Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-01
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LETTER FROM KANSAS.
PAULINE, KAN, June is, 1875.

PAULINE, KAN, June l6, 1879.
EDITOR CHRoNICLE-Inasm as L
was a regular reader of the CHRONICLE
for many years before leaving old Bel
mont county, and as am now receiv-
ing it regularly every week through
the courtesy of some friend East, de-
sire with your permission to say few
words through your paper to my old
friends and Others in regard to the raw
ages of the Grasshoppers in Kansas.
Persons East, ,and especially the papers,
are complaining that the reports are so
contradictory in reference to the hop
pers, that they don't know what to be-
lieve. Believing that many of your
readers would like to be set right on
this matter, l shall endeavor to tell
what | know-not about farming
but about Grasshoppers.
The discrepancies that exist in the
reports that have gone East may be ac-
counted for in this way: In some local
tiles the crops were almost totally de-
strOyed, while others comparatively es-
capped. One main reason for this was,
perhaps, that more eggs were deposit
ed last season in some localities than In
others, and that the young ones before
they were able to fly, were inclined to
travel, not in any particular direction,
however. In our immediote neighbor.
hood very little injury was done until
the 'varmints' got able to fly, hlch
was about the 10th or 18th inst. In
passing over US, lot of them would
occasionally stop with us for something
to eat-as they are famed for eating
corn, oats, rye, potatoes, and gardens
that almost escaped thus far, were now
badly used up. Those persons who
used means 10 frighten them away
were not SO much injured, while those
who let them alone Jared worst. Wheat
being so near maturity was not mate.
rally injured. Their. usual time for
moving was from about 10 O'Clock A.
NJ. until 2 or P. NJ, the weather being
fair. They continued to pass over by
the millions for four or five days in d
northerly direction, and were SO high
that they could only be seen in the di.
rection of the sun, appearing like snow,
flakes driven by the wind. Those oi
them that called with US did not stay
more than day or two, would join
their comrades and be OFF. There are
few still remaining, some of them
not able to fly yet. We sincerely hope
that they will soon leave and never
show themselves in this part of Eden's
garden again.
One of my neighbors just received a
postal card from his brother in Page
county, Iowa, which stated that the
hopper5 came down on the 18th inst,
like great snoW-storm and cleaned
ont their corn-fiplIS for them in short
order. This is just what we were eX-
pecting to hear, that they would stop
in Northern Kansas, Iowa and Nebras-
ka, from the direction they were going
when passing here. 1t is very proba-
BILE that they are pretty well cleaned
out by this time. L have been in some
devastated districts, and have seen for
myself.
Doubtless there will Se great
amount of destitution in time to come
in many districts. Farmers are re-
planting their corn, some the second or
third time. Being so late now much
depends upon the season, whether ii
makes anything or not. 1 was inform
ed to-day by gentleman whom l met
on the cars, who resides in western
county in this state, that west of this
place very little injury has been done
by the hoppers, and that crops gener-
ally looked well; wheat excellent. We
have some splendid fields of wheat in
our neighborhood, and if no farther in
jury overtakes the crops before hsrves-
ting, Kansas will have something this
year to fall back on in the way of SUBJ
sistence. w. S.