The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-01-04
REMAINS OF BRopHY,
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
DickensOn COunty..Ifs Advanta.
geS. Soil, Climate and Cheap
Aands.-The Buckeye Colony.
Beautiful Homes for the Indus
trlOuS.
Editor Steubenville Herald:

Editor Steubenvlile Herald:
For the benefit of such of your read
ers as may contemplate moving to the
Great West,in search Of desirable homes,
allow me to say few words through
your columns in favor of Dickinson
County, Kansas, s..-,f Il
Dickinson is one of the largest and
best Counties in the State. 1t has an
area of 4S3 $40 acres of which 40S,0OO
acres are rolling or upland prairie, anG
the remainder, about 10000 acres,is riv-
er and creek bottoms. In Iowa and HI
inois, as well as most other prairie States,
the soil, in large extent, is composed
OF humus, has but little grit, and in wet
weather is "soapy, sticky, greasy and
nasty rendering it very disagreeable to
walk about. But in Dickinson County,
Kansas the upland prairies are undula
ting, ,affording sufficient drainage,the soil
is from one to three feet in depth, of a
dark, loamy character, combined with
sufficient sand to give it grit and permit
the free percolation of water, thus ena-
bling the farmer to cultivate his crops
even when the season is wet, which can
not be SAID of hardly any other section
of country. Even the most sandy of
these upland l,rairies in Dickinson Coun-
ty, where they are already cultivated,
have yielded heavy crops of both wheat
and corn. They are much healthier than
bottom lands, although not as large crops
to the acre. There is some ag6e along
the bottom, but / am told that it is un.
known on the rolling prairies of Dickin-
son County. / was told that the physi-
clan in Abilene. the County seat, hardly
receives call to visit patient on the
upland prairie. The most beautiful homes
in the world can be made on these roll
ing prairies, and in one fourth of the
time required in timber country. Ow-
ing to the richness of the soil, fine tim
Der groves can be grown on these splen-
did open prairies, in much less time than
stumps can be cleared from timber lands.
/ saw in Kansas, during recent trip to
that rapidly growing State, some very
! fine thrifty, timber groves, which were
planted only few years ago. Many of
the trees, ,only s to 10 years growth, were
4 6 to Sinches in diameter. There is plen.
| ty of timber in Dickinson County for
firewood at about 81 cord. Much of
1t is also used for building purposes, but
since the completion of the railroad most
of the lumber used is brought from the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers, at pri-
ces but little higher than in Chicago,
Pittsburg or Columbus.
The valley or bottom lands upon the
numerous streams are very rich, and
produce immense crops o. corn, wheat,
barley, oats, potatoes, etc. Dickinson
County is well watered. The beautiful
Smoky Hill river, which takes its rise fal
up toward the Rocky Mountains, runs
through the center of the County from
west to east. There are numerous creeks
and water courses, and in many locali
ties tine springs of never failing water
i Good wells are obtainablc everywhere
In the northeast portion of the Coun
I ty large deposits of the purest gypsum
are found. At no distant day plaster ot
paris, so valuable in the arts and in ag
riculture, will be largely manufacture
here, and shipped to eastern and western
markets. Strong salt springs are found
in the western portion of the County
near the junction of the Smoky Hill ano
Solomon rivers. Salt is already manu-
factured in large quantities in the adjoin
ing county of Saline.
From experiments already made, Dick
inson County will be one of the best fruit
growing counties in Kansas. Among
Others who might be named, we will in
stance Mr.. Kilgore, Probate Judge o.
the Countrywide last spring planted lot
of black walnuts and five hundred peach
seeds on his farm, just broken, near Alb
ilene. / saw the trees in October, and
they had attained a growth of several
feet, looking as thrifty and healthy a:
any had ever seen anywhere. AS your
readers already know, Kansas took the
| first premium over all other States at the
recent pomological fair at Philadelphia
for the largest and finest favored fruits
on exhibition. 50
The best quality Of land can be pur,
chased at from 81 to $40 per acre, de
pending upon ncarness to railroads, DC
The Kansas Pacific railroad owns con
siderable quantity of land in the County
which can be bought at from 81 to 81
per acre on five years time. There is 6
large quantity of government land, sub
ject to actual settlement only Home
stead settlers can obtain as good land in
Dickinson County as can be found ir
the West, simply by moving on il, re.
naming five years and paying tie cost
of surveying, which is only S1S fol
eighty acres. In this way the poorest
man in the country, if energetic and in
1 dustrious, may obtain desirable home
which many can never obtain if they re-
main in the East, where land is high and
} poor men are crowded out.
!, Abilene, the county seat Of Dickinson
county, is 1853 miles west of Kansas City,
96 miles west of Topeka, the capital ot
the State, and % miles west of junction
City. Abilene contains about seventy
houses, several stores, Touring mill, Q
bank. and large hotel, which cost Sl5,
000.. The town is improving rapidly
1t lies in the valley of the Smoky Hill
river, which here is wide and beautiful
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