The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-28

KANSAS.

sasl' "Grasshopper Kansas These
are the tender appel lations by which
Kansas has been known at inter
walls during the last score OF years. 10
see and investigate personally the situa-
ton, ten DAYS ago | left for Kansas,
taking the Chicago & Rock Island South
western railroad to Atchison and from
thence passing over the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe railroad as far west as
Larned, Pawnee county. Bleeding
Kansas" is now only known in history.
Many of those who participated in the
border warfare, yet live to recount deeds
of daring and courage. Yet "Drouthy
Kansas still lives-in the imagination of
many who know nothing really from their
personal knowledge of the situation ill
lustrate: | met a venerable gentleman u
few days ago who planted himself with the
march of civilization, 25 or 80 years ago,on
the west bank of the Missouri river.
Every now aud then some chap on the
east side of the river would call over and
ask how they were getting along, trying out
kill-deer lard. The point the man on the
east side wished to make was, that the
country was so npoor a kill deer would
nearly starve to death in Kansas, and fat
taken from the bird was a fallacy; or, at
all events, it was believed to be as poor as
Jobs turkey. Well, this old gentleman
said they went to work, broke up the broad
prairie, and the rains of heaven descended
copiously, giving them golden and abund,,
ant harvests. While on the east line of
Kansas he would hear of the parched
earth further west and that the future
would only show it barren waste-that it
was, in fact, the Great American Desert,
second only to the sterile Sahara of Africa.
In the old gentleman, westward the course
Of empire must to Ike its way. Onward he
moved, further west, again did he turn
over the virgin soil, SOW his seed, and once
more did tue surface of the earth bear a
bountiful harvest. Here he learned, as in
eastern Kansas, that further west the
country was barren and unfruitful But
again he sold out, at heavy
advance, and settled near Larned,
He finds the soil quite as pro-
ductive in this locality as in any part of
Kansas, and here he proposes to stay the
remainder of his days. The true theory
seems to be this Thousands of buffalo fol
centuries, have made these plains their
home. Myriads of their hoofs have
driven the sod solid to the earth. As soou
as this sod is broken, moisture increases,
and with the constant increased growth OF
timber the rainfall is now great enough
in all the agricultural districts. never
saw, anywhere, a more copious shower, q
heavier volume of water fall, 10 the
same space of time, than came down last
Sunday evening in Larned. And as &c
"Grasshopper Kansas" none of the i'm
migrants are found in the southwestern
portion OF the state, west Of Hutchinson
was told they had not been in the
vicinity of Larned since 1874. At this
time they had nothing but the native
grass to feed upon. They could do NJ
damage The country was but little set
tied To-day, the hopper, native and t
the manor born. alone holds sway
At Hutchinson, and east of this point
some have come to the surface, but the
people seem to fear them but little. They
hope to be entirely free from them afte
this year.
PAwNEE COUNTY.
This name is derived from the Pawne
Indians. Here was the original huntin
grounds Of this great and powerful tribe. Il
1875 the county had population of .00f
Now it has something over 5000. Twenty
FIVE per cent Of its area is bottom lane
seventy-four per cent up land, and on
per cent forest. The bottom lands neve
overflow. The timber consists of elm
ash, and box elder, principally found o
the Pawnee river, which runs in an cas-
erly direction, flowing into the Arkansa
at Larned. On the Pawnee is fine waite
power, not yet utilized, but which, som
day, will become useful. The Arkansa
runs in a northeasterly direction throug
the south half OF the county. Native fs
Of choice and delicate varieties are foun
in abundance in these streams, tn
spawn Of shad and other varieties are
be deposited in both rivers this season
One popularity OF the shad is said t
be, that wherever the egg is hatchet
there will the fish annually return to d.
post its spawn. Hence the running
the shad up and down streams at reguli
intervals. Plenty of springs are found
this county, and water is reached belo
the surface from six to twenty-four fee
A fine quality of sand stone and fire an
potters' clay are deposited on the Pawne
In this county is a military reservation
about 1000 acres of land, None MOI
beautiful can be found anywhere On tn
is located Fort Larned built Of stone, ne
in all its appointments. Troops alwal
occupy this post. For fertile soil, sal
brious climate and beauty Of lanoscap
Pawnee county is not surpassed anywher,
Already is there a rush OF inyali1s, wit
lung and asthmatic affections, to tn
locality, When not too deeply seated Il
disease vanishes and the patient becom,
strong aud hearty. The first farm cult
waited in this county was in the spring
1874. To-day there are growing on l
broad and ample surface 1000 acr
Of as beautiful winter wheat as can
shown on the continent. Nearly 7,0(
acres of corn have been planted q
ready and 1900 acres of other product
The county organization is in the hands
honest men, who are economical in the
appropriations and expenditures. FL
bonded debt for schoolhouse in Larned al
for bridges, is about $4,000, whilst ADJ
cent counties are involved from $4,000
$l5O,000, That this county has a futu
of great development aud prosperity Dol
will gainsay.
HARMED.
Larned is village three years old, CO..
tanning about 1900 people, situated oE Il
A. T. & s. f. r. K, First comes botto
land, already dotted with neat dwelling
Then comes rise on which the princip
part of the town stands. After these is
gradual ascent. On the summit Of tn
upland is grand plateau, extending f
miles back into the country. Here alreaC
are found elegant farms, surprising
beauty many portions of fine regions
Illinois and Iowa. In this country
kinds of stock are herded. The abseD,
OF fences adds to the beauty OF the gran