supposedly got away. This is how it has to happen with these cheating agents. Had the police looked around sooner and acted, then many other agents would have gone to jail, and many immigrants would have been spared their bitter fate.

So far however, these swindlers escaped the clutches of the court through flattery talk and a smooth behavior, so that the police believed their honesty. But now the investigations will continue, and if these gentlemen agents do not let up with their cheating, then many of them will end up in jail, and rightly so.

Also, the transportation of persons with false passports should receive a heavy blow, resulting in a significant drop in the price of tickets for the crossing journey. It would be very appropriate, if an immigration travel agent would have to tell the immigrants the price for railroad and ship voyage tickets in accordance with an established tariff, and how much he is asking for his services. This then would constitute a clear invoice. The way it is now, everything is calculated together, and the immigrant is left groping in the dark because he does not know what the trip costs, or what the agent charges for his services.

I advise all immigrants to be careful and check in great detail the reputation of their travel agent. When travel agents arrive in towns where people want to immigrate, and ask if there are people in this place who are informed about transportation costs etc., then it becomes very evident that the agents worry that such people could do damage to them and enlighten the immigrant.

I would be very grateful to hear from one or the other reader of the newspaper about his experiences pertaining to the immigration, including travel costs, the agent that arranged their travel, and how the journey proceeded. This would be a great help to the people here who maybe want to make the journey also.

In the last edition of the paper that I received, I found out that my good colleague Anton Jochim had traveled to North Dakota again to teach language and organ classes. I wish this gentleman and his students the best of success.

I send a greeting to my children in Morton County, North Dakota. We hope that our daughter Amalia Gross has recuperated. A letter to her will go out along with this correspondence.

Where is my friend Jakob Sommerfeld with his reports? I send a greeting to him and all readers and friends of the newspaper.

Romuald Dirk.

From: Krasna, Bessarabia
24 February 1914

I am indeed an eager reader of the paper for more than a year. I have not written during that time since I am not only lazy in writing, but I am also no hero of the pen of importance and was therefore afraid of the wastebasket.

But today, 24 February, I received #28 of the paper. Since I always eagerly read what is being reported, I also read a few lines in the correspondence of Mr. Romanus Bogalofsky that shook me up. Namely, that my subscription ran out and that my name would be crossed off. But I beg the Editorship not to do this. (*Editor: Time ran out on 21 November 1913 already. It is clearly readable behind every name either on the newspaper or the envelope. In your case it says: Ritz Valentin 21Nov13. That means that your subscription runs out on 21 November 1913. We especially ask all readers abroad to pay attention to this since we have to cross off the names when the time is up and renewal doesn’t follow. The paper will be passed on to you, but we have not yet received the necessary amount, which you, as you wrote, forwarded.) I ask you to send me all the editions since I do not want to miss any. The money will be sent to you immediately through Mr.Wilhelm Widmer and should be arriving together with this correspondence.

I send greetings to Romanus Bogalofski. The cellar is fine. I am only asking to come and drink.

To all friends and acquaintances the sad message that my dear brother-in-law Phillip Engel in Emmental passed away gently at the age of 54 on 19 February 1914.

I also send a greeting to all friends and acquaintances in the reader’s circle.

Valentin Ritz

From: Karamurat, Romania
25 February 1914

I ask my friends and readers of this paper to please not to waste their time with my letter, should it not turn out well. It is my first one to the paper. Every beginning is known to be difficult, and maybe later on the corresponding will be as easy as eating sausage.

Right at the beginning of the year 1914, the son of Mathias Tuchscherer from Colelia married the daughter of Anton Gedak from Karamurat. The wedding took place here. (*Editor: Everything else that you wrote about the wedding is not suitable for publication in the newspaper. We ask to omit such things from future letters. We already have verified the receipt of the money. Please note the mailbox in Edition #35 of the paper. Thank you.)

So far in 1914, the wife of Peter Söhn has died, also Anna Gise.

A greeting to all friends and acquaintances and to readers of the newspaper.

Rochus Ternes