The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-27
From Kansas.
OrTAWA, DEC. II. Isl

farming in Kansas pay? | answer it does
but not of course to the extent itdoes in some
other states, where they have the advantage
of less distance To permanent markets, and, rs
in your section Of country, the advantage OF
water transportation. 1t is fact that Kansas
can not raise on an aggregate the amount OF
corn that Illinois or some other states can
for the fact that she has not the uniform rich
ness of soil. There are farms here that will
produce equally as well rs any fam in Hi.
nois but they are in measure limited in
number Agriculture has to "A certain extent
been neglected in the past but as the country
continues to settle and improve, this branch
of business will of course improve and grow
| better with it,
! Kansas people like the people of every new
country, arc Of speculative turn of mind.
They choose rather to deal and trade IN land
as o matter Of speculation than to settle down
and become honest successful tillers of the
soil, consequently the comparatively I'm.
developed condition of agriculture.
Many come TO Kansas with the one idea Of
purchasing large tracts of land, and even cX-
pend their last dollar IN land which they
never improve and which is Il constant source
of expense to them. Small farms are the best
As additional evidence of this | quote from
the Kansas GUIDE the following: Don't buy
yourself land poor. The southern custom of
owning large amount of lands and cutiyat-
ing them but partially or poorly is a wretched
policy, both for the owner and the state.
Many men become poverty stricken because
they own SO much land. They can not i'm
prove it, they will not sell, and wish no
ncighbors, while the taxes are to DO paid on
what makes no returns. Their land costs
them more every year, and takes all the
prsvements and for family comforts A
small farm will make man rich and large
farm may make him poor. Just Whist land
farmer can improve by tillage or pasturage
is what he ought to own. Indeed he need
not purchase only what ho fences and cult
Yates. If he can improve five hundred acres
then five hundred acres IL not too much
But it is mistake, and some have found i'll
cultivate only fifty. A small farm is all that
is necessary in most cases IL costs less, Is
more easily bought and sold, more rapidly
pad for, has less fence to keep in repair, and
is likely to DO bcttor improved and more pro
ductiye than if large tracts are taken up and
poorly cared for, and carelcssly cultivated"
Vans of permanent grain markets makes
farming a branch Of business that Is not very
extensively carried on only when associated
with stock raising. Corn il raised in
sufficient quantities to supply bone demand
and at prices that are sometimes few cents
above and sometimes below the prices of your
prices at present are for corn. 30 cents; wheat
il 25m lJ0; oats, 5000 cents
Farming here is generally associated with
stock raising, which is rapidly becoming the
business of Kansas, in fact, is already. The
Guide ia speaking Of this branch of business
says: The entire region south OF the Kansas
Pacific railroad is the herdsman5 country,
that he shall become rich is only question
of time. The cattle trade must assume in
mensc proportions increasing with the years
and reccdmg toward the unoccupied lands.
Large grazing farms will take the place how
ever OF ranges, herds and herdsmen, with far
more benefit to all branches of industry"
The profits Of raising cattle arc greater
than offered in any other branch of stock
raising Some of our most experienced cat
tie raiserS claim that they can with an average
outlay Of $50 in spring or summer secure $40
or $50 in sales in the fall or winter Of the
same year, and this statement may be relied
on. From comparisons made rs to the actual
cost of cattle in some of the best cattle grow
ing states of the east, Kansas will exhibit the
greater advantages which it must always
possess. There is nothing to prevent man
from amassing wealth in this branch of bus
mess if he uses a little iudicious manage
ment
Another nice feature of Kansas is It's adap-
ton TO fruit growing Apple and peach orch
ards are of course in comparatively new
state, especially the apple, out 'hose that nave
come to good producing state show fruit
that is superior in quantity size and quality.
Small fruits, such such as currents, gooseber
ries black berries, pums and cherries are a
sure crop and yield abundantly.
Our numerous and well established vine
wards, and the fact that farmers raise their
own grapes settles the question that this is
the paradise for grapes. They constitute one
of the chief Injuries of Kansas and are Il
source of great profit.
Before concluding this article must refer
to few miscellaneous facts. The grange
movement, so called, is assuming huge pro-
portions. Kansas is not far behind any OF her
sister states In this respect Success to the
cause.
Branches Of business OF every kind are not
| very lively.