The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-08-13
The Plague is Upon Us.

Last week. in view of the evident affects o
long continued drou;h that was proving dis
astrous TO some Of orr crops and cuitin,
short Others. we felt constrained TO addre>
the farmers of this valley few cheerin.
words in which we gave something Of the cX
perience of GO, made not uniay orable com
parison Of the prospects of this valley witt
other and larger sections of the west that wer,
affected in the same manner, and attempted IL
show that while all admitted The superio!
yield of our wheat, that corn and potatoes
would make good haif crop. and that while
these would fail short OF even that in some in
stances they would largely oyerrun in others
We also cited the promising condition OF the
cotton. enough of which was growing and
fourishing within the radius of iily miles ia
abundanty satisfy even the most skeptic, thai
we might set it down us one OF our future
staples. In spite Of the prophecies Of cbroni,
grumblcrs, in spite of dry weather, and in
spite Of all other drawbacks. we arrived al
the cheerful conclusion that 1874 would mol
be, nor could il be set down 20 small as a hall
crop year. We wrote honestly and with the
judgment and experience Of rany farmers in
our possession.
Eut hardly had We peancd our encouraging
article, and white yet the clanking of the pres
for that addition was in our ears, a greater
misfortune than the partial drouth, the Indian.
scare or the lightning storms settled down
upon orr green valley. Throughout Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday last, the Minnesota
Srasshopper or gryllus, with insatiate maws,
came upon IL in great numbers. in untola
millions, in clouds upon clouds, until theii
nuttering wings looked like n sweeping snow
storm in the hea, en-, until their dark bode,
covered everything green upon the earth. IT,
few hours many fields that had hung thick
With long ears Of golden maize were stripped
OF their value and left only forest Of bar,
yellow stocks tina: in their nakedness mockea
the tiIler of the soil is he thus saw vanish hi
last chance 10 save his home, or perhaps In,
last hope for bread for the drca.y winter
months to come.
A stiff breeze had been setting in from the
north Tor two days which carried the grass
hoppers in immense numbers to the south OF
us. Their flight was high in the air, but when
they once began 10 settle an hours time was
sufficient to cover the earth with them. Man,
expedents were hit upon by farmers 10 dri,,
them away. Smokes were created to the
windward Of corn fields which in some i'll
stances put the locusts 10 flight, but only TO
give place TO more famishcd clouds of tn,
long-lcgged, wriggling, cursed insects. A,
first they only attacked corn in the milk, th,
tender blades AMI the vines and fruits of gar
dens, but for the past three days they hay,
been eating corn that was very nearly matur
ed-cob, husk and silk chawing up the very
leaves of the forest trees; moving of TIN
tops Of hedge fences; gorging themselves Oh
tomatoes, peaches, melons, the cotton plan.
and even the wild sun flower.
To wllat extent the growing crops are in
Jurec on AL average We are unable 10 state
That many fields have been completely de-
stroycd we know. anu that enIess the PEST,
leave in very short time we are satisfied th,
entire cora crop win be taken.
by exchanges and dispatches we see thai
this section is not the only sufferer. The,
have spread from Minnesota to the base OF Tia,
Rocky mountains a8d throughout Colorado.
through Iowa, Nebraska and northwestern
Missouri. one or two counties in Illinois Ar,
being visited by them. In our own state al
most every eouniy il Suffering from their raw
ages, but the settlers OF the older portion, Vi
the state will mol suffer 80 severely. of course
the farmers whv are just opening up their
places, having no surplus upon which TO TAI
back.
In view of the fact that many Of the settlers
OF this and adjoining counties were cacuiat-
ing upon the returns OF good crop from which
10 pay for their places or meet notes given ioi
the government purchase money, aud in view
OF the other fact taa. with full crops mans o.
the new settlers would have had little TO spare.
We hardly know what 10 advise. II is cyldrnl
TO every thinking person who has kept him
self posted that TO escape the effects Of Tn,
dronh ami the grasshoppers one must go a
long ways east. for but few of the western.
states are any better on than Kansas except
I'm being Older settled. With empty cribs ano
grancries staring ore in the face it would
prove presuinptous to ilipantly advise anu
jocosely ignore. II Is certain that it woulo
prove worse than foolishncss 10 run unles-
those fleeing know exactly what they were
going TO- But we are sale in saying BE pa
ticnt and plucky. There has never been bui
one other grasshopper seourge IN this vale,
that we are aware OF, and that was ten years
ago, when this county was occupied by In
dams and traders. Mr.. J. X. Mead. who was
among the latter, says the cold rains killed OF
all the young ones that hatched the following
spring. 4, soon Is the time comes and the
ground Is in proper condition sow good biz
field Of wheat with few acres of rye for win
ter pasture. Sow as early n grasshopper,
and drouth viii allow. Cut an abundance OF
wild hay and all the fodder you can. Bc care
ful and stack your straw. and rs you thresh il
sprinkle little salt with it. II you are com.
PEELED to sell cattle or hogs unfatiencd, tr,
and retain your cows and best pigs. And
above ali. keep stin upper lip, think of
prosperous year ahead and do not jump from
the frying pan into the fire, gripping yourself
financially and sacrificing all the property you
have. 10y going back east where matters are
little if any better than in this valley.
The Wichita Mills are progressing finely |
under the supervision of Mr.. Hargis. The |
iron root is all on and the tall brick smoke |
stack is growing upwards. II is scene OF !
busy life within IFS walls, about twenty-five |
men being employed. Reese n Sawyer are |
flying around among their carpenters from
morning till night. The miwIight. Mr. |
Beals, has arrived and taken charge of the
work that will receive the machinery. Mr.. |
Hargis says he hopes 10 steam up in about SIX
or sevel weeks. In The mean time he will
purchase all the wheat that may be brought
10 him, paying the market price in cash lie
purchased upwards of eleven hundred bushels |
last Saturday and is buying more or less every
day. Buf little OF the machinery has arrived |
yet. but il will all be here by the time the !
building is ready TO receive il. Mr.. Imboden. /
partner, arrived from Illinois the other day. |
lie is very much OF gentleman and looks like |
business. Mr.. /. Is Il Young man and we well |
come him TO our city. The Wichita Touring |
mill is the finest ESTABLISHING nj of the kind in |
the state and lis capacity vii! be about two
hundred barrels OF -four per day. We will |
give complete description of the entire four
stories and all that is in them As soon as Messrs
llargis and lmbojen are ready for Us. la the |
mean time bring along your wheat. Mr. Beals |
says this is the iifty-lhrd mill he has built and
that il viii he the faosI complete mill he ever
saw.
NJ. +. Hudson. the master of the stale
grange, accompanied by Mr.. Hanna. the chap
lain. spent last Friday in our city. meeting
with the county council and consulting the
masters Of the subordinate oranges of Scd--
wick county. all for the good of the order.
MIR. Hudson. who spent the forenoon in our
ofiice,i> quiet, plain and unostentotious gen.