Headline: News from our Representative in Russia
Saratov, Russia, 9 March 1923
To: G. J. Schmidt, Secretary
American Volga Relief Society
Lincoln, Nebraska
Dear brother and all the officials of the society: My cordial greetings:
Today I was once again in Saratov because there was still some business to be finished on the last sleigh caravan. I expected to receive the full list of clothing but it was not there (in Saratov). I received anotherdozen letters and 3 packages; one from my brother John in Holdrege, Nebraska, one from my son John, and a small one from Peter Damm in Lincoln. The larger packets are all in London awaiting a transport steamer.
Today 6 transport steamers left on their way to Riga. I also received your letter of 20 February today that was sent by courier from Moscow yesterday. My heart was gladdened by the news of your successful clothing collection. My heart often moves me to tears and my eyes even more-so as I read over these precious reports. I firmly believe that God will also bring this shipment here to us.
Please do not expect me to go to Riga to get things ready. You have men there who can get things prepared correctly. Whatever is lost on the way will be whatever is stolen from the train, and I do not wish to risk my life by going there.
I understand that you think I should not be wasting my time on little things like distributing needles, etc. Once again you judge without understanding the situation. These "little things," the needles, are as necessary to our people as bread; how else can they patch their rags together? And these "little things" I can always carry with me in my travels. I have, to date, distributed 35,000 needles, pins, thimbles, pencils, pens and 40 Pfund of linen thread. I ordered another 10,000 needles and 10 Pfund of linen thread. My dear people, in these "little things" let me use my own judgment. A needle costs 250,000 Rubel, a half day's work, if one could find any work. A woven item of clothing costs 2 weeks wages, 75 million, or about 2 dollars.
I also received a letter from David Strachheim with instructions for delivering money to villages and individual persons. Once again, the delay in receiving the information, as well as in the first instance, was three weeks. At that time I could have have advanced the money to the villages, but not now because I have little on hand. Why did the dear man not enclose the money in the letter? I could have exchanged the money this morning and, on the return trip, gotten off in Schilling and given it to the people. You dear people, you need to get smarter. I think that the A.R.A will close its work here before that happens. Perhaps it will be possible for the American Express Co. to negotiate a contract with Russia so that you will be able to send money. Mr. Hoover himself is in favor of it. Our people over there should be careful to whom they entrust their money because many of the agents who claim to be working for the Volga Germans are nothing more than crooks.
Recently some people were ordered to come to Saratov and get funds from the German Red Cross that was sent to them by friends in America and exchange it for flour, etc. They gave them 15 Million Rubel for 16 Pud, equal to 35 cents.
I made my last visit to Norka, then Neu Doenhof, Neu Messer, Frank, Dittel and back to Balzer. I was in Frank over Sunday where I received a very friendly reception from Pastor Kluck. He preached on that Sunday in Walter and served Communion. Mr. Georg Bernhardt accompanied me on my rounds and I was able to reach everyone I had been asked to, or at least those I could remember. In particular I remembered the friends of Jacob Lebsack; the sister of Br. Heinrich Bender; the sister of Mrs. Heinrich Amen ("Store Amen"), also the mother of Henry Hein in Hastings, Nebraska, and many others. The brother of Heinrich Hergert from Walter was there with me. On Sunday afternoon I was in one of the oldest "Versammlungen" (meeting house) in the villages, in another one again that evening. At the service Schoolmaster Frank gave a very beautiful sermon. I was able to give your people some information about you and they had many questions! I needed to have been all-knowing, like the lord God. I prayed with them and also gave a short speech. I could stay no longer because I had to visit Frank in order to be fair to our brethren there. I also accepted many letters which I sent to you in large envelopes because the Postal Service here is so bad.
To date I have given seed potatoes to 36 villages. I also delivered all of the Food Drafts. Now I want to compose a letter to the villages and make copies of it so that the villages can make preparations for their distribution according to my instructions. I am waiting for your lists. I have given orders that when the train arrives, it should be unloaded and a report sent to me. After that I will order all the villages to come to Saratov to fetch their things. I will follow-up on this myself and if possible, be present when they are distributed. The lists from Balzer from Johs. Koehler are in my possession.
I am healthy and believe me, since coming here I have been hard at work. Affectionate greetings to all you dears doing relief work.
