The Portland daily press., 1874-05-12
A Voice from Kansas.

SOLOMON CITY, DICKINSON Co. Apr. "a, 1874
To the Editor of the Press:
mentioned in my last letter to you that 1
had number of subjects of interest to write
about, relating 10 our town and its advan-
tages, which did not have room for in that
letter. will call your attention first to our de-
lighttul climate, that being usually consider
ed of primary importance by persons seeking
a new home. Our winters are short with but
very little snow. The spring usually opens
in March, and vegetation progresses rapidly.
Speaking Of snow, reminds us of the sleigh
ing the first winter of our residence here.
There was hardly enough tor runners, but
those of us who had been accustomed to
sleigh riding every winter, coul 4 not see the
snow melt away, without an attempt al
tempt at least, to have one ride out of it, TO
remind us of departed days." Anything
that runners could be adjusted to was in de
mand; dry goods boxes being the easiest
handled We're the most sought for, and while
they were hurridly being constructed into
seIghs, parties waiting for the muck antici
pa.ei ride were anxiously watching the sEow
fearing lit would vanish before the sleighs
would be completed, though they would usu-
ally occupy but few hours in construction,
and oftener a few minutes would suffice.
That is about the amoant of our sleighing
here, so you can judge of how much snow
we have. The climatic table of Central Kan
sas shows how remarkable the equability OF
the climate is here. A gentleman who has
resided at Solomon for five years past, has ac-
curately observed and kept record of the
weather during that time. From Oct. 1, 1878
to Jan. 18th 1874 the indication of the ther
mometer before sunrise, and at two O'Clock
was taken, thus giving the extremes of heat
and cold each day, and the result was as fol-
lows: Mean for sunrise during the month OF
Oct, A 1871. Mean for P. NJ, 68 20-31.
Nov. Mean for sunrise 33, for P. M, So
for 2 P. NJ, 81 1871. Jan. Mean for sun
rise 23 Alp, for 2 P. NJ, 40 S-12. We think
this table speaks for itself. Our summers
are not extremely warm, and our Dights are
always cool, our evening breezes refreshing
man and beast, thus preparing them for the
labors of the coming day. The atmosphere
is pure and invigorating. The elevation
above the sea level is 1000 feet. We have
no stagnant water thus making Central
Kansas remarkably healthful, while it is
quite free from that much dreaded disease.
cbills and fever. We have very little sick
ness, and for incipent consumption, diseases
of the throat, and indeed 1 may say for all
diseases, this locality has very healing in
fluences. doubt if could conseientously
advise physicians to locate here, expecting to
make fortune by their Profession. We have
had three here, bat one left to seek more
urhealthful climate in which to practice the
healing art, another has been spending the
winter abroad, on pleasure trip, to give the
people chance to get sick, and the remain
ing one, l imagine would get away if he
could, providing he is expecting to get rich
through sick people. l would say, however,
here, that persons coming here in an
enfeebled state of health can have
the best medical attention given them.
il thew desire it, 1t has been supposed by
many not acquainted with this climate that
we are subject to severe drouths, but table
published by the department OF Agricult ure,
proves the contrary, and shows what relation
Kansas bears to other states. Dry statistics
and figures are not generally interesting, so l
will merely say that the average fall of rain
in twenty one states during the months of
May, June, and July was reported for ten
years, and the result was 10. 10 inches for
Kansas, being more by about two inches than
in any other state mentioned. Since we
have been here we have had rains just as
they were needed, and the crops have never
suffered for the want Of them, and our sum-
mer showers are very delightful. We have a
well and cistern ON our place, and have al
ways lad an abundance of water, at all sea-
sons for ourselves and neighbors. will next
say few words in regard to our soil which is
very productive and very easily cultivated
1t is from three to six feet in depth. 1t is
very rich, being the result of years of decom-
position of the grass which every where COW
ers our praires, and has been converted INTO
rich vegetable mold. Mixed clay and SANDS
lie beneath this. Crops have been produc-
tive for fifteen or sixteen years in succession