The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-10-11
Kansas.

for the last few months especially, recently paid
that state a visit to acquire fresh Information
and learn all could in a two weeks visit that
would be likely to be OF value to the people or to
myself,
travelled over five different lines OF railroad,
etopping at various points, from whence made
wagon trips about the country, cOnversed with
people of all ranks and stations in life, keeping
ewes and ears wide open to see and hear all that
possibly could.
NV observations were confined to a strip Of
country on the eastern side of the state-say four
counties deep east and west and from nearly
the north part to the southern limit-because, for
reasons which will appear later, lbelicve that
part of the state most desirable for immigrants.
tits certain that the immigration to Kansas is
great and constantly increasing, as evidenced by
the crowded cars, the throngs at hotels, depots
and land offices and the innumerable "prairie
schooners" which are preambulating the state
in every direction, well as the numerous tents
and other temporary structures seen IN the newer
or more sparsely settled portions of the state.
or course the chief object of the most OF these
people is tc secure land and make homes for
themselves; and the question of price and loca-
ton becomes both important and interesting.
The three land grant railroads in the eastern
belt, viz, the NJ. X. d T., X. G. l.. Il S. and the
X. c. Fl S. & g.. still have lands at from $40
TO Sc so per acre on long time or 20 per cent off
for cash; but these lands are being rapidly taken
up and in perhaps two years 1t will be difficult, II
not impossible, to buy good railroad lands The
land commissioner Of one of the railroads told
me they had but about 20 600 ceres left out Of say
100000 acres in the beginning One other rail
road has already advanced its prices % per cent
all around-a precedent that will probably be
followed soon by all the others
There is large quantity of unimproved land
owned by non.residents, or spectators" as they
are termed there, and held at from S. to $40 per
acre, the price or value seeming to be suddenly
enhanced as soon as the title is obtained from
the original grantees.
Farms, more or less improved, can be bought
at from IS to s25 per acre, according to location
and improvements. During the past five years
Kansas farmers seem to have felt the hard times
even more than we did. Many men bought land
on time payments or encountered their property
in order to make improvements, and falling to
make payments were either forced to sell at a
sacrifice or we're sold out by the mortgages.
Others, after getting fair start desired to 90
west! and still others became anxious to return
to older states. All Of these causes worked to
place many farms on the market, which were
sold often for less than the cost of the improve
ments.
In Crawford and Cherokee counties the title to
the railroad lands was questioned some years
ago. Many farmers, believing that the lands
would revert back TO the government 'squatted"
upon them and made improvements. The courts,
having confirmed the railroad titles, these men
will sell their improvements for small sums for
cash and the buyer can then buy the land OF the
railroad either for cash or on long time and thus
secure improved farms at low prices and on easy
terms.
In these counties and in Bourbon, the next
county north, is found the best coal yet dscov
cred in the state, the vein being four feet thick
and about fifty feet from the surface. Thinner
veins of say fifteen to twenty four inches are also
found there at from five to twelve feet below the
surface In addition to all of which, Nature, not
to be niggardy, has deposited in Cherokee coun-
ty some OF the richest beds or mines Of lead and
zinc TO be found in the United States. With i'm
mense quantities Of coal, lead and zine all in the
same neighborhoed, it does not require prophet
to predict an unusual degree of prosperity for
/ this section OF the country.
While on this subject l may as we'll say that
the best veins of coal and the most abundant sup
plies of timber, thus making fuel cheap, are
found in that portion Of Kansas alluded to in an
other portion OF this letter. To this add the fact
that lands are actually cheaper than they can be
had much farther west and it is easy to see that
this portion of the state is the most desirable for
immigrants. And this naturally brings me to
the subject of the rainfall of Kansas.
What Smith, Jones and Robson may say on
this subject has very little value compared with
statistical facts derived from actual observation
The gentlemen named know about how much
rain fell in their respective localities, but the
statician obtains his facts from observers sea
tered all ever the state, and who are provided
with instruments that measure the rain fall ac-
curately.
The Kansas State Board OF Agriculture has col
lccted facts in the manner alluded to and collat
ing them derive the following results for the year
1878, viz:
Amount of rain in Eastern Kansas 81 IS inches
" - Middle I" 81 50
" Western " RIB
Average Tor the state ......,29oi
These figures tell their own story and do not
need comment.
The altitude of the first district above the sea
level is about 1000 feet; of the second district
1000 feet, and of the third district 5000 feet
When you reach Denver the altitude is 5000 feet,
the rainfall only II inches annually, and no crops
are raised without irrigation.
TEMPERATURE.
Degrees
Annual mean temperature, Baxter Springs "a IL
Summer temperature at Baxter Springs. "A 4S
Winter ....3l A.
Annual mean temperature at Lawrence. SO Al
Summer " ....73 y