Your servant in this work of mercy,
Jacob Volz
American Volga Relief Society
Lincoln, Nebraska
Dear brother and all the officials of the society: My cordial greetings:
Today I was once again in Saratov because there was still some business to be finished on the last sleigh caravan. I expected to receive the full list of clothing but it was not there (in Saratov). I received anotherdozen letters and 3 packages; one from my brother John in Holdrege, Nebraska, one from my son John, and a small one from Peter Damm in Lincoln. The larger packets are all in London awaiting a transport steamer.
Today 6 transport steamers left on their way to Riga. I also received your letter of 20 February today that was sent by courier from Moscow yesterday. My heart was gladdened by the news of your successful clothing collection. My heart often moves me to tears and my eyes even more-so as I read over these precious reports. I firmly believe that God will also bring this shipment here to us.
Please do not expect me to go to Riga to get things ready. You have men there who can get things prepared correctly. Whatever is lost on the way will be whatever is stolen from the train, and I do not wish to risk my life by going there.
I understand that you think I should not be wasting my time on little things like distributing needles, etc. Once again you judge without understanding the situation. These "little things," the needles, are as necessary to our people as bread; how else can they patch their rags together? And these "little things" I can always carry with me in my travels. I have, to date, distributed 35,000 needles, pins, thimbles, pencils, pens and 40 Pfund of linen thread. I ordered another 10,000 needles and 10 Pfund of linen thread. My dear people, in these "little things" let me use my own judgment. A needle costs 250,000 Rubel, a half day's work, if one could find any work. A woven item of clothing costs 2 weeks wages, 75 million, or about 2 dollars.
I also received a letter from David Strachheim with instructions for delivering money to villages and individual persons. Once again, the delay in receiving the information, as well as in the first instance, was three weeks. At that time I could have have advanced the money to the villages, but not now because I have little on hand. Why did the dear man not enclose the money in the letter? I could have exchanged the money this morning and, on the return trip, gotten off in Schilling and given it to the people. You dear people, you need to get smarter. I think that the A.R.A will close its work here before that happens. Perhaps it will be possible for the American Express Co. to negotiate a contract with Russia so that you will be able to send money. Mr. Hoover himself is in favor of it. Our people over there should be careful to whom they entrust their money because many of the agents who claim to be working for the Volga Germans are nothing more than crooks.
Recently some people were ordered to come to Saratov and get funds from the German Red Cross that was sent to them by friends in America and exchange it for flour, etc. They gave them 15 Million Rubel for 16 Pud, equal to 35 cents.
I made my last visit to Norka, then Neu Doenhof, Neu Messer, Frank, Dittel and back to Balzer. I was in Frank over Sunday where I received a very friendly reception from Pastor Kluck. He preached on that Sunday in Walter and served Communion. Mr. Georg Bernhardt accompanied me on my rounds and I was able to reach everyone I had been asked to, or at least those I could remember. In particular I remembered the friends of Jacob Lebsack; the sister of Br. Heinrich Bender; the sister of Mrs. Heinrich Amen ("Store Amen"), also the mother of Henry Hein in Hastings, Nebraska, and many others. The brother of Heinrich Hergert from Walter was there with me. On Sunday afternoon I was in one of the oldest "Versammlungen" (meeting house) in the villages, in another one again that evening. At the service Schoolmaster Frank gave a very beautiful sermon. I was able to give your people some information about you and they had many questions! I needed to have been all-knowing, like the lord God. I prayed with them and also gave a short speech. I could stay no longer because I had to visit Frank in order to be fair to our brethren there. I also accepted many letters which I sent to you in large envelopes because the Postal Service here is so bad.
To date I have given seed potatoes to 36 villages. I also delivered all of the Food Drafts. Now I want to compose a letter to the villages and make copies of it so that the villages can make preparations for their distribution according to my instructions. I am waiting for your lists. I have given orders that when the train arrives, it should be unloaded and a report sent to me. After that I will order all the villages to come to Saratov to fetch their things. I will follow-up on this myself and if possible, be present when they are distributed. The lists from Balzer from Johs. Koehler are in my possession.
I am healthy and believe me, since coming here I have been hard at work. Affectionate greetings to all you dears doing relief work.
Your servant in this work of mercy,
Jacob Volz
Sources
Die Welt-Post, May 24, 1923, page 5.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated Month 6, 2016.
