The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-01-01
TREES.

/
be removed III a few years. All that j
necessary is TO keep down the prairie
fires, the putting in of the seed or cut
/ tings, and with ordinary cultivation
all kinds of trees grow with sucl
astonishing rapdity as TO test the ere
dulity of eastern IGeB. No doubt
dense forests would have generation
since covered these rich rolling prai
ries. but for the destructive OF fire;
| that annually swept over them. Blu
il is much cheaper. better and quickel
1 TO build up homes and make farm
here than il was for our forcfather
east and north, who were compelled (,
/ first remove heavy forests from tn,
grounds. For fencing the Usage Orang,
as hedge will i'll time be the univcr
sal fence. Cheap, sure and efficient a
a fence. wind break for stock and :
relief 10 the eye, most of our farIner
are already growing such fences, not
withstanding the '.herd law" whicl
cOmpels every man TO take care of hi
own stock.
WATER.
1t has been widely supposed tina
central and western, if not eastern
Kansas suffered from dry climate
Like many other ideas relative TO thu
western parts of the great Missouri
Valley, we need hardly say, this. so fal
as the eastern and central parts of thu
state are concerned. is exploded. i
springs and water-courses in whose
channels aquatic plants, needing foi
their existence constant moisture: i
| frequently-occurring streams; if rain,
frequently occurring and copiouslv de.
scending: if all these are proofs, thei
there is abundant testimony that al
through the valley there is ample rain
fall. In fact, after all that has been
written Of the Arkansas river, it i,
almost superfluous to say that the wa
ter of this valley region is abundan,
and pure. 1t is without doubt the best
watcred portion of Kansas. On the
bottoms drive wells" or tube wells
are universally used. They consist OF
tube of galvanized iron, with steel
point, the lower end Of the tube hav-
ing holes on the sides, around which is
wrapped a piece of wire gauze for a
strainer, this pipe is driven into the
ground, through a hole in the kitchen
dictates, and water is reached at a
depth Of from six to fifteen feet. A
pump is placed upon the pipe and in
an hours time boundlcss supply OF
pure. cold, healthy water is obtained.
HEALTHFULNEss
Here is a county in which malaria
finds no conditions favorable to its cx-
istence. Stagnant wafer is not 10 be
found either on or beneath the surface
The air, too, is in constant motion; a
fresh breeze constantly fans the cheek
and brings health TO the lungs. In
such an atmosphere as here exists, the
system is invigoratcd, and labor is
neither irksome nor fatiguing. These
constant brceZes also afford unlimited
and valuable power for windmills Of
every description or for all purposes.
CLIMATE.
Here is climate which exactly meets
the requirements of the agriculturast,
whether he be farmer. orchardist.
stockman or shepherd. In early spring,
when the soil is freed from the slender
grasp of what little frost ii is subject
to during the short winter, it is in adj
mirable condition for blowing and
preparation for crops. Then comes a
season of rains and showers, which
lasts into July, when only occasional
showers occur to interfere with har-
vesting operations.
COAL, ROCK AND CLAY.
There is no longer any uncertainty
as to the discovery of coal in this val
ley. 1t has been found in several places,
and there is not the least doubt that it
will be developed in such quantities as
to supply fuel at very low rates A
test is being made at Wichita with
drill for coal. One small vein has been
passed through at n depth of forty or
fifty feet. The present supply is fur
nished by the railroad at from twenty
five to thirty-fivc cents per bushel.
Rock is not 50 abundant as to be troub-
lesome, AS in some places in eastern
Kansas, but it is found in quantities
sufficient for building purposes. Clay,
suitable for brick making, is abundant,
and the best quality of sand being
everywhere accessible, there is no lack
of excellent building material.
GYPSUM.
Should constant cultivation ever de
velop the fact in this valley. which is
apparent in all other countries in the
world. that fertilizers must first or last
be applied TO all lands which are not
subject TO overflow. if farms are to be
kept up to their original state of pro-
have a never failing sup
ply i'll the vast gypsum beds which in
tersect the valley in this and adjoining
counties. 1t is unsurpassed in quality
and ineXhaustable in amount. When
broken TO pieces and ground in Il mill
it becomes the Gland plaster" of COM
mercc. which sells for ten dollars ton
in eastern cities.
TOWNS.
That portion of the valley of which
we have been more particularly speak
ing--an area of fifty by one hundred
of many fine and flour
shing towns, where mechanics or
Iradesmcn may find splendid locations,
and where all may find churches, school
houses, printing presses and refined
and intelligent society. We may men
lion Hutchinson, the county seat of
Reno county; Newton. the county seat
IF Harvey: Wichita, the county seat of
WellingtOn,t the county seat
DfSumncr: Eldorado. the county seat of
Butler; and Windtield, the county seat
IF Cowley, besides Arkansas City. Ok
ord, Belle Plain. FL Paso. Caldwell,
City, Medicine Lodge and
many Others, all of them growing and
ioing an active business.
Such is the superficial character of
he Arkansas valley in the central parts
IF the state, and the valleys of its east
I'm tributaries. In conjunction with
his favorable surface, is the richest
'oil, susceptible of the easiest cultiva-
ion: abundant flowing water from
'prings and streams: the sweetest fla !
'ored and most wholesome water in !
wells in permanent supply at an aver |
Ige depth of fifteen to twenty feet be- |
ow the surface; pure. bracing air, I
ntircly free from miasma or other un- |
reality influences. with a climate pc
uiiarly favorable for agricultural OPP /
rations.
All these considerable advantages .
ombine to make this beautiful and .
critic valley and these gentlv-swelliu@ 1
lopes, especially attractive. The /
Dung farmer seeking n home, who I
las few means beyond his own indus /
ry and strong arms and willing hands .
10 carve it out, NAV here
md free homestead on United States
ands, or purchase at low prices, on
emarkablc easy terms of payment and
With a liberal discount for improve
nen;s. from the railrod company. Very
iten he may thus purchase at relative
Y cheaper prices than b. taking a !
free gift from the govern
lent of tract of land for his farm.
he parents of children who desire to .
stabish them in homes of their own.
r to re-estabiish their own or their
lildren's health failing, in less favor
q REGIONS. may here exactly sHit iheir