From: Larga, Bessarabia
26 January 1920

Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!

For two days now it has been very cold and it seems that the dry cold will stay. The ground is covered with some snow, however the snow is minimal. One could use the sleigh, but one doesn’t dare to go on a far trip with the sled, since one cannot know if suddenly warmer weather will set in, or maybe that at other places there is no snow at all.

Zachäus Kuss in Emmental died on the 26th and on the 27th he was buried. Likewise, in the course of the past 5 years, many people from Emmental made the journey to the cemetery. The graveyards at other places have also increased with burials. Most casualties were caused by the flu. In Emmental about 60 people died from it.

I have already written several reports to the Staats-Anzeiger, but I would like to hold back a little with writing until I find out if my reports have reached their destination and are published in the paper. Then I can write my reports in greater detail.

It would be very pleasing to me if I could find out something about my children in North Dakota. (*Editor: Hopefully you have found out something about your children by now.) About 8 days ago, I wrote a letter to them asking them to send the Staats-Anzeiger to the priest Johannes Fuchs in Emmental and to Jakob Zeiser in Tschehanowka. The gentlemen would cover the cost with Russian money. Since one does not know how much Russian money would be required to cover the cost of the Staats-Anzeiger, I will settle the matter with my children later on.

Everything here is out of order with respect to one not knowing where one should begin. The world war brought everything into turmoil. Yet the dear Staats-Anzeiger not only held on to its own field alone, but increased by a good part and made improvements. (*Editor: We will send you your calendars. For the book you should contact the advertised address, from where the book will be sent directly.)

With a friendly greeting to the reader’s circle and the newspaper personnel,

Romuald Dirk

From: Larga, Bessarabia
30 January 1920

Esteemed Staats-Anzeiger!

I wrote a small report to the Staats-Anzeiger on 26 January. In it I wanted to make a brief comment about the contents of the report by Mr. Adam Baumstark in Edition #49. But since I wanted to take the report to the post office on the same day, I had to hold back with my comment until today.

Mr. Baumstark had written in his report that the devil’s liquor had been taken care of and that now it was the smoking vice’s turn. It is ridiculous that tobacco smoke is supposedly poisoning men. That could only be the case with people who come into the world already half dead. They should be isolated right after birth so that no smoke or air movement can get to those people.

I know through experience that people in northern Russia prepare poison. They became immune to it by inhaling some poisonous dust so that they could eat a piece the size of a pea without being harmed.

Since the alcohol monopoly has been lifted in Russia and tobacco prices have risen to 25 rubles per pound, the demand by the people was impaired. In previous times there was plenty of liquor to go around and the quart of wine cost 15 kopeks and one could buy a pound of tobacco for 75 kopeks. If then you happened to meet a giant of a man it was most likely a German who greatly indulged in these precious things. But if you meet someone who doesn’t use these things because he is afraid for his health, then it usually is someone that looks like he came out of a grave. Just look at the old believers (Kazapen) in Central Russia who do not smoke or drink. You can compare them to figures made out of wax. Of course smoking, alcohol consumption and even working, eating and sleeping are not healthful if done in excess. For pleasure one even goes to the theater.

While I am writing this, Johannes Volk, son of Joseph, a close relative of Mr. Baumstark is spending some time with me. The wife of Johannes Volk is a daughter of Adam Baumstark. Her name is Maria Anna from Ponjatofka and she now lives in Larga.

I also want to mention that the Bolshevists shot to death Joseph Feller in Selz. Along with him many others from Selz were shot. Joseph Kistner never returned from the war.

Mr. Volk will write everything else in a report to the Staats-Anzeiger. His ardent wish is that you, Mr. Baumstark would order the Staats-Anzeiger for him for 1 year. His address is Rumania, Bessarabia, Ind. Bendery, Post office Kainari, Com. Larga, Johannes Volk.

Mr. Volk would like to inform Mr. Baumstark that on Easter 1918, he had visited Mr. Baumstark’s parents Leo and Katharina in Ponjatofka. They were in good health. He has not been there since then. One also doesn’t know how they fared when the Bolshevists ravaged with fire and sword among the Germans that lived there.

We had frost up to 21 degrees below zero since 28 January until today the 30 January.

I would really like to hear something from my brothers-in-law Jakob Marthaller and Georg Mastio in Kansas. They too should write something to the Staats-Anzeiger. My wife Franziska, nee Marthaller and I are still in good health. Our youngest daughter, 15 year-old Theresia is the only child still living with us. If one of the relatives in America wants to write us personally, then the same address as that of Johannes Volk can be used but with my name indicated. I certainly will not leave any letters unanswered. We had already assumed that the world would come to an end, but indications show that it will continue to exist. I send a greeting to the readers as well as to the editor.

