Page:John O. Meusebach - Answer to Interragatories.djvu/20

 1846, 2376 emigrants, according to ship list in hand.

Total, 7380,

without counting those not directly imported from Europe—several hundreds in number.

They promised "goods and provisions must be delivered to the emigrants till to next, and next following crops." (Coll. Doc. page 33, Handbook, pages 85, 91.)

It follows: 1. That an army of 5000 emigrants (of 1844 and 1845) had to be kept in goods and provisions at the arrival of the expedition of 1845, in October, November, December, 1845, and further on, which at the lowest possible estimate of ten cents per day and person, required a daily expense of $500 for these two items only, makes an aggregate amount of $45,000 for three months or 90 days, which sum should have been here before or at arrival of the emigrants. The leading director in Europe could not possibly be under the illusion that from the trifling credit of $24,000 (opened in 1845) the daily expense of $500, and more could be paid, when he knew at the same time, by report of the Prince and of myself, that debts existed here using up the credits opened at their arrival. He could not plead ignorance of the fact or default of reports, as excuse, because he only knew before hand how many emigrants were shipped, and could make calculation of the probable daily expense.

2. The emigrants paid in Europe to the Company:

The Company therefore had 82,904 florins at 40 cents, equal to $33,161.60 in their pocket for