Kansas Ereedman's Relief Association

The second setui-annual report of the Kansas Freeduien's Relief Association, whose headquarters are here, has recently been submittcd by the president, llev. J. E. Gilbcrt. During the month just past, liberal distributions have been made to outfit partios going to other places, niany goods have been sent by wagons to colonies in Wabaunsee and Dunlap, and there have also been largc disbursements of Karden seeds and seed potatocs. The officers and helpera of the association here embrace a body of twenty persons. In the period between October 13, 1879, and March 31, 1880, fully 20,000 auffering freedmen, who have come to this rcfnge from the south, have been cared for, most of whoni were in pitiable destitution and distress. During this period the cash contributions to the association have been $29,596. Besides this thera have been large coDsignments of olothing and farming supplies of seedg and tools. There are as yet no indications of an abatement of the exodus from the south. The refugees are still arriving as heretofore. At the sanie time there are inereasing ealls upon the association from Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico and California for large numbers, with assurance of good opportunities, steady employment and good pay. An increasingly large proportion of those who now arrive are being sent on to these places, and good reporta are received from those who have already reached these destinations. Besides this, the association is considering the propricty of purchasing unoccupied land in some locality on which to establi-ih a ncw colony of the refugec3, as neceshity and wisdom may suggest. As hitherto, therefore, the cause still calis for money, materials and woJk. The distress of the 20,000 freedmen who have come to this refuge since October 13, 1870, has been materially mitigatcd, their urgent needs have been promptly supplied and themselves so helpea to good locations, limited aid and work that with gew exceptions thay are already self-sustaining, and are ambitiously laboring to secure the title to a home or farm. Tbcy have from the beginning proved peaceable, inoffcnsive and lawabiding citizens, intent on beconiing independent of charitable support. The Dunlap settlement, which is situatcd in MorrÍB and Lyon counties, consista of about 105 families, who have taken up lond in the Kaw Rescrvation, at $1.25 per acre, purchasing it from the UuitGd States government, paying one-sixth of its value in cash and the balance in six years at 6 per cent interest. The association has been helping them somewhat, but most ot' tho settlers aro selfsupporting. They have built the first cliurch ever erected in Dunlap. They have divine services and Sabbatc school every Sabbath. The Wabaunsee colony is about tifty miles soutuwest of Topeka and fourteen miles northweat from Connell Urovc. There are thirty-one families in this colony, having in all 1,280 acres of land. While thirty families have forty acrua each, ono of thoeo families has eighty acres. About half of the refugees who arrivo here are quartered in the barracks, locatcd just outside the city limits. Of the others, some are scattered about among friendf, while others rent rooms in the city. The association has, for the last six months, entertained at the barracks an average of 120 families per month. Often, even in the cold weather, 150 refugees have arrived in a single day. The warehouse and distributing-room of the association in North Topeka was opened December 31, 1879, and frora that time up to March 31, 1880, there have been received into it 1,380 packages. Some idea may be formed of the amount of labor performed in this department from the fact that between the lst of Dececember last and the 31st of March, 1880, at least 13,000 men, wonien and children have been supplied with clothing by the association, on the 3,600 tickets distributed by the citizen's visiting committee, and that it has, in addition, furnislu"! '"'t."1 ':",' coats and shno= t fevoral hundred of the rcfagees sent out to homes in various localities. Of the 1,380 packages received, 545 wero unpacked and distributed at Topeka, TO wcic eent to l'arsons, 6 to Fort Scott, 19 to Chetopa, 64 to Columbus, 2 to Oswego, 80 to Independence, 13 to Manhattan, 21 to Dunlap, 10 to Emporia, 4 to Leavenworth, 9 to Hodgeman county, 20 to Kansas City, 2 to Milford, and 2 to Louisville, leaving 510 packagos in the warehouse April lst.