The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-21
The Great Limestone
Belt Of Kansas,
The Attractive Region of the
West.
ISy Major II. Inmnn.

The Great Central Plains" are geograph-
ical feature Of the State Of Kansas. Covered
with remarkably nutritious vegetation, for
centuries they were an immense pasturage for
countless herds of buffalo, antelope and other
ruminating animals, whose habitat was the
far-stretching green prairies that to-day form
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, but it is now the ackuo aledged garden
Of the Continent. This truly magnificent coun-
try can claim the most luxuriant soil Of all the
"Great Wes;," and 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-
cared this to be the "most perfect climate in
the world" The whole country is traversed
by series of constant streams, sweet and
wholesome springs and springfield pools. De-
licious water is also always obtained in wells,
by digging, at easily-accessible depths. 1t is
already conceded that the United States is rap
idly becoming the granary of the world, par
an Empire in itself, is taking the lead in the
culture of this cereal, and iu a short time will
be acknowledged queen OF all the States in the
production Of this great staple. The State,
especially Ter peculiarly wonderful fertile CEN
trail area, comprised in what is now known us
the 4" limestone belt, under the test of only a
! few years, has proved to the world the i'm
mense average its soil is capable of. Each
| year increases the limit Of the wheat-belt, as
the frontier is pushed toward the mountains,
within which are found the greatest possibili-
ties, aSriculturally.
1t is remarkable fact that nearly all the
| lands OF the Kansas Pacific Railway are in
cuded in the limestone region under consider
alton, and that south Of this limit, in that di-
rection, it ceases altogether and the country
presents another geological formation, the soil
OF which is very sandy, and which, though at
present, from ft,llness of its Gerry primitreaess
is capable OF producing good crops in seasons
of abundant rainfall, lacks the inherent quail
ties of self-fer.ilizatiog, and must rapidly dete
riorate In this particular the Smoky Hill Val
ley is immensely superior to the arenacious
lands Of the region south, which is draired by
the Arkansas and tributary streams. 1t is vel
known by every farmer that lime in some OF
its combinations, constitutes the essential in.
gredlent in all the more valuable grams anC
grasses Its presence in the soil is consequent
ly to be considered as a condi ion of fertility
II also acts as constitutional ameliorant. Of
much power, and, when mixed with or under
lying tough or viscid clay it renders them fri
able and consequently more susceptible to the
action of atmospheric forces. Soil in which
is not 80 liable to be injured or rendered plas
tic by an excess of moisture while under crop
The quality OF tho wheat raised in this grea
rhinestone bell" is conceded, in all markets
to be the finest grade known. 1t produces thu
familiar brands Of so-called Southern -four
for which st. Louis is Justly celebrated. Thi
is easily accounted for, from the fact that tn,
soil in which the wheat is grown possesses
due adniixture Of calcareous matter, which
has a tendency to make the hull of the grail
much thinner. and the farina itself in mucl
greater quantity, and in richer quality, than il
grain grown on the lands which exhibit de
iciency of this earth. All our millers will tes
{ tify to the peculiar flour-making properties o
our wheat, in this essential surpassipg tina
raised in other sections, and it is attributes
entirely to the fact-which the analysis Of tn
soil confirms-that this so-called " "limeston
belt" possesses all the requisites of the bes
wheat land IN the world. Sand, il is we
known, is injurious when it enters too largel
into the composition Of cultivated soils II
other words, it is useless beyond a certain pro
portion. That the " limestone belt, or won
derful wheat region of Central Kansas" as
is sometimes called, has the amount Of sile
or silica-the basis of sand-tixed in the prope
proportion, is evident. from the fact that it re
quires peculiar conditions to "lodge" tn
grain in the field, even after the most terrif
showers. Considering the question Of the re-
stive fertility, particularly in its connectio
with wheat culture, present richness OF sol
and endurance must enter as essential elt
ments of success, and the capacity Of the sell
fertilization of the land, an ingredient not I
be overlooked The latter quality hnlestor
{ reqion alone can possess, as only Unite
/ knowledge Of agricultural chemistry clearl
! demonstrates. Viewing the subject Of whes
culture then in all its aspects, so far as Ksr
sas is concerned, an inspection OF the Smok
Hill Valley, and the arenaceous region soutl
coupled with fair idea Of what the culture 9
wheat requires, the conclusion can lead onl
/ in one direction-to the infinitely superior &C
vantage of the t" limestone belt"
Prospectively from purely physical cause
this great inland region must reach the pos
ton of one of the richest agricultural portion
of the United States. Only very few yeai
ago-not q decade-husbandry here was pnr'
ly tentative. From absolutely no dew, eigf
Z years ago, this region is as favored IN this
particular as any that can be named. Frol
lying outside OF the Grain belt, 30 termed
this region has had to be "taken in." III
quantity Of water in the streams has aus
! inented. springs have burst forth where mol
existed before--in short, Just the converse
that meteorological phenomenon has bee
evolved here. under the march OF ciSii'Z ltiol
| which takes in a heayily-timbered country III