Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-04-12
Communicated
Letter from Kansas-Immigration--
Great Expectations Disappoint-
ments-Lands-C comparison.

Great Expectations Disappoint-
ments-Lands-C Comparison.
Mr.. EDITOR "A brief statement of
facts relative TO Kansas, its charac-
ter and prospects as State may not
be without interest to your readers.
Perhaps they will come with special
interest to those who have caught
the "Kansas fever" now so preva-
lent throughout the Eastern States.
The first feature that attracts the
attention of the traveller is the
great tide of immigration now set
ting toward this Gland Of promise"
On the train which brought me to
this place. from Kansas City, the en-
bryo Chicago, were 500 passengers.
They were all intent on first gaining
q residence in this promising State,
as those who are first to come are
sure to realize large fortunes. But,
alas on reaching tho locality, which
ia their dream of wealth seemed
most promising, they find the ground
already occupied even to overflow
ing, and so, fitting from place to
place, pursuing the ign}s fatGuS of
hope, they at last return TO their old
homes wiser if not richer men,
More than one hundred thousand
people have settled in this State
within the past year. Strangers
are now coming at the rate of three
thousand q week. Some, patient,
hard listed men Of toll resolved to
earn home and place, cost what it
may Of Tong and patient eiYort-oth-
ers, Of al ranks and professions, adj
venturers, bankrupts in character
and fortune, hoping to retrieve their
losses through the mistakes of others,
in land where the old and the new
the good and the bad, have com
mon interest and an equal start in
tho race TO fortune others, still,
prompted by the spirit of speculation,
men of capital, and men of brains,
large business experience, and con-
nected with powerful interests, who
know when and where 10 strike,
these are the successful mem who
make the large fortunes we so often
read about in Eastern journals. But
we do not realize how many more
return utterly ruined, in hope and
purse. Real estate is the one absorb
ing topic of thought and CONVERSE
ton. Real estate agents are as plen-
tiful as mama in the wilderness
this town Ca city ! cannot call it
without an effort of imagination too
great for common prose) with pop
ulation of about 5000, has over 80
dealers in real estate. One firm ex-
pended in expenses last year $50 600,
and yet made money. / find all the
dealers, when expressing their hon
est opinions, unite in declaring that
all the best lands are sold. What is
now left ia second or third quality.
That sold for So to So per acre is
worthless for any purpose. The land
really worth buying, either for actu-
al settlement or for speculative pur-
poses, is worth from SO to s15 per
acre. Improved arms"-improvod
to the extent of partial fence, and
"shanty" of two small rooms, with
from. forty to 80 acres broken-sell for
S25 to $50 per acre. Now if we
take into consideration the differ
ence of freights, the conveniences of
living and social and educational
privileges. land in Wisconsin or Him
OILS st from $50 to S75 per acre is
moro profitable even in the long run.
TO be sure it is easier to buy farm
for S25 than for $50 per acre, but the
farmer in or 10 years will realize
more from the latter, in actual profit,
while the increase in value will be
strongly in his favor. Land in Him
OILS in 10 years will be more saleable
at 500 per acre than west of Topeka
at $50 The best lands in the State
lie along the NeoshoV alley, and for all
reasons are most desirable, but fever
and ague. and other malarious dis
eases are alarmingly prevalent A
man who has good farm ia Grant
County, if he knows what is for his
best interests, will stay where he is.
This is the capital Of the State, q
place not as attractive as Boscobel
streets wide, low, small business
houses, every one living IN expe eta
ton The place is unfortunately To-
Gated for much larger growth.
The capitol Is the most imposing
binding 1t was erected at a cost of
100000, Very neatly finished in
ternalIy, heated bv steam, lighted
by gas, offices convenient ard com
modious, but it would be difficult to
find $780, 900 in it.
When | have opportunity | will
give some account of my impressions
of Kansas City, the largest and most
promising city west of 81. Louis,
and without doubt soon to rival it in
trade and population. Hotels here
are intolerable at $3.50 per day
The Phelps House, in Lancaster, il
paradise to them all Weather cold,
and mud unfathomably deep at time
of writing C.