Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-03-20
The Attractive Region of
BY MAJOR H. 1NMAN.

BY MAJOR H. lNMAN.
The "Great Central Plains" arc geographical
feature Of the State of Kansas. Covered with a
nutritious vegetation, for centurie,
they were an immense pasturage for countless
herds Of buffalo, antelope and other Illuminating
animals, whose habitat was the far-stretch'r:
green praries that today form one Of the mos.
beautiful agricultural portions Of the Mississippi
Valley. Less than ten years ago this region was
believed. by the macs Of the people OF the East,
TO be an Improbable desert. but it is now the a..
knowlcdged garden OF the Continent. This truly
magnificent country can claim the most luxurian,
soil Of all the "Great West" and climate that ap.
proaches perfection, at least DIR. b. f. Fryer, one
Of the most eminent surgeons in the Army and W. =,
was stationed for years at Fort Harser four mile
from the Town Of Ellsworth, declared this to be-
"the most perfect climate in the world" The
whole country is traversed by a series Of con.
slant streams, sweet and Wholesome springs and
springfield pools. Delicious water is also always
obtained in wells, by digging, at easily.accessbe
depths. 1t IL already conceded that the Unite
States is rapidly becoming the granary of the
world, particularly In the production of wheat.
Kansas an Empire in itself, IL taking the lead 10
the culture of this cereal. and in short time will
be acknowledged queen of all the states In the
production Of this great staple. The State cspc.
cially her peculiarly wonderful fertile centrai
area, comprised In what is now known as the
rhinestone belt" under the ties: OF only few
years, has proved to the world the immense aver.
age the soil is capable of. Each year increases
shn 11v,ntt 0f tho uhnAt hnlt
pushed toward the mountains, within which arc
found the greatest possibilities, agriculturaly.
1t Is remarkable fact that nearly all the lands
Ct the Kansas Pacific Railway are included in the
nestone region under consideration. and that
south Of this limit, in that direction, It ceases
altogether, and the country presents another geo.
logical formation the soil OF which Is very sandy
and which, though at present, from Juiness Of its
gerry primiticeness, Is capable Of producing good
crops in seasons of abundant rainfall. lacks the
inherent qualities Of Standardization, and must
rapidly deteriorate In this particular the Smoky
Hill Valley is immensely superior to the arena.
ciOus lands OF the region south, which Is drained
by the Arkansas and tributary streams. tits well
known by every farmer that lime, in some of its
combinations, constitutes the essential ingred!.
ent in all the more valuable grains and grasses.
Its presence In the soil is consequently to be con-
sidered q condition of fertility. 1t also acts as
. constitutional ameliorant, Of much power, and,
wnen mixed with or underlying tough or viscid
clay, 1t renders them friab|e and consequently
more susceptible to the action OF atmospheric
forces. soil in which there is due admixture OF
calcareous matter is not liable to be injured or
rendered plastic by an excess OF moisture while
no off ho isod In
this great rhinestone belt" is conceded IN all
markets, to be the finest grade known. IL pro.
duces the familiar brands Of so called Southern
nour. for which st. Louis is justly celebrated.
This Is easily accounted for from the fact that tho
soil in which the wheat is grown possesses duo
admixture Of calcareous matter, which has ten.
dency to make the hull Of the grain much thinner,
and the farna itself In much greater quantity,
and In richer quality, than in grain grown on the
lands which exhibit deficiency Of this earth. All
our millers will testify to the peculiar nour.mak.
Ing properties Of our wheat, In this essential,
surprising that raised in other sections, and 1t is
attributed entirely to the fact-which the analysis
Of the soil confrms-that this so-called rhinestone
belt possesses all the requisites OF the best wheat
land In the world. Sand, II is well known, Is in.
furious when 1t enters too largely into the COM
position OF cultivated soils in other words, 1t ts
useless beyond certain proportion. That the
limestone belt" or wonderful wheat region OF
central Kansas as 1t Is sometimes called, has
the amount OF slick or silica-the basis OF sand
liked in the proper proportion is evident, from the
TACT that it requires peculiar conditions to "odgc"
The grain In the field, even after the most terrific
showers. Considering the question OF the relative
fertility, particularly in it's connection with wheat
culture, present richness Of soil and endurance
must enter as essential elements Of success, and
the capacity Of the naturalization of the land,
an ingredient not to be overlooked. The latter
quality, limestone region alone can possess. a.
Only a limited knowledge or agricultural chemis-
tr. clearly demonstrates. Viewing the subject OF
wheat culture, then. in all its aspects, so far
Kansas is concerned, an inspection Of the Smoky
hlll valley. and the arenaceous region south,
coupled with fair idea of what the culture OF
"neat requires, the conclusion can lead only in
'ne direction-to the Infinitely superior advantage
oi the " limestone bclt'
respectively from purely physical causes. this
great inland region must reach the position OF
one OF the richest agricultural portions OF the
United States. Only very few years ago-not
decade-husbandry here was purely tentative.
From absolutely no dew, eight years ago, this re-
sion IS as favored in that particular as any that
can be named. From lying outside Of the "rain
belt" 90 termed, this region has had to be taken
In" The quantity Of water in the streams has
augmented, springs have burst forth where none
existed before-n short, Just the converse of that
meteorological phenomenon has been evolved
here. nnder the march Of civilization, which takes
Ia heavily-timbered country under the same
social conditions.
The following statistics Of the rainfall clearly