Romuald Dirk

… It is good for us. The Bolshevists only got as far as Sarata. There the Rumanians repelled them, so they did not get to us. In letters which arrived here from America recently, the readers complained that everything was two or three times more expensive than it was before the war. The following are essential items and what they cost here at the present time: a steel writing pen 40 kopecks, a box of matches 1 ruble and 50 kopecks, a pair of high top shoes 300 to 400 rubles, one arschin of half-flannel 17 to 35 rubles, barchat before 22 kopecks, now 14 to 16 rubles per arschin, trikot 50 to 180 rubles per arschin, a woolen wrap 500 rubles and more. (arschin = 0.711 meter) Wheat costs 25 to 30 rubles per pud (pud = 36.11 lbs.), barley 9 to 12 rubles, corn (Welsh corn) 10 rubles, oats 10 to 19 rubles, and potatoes 20 to 30 rubles. In the fall, I sold 65 pud of potatoes at 10 rubles, later 32 pud at 20 rubles, then 15 pud at 22 rubles, and now they are even more expensive. In June 1919, wheat was 50 to 60 rubles per pud, barley 35, oats 35 and corn 25 to 30 rubles. A good horse costs from 5,000 to 8,000 rubles and a wagon 2,000 to 2,500 rubles. A pud of blacksmith’s coal costs 40 to 60 rubles, a pound of strapping iron costs 3 to 4 rubles, wagon wheel rim iron 200 rubles per pud, nails 6 to 8 rubles per pud.

This portion of text was included as the center column of the Staats-Anzeiger transcript dated 3 February 1920. However, it is out of context and does not fit in as a part of subject transcript and most likely it pertains to a different report.

From: Brisbane, Morton County, ND
5 February 1920

Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!

We also had a poor harvest here last summer. Wheat amounted to 3 to 8 bushels per acre, the same with rye, barley 2 and oats hardly enough for seed. We hardly harvested any flax. Based on the weak harvest, the feed supply was severely hindered. Because of the prolonged mild weather we have had, the cattle could forage feed in the open fields, and that helped most farmers.

I have read the reports by Mr. Romuald Dirk and “A Farmer”. I was very happy to get to know something again from our region. But it would also be very pleasing to me, if someone from Krasna would write something to the paper. (*Editor: We have already published letters and also one correspondence from Mr. Anton Gedak in Krasna in the Staats-Anzeiger.)

I greet my Uncle Jakob Gedak and his family, likewise all relatives and friends in Krasna.

Whoever goes through the trouble first to report something to the Staats-Anzeiger or write a letter, to that individual I will send the Staats-Anzeiger for one year as a present. I would like to ask the readers in Krasna to please let my relatives and friends read this report. I would be very grateful for that.

The family of my brother-in-law Lorenz Löb has increased by one strapping boy. Something similar has happened at Daniel Dirk’s, but I cannot report as yet if it is a boy or a girl.

Maximilian K. Riehl

From: Brisbane, Morton County, ND
10 February 1920

Worthy Editorship!

I am allowing myself to report something to the dear paper, since no one in this area will go through the trouble to write. The readers might come to the conclusion that the Staats-Anzeiger is not being read in and around Brisbane. No one should believe this since there is hardly a place to which the Staats-Anzeiger does not get. (*Editor: Well, well! We don’t have any readers in Japan and China. Lenin and Trotzky in Moscow are also not yet on our list.) The paper should not be called Staats-Anzeiger but World Anzeiger.

The weather is nice at the present time and it has been like that all winter long. It is great this way since most people only had feed through March. The physical conditions are not as desirable. Here and there someone is lying sick in bed.

I also have read the report from “A Farmer”. It seems like the reporter is a lively fellow. I would like to know if he is the same “A Farmer” who used to live in Krasna. (*Editor: That’s him.)

Respectfully,
Christian Braun

From: Raleigh, Grant County, ND
14 February 1920

Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!

Since I have just now found something in the paper for which I have been waiting a long time, namely a report from the old home Krasna, I would like to write a few lines.

The report from Mr. Anton Gedak made us so happy. It was if we had heard something from our parents and siblings who are still living in Krasna.

I have written letters to them but none brought me an answer. Now I would like to try it through the columns of the Staats-Anzeiger. Perhaps someone will respond to that.

There are so many of you there. Don’t you know that we would love to hear something from you?

How are my brother Lazarus and Kartela Volk doing, and how are our old parents? Are they still alive? How are the other relatives, brothers, sister, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law doing? We, along with our 6 children are healthy and doing well. Gabriel married Marianna Erker. They are still living with us.

Thomas Mutschik [Wuitschik], son of Karl, was killed in action during the war. The parents will receive $50 every month for 20 years. What do the poor widows get over there? Nothing at all! (*Editor: Unfortunately, we have to clarify for you, the poor widows over here do not get paid for their husbands killed in action, if the husband did not insure his life and made regular payments. As far as we know, the widows of the fallen soldiers over there are receiving a pension. How much of one we simply don’t know.)

The winter is very inconsistent. The feed however is plentiful and so is the food.

How are Anton and Marianna Söhn in Canada doing? You were planning to visit us. Is it going to happen?

If I had wings I would first visit my old parents. I cannot forget the old homeland.

Heartfelt greetings to everyone,
August Nagel