The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-06-07

the advantages of the organization in
plain language, land it is the duty of the
press to puff 'em up and support in car
rying out tho proposed guns, from the
government. Yours Truly,
LIE Fills DU REGIMENT.
The following from the pen of Maj
IL. Inman, of Ellsworth, is of such value
to Central Kansas, that we gladly give
it place in our columns.-ED.
The Great Central Plains.
The "Great Central Plains" of which
Ellsworth county is the radiating point,
arc distinctive geographical feature OF
the State. Covered with a remarks ably
nutritious vegetation, tor centuries they
were an immense pasturage for countless
herds OF buffalo, antelope and other ru-
minating animals, whose habitat was the
far stretching green prairies that to-day
form one of the most beautiful agricul.
tural portions of the Mississippi Valley
Less than ten years ago this region was
believed by the mass of people in the
East to be an Improbable desert, but is
new the acknowledged garden of the
continent. This trul y magnificent coun,
try can claim the most luxuriant soil of
all the "Great West" and climate
, that approaches perfection at least
This portion of the state has been en-
titled the "New Kansas" and very
properly, too, for until the advent of the
Kansas Pacific Railway it belonged to o
mythical region of the continent, hardly
known even to cur biographies. The
healthfulncss of the New Kansas" is
proverbial. DR.. B. f. Fryer, one Of the
the most eminent surgeons in the army,
and who was stationed for years at Fort
Harker, four miles from the town of
Ellsworth, declared this TO be "the most
perfect climate IN the world" The whole
country is traverscd by a series Of con
slant streams, sweet and wholesome
springs and spring fed pools. Delicious
water is also always obtained in wells,
by digging, at easily accessible depths.
Ii is already conceded that the United
States is rapidly becoming the granary
Of the world, particularly in the produc-
ton OF wheat. Kansas, an empire in
itself, is taking the lead in tho culture
of this cereal, and in short time will be
acknowledged queen of all the States in
the production of this great staple. Kan
sas is Just beginning to realize her won
dcriul resources in this particular of
wheat raising. The State, especially
her peculiarly wonderful fertile central
area, comprised in wha: is nov known
as the rhinestone belt" under the test
of on Y few years, has proved TO the
world the immense average its soil is
capable of. Each year increases the
limit Of the wheat belt, as tho frontier ia
pushed toward the mountains, within
which are found the greatest possibilities
agriculturally.
1t Is a remarkable tact that nearly all
the lands of the Kansas Pacific Railway
are included in the limestone region
under consideration, and that south of
this limit, in that direction, it ceases al
and the country presents an
other geological formation, the soil of
which is very sandy, and which, though
at present from fitness of its very pr;m- ,
tivencss is capable Of producing grand
crops IN seasons of abun 1ant rainfall,
acks tho inherent qualities OF Sei::fertii
eaton and must rapidly dcterIorasc. IN .
his particular the Smoky Hill valley j.
mmcLseiy superior TO the arenacious
anus OF the region south which is
framed by the Arkansas and tributary
streams. 1t is well known by every
armer Cor at least should be- that lime.
n some OF It's combinations, constitutes
be essential ingredient in all the more
'aluable grains and grasses. It's
presence in the soil is consc-
Iuently to be considered as a condition
# fertility. II also acts as constitu-
ional ameliorant OF much power, and
when mixed with, or, underlying tough
II vlscid clay, 1t renders them friable,
nd consequently more susceptible to ,
he action OF atmospheric forces. Soil
n which there is due admixtRrc OF ,
alcareous matter is not so liable to DO
INJURED or rendered plastic by an excess ;
i moisture while under crop. The .
ualIiy OF the wheat raised in this great
belt" Is conceded in al mar !
.ets 10 be the finest grade known. IL
rodIces the familiar brands of so-caIled !
southern -four, and for which ST. Louis
) Justly celebrated This is easily &C. =
ountcd for from the fact that the soil in .
Thich the wheat is grown possesses a due |
dmixture of caleaTeOas matter, which !
as ! tendency 10 make the hall OF the ,
rain much thinner, and the farina itself I
n much greater quantity, aud in richer {
uasIty than IN gram grown on the lSnds ]
fhich exhibit deficiency of this earth. :
III our miliers will testify 10 the pc /
uliar four-making properties of our I
'heat IN this essential, surprising that !
aised IN other sections, and IL is attrib- !
ted entirely 10 the fact-which the !
nalysls OF the soil conirms-ihat this I
o-called Limestone belt" possesses Ill I
he requisites OF the best wheat lands in :
he world. Sand, il is well known, Is :
curious when It enters too largely into
ae composition OF cultivated soils, IN Z
Their words, i is useless beyond a GER
sin proportion. That the rhinestone I
eli, or "wonderfal vhest region OF
cn;ral kansas - L = sometimes ,