The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-05-17

II one department Of agriculture mus
have the preference, as stock gro YER
have bad the range thus far, Why MAJ
We not change the thing, for few years
and ALLOW the farmers to grow their Whea
and corn on any good land they can End
regardless of ownership, while all iiv,
stock may Be legally destroyed unles,
shut in on the owners lsud with a goot
and legal fence, that their destrogers can.
not well break through After We have
tried this while, Ne may be able to de.
eide which is the best business; but Al
present il is ridiculous nonsense to say
that stock growing is the only money
making business. 10 Kansas. But ii
steek growing Is 30 Ee tile best business
and the leading business. it is still better
10 have The country fenced or in come
! way protected, so that each can take care
of and improve his own. The prairie
grasses are nutritious, but only produce
small amount of feed compared With
what may be grown. am told By men
who have bad several years experience
IN the State, that they can aud do grow
as much feed on one acre of cultivated
land as FIVE or six acres of wild prairie
will produce, aud that It is cheaper to
grow their iced than to get it on the prsi
ries for the cutting.
The Law here recommended, would
give every man a chance TO grow his feed
on his Own land and to improve his stock
without the fear of being spoiled by the
scalswAg animals that are running at large
Then good class of stock might rapidly
take the place of the scrubs that now
disgrace our prsiries, and Kansas cattle
might become respectable in the eastern
markets. OF course it will be difficult in
some cases to take care of the stock until
fences are grown, buJ not so difficult or
expensive as is usually supposed. The
best growers now consider it cheaper and
better TO herd their stock than to let il
run al large, and if it is better for them
it Is better for other people. If one man.
has not enough to pay for herdsman or
boy, let him put in with others aud share
the cost. Parties who have herded stock
in Illinois are now offering to herd here
for FIVE cents a head per month, but if
it cost double that amount it would be
cheaper than to allow .hem to stray on
the prairie without care, and run the
chances of losing them.
Il is impossible to make any regulation
that will be entirely unobjecuionable. or
that will suit every case or every body,
and this is not offered with the expecta-
ton that it will escape severe criticism.
All that is asked is careful consideration
OF 1.-The matter. If anv better plan can be
suggested, let US have it. and we will
w"rk for it a. heartily as for this
Under the present system the cost of
enclosing land amounts almost 20 prohi-
birion except for lands located ia-the i'm
mediate vicinity of timber. If we can
afford TO leave our prairies uncultivated
simply to supply gazing range for few
large herds that will sustain but spa rise
population, then the present system will
tbickly settled by prosperous people,
and our lands improved, We must give
the settlers a reasonable chance 10 make
their Improvements.
Our Legislature offers to pay five cents
per rod annually for eight years to every
person who grows hedge. With all due
Difference to the wisdom of the Legislators,
/ cannot see the need of such a law
Hedges are proven beyond doubt to be
a perfect success in our State, and to be a
good paying Investment. II is therefore
taxing the State pay individuals for doing
their own private work, which everybody
knows will pay better than ordinary in
veslments. If this precedent be estab
lished, we many expect some future Leg
islature TO offer a premium on painting
houses, greasing wagons and backing
boots. All that is needed is chance to
grow hedges without having them tramp
led aud browsed down by cattle for the
first two or three years of their growth.
Give the farmers this privilege and they
will rapidly fence up and improve the
prairie without any special premiums.
Let al who buy lands and make their
homes in Kansas have equal chances to
use and improve their lands and to pro-
duce whatever seems to them most desir
able, and then let each business stand or
tall on its owu merits. s. 7. KELSEY,
April 10, 1867, Ottawa University.