White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1867-03-21
WHITE CLOUD, KANSAS:
fhHrsdsy,s::: March q, 1867.
UNrORMAT1ON CONCERNING
KANgAS.

INFORMATION CONCERNING
KANSAS.
In pursuance Of . promise. We now
proceed to briefly answer Few questions
which hSse frcmtim to time been AK
cd us by persons at distsnce. who are
looking Westward with q view Of select
iues future home. We viii premise BY
ssying that but few coustries can be
found equal. md none superior to Kan
sss. IS place for new beginner to
grow up and prosper. The remarks
which we shall offer. are applicable espe.
cially to our section Of the State.
The climate Of Kansas is about the
same as in the balance Of the West, Of
the same latitude. Any variations arise
from the country being more open or
simbsrsd. as the case may be. During
the Winter. the changes are frequent snd
sudden. The most pleasant season is
Autumn. 1t is usually . magnificent
season. being prolonged. frequently. until
far toward Christians. The Spring is
commonly blustery and chanseable. The
present Spring is rather the worst we
have seen during q ten years residence.
Bot it is generally the case. when we
have such .sn unfavorable Spring. that
the ensuing season is better for crops.
and "cold snaps" are less liable to in
tsrfsrs with early vegetation. But one
general drought has visited Kansas,
which was in the year 1860. Neither
ere We often troubled with excessively
wet seasons. The breeze that always
prevails on the prairies, renders it al
wsys pleasant in the hot season, but it is
exceedingly penetrating and disagreesble
in Winter.
eoII.
The soil is the richest in the world,
resembling the richest bottoms in the
older States. being very deep and fertile.
Good crops can be raised with but little
cultivation; but of course. they turn ont
better in proportion to the amount Of
csrs bestowed upon them. There are
very few acres that cannot be cultivated.
The country is rolling. and there are NO
extensive fats or swsmps. One pecul-
isrity of the soil is, that it does not re.
tain water on the surface. After Spring
thsw, or after the hardes. and longest
continued rains. it requires but several
days of wind and sunshine render the
roads dry and smooth.
WATER.
Ths supply of water is plentiful. the
State being drained in every part BY wa
tsrcoursss. from the unfordable river to
the smallest rivulet. Fine springs abound
everywhere. and good wells are obtained
generally by digging from twenty to fifty
feet. There are few quarter sections that
have not running water. either from q
spring or creek.
TIMBER, FENCING, AND FUEL.
Timber is found only along the streams.
On the larger ones. there are heavy bod
les of it.. Sufficient can be obtained for
building, and for present fencing purpo-
ses. There are insxhaustible deposits of
coal in every part of the State. which
will supply the country with fuel but
ss yet. very little effort has been made
toward mining. Any quantity of young
cottonwoods may be obtained on the
river bottoms. for tie trouble Of digging
and hauling. These may be trausplantsd
on farms, and fne groves grown in few
years. Very many farmers have been
doing this. and are gradually changing
the aspect of their premises from bleak
prairie to a beautiful woodland. They
thus beaatify their land, secure Q barrier
to the sharp winds Of Winter. promote
the health and comfort of their families
and their stock, and add greatly to the
valus of their farms. In addition to
this, we may mention the fact that. BY q
law of the State, certain bounty per
year is allowed for every half acre Of
cultivated timber, and every half mile Of
forest trees planted and cultivated along
public highways, and for specified num-
Der Of rods Of hedge fence properly set
and cultivsted-the amount to be deduc.
ted from the growers taxes. Thus, q
farmer may pay his taxes by identifying.
Improving. and increasing the value Of
his land.
In the matter Of hedges. It has been
practically demonstrated that they can
be easily and cheaply grown in Kansas.
We have seen some very'6ne ones. The
ossgs orange grows readily and rapidly.
and if properly set and tended, there need
be no fears of failure. Most of the Coun-
ties distant from the river timber, have
laws prohibiting the runnhg at large Of
stock, BY which means the farmers crops
may be protected until he can raise .
hadoe fence- if he doee mt noseaea tha