Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-04
Letter from Kansas.

! Correspondence OF the Alexandra GaZette
The deep interest I have in the PROSPERITY OF
our good old State induced mo to n axe trip to
the Far West to visit some of the most rapidly
increasing States and prosperous towns and
cities to ascertain the causes for the large flow OF
immigration and the advantages they possessed,
if any, over our section, so that I might use my
feeble efforts to check, as far as had the capa-
city, the tide, and turn it towards our own Sec
ton, which work have been engaged in for
some years past; and am glad TO be able to say
it has not been without success. | have had
much to encourage me to persevere, having been
instrumental in influencing a,large number from
Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and other Western
States to remove to Virginia, and finding that
they have been pleased with the change and
have written letters Of encouragement to others
to follow their example, induced me to make
this trip with view to getting all the informa.
ton could that will assist me in my future eff
| forts.
From observation since I have been out ere,
am satisfied that the advantages of our State
are much superior to any | have visited, as to
climate, health, society and mineral wealth.
| That they have superior farming lands, as d
whole, l admit, but have not seen, as yet, bet.
ter corn than l have found in some sections OF
our own State this summer. But what advan-
tsge have they in raising large crops without u
market2 WAS told by gentleman yesterday
that he had purchased thousands of bushels OF
corn ut lOc per bushel, aud found he had made d
bad bargain at that! Often it cannot be sold OF
any price. Now compare the price realized here
| with what we obtain, and the result will be in
our favor; for they have to raise so much more
to realize the same amount Of money, and often
they cannot find market for it at any price 1t
is common in many sections TO use it rs fuel.
Besides our climate is better adapted to greater
variety Of agricultural products, with good mar
kets at all times for I'LL that is produced.
l find many here who are willing to sell out At
q great loss and return to the East. In CONVEX
sation with farmer yesterday formerly resi-
dent of Charles county, Md, he said he had a
farm Of lGO acres, with good improvements,
| he would sell for 81 OOO; and he could locnte 81
families in his section on farms of 50 acres and
larger AT the low price of $500 for farms of 81
acres. with buildings, fencing and orchard, and
in proportion for larger ones, the owners wishing
to sell in order to remove Esst again.
Many have come out West who would return
depressed condition of the farming interest, it
will only be necessary to give you Il brief extract
from an able address of Gov. Thomas n. Os-
borne which he delivered at the opening of the
Kansas State Fair this week. He said ITO
| whatever causes different persons may be dis
which hang like mill stones around the necks OF
our farmers, the fact that thereitis is undenisble
and among right thinking men there can be no
two opinions as to the necessity of prompt and
| decisive action looking to their removal. With
| the devclopernent of the West, eeminenty
an agricultural region, that understandings d
| leading one-is bound to assert its rights and ex-
| ert the influence to which it is entitled. For the
greater part of the last two years it has cost the
farmer three bushels of corn to transport one
VI
| board, where all the products III excess of home
consumption must go to find a market and, OF
| course, correspondingly increased price from
kansas-cost of railroad and wagon trans porta-
ton to the Mississippi river. A significant sug-
gestive truth cannot be more plainly set forth
than by the unvarnshed at,m3nt that more
than four out Of every five acres of corn planted
| 60 to swell the profits of transportation compan-
les between the West and the East Besides this
fact place the other fact that growing out of the
results OF the war, the vast enlargement of the
National and State debts an exact'ng tariff, and
too protuse system Of public expenditure, the
industrial interests are taxed to point beyond
which taxation can scarcely further go without
bringing absolute ruin. l say, contemplate
these facts together and the conclusion is ire
Delayed with safety TO the highest material
interest of the West. 1t has been shown
that the cost of freight transportation by water
is five hundred per cent less than by rail, h fact
| which is more emphatic than any argument
could be; rs then the value of grain to the pro-
of transportation goes directly to swell the prof
its OF the farmer"
He also advocate. an effort to greater diver
si.y of production, which he says is what the
West needs. Because favorable season for
corn is argued, 1t is absurd that everybody
| should plant corn to such an extent as to make
it of no value and make it loss to the producer.
| Now I say to the old men and young men,
and particularly of Virginia. take the advice OF
the Governor of Kansas to his people, and rea-
| son the matter over in your minds before you
| decide to leave comfortable homes, where you
enjoy good health, good society, and get good
prices for al! you produce, to change them Tor a
| home in the West where the extreme and rigid
winter will make you shiver with cold and com
pei you in many places, owing to the lack OF
| to make you comfortable and where it will re-
quire all the profit above the labor to produce q
crop to be paid to railroad companies to carry it
to market.
young men will stay at home and work
| half us hard MS they will be compelled to work
out here, l know they will do better. 1t is true
that many have been fortunate in coming West
| by locating near some enterprising place and
investing in property, &C.; they have made
money and become rich; and when an instance
of this kind occurs it is herslded over tle East,
and many hear of the successful but you do not
hear of the great numbers who have failed and
would gladly return if they could.
In my next will give you the causes of the
great rush of immigration to the West and de-
scribe some of tho most prosperous and growing
| towns. VIRGINIAS
| ATcuIsoS, Kansas, Sept. rs.
FARMERS CLUB IN KING GEORGE Co.--The
Farmers Club held its monthly meeting at
Marmion, the dwelling fMr Fielding Lewis, Fri
day, oath Marmion is an old family residence,