The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-12-28
Correspondence Of the News.
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
GOOD INTENT, KANSAS, J
December IA, 1871.

December IA, 1871.
Mr.. EDIToR:-A must prosperous
year is just closing up. ''Thanks-
giving Day" was one of mostsuperb
beauty such as Kansas only can get
up. The day was observed as the
grand Sabbath.of the year by many,
yet by far too many needed not the
kindly summons of our beloved
President, to observe the day with
gratitude and thanks to the great
PRECEDENT Of the Universe, for his
manifold blessings. And, surely,
no. people have been under greater
obligations than those of Kansas
this year. For we have had the
early and the latter rains. Though
the year has not been marked with
heagy rains, yet the refreshing show
ers failed not to come in due time,
and our labors have been crowned
with success.
Kansas has never been blessed
with such crops of Wheat and Corn
as she has this year. It is true that
Spring Wheat and Spring Barley
were a failure; but it is also true
that farmers did not invest largely
in these varieties, as the winter va
rieties pay much better. On looking
around I ascertain that the Wheat
crop of this immediate neighbOrhOod
will average six hundred bushels to
the farm. Some of them made near
Iy forty bushels per acre; several Of
them over thirty, and few, if any,
less than twenty. I do not suppose
Kansas has done this well the State
over, but this five miles square has;
and farming throughout the State has
been a good success.
It is represented that many fields
of Corn have produced from eighty
to a hundred bushels per acre. 1
acknowledge a little incredulity in
reference to such reports. I think
tOrty bushels will come nearer the
average. While this is so, I am Of
the opinion that were the pains and
labor bestowed in Kansas that are in
the East, the,maximum of these fig
ures may be reached on almost any
of our frst-class prairies.
But, while we rejoice over great
prosperity in the major part of our
State, several counties in the North
west have suffered great calamity
from prairie fires. Among these are
Washington, Cloud, Jewell, Osborne,
Republic and Mitchell. In these
counties the crops, fences and build
iugs of many farms are totally de-
stroyed, also some towns and vii
lages; leaving thousands Of new set
tiers destitute of every thing, and if
not provided for by- those who are
more fortunate, some will certainly
perish. Many will suffer after the
best is done that can be done.
Atchison, through the instrument
tality of the "Ladies' Relief" has
aided by sending them fifteen hun
dred dollars in money, to be spent
in providing teams to convey the
more substantial relief, such as cloth
ing, provisions, etc, from the near
est points on the railroads, and to
defray other necessary cash ex-
penses. This society of ladies meet
three afternoons in each week, to Ia
Dor to provide clothing for those des-
titute settlers. The farmers are con
tribuling grain, which they take to
the mills in Atchison, and which the
millers grind free of toll. The Cen
narBranch Union Pacific Railroad
Company keep a car standing ready
to receive these donations during all
business hours. When the car is
loaded it is taken to the end of the
track-to WaterviIle, the nearest
point to the sufferers, free of trans
portation charges. f4a
I speak of AtchisOn, its vicinity,
its mills and the Central Branch, be-
cause I know of them. Other cities,
neighborho6ds and railroads, 1 sup
pose, are doing theft duty. Thus, I
trust, the destitute will be supplied.
The weather has been severely
cold for a few weeks for the time of
year. Yours respectfully,
A. ]. EVANS.