The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
dependence OF the Western (Chicago) Rural
The Valley Of the Usage.

EDS. WESTERN RURAL Among
the reports of interest we read in your
columns we find none from Southwest
ern Kansas, this ''new world of the
West" known in our geography as the
Great American Desert from which
no civilized adventurer was expected
to return.
Less than six years ago the spot from
which we date was the "Great IN
known" No longer the fragrance of
its myriad flowers are cast upon the
"desert air." The reign and glory of
her wild generations are now tradi-
ton. and marked alone by the heca-
tombs of bones gathered i'll peace aud
security by the hands of refined civ
ilization for eastern transportation.
This city of four thousand souls has
sprung as by magic from the plains.
throbbing with vigorous commercial
life and strength i'll the center OF this
.'Happv Valley" surrounded by forty
miles of agricultural country, second
not even to the tabled Valley of the
Nile; teeming with population of
thrift and intelligence, inspiring with
its vast, extended rolling plains, its
shady sparkling streams, its pure ethe-
real skies. its rosy morns and golden
sunsets) the more prosy heart with a
sense of more exalted admiration and
gratitude 10 ''Him that giveth!"
Such is the ''Ilappy Valley" or FAR
mers' paradise" of the Usage Valley
of the Arkansas, of which Wichita is
the grand center, with its circumier-
ence CT some twenty to fifty miles, en-
bracing Sedgwick, Sumner and the
western part of Butler aud Cowley
counties.
Wichita is the southern terminus of
the Atchison and Santa Fe Railroad 4;
city five wears old, of 1000 inhab-
i,ants, 400 children enrolled il the
graded public schools, churches of
every denomination, numerous mills,
manufactures, stores. hotels, etc. The
settlement of the county has been
steady and progressive. Title to the
lands is attained by actual settlement
ana pre- cmption, only, at $1.25 per
acre All is under presumption to
twenty miles west of this city, and no
one party can ever pre-empt over 100
acres. This gives dense population,
abounding in schools, churches, and
abundant good society. Claims and
farms in various stages of improve
ment can be bought at from s. 10 'S25
per acre.
Winter wheat is an uninterrupted
success, Yielding from twenty to fifty
bushels to the acre. weighing from six
ty-two TO sixty-seven pounds. Some
two million bushels have been export
\ al, fnr. ~ N n
is our greatest need in elevators and
machinery for cleaning and gathering.
The present acreage sown is three
times enhanced and its promise is be-
yond any precedent. Every other ag-
ricultural production incident to the
Middle States, with cotton, tobacco,
and fruits are plenty. Tame grasses
of all kinds yield unrivaled returns to
proper culture. Our wintersare with
out snow, ever short and mild. 10
this writing, January "a, this winter
we have had 10 snow, ice, nor scarcely
frost. Flowing has been continued all
winter. Our summers are cool and
delightful. A blanket every night is
essential to comfort. The days are
ever tempered with a pleasant, inyigo-
/
felt-our altitude forbids it. Our win.
tiers are dry, our summers refreshed
with ever timely and abundant show
ers. We are enjoying new grass but.
ter. and grass-fat buck in abundance
We are free from every disease, ex'
cept occasional chills and fever, which
have prevailed i'm mild form some fall
seasons. Herd laws prevail. Wood
is $3.50 per cord, and eoal is 81 per ton
Every kind of staple necessities are
abundant and cheap-as cheap here a'
anywhere. We have every prospect o.
very heavy emigration this spring
summer and fall. Many arrive dali.
even now, and we don't believe tina
such good facilities are elsewhere of
fered for cheap, pleasant and health
full home, as in the Happy Valley o
the Usage, Arkansas.
w. T.. WoODMAN.
Uichitd, Kan.