Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-08-25
SOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS.
From Dodge City to Camp Supply.

AND GEOLOGICAL PEATUgEs-ALLUvIAI
DEPOSITS. MINERAL COMPOSITIONS, TIM
BER. GRASS AND GgAzING-GEoLoGIcAI
SPECIMENS.
II has been conceded by scientists and
professional gentlemen who have made
such matters a lifelong study. that tht
climate Of Southwestern Kansas is the
most healthfui to be found. probably in
the world. Ii is mere equable the veal
round as far as a variable climate is con.
cerned. The thermometer ranges fom
CO. to e0c in summer, and 800 TO Coz in
winter, giving merely sufficient change to
be appreciated and distinguish winter
from summer. The section Of country
under consideration lies between 9S9 and
1909 west, and 80 and $50 north from
Greenwich-or e2o and "a west, and 90
and $50 north from Washington.
10 describe the surface and scenery of
this part of Kansas-Ford and Clarke
countles-so that IL car be appreciated by
those who have never seen prairie coun-
try, would be probably quite impossible I;
and scarcely less difficult is it to describe
il 10 one who has only seen the Hat, low.
swampy, aeuc ana peculiar fever-gener-
ating prairie regions of some parts of Illi-
nois aud Indiana In general it may b.
called an uBaula;ing plaleau, the surface
OF which very gently slopes So gradual
that II makes 1t excellent for agricultural
purposes.
After crossing the bridge at Dodge City
en- route 10 Camp supply, We strike a
sandy bottom, but so rich IN alluyIal de-
posiis, made w of the finest and richest
portions OF every soil which the waters of
the Arkansas has passed-that it mas
productive surface OF from four to six
inches upon which the usual crops can be
raised with profit. The blue-stem, a tall
variety Of prairie grass. chiefly used for
hay IN other parts VI Kansas, Nebraska
and Iowa. and which only grows on rich
corn land. Is found 20 grow spontaneously
IN this bottom, which y 3 positive proof
that the soil Is productive. Some three or
Tour miles oni We strike the gently rising
slope, Un the top Of which We enter a
beautiful plateau that extends Tor miles.
we'll covered with buffalo, bIue-stcm and
KIND OF hungarian or fall grass. and
which affords excellent pasturage the year
round. anu which Tact has long since beeI;
discovered by the cattle men. who have
been Geing ihis scope for their vast herds
during The interval necessary for the pre-
paraIory arrangement tor shipping their
stock.
Thirteen mics out. over q magnificent
road and excellent farming and grazing
country, We came 10
MULBERRY CREEK.
{; stream of no small importance during
rainy seasons, bnt even III the dryest
seasons is possessed of plenty of w8ter
ana some wood. Ii Is upon this stream
:nat Fancy Pat Ryan has his-''sha
boss farm OF Ford county, and am in
formed that Pat has amply demonstrated
thai agricultural pursuits can be brought
To a complete success in Ford county, and
IL any one disputes AZ let HIM take little
Jaunt down thai way, and ocular obser-
Natious Will fully demonstrate that Pat
has No. corn, melons, cucumbers, pump
kins and everything IN the vegetable line.
Fourteen niles further. over one of the
finest rolling prairie counties in thc State,
We coine 10
BLUFF CREEK,
upon which MIR. siias Maley has located
III his ranche-to stay. As the name indi-
Gates. Bluff Creek is walled in By bluffs
of considerable aititude-eome elevated TO
tue height of probably $50 10 80 feet,
he entire valley OF the Bluff is fertile,
aud aotfrds excellent grazing ranges. Ma
tufe. ever symmetrical in her combina-
lions. Is irregular III many of her details,
anu nowhere is 1t shown to o greater ex-
tent ihan IN the variety of scenery in this
pheasant little valley. The bluffs advance
ana recede at capricious pleasure-on one
side of the stream pushing their promon-
Tory fronts Ike the parapets OF some vast
foriross inil into the low lands, OF not far
away closing nearly together upon either
siue OF the stream, OF again with gentle
descent approach their grass-clad slopes
til their harmonious shades miugie with
the nch HerduEe OF the meadows below.
Low lands, bluffs and prairies SO imper-
oep'lply bend their various characters
ties that the features of more can he aeon.
ralely traced, while here and there the
eye rests upon an isolated mound of a few
acres IN extent. which rises TO the level of
the high prairies Beyond. This slight des-
cr1ption Will be equally applicable to
nearly every stream IN Ford or Clarke
q h..