Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-05-01
Faon kANsAs.

From KANSAS.
GREAT BEND, KANsAs,|
April 81, 1873.
EDITORS COURIER -
Thinking that a few words from
South Kansas might not bt
entirely devoid of interest to your
readers, resolved to pen you . few
lines.
Since leaving goo l old Wapello coun.
ty, / have explored much Of that ter.
ritory anciently known as "droNths
Kansas" and have taken up my abode
in the midst Of that portion Of country
which, in my "school-mam" days at the
pleasant little town Of Ashland, It waa
my custom to instruct the childrsn that
this was the Great Desert of ARsertcd'
These earlier Impressions After pass
ing from nine to twelve. months In
Kansas, are soon superseded by the
real facts which must come to the
kn owledge of all after travelling thrc
the State.
Much has been said and written Of
the advantages and extensive resour-
ces Of the State Of Kansas, and in many
instances the truth has been shamefhlly
disregarded by parties who are inter-
ested in the rapid settlement Of the
country such statements have bean
detrimental In many instances 70 the
substantial settlement Of the country.
Many people have been induced to
come to this country under represen-
tations, that once landed, their fortunes
were made, and that the "sunny south,
as some are pleased to term it. is the
Eden Of Paradise where they may eat,
drink and be merry without paying
the price: "the sweat Of their brow
Success is the reward Of earnest en-
deavor, in Kansas Is we'll Is in any
other country, and they who come
hither expecting that wealth snd pros
perity will be the theirs must pay the
price. The howery beds Of ease that
are spread to day-dreamers, will sud-
denly disappear, and the man who has
not the pluck to battle with the ele-
ments In their natural state will not
make successful Kansas Jayhawker.
But on the other hand the young man
who has the nerve to undergo some
privations for the sake Of obtaining .
home and competence for himself and
those he may choose to have with him,
will find abundant opportunities in
Kansas, even in Barton county. To
say that this is q better State than Iowa,
or New York, would be saying what I
don't believe.
Iowa, know her too well, she is
Q noble State-has many advantages,
but to the young and middle-aged man
who from their pecuniary circumstan-
ces are obliged to rent from year to
year, paying to their landlords from
one.third to one-half Of the proceeds
Of their labor, it does seem to me that
they are giving away half Of their. lives,
and by remaining in q country under
such disadvantages, not only live un-
happy themselves, but as general rule,
hand the same unwantsd sstate down
to their posterity. III
Barton county is located near the
center of the State--is divided by the
great Arkansas river into two parts
and in this county the Arkansas riv-
or makes q great bend to the north
from which the name of our city
(Great Bend) is taken. One year ago
the ground now occupied by Great
Bend, city of the third class under
the laws OF Kansas, was marked by
two buildings only, which has been
multiplied until the beautiful town
site is now dotted with over one hum
drcd and twenty-five buildings, fur
nishing homes and business places for
five hundred persons. The county
was organized during the summer of
1872. The county-seat is located ct
Great Bend. Since the organization
of the county the number of its inhab-
itants has increased almost daily. The
completion of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railroad to the western line
of the State, has opened up the Great
Valley of the Arkansas for settlement,
and trains are now running at the rate
of two each way per day one for the
especial benefit. of land-seekers, the
other for through and local freights.--
Our little city of Great Bend is located
near the center of the county -
one q beautiful rise between the
Arkansas and Walnut river bottoms.
The Walnut river is over $50 miles in
length, furnishing an abundance of
water during the entire year. Upon
this stream we have most of our tim
ber. Timber is not very abundant in
this portion of Kansas, but sufficient
to supply the country tor some years
with wood. Wood has been ceiling
during the winter for from five to six
dollars per cord, and not much demand
at that, as most of the people use coal.
Coal has been found In the Eastern
part Of the county. but as yet it is
undeveloped and its extent unknown.
Good water can be obtained at q
depth of from IA to Is feet. The
wells most used in the county are
drive wells, which cost one dollar per
foot. The water is a. good ~ Iowa's
best, and wells seem to be inexhausta-
BILE. al satt4l aI
The soil ~ far ~ tried, seems to be
rich in quality, producing q, heavy
coat of grass. The bottoms are usu.
oily covered with the long blue stem
grass, the upland with grass known
a. buffalo grass. This grace grows
heavy ON the ground but very short
and 70 choice grazing for buffalo and
Texas cattle. II is said by stock men
/ to possess more nutrition than any
other kind of grass, and whom it dryi
| in winter, to retain its nourishing quail.
tiles the same as mown hay. /, have
often thought that .this portion Of
Kansas could not be equalled a. I
grazing country, and peculiarly adapt.
cd to sheep raising. 81 a4d j. 81
The old State of, Iowa IL pretty vel
represented in Barton county, and w
l are al assured that the NUMBER will b<