The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-03-28
A TRIP TO KANSAS.
rnc State Not the Eden Represents

INC 3tutt NOt the fsueh hAepEebtnteus
For several months past Mr.. Henry
Wolf of South Wheeling, has had under
consideration the sdvisabiity OF trying
his fortune among the so-called magnif-
cent farming lands of Kansas. In order
to satisfy himself whether these lands
were what they were represented to be,
he left Wheeling for that State two
weeks ago, and having returned, finds
that he does not entertain the brilliant
views in regard thereto which are held
by those having the lands for sale. MIR.
Volt is highly intelligent and observ-
ing man, ard we take pleasure in laying
the results of his observation before our
readers.
Mr.. Wolf proceeded directly TO Fort
Scott, Kansas, from this city, to which
point be had purchased ticket via the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The price
OF an emigrsnt, the kind Mr.. w. used,
is S22.OO, and as he rode in the ladies or
smoking car as he preferred, he says he
can see no reason why man who wish
es to be economical should buy any 9TH
or. Arrived at Fort Scott, Mr.. Volts
attention was at once absorbed in the
search for good farm. These he found
TO be few and far between. The land is
very stony; hard work fer the farmers
who own their farms abundant, and
crops very uncertain.
From Fort Scott he went to Usage MIS-
sion. This was once an Indian missions
instituted many years since by faithful
Catholic priest. 1t is now fourishing
town, Astounding in schools, seminsries
and churches. The society is about the
about the same as is found in our own
city. In this county the land is OF better
quality, and sells at from 81 so TO $50
per acre, according to improvement and
distance from market and railroads.
From this point Mr.. Wolf journeyed
west over the Nj. X. g. T. railroad until
he reached Wichita, the junction OF that
road with the Atchison and Santa
Fe railroad. Wichita is situated
in the Of the Great Arkansas Valley
The farms here pleased Mr.. VOLTS eye
better than any he had yet seen. Prices
were very reasonable, ranging from four
to thirty dollars per acre. De visited
other parts of the State, with the same
results as here recorded.
AS rule. the tide Of emigration, after
reaching kansss City, inclines to the
west rather than south. Not less than
500 or 600 emigrsnts pass through that
city every day. A large majority have
only money enough to carry themselves
and families to their destinations, with
no provision whatever Tor living
while crops are growing. A fact
worth noticing ia, every farm in the
State is said to be for sale. No matter
how we'll fixed the owner may be, if he
can get his price he will pull up stakes
and 90 West. Ole of the most serious
drawbacks in that section is the extreme
uncertainty of raising crops. MIR. Wolf
has two brothers in-law who have lived
in this valley for six years, and they have
only succeeded IN securing ono crop.
Grasshoppers, hot winds or drouth are
almost sure 10 do the work of destruction.
A specimen of No. l Kansas wheat
which Mr.. Wolf brought with him is
about as good as what we call screenings.
The return fare is nearly double that
char yed west from here. Mr. Wolf says
he would not advise any one to break up
his home here Tor the purpose of trying
his fortune in Kansas.