The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1877-08-09
rcorrespondenee Of the News
Letter from Kansas.

MELLINhlN4tT Man, Hlll ~ l2tts
EDITOR NEWS :-"Old sol7 has been doing his
dufv earnestly for the past month. The deni-
zens of this county have longed these many days,
for.s Todpc in some vast wilderness, where they
nirbt Nv and find refuge from his burning rays.
To rse vulcar phrase, "It's awful hot It would
he almost too much for poor fran humanity to
besr and many of 'Brick" Pomercy's diluted
ootbs vouId fiji the air, did we possess the close,
suJtrv NIGHTS of Ohio; but as evening approaches,
there comes with # a soothing sense Of rest, for
the air cools, and the prairie zephyrs bring com
fort on their gentle wings. so that the warmest
NIGHTS we have may be enjoyed comfortably under
a mill The NIGHTS are the Tedeeming factor Of
this climate
The rattle of the harvester has ceased. Every
where the prairie is dotted with the golden rcs Of
wheat. Sumner county had over $1,000 acres Of
wheat, estimated to produce nearly million
bushels, besides corn till yOu can't estimate. It
has been a golden year for this county.
EMIGRATION is pouring in from all sides. The
DoDulstion of the COUNT hes increased 80 per
cent within the past year, and now numbers over
5000. The increase this year will be more than 50
per cent.
On all hands the hum of the thresher is heard I;
and the roads leading to Wichita are lined with
wagons loaded with wheat. To see them reminds
one Of old army times, it is train after train OF
them.
Another year will give us a r. R., then the mon
ey will stay in the county. On the 22d Of July the
county voted bonds to two roads; the Kansas
CITY, EmpOria and Southern, and the Solomon,
Arkansas Valley and Eastern. The former will
extend to the line, thus opening up direct cattle
trade with Kansas City, the great commercial
center of this State as well shipping center The
latter line of road extends through the richest
farming counties of the State. 1t crosses the
X. P. at SaIina and the 4. T. & S. f. at Burton,
thus affording to the people the choice Of two
roads to ship over to X. City or st. Louis,
which of course viii prevent high rates of fIeight.
It will run from here to the coal fields in the east
ern part of the State This is the eastern branch.
The result of this is, that we can get coal from
the Cherokee mines laid down here Tor not exceed
ing $3.50 per tun. The Southern branch viii run
from here to Ft. Smith on the Kansas River, as
soon as right-of-way can be obtained through the
Territory. The result of this is that lumber can be
purchased and shipped here, as cheap as from
Cincinnati to Hfnsboro. Cheap lumber and cheap
fne is what this county needs to make it one of the
best in the State. These two roads will give them
to us.
Their influence is already felt. Spectators,
business men Of all classes, are pouring into the
county. Land that could he bought for So per
acre, now commands IS. A farm Of 800 acres,
one mile south of Wellington, composed Of the
Slate creek bottoms, with 20 acres of timber, could
have been bought a month ago for $1,000, now
$1,000 cash won't touch it. Two years more will
see that same farm worth $4,000. Another farm
of 100 acres northeast Of town, with 100 acres in
cultivation, has raised tos2,5Oo. The same farm
in two years will be worth $1,000. Town lots and
property have raised % per cent.
Everything is booming and the future of our
county secured.
Mr.. Barker of Highland, has settled in the south
ern part of the county. He is well pleased. He
told me a few days ago, ''that if the farmers OF
Highland could only see the land here, they would
not remain long on their hill farms"
Fruit will be plentiful enough to supply the de-
mands of the county, and your correspondent is
W. G. II.