Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-03
THE BUBBLE BURSTING.
Railroad Advertisements As'.e Be.
sui'ed Many a Weary Way .derer
to the Desert Lard.
But They Are Beginning to ! earn BY Experience
and Arc Failing Baes. 10 the Only Asri.
cultural tsrs6 ~ In the West
A Gentleman Who Has Been Through 1t
All Reaches Eankton, and 10 Pre-
partng to Settle on
Dakota Farm.

Dakota Farm.
We had the pleasure Of meeting L. P.
of Michigan, this morning. He
las been spending some time on the public
lomain of Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska,
With view of selecting homes for parties in
ais own state. His experience, as briefly re-
ated to us, more than justi6es the opinion
We have frequently expressed, that the mani
fold. extended aud gratuitous advertisements
Of the railroad companies that extend their
lines across the great American desert, is a
means of perpetrating fraud that will in
the near future bring much suffering to the
many thousands of poor people of the east
who are placed into the hands Of railroad
agents, and who believe the marvellous re.
ports of the fertility Of the soil, health Of
climate, &c, &C., and sacrifice the few COM
forts they have at home to take cheap ride
over the prairies to be dumped off hundred
miles beyond the "vatcr line" to burrow in
the desert Mr.. Rhinehart says the soil and
general features Of the country in western
Kansas is all that could be desired, but when
you come to the matter Of rainfall, or we'll
water at any reasonable depth, it is sadly
deficient, and without these what can a coun-
try be worth for agricultural purposes
When Mr.. Rhinehar; was in Hays City, on
the Kansas Pacific road, they had had scarce
ly any rain for six weeks, and in fact but
little all. winter, and q large portion Of
their whea. was turning yellow. Immi-
grants were pouring into the land office to
secure homesteads on the desert, credulous-
ly believing that Grain will come" God
grant, said Mr.. Rhinehart, that the natural
laws of that country be changed, and that
rain may come. Captain Hanna, of the land
office remarked to him that unless provi-
Dental happening should come to pass, there
will inevitably be great suffering there,
This, of course, applies to that portion Of
the state where immigration is going, or
rather where the railroad companies are
taking people. As to Colorado, he says, let
eastern people understand that what is
known a. the American desert becomes less
fertile as one goes west, and that it extends
right up TO the foot hills Of the Rocky noun
tains. That the beautiful valleys in those
mountains are just wide enough for one rail
road to traverse-not two, in support Of
which he quotes the present war between the
Denver & Rio Grande and A. F. & Santa
Fe roads for the possession Of one Of those
valleys (canons) at Canon City. AS to
irrigating, then let eastern people know
that the facilities are large enough
to fertilize territory sufficient for, perhaps,
several counties. That bitches are char
tered corporations. As to labor, there has
been a rolling mill moved from Danville,
Penn, to Pueblo this last winter for the
purpose Of rc-1olling railroad iron. Know
ing the great depression IN the manufactur-
ing business of Pennsylvania. it was with
considerable interest tina. this institution
was visited by Mr.. Rhinehart. The labor
ers be found were nearly all experienced
workmen from Danville. Laboring men
of the east will hardly be prepared to
believe that nearly every man in the mill
would go back to Danville if they only had
the means. Wages are from $l.40 to $1.60
per day and board is from IS to 81 per
week, with washing as high in proportion.
Besides half set Of hands is required to
do the amount of full set in the east. If
anyone doubts these statements Mr. r. says
they can address any Of the parties there
and become convinced. These facts are
written, not to injure Kansas or Colorado,
but to help the poor man in the east, who
is being misled by false representations TO
sacrifice the little that he has to be so
sadly disappointed when it is too late.
Those beautifully named towns on the rail.
road from Cheyenne to Pueblo and below,
with few noted exceptions, are simply
station houses. OF course Colorado is rich
in mines, which capital can develop. Our
purpose has been to give little informa.
tion for the benefit of the roor man, advice
that cannot come too early. 1t seems to be
natural for man to travel far for benefits
which can be had nearer home. There is a
large stretch of country lying east and north
of the Missouri river that has been only
partially developed, and yet people travel
thousands of miles farther west for poorer
advantages, where living is high and work
too is dull. Mr.. Rhinehart sensibly con-
cludes that land which will produce wheat
successfully is the kind of land he
wishes to possess. That We have millions
Of acres of this land here in Dakota the
world begins TO know. not by the advertise
ments of railroad monopolics, but by the
abundance we produce. That Mr.. Rhine
hart intends TO settle here and open up q
farm, after his extended tour through those
western states, is evidence Of his faith in
the agricultural lands of Dakota.
DRESS MAKING
N.. ID n v.olo.L,Io ,oJ lT.s p.llo