The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-14
The Great Limestone
Belt Of Kansas.
The Attractive Region of
the West.
Rxr 10;
BY Major II. Inman


graphical feature of the State of Kansas. |
Covered with remarkably nutritious vege.
tation, for centuries they were an immense |
pasturage for countless herds of buffalo, an
telope and other Illuminating animals, whose |
habitat was the far-stretchlng green prairles
that to-day forms one of the most beautiful |
agricultural portions of the Mississippi
| Valley. Less than ten years ago this region
was believed, by the mass of the people in
the East, to be an Improbable desert, butt
tinent. This truly magnificent country can
claim the most luxuriant soil of all the
| Great West" and a climate that approaches
perfection, at least. DIR. B. E. Fryer, one of
| the most eminent surgeons in the Army, and
who was stationed for years at Fort Harker,
four miles from the Town of Ellsworth; de-
clared this to be the " mostperfect climate in
the world" The whole country is traversed
by series of constant streams, sweet and
wholesome springs and springfield pools.
Delicious water is also always obtained in
wells, by digging, at easily-accessible depths.
It is already conceded that the United States
is rapidly becoming the granary of the world,
particularly in the production of wheat.
Kansas, an Empire itself, is taking the lead
in the cult1re of this cereal, and in short
time will be acknowledged queen of all the
States in the production of this great staple.
The State, especially her peculiarly wonder
full fertile central area, comprised in what is
now known as the "limestone " belt" under
the test of only 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 the frontier is pushed to-
ward the mountains, within which are found
the greatest possibilities, agriculturally.
1t is remarkable fact that nearly all the
lands of the Kansas Pacific Railway are in
cluded in the limestone region under con-
sideration, and that south of this limit
it ceases altogether, and the country
| annthor nan1nrioal formation
the soil. of which is very sandy, and
which, though at present, from fitlr1ess of its
very prinaitioe'ess is capable of producing
good crops in seasons of abundant rainfall,
lacks the inherent qualities of self-fertiliza-
ton, and must rapidly detertorate. In this
particular the Smoky Hill Valley is i'm
; mensely superior to the arenaeious lands of
e the region south, which is drained by the
Arkansas and tributary streams. l. is well
known by every farmer that lime, in some OF
its combinations, constitutes the essential
; ingredient in all the more valuable grains
and grasses. Its presence in the soil is con.
! sequently to be considered as a condition ot
. fertility. 1t also acts as a constitutional
|, ameliorant, of much power. and, when mixed
J. with or underlying tough or viscid clay, il
: renders them friable andconsequently more
;. susceptible to the action Of atmospheric
, forces. Soil in which there is due admix
J. | ture of calcareous matter, is not SO liable tC
;. be I'M jured or rendered plastic by an excess
3 of moisture while under crop. The quality
), of the wheat raised in this great rhinestone
belt" is conceded in all markets, to be the
q finest grain known. 1t produces the familiar
!; brands of so-called Southern -four, for which
9 St. Louis is justly celebrated. This is easily
;; accounted for, from the fact that the soil in
J; which the wheat is grown possesses due
IS admixture OF calcareous matter, which has
70 tendencyto make the hull of the grain Mucf
thinner, and the farina itself nmuch greater
3, quantity, and in richer quality, than in graiI
"a grown on the lands which exhibit a de
r. ficiency of this earth. All our millers viii
}; testify to the peculiar four-making proper
W ties of our wheat, in this essential, surpass
le ing that raised in other sections, and it is at
% tributed entirely to the fact-which the anal
c. ysis of the soil confirms-that this so-callet
d, "imestone belt " possesses ali the requisite
of the best wheat land in the world. Sand
it is well known, is injurious when it enter
too largely into the composition of cult
:; waited soils; in other words, it is useless be
:: yond certain proportion. That the lime
d. stone belt" or wonderful wheat region o
= Central Kansas as it is sometimes called
C. has the amount of silex or silica---the basi
= = of sand fixed in the proper proportion, i
~ evident, from theta that it requires pecu
at liar conditions to "lodge" the grain in tn
RS, field. even after the most terrific showers
Is, Considering the question of the relative fer
70. o. til1ty particularly in its connection will
Tr 1l wheat culture, present richness of soil ant
IN endurance must enter as essential element
%; of success, and the capacity of the self-te
tilization of the land, an ingredient not
or be overlooked. The latter quality lin,
er stone region alone can possess, as only
eS es limited knowledge of agricultural chemistr
RS clearly demonstrates. Viewing the subjet
DC. of wheat culture, then, in all its aspects, s
!y far as Kansas is concerned, an inspection
lie the Smoky Hill Valley, and the arenaceor
ra region south, coupled with a fair idea of wh'
m the culture of wheat requires, the conclusio
c., can lead only in one direction--to the il
80 fnitely superior advantage of the " lin
ae e. stone belt.''
80 Prospectively, from purely physic
h. causes, this great inland region must reac
or, the position of one of the greatest agricu
Tor tural portions of the United States. Only
tua tua few years ago---not misunderstanding he
an was purely tentative. From absolutely 4
ra, dew eight years ago, this region is as favore
ne, in that particular as any that can be name
20 From lying outside of the Grain belt,"
termed, this region has had to be "taks
in" The quantity of water in the strean
has augmented, springs have burst for
where none existed before---in short, Just Il
ng converse of that phenomena
on has been evolved here, under the march
co. civilization, which takes in heavily-til
mt bered country under the same social conl
ed tions.
le- The following statistics of the rainfs
of clearly prove the accuracy of the foregoil
M statement:
IN, The Fall of Rain and Melted Snow, in incht
sal at Forts Hays, Larned and Dodge, for t
of last five years, as shown by the Daily Met
mt geological Records kept by the Unit
tic States Government at the Posts named {:
si- "----1I--------- ----I---------------
a nd CENTRAL SOUTHERN KAss4