The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-04-15

the choicest of which, for climate, sci
, and health, are to be found in the grea
valley Of the Arkansas. in the countie
named above.
THE ARKANSAS RIVER
is little less than 1000 miles in length
being one of the longest and swiftes
running streams upon the continent
Rising in Colorado territory, longitud
one hundred and six and One-half de
grees west of Greenwich, and latitud
thirty-nine and One-half degrees north
receiving it's waters from rivulets ant
springs that are fed by the melting o
the eternal SHOWS of the snowy rang,
which rears its rugged, lofty and snow
crowned peaks $50 miles west of aH(
5000 feet above the base of the Rock,
mountains, it flows completely around
the south peak, surges and sparkles a
the base of Mount Lincoln and rushe.
out through canyon in Pixies Peal
range into the valley Of estern COlora
do and ON eastward, It enters Kansa.
seventy-five miles north of the sOutf
line of the state, runs due east l40 miles
DIVORCES seyenty-five miles northeast
then angles to the Southeast, forming
what is known as the Great Bend
thence a little south of east through
Kansas, the Indian territory and the
state of Arkansas, emptying into the
Mississippi midway between Memphis
and Vicksburg. The Arkansas is q
broad and shallow stream. with many
islands, low but we'll defined banks
varying from four to ten feet in height
The most remarkable features are that
although draining q country, before
reaching Kansas, larger than all New
England, and although it carries TIL.
melting SHOWS in June. July and Au.
gust of many Thousand square miles, il
never overfows its banks, but its wa.
tiers are curiously kept within the bed
of the stream, working great benefit
to the soil of the valley for miles upon
each side. The fact is the bed of the
stream throughout its source in Kan
sas is composed of sand and gravel, as
also the subsoil of the adjacent lands.
The superabundant water spreads it.
self through his subsoil, instead of
OVERLOOKING the country, as would be
the case if the subsOil of the wide val
leys was clay. So completely does the
porus subso,l drink up this water that
most of the year it is easily forbade
with teams, and there has been times
when, in the western portion of the
state, the river bed would go dry, al
though water could be obtained three
or four inches below the surface, where
in reality the river was flowing in the
gravel. The river at Wichita is about
l 800 feet wide, at Hutchinson, forty
miles further up, it is 1000 feet wide
THE VALLEY AND SOIL.
The richest and most desirable por-
ton Of the valley lies between the
Great Bend and the point where the
river enters in the Indian territory, in
which area are the counties OF Reno,
Harvey, Scdgwick, Sumner, Cowley
and Butler. To describe perfectly the
lands, streams, towns and productions
facile and forciblc pen than we WELD.
The valley proper or bottom is from
ten to twenty miles in width. The
higher lands upon either side are kind
of second bottom, or low rolling prai-
ries, with just enough undulation or
swell to carry off the extra rain falls.
The soil of the valley proper, which is
also marked by gentle swells, is chief
Iy a sandy loan, made up of such min
cral elements as have been washed
from the Rocky mountains by the attri-
ton of ages. 1t is a marked feature of
this soil that it contains much larger
proportion of mineral matter than the
prairie soils of Illinois and Iowa, which
are chiefly vegetable mould. For this
reason our valley will improve by cul-
tivation. To those accustomed to
murky soil, there appears to be in
places in this valley too much sand, but
the experience of our farmers is direct
ly the opposite. Read what the editor
of the american Agricuiturist, who vi
sited this valley in April of this year,
has to say:
1.-The soil is deep black loan, rest
ing on lighter colored subsoil COLI
sisting of loan, clay and gravel, both
soil and subsoil being SO porus that
surface water readily passes through
them, and in no case is there any diff
Guilty experienced in crossing with
horses and wagons or stock, any water
courses or beds of streams. Teams may
be driven across springs or creek bot
toms fearlessly, without danger of mir
ing. This porosity of the soil, while
it renders it capable of being plowed or
worked Immediately after the heaviest
rains, ut the same lime keeps is con-
stantly moist from evaporation below, |
and protects it from drouth. Within
six hours of the cessation of a rain in |
which judge at least three inches of |
water fell. saw farmers breaking sod |
and cHltivating the young corn. The
crops Of corn, oats, rye, spring and fall |
wheat, potatoes and garden vegetables, |
which l saw growing, both on new and |
Did brcakings, in various localities in
he valley, are equal to any that have
.ver seen elsewhere, during many
,ears' experience. Iknow of no part
If the country, possessing a more at
ractive soil for the farmer than this,
STOCK.
This is the natural home for cattle.
from early spring until the middle Of
october or the first Of November the
lcrds Of farmers and stock raiser's
wander leisurely through the green
lutricious grasses that brush their
ides in open meadows that are bound
ess. growing fat and producing their
lind. The abundant grasses, pure wa
ers and warm climate render this por-
ion of Kansas the finest stock country
in the known world. The
orn crop is safe before the rains cease,
nd after that time the grass cures
Ipon the ground and makes q natural
ay. retair ing much Of its nutritious
Qualities. which serves as a perennial
assure for stock. The fall and winter
easons. which east of the Missouri ,
re marked by the prevalence of cold
aims and chilling storms so trying 10
took, here are marked by dry and
racing weather. Occasional storms. ,
a which light. dry snow is driftsd and ,
-reathcd upon the surface, occur, dur !
lg which the farmer will feel called .
pom to shelter and feed his stock. !,
'hus this country is specially adapted .
,r sheep and stock-raising in GENUINE ,
on with grain growing. and must un- !
soon become great source /,
{ supply of beef and mutton to the !,
astern markets. Thousands of tons :
has can be had for the cutting at =
,st Of as TO IS cents per ton, which !,
IN be used for making sheds for cat =
e for shelter during our short winter
two or three months. Fortunes arc :,
eing made and will be made in the :
Using of stock in this valley. !,
TREES. !,
Forest and fruit trees grow with Il
rani6ity in this valley. The 4
OK Of timber, with our herd law, IL &
1t little felt, but svea that wasn't win q