The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-11-06
LETTER FROM FORT SCOTT, KANSAS.
Fort SCOTT, Kansas, Oct. 90, 1875.


EDITOR CECIL WHIG:-As l predicted
in a letter published in The Wing last June,
Kansas has nobly redeemed herself from
the ravages Of the grasshoppers by pro-
ducing abundant crops of ecerything that
was planted.
At that time the farmers were very nat
urally greatly discouraged, the crops Of IA
having been 4 comparative failure, and up
future looked gloomy indeed. Starvation
was staring many of them in the face.
The majority of them possessed pluck,
however, and liberal minded men in this
city furnished them seed for several times
replanting, to be paid at the maturity of
the crop, and this year Kansas yielded a
surplus of ten million bushels of wheat
alone, while the corn, castor bean, and flax
crops were simply enormous, and the "hon-
est yeomen " have an hundred fold reward
for their patience and toll. And now, be
it said to their credit, as l am informed by
our merchants they are living economi-
cally avoiding the luxuries and buying
only the necessaries of life; and anoth er
favorable year will, to use one of their
own rather singular, but withal appropri-
ate, expressions, "put them on their feet
again.
| But the great trouble with the West
arises from the fact that she produces more
food than she can eat, and as it costs too
much to send it to the hungry millions
through the markets of the world, she
burns some, wastes more, and quarrels
over the remainder. The capacity of Mis-
souri, and Kansas for the production of
bread and meat is, practically, Unlimited.
One would naturally suppose that people
would be happy where the food supply is in
such great excess Of the demand. But this
is not so, and men quarrel over feast as
well as famine. The Scriptures tell us
that "man does not live by bread alone, y
and we know that although food is neces-
wants of animal life. The "living soul -
has a thousand wants and demands that
could not be supplied by the kitchen of a
king.
What should the West do. That is the
conundrum of the hour. The farmers of
the Western States have moved almost in
a mass OH this subject, but the remedy they
propose looks more like palliative than a
specific for a great disease. Cheap trans
portation is good as far as it goes, but that
is not far enough. If the mountain will
not go to Mahomet, then let Mahomet 60
to the mountain. If the West cannot send
her corn to feed the hungry millions of
Europe, suppose she invite some Of those
millions to come and eat it just where it
grows. How can she induce them to come ?
By multiplying her industries. The West
can only secure financial independence by
manufacturing as well as farming. Her
industries should be so diversified that
every hand, SO far as practicable, should
| feed it's own mouth. This would be a
wholesome kind of political economy that
would bring prosperity to any community.
Idle hands and hungry mouths frequently
90 together, and both are full of mischief.
The West must not only give employment
to it's present population, but offer work to
millions more, especially those connected
with the mechanical industries of the
world. By so doing she would make a
home market for her products and secure
social and financial independence.
Finance, with the kindred topics of rail.
roads, labor, cheap transportation, &C., &c,
form the staple of all talk here at present
among business men. l say all of these,
because they naturally run into each other
and their different bearings and natura
antagonists serve to complicate and mys
tify the whole subject. If we try to solve
the financial problem of the hour We fine
it running into labor, transportation, farm
ing, manufacturing, and every other human
interest. Nearly all the men in this coun
try who have not a surplus of cash, or art
in debt, favor initiation, while those mer
who possess SC many bonds that it require.
three or four days to cut the coupons off
no matter what their politics, are hard
money" men. The inflationists claim thai
there is not sufficient amount of currency
for the requirements of trade 10 the West
and that the Government ought, at least
to put in circulation the $24, 900, 900 tina
it pays annually to the national banks, ant
and dispense entirely with the nationa
banking system. But as half the brains o
the last American Congress got into grant
muddle over the Financial question:" i
would be rather presumptuous in me tt
offer an opinion or suggestion, so I drop it
see by The Wing you are clearing on
the channels of the "noble old Elk" Tina
is as it should be. What is there now t,
hinder Elkton from doubling her popula
ton? l hear you answer "Too much oil
fogyism." Why not offer all possible in
ducements to both capital and labor to com
to the town instead of driving them ava
&c? Certainly Elk.on has unequaled ad
vantages for manufacturing town, and i
as beautiful and healthy spot as there i
in Maryland and there is no good reason
prosperity.
Ekton! sweetest village on the Easter
Shore! What bright memories are con
jured up by the writing Of that simpl
name! What crowds of familiar face
come trooping up on every side! Blacl
eyes, blue eyes, brown eyes, loving eyes,
how they peer over my shoulder and lool
up full Of love and happiness from the dull
paper! How these fair ghosts of memoir
carry me back to the scenes of childhood
How the beautiful valleys and broad prairie
of this fertile land turn to gloomy gran
deur as wander back to those bright days
laughing eyes, and loving hearts Yes,
81 love that quiet country town,
BY which a river falls and flows.''