The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1871-08-24
FROM coWLEY COUNTY.
WINFIELD. Aug. II. 49,

WINFIELD, Aug. II, 1871.
There are four iasu. - which should, and
probably will, enter into the fall campaign
in Southesn Kanaas, viz: The herd or hedge
Law, the foreA tree Law, the division Of coun-
ties, and the public lands for the 6oaa I'D.
settler. And in order that laws affecting the
firas too issues may be passed within consti-
tutional limits, they must be made to oper-
ate generally throughout the State.
A country like Kansas with the evidences
ofcivilization 90 thoroughly stamped on heI
face, has become too valuable &c the immi.
grants 70 be divided out in large bodies to
corporations. The greatest good to the
greatest number" IA the chief motto OF q
GOOD government. All the lands which are
now, or which may become, public in the
State, should be held sacred for the actual
settlers' use, under the homestead and pre-.
emption laws.
II the advantages to the citizen Of q Large
stood, he would never be found aiding BY biz
vote, the shysters Who are constantly
seeking to disturb county lines tol
the purpose of dignifying some paper town
with the name of county seat. In the frs
place it costs rs much to govern a small
q large one. This increases the taxes
Besides, the smaller the county, the les il
ia importance in the State. 1t fails to I'M.
pres the commonwealth OF its political sig.
niHcance, and capital, ever avoiding high
taxes and doubtful investments, will avoid
diminutive counties. Counties from twenty.
four to thirty miles square are small enough
and the Legislature should set its face sternly
against divisions of this magnitude. The
evils of this speculative interference with the
county boundaries are such that some of the
States regulate the question in their constitu
iionr.
The growing Of timber is As important te
the State u to the individual. 1t il vel
proven that the influence of forests on the
atmosphere produces moisture and rain.
This view alone, is worthy of the most seri-
Gus consideration of Legislators, and with thu
additional motive of supplying great need
the subject Of timber culture should receive
the most liberal encouragement-far greater
announcement than it has received-eveI
to exemption from taxes in addition to ar
increased royalty.
Lie tAIu1cI VI uiiuuuuS Capacity WUOo>
husbandry is mixed, comprising both stoch
and grain, and whose class is by far the mos
numerous and dependent. needs protection
from the incussions of the herdmen. Ii i
this class which contributes SO largely TO tn,
real wealth of the country, and in his mode
rate way of farming in this prairie country
the settler can fence his stock in cheaper thar
he can fence them out. 1t costs no more tt
fence ten rcres for pasture than for grain
while stock will stray and grain will stay
Again, thousands Of acres of unoccupiet
prairie in this State would now be growing
corn under the protection Of a judicious hero
Law. Many man with means enough t.
procure . team and farming tools. would Ink,
to settle his family upon the prairie and g
to breaking up the soil and raising grain te
subsist on but he has not money enough be-
sides to :ence his land. Which is better fol
the country, twenty such farmers, or one
man with a c,rral, and thousand head O
stock roaming over vacant lands? The Leg
islature of Kansas should enact a genera
herd Law, or At least general hedge law
with such provisions as will protect tn,
moderate farmer, and in no better way cal
it accomplish ''the greatest good TO thu
greatest number" J. NJ. A.