Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-07-19
Letter from Florence, Kansas.
FLORENCE. Ks. July 9th. 1871.

FLORENCE, KS, July 9th, 1871.
DEAR JoURNAL:-According to request,
| will endeavor to give few words concern
ing Kansas, for the edifcation of the read
ers of the JOURNAL have just returned
from a trip down the Walnut Valley, to the
southern line of the State, having travelled
about two hundred miles, and can therefore
give pretty correct statement concerning
crops. etc
This town of Florence. now about three
months old, has about 500 to GOO inhabi
tauts, is situated at the confluence Of Cot
tonwood River and Doyle Creek, on the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa fe Railroad g.
miles south west of Topeka, in Marion
county, which is considered one of the best
counties in the State for stock raising, ano
farming combined The valleys are very
fertile, producing as high as 81 bushels of
wheat to the acre. several parties this year
having harvested A bushels per acre, and
had bread baked of -four from new wheat
on the torrteeRH dag Of June. Corn this
year is doing very well; the crop will aver
age from 40 to IS bushels per acre on sod
ground. Rye and oats also yield abund-
antly.
In regard to the drouth, many erroneous
impressions exist. According to the state
ments of old residents, of IA and Is years
experience there have been but two or three
very dry summers, and the rest were very
good years for crops. The character Of
the soil is such that if there should be but
little rain, it retains its moisture fer very
long time, and crops thrive splendidly. This
year, according to my own experience, we
have had rather too much rain As to the
climate, it is useless 10 speak, for it is ac-
knowled by all to be the most equabe of
any portion of our country. During the
summer months the sun shines very fervcnt-
ly, in fact, would be almost unbearable,
were it not for the cool and refreshing
breeze that is almost continually blowing.
in the winter months, cattle are heTded aud
grazed without shelter, many persons put
ting up no hay, while others cure from one
fourth to one-half ton per head, no grain of
any kind being used.
On what are known as the Usage lands,
which lie to the south of US, vast improve
ments have been made These lands were
brought into market, tsubiect to pre- emp
ton in tracts not exceeding one hundred
and sixty acres, at one dollar and quarter
per acre to actual settlers only about two
years since, but in travelling over this vast
tract one would imagine it to be an old set
tied country. For distance of sixty miles
you viii find farms being made on every
hand you can always be in sight of set
tement. and in some localities, you can see
from sixty to one hundred farm houses dot
ted over the prairie. Many have their
farms fenced, and many others are fencing
while some SOW their seed without any pro
lection from stock, save that afforded by
herding Quite a number Of towns
have sprung up, which contain from 100 to
500 inhabitants, and where settlers can buy
goods as cheap as in the Eastern States,
The people are from every State in the
Union, and perfect representatives OF
| American life and energy; they are intelii-
gent, industrious. and endowed with any
quantity OF push. and are determined
that with the superior advantages Kansas
has, it shall not be many years before she
stands, not only as one of the first but the
rery. first State in the Union. for agricultur-
al purposes.
Many broad acres are yet awaiting claim
ants, and now is the time fo- all who are dc
sirous Of changing locations, to come to
Kansas, and take your choice of farms.
Another years immigration like the pres
ent, will render it difficult to find choice
farms at the disposal Of Uncle Sam.
Lest | become tedious, will reserve fdrlh-
er remarks for future communication,
should this one be deemed worthy of fnscr-
ton in the columns OF the Journal.
CHARLIE.