The Leavenworth weekly times., 1875-08-12
CHIPS FRoM KAw VALLEY TIMBER
What We Didn't Intend to Write About
and What We Did,

tin,s known as "Old Abe" has departed
this life having been drowned one day last
week while attempting to cross Walnut
Creek, near Ell Dorado, Butler county, in a
wagon with team of mules, which were
also drowned. lie was down in that coun-
try on business, and had started homeward.
His body was found 4 day or two after
wards, and buried near the place Of the
casualty. He leaves wife and six chill
dren TO mourn his loss. But this is not
what we intended writing about.
The corn crop OF the Kaw Valley, in
Leavenworth county, promises to be even
better this year than usual. The grasshop-
pers did some mischief, but such is the
wonderful fertility Of this soil, that the
corn insisted upon growing in spite OF them.
About six weeks ago the writer left Salt
Creek Valley, "a region of good land and
good people, but which the grasshoppers
had fearfully ravaged), and established
himself al Paw Paw Bend. But even then
The farmer with whom he engaged board,
had been having them in plenty, but at the
time Of my arrival the ears had grown be-
yond the roasting ear stage. This same
farmer has now about 200 acres of grow
ing corn, rapidly maturing. He is now
picking the big ears and putting them in
portable cribs, of which lie has large
number. These cribs are shingled
with bristles, and the eon goes in at the
front gable. A great deal of new clearing
was done along this river last winter and
spring, and consequently there is consider
ably larger acreage OF corn than usual.
With the exception of fields in which the
stand was very much delayed on account of
the hoppers, this crop is now safe against
all contingencies OF drouth and frost, and
will yield from sixty to one hundred BUSH
els per acre. Our township road overseers
have been busy improving the highways
leading down to the bottom, and every
other facility will he provided prairie far
mers needing "aid" during the coming win
ter TO come hither and get grain at the cur
rent market rates. We shall raise much
more OF the other fall products than COM
mon: for instance, buckwheat, potatoes,
turniPs, paw-paws, hogs, wild plums,
pumpkins, &c. Millet yields from three to
five tons per acre. But this is not what we
intended writing about.
We read the somewhat waspish contro-
versy between Collector Anthony and broth
er Roberts, touching the census-taking. We
believe that our Assessor has taken the
census of Sherman township correctly. We
are pleased to note that while in some Of
the townships the population has fallen of,
ours has increased. A good soil, healthful
climate and regular habits will tell. But
that is not what we intended to write
about.
Towns should not be too ambitious. They;
should not get zoo far ahead OF the coun-
try. 1t leads To shrinkage of values, and
then somebody gets hurt. Lenape is -four
ishing; more corn and less gymsum will be
raised on the town site than ever before
but the establishment Of an opera house
there, argues precocity of enterprise that
We do not like to contemplate. Even with
a good supply of local talent for volunteer
performances, the management is not likely
to be a success. Corn-fed artists are not
likely to draw. Better stick to the projec,
OF bridging the "raging Kaw," building
starch factory, or anything else that has
more of money and less of spending in the
outcome. Opera-going is good enough in
its way, but We doubt If the young fellows
OF this region are sufficiently "heeled to
indulge in the luxury at present. But this
is not what We intended to write about.
We have received late numbers OF the
Sentinel. 1t appears that this .Seafiaei has
deserted Its post and beaten a hasty retreat
TO Lawrence. Leavenworth smells" loudly"
of whiskey; no doubt of that but it seems
to Us that 4 good sentinel" would not 50
precipitately abandon his post in the face
of the enemy.
The disposition of the immense corn
crops We are raising, and are destined to
raise in this part of the county, has sug-
gested to some OF our local business men
the enterprise of establishing a whiskey
distillery hereabouts.
1t is argued that the temperance cause
would be promoted rather than damaged
by such an establishment Farmers when
compelled to sell their hard earned corn at
from 20 to - cents per bushel down weight,
are apt to go off and get drunk in sheer
disgust; but furnish them home market
for the same grain at from 90 cents to one
dollar per bushel, and they would go forth
in the dignity Of conscious manhood, and
scorn the low-down expedients adopted by
impecunious cuses to obtain obliviousness
of their poverty. Again, it is argued that
since "men will have it, and will drink il"
better have it made here at home, 80 that
our farmers may have the benefit of home
market for their produce, and consumers
get pure article at reduced prices. 1t is
the collaboration of the high-priced, far-fetch-
ed stuff which drinkers are now forced to
buy, that furnishes teeto;al agitators with
so many frightful examples. If there is
anything calculated to shake the very bed
rock of aperson's "true inwardness," it is
the detestable graveyard drizzle retailed at
your average Kansas doggery. An honest
article made of good Kansas corn would
not take such hold. So argues this new
school OF temperance reformers but our
motto, Touch not, taste not, handle no,
at all. though borrowed from the ancients,
is in our opinion the best after all al
though We must confess to friendship for
any movement likely to increase the vol
ume of the circulating medium in our
midst, be said medium gold or greenbacks.
Bnt this is no: what We intended to write
about.
Ar. w. H. Harris, Of the ee3shs.>ed l.,d
lGsney In q 49, tUmzfa p fou-