The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-06-24


bracing weather. Occasional storms
in which light, dry snow is drifted and
wreathcd upon the surface, occur, dur
ing which the farmer will feel called
upon to shelter and feed his stock
Thus this country is specially adapted
for sheep and stock-raising in conjunc
ton with grain growing, and must un.
doubleday soon become q great source
of supply of beef and mutton to the
eastern markets. Thousands of ton;
of hay can be had for the cutting at a
cost of IS to So cents per ton, which
can be used for making sheds for cat
tie for shelter during our short winter
of two or three months. Fortunes are
being made and will be made in the
raising Of stock in this valley.
TREES.
Forest and fruit trees grow witt.
surprising rapidity in this valley. i ..e
lack of timber, with our herd law, is
but little felt. but even that want will
be removed in few years. All that is
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 such
astonishing rapidity as to test the ere
dulity of eastern men. No douyt.
dense forests would have generations
since covered these rich rolling prai-
ries, but for the destructive OF fires
that annually swept over them. But
it is much cheaper, better and quicker
to build up homes and make farms
here than it was for our forefathrrs
east and north, who were compelled to
first remove heavy forests from the
grounds. For fencing the Usage Orange
as hedge will in time be the univer-
sal fence. Cheap, sure and efficient as
a fence, wind break for stock and a
relief to the eye, most of our farmers
are already growing such fences, not
withstanding the "herd law" which
compels every man to take care of his
own stock.
WATER.
1t has been widely supposed that
central and western, if not eastern
Kansas suffered from dry climate.
Like many other ideas relative to the
western parts of the great Missouri
Valley, we need hardly say, this, so far
as the eastern and central parts of the
state are concerned, is exploded. If
springs and water-courses in whose
channels aquatic plants, needing f"r
their existence constant moisture; If
notwithstanding streams; If rains
occurring and copiously de-
scending: if all these are proofs, then
there is abundant testimony that all
through the valley there is ample rain
fall. In fact, after all that has been
written of the Arkansas river, it is
almost superfluous to say that the wa
ter of this valley region is abundant
and pure. 1t is without doubt the best
watered portion of Kansas. On the
bottoms -drive wells" or tube wells
are universally used. They consist of
a tube of galvanized iron, with steel
point, the lower end of the tube hav-
ing holes on the sides, around which is
a piece of wire gauze for a
strainer, this pipe is driven into the
ground, through hole in the kitchen
floor if desired, or wherever indication
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 boundless supply OF
pure. cold, healthy water is obtained.
HEALTHFULNEss
Here is county i'll which malaria
finds no conditions favorable to its ex-
istence. Stagnant water is not to 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 invigorated, and labor is
neither irksome nor fatiguing. These
breezes 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,
he be farmer, orchardist.
stockman or shepherd. In early spriE~.
when the soil is freed from the slender
grasp of what little frost it is subject
to during the short winter, it is in adj
mirable condition for blowing and
for crops. Then comes a
season of rains and showers, which
lasts into July, when only occasional
showers occur to interfere with la
vesting operations.
COAL, ROCK AND CLAY.
There is no longer any uncertainty
rs to the discovery of coal in this val
ey. 1t has been found in several places
and there is not the least doubt that it
will be developed in such quantities as
10 supply fuel at very low rates. A
test is being made at Wichita with a
lrill for coal. One small vein has been
passed through at depth of forty or
fifty feet. The present supply is fur
lished by the railroad at from twenty
i've to thirty-five cents per bushrl.
Rock is not SO abundant as to be trouJ
esome, as in some places in eastern
Kansas, but it is found in quantities
sufficient for building purposes. Clay,
for brick making, is abundant,
md the best quality of sand being
accessible, there is no lack
If excellent building material.
GYPSUM.
Should constant cultivation ever de-
7elop the fact in this valley, which is
apparent in all other countries in the
world. that fertilizers must first or last
De applied to all lands which are not
subject to overflow, if farms are to be
Kept up to their original state of pro-
luctiveness, have never falling sup
bly, in the vast gypsum beds which in
ersect the valley in this and adjoining
counties. 1t is unsurpassed in quality
md inexhaustable in amount. When
broken to pieces and ground in M
t becomes the Gland plaster" of COLI
nerce, which sells for ten dollars ton
II eastern cities.
TOWNS.
That portion of the valley Of which
We have been more particularly speak
ng-an area of fifty by one hundred
of many fine and -four
shing towns, where mechanics or
radesmen may find splendid locations,
md where all may find churches, school
printing presses and refined
md intelligent society. We may NELL
ion Hutchinson, the county seat of
Reno county; Newton, the county seat
If Harvey; Wichita, the county seat of
,edgwick Wellington, the county seat
,fSumner; Eldorado, the county seat of
Butler; and Windfield, the county seat
# Cowley, besides Arkansas City, Ok
ord, Belle Plain, Ell Paso, Caldwell,
,edgwick City, Medicine Lodge and
many others, all of them growing and
Icing an active business.
Such is the superficial character of
he Arkansas valley in the central parts
# the state, and the valleys of its east
IN 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 III
rells in permanent supply at an aver
oro dar,fh &c fffaat, To fyranfu foot la