The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-02-04
CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
Correspondence Of the standard.

: January l6 1879.
Knowing your columns are always
= open to correspondents, and having
had some experience in Kansas farm
ing, would like to say some things
for the benefit Of those contemplating
coming here; also. an imperfect sketcl
Of our journey TO this place.
We left Litchfield Dec. 9th, on l.. s.
& NJ. s. railroad. arriving in Chicago
that evening. We had the pleasure oI
Prof. Dunn's company part OF the
way; also AL. Wilcox's, a former resi-.
dent Of Litchfeld. We stopped in
Chicago two days and nights. After
visiting the theaters and other places
of interest, we took passage on the @.
II. /. K p. r. X. for Leavenworth, ar
irving there on the 18th. We expect
ed as we iourneyed southwest the
snow would be less, but we found full
as much south as north. 1t commence
ed showing the 18th and continued un-
Ill il fell 10 the depth Of about eight
inches. making fine sleighing, with the
thermometer below zero.
After stopping at Leavenworth one
week and enjoying ourselves as well Rs
the weather would admit. we took pas
sage on the NJ. p. II. II. for Atchison
in order to take the A. t. & s. i. road
for Wichita, at which place we arrived
next morning at 2 o'clock, being four
hours behind time. Here We were
welcomed by my son Ora and Ed.
Schermerhorn, and escorted to the res
idence of Frank Schermerhorn. a for
mer resident of Litchfeld. Still the
snow remained, but not as much as We
found north.
We have had very severe weather
since arrival until within few days. -
Old settlers say the most so they ever
knew here. The thermometer has
dropped 10 10 degrees. The ground is
frozen quite hard. / do not think the
wheat is much damaged as yet, as it is
mostly covered with n light show.-
There is great amount Of il not mp
yet. 1t is n common thing in this sec
ton for wheat 10 remain in the ground
until spring without coming up, and
then make a good crop. We had a
heavy ice storm the l4th of January
We have the best natural roads here
10 be found in the u. 5. They were
as smooth and dry as a house floor be-
fore the ice came, with dust flying. -
Old settlers tell me II is generally the
case when we have a severe winter to
get good crops the summer following;
and II that is the case we will try to
endure the severe weather with much
patience. What is considered n severe
winter here would be very mild in
| Michigan. There are thousands Of
acres Of corn here still upgathered, the
weather preventing.
The STANDARD and the Litchfield Ga
zette are welcomely received by us
weekly. Taking the quotations OF pro-
duce in Hillsdale county and the prices
here, think we have the advantage
( here, as We can raise il with half the
labor aud expense We have no fences
to support; tools will last three times as
long with same care, and land COM
mands about one-quarter as much as
in Michigan. There is no shipping de-
mand here for coarse grain. still corn
sells readily at 20 cents, oats 20 cents,
best wheat go cents, potatoes 50 to Is
cents, pork, dressed 81 20 10 30. lon
would be astonished 10 see the amount
of farming implements there is shipped
10 Wichita. can safely say there is
more than 20 Jackson and Hillsdsle
counties combined. The manager Of
Smith & keating's agricultural house
told me they sold $4,000 worth last
season in 80 days, Just before harvest,
and there are eight houses in the city
dealing in them. Buying tools at that
rate, and not taking care OF them, is
what has swamped lots Of farmers.
would not advise shipping many
household goods unless person has
ample means to build, az the farm
houses are very small, and it costs
more TO store them than they are worth.
We soon learn 10 get along with very
small houses by passing one another
edgewise; a family of six or eight eau
get along quite comfortably in a room
l2xlG feet. The most serious objec-
tion TO this section is the scarcity OF
fuel. / did not notice IL much last
summer as backed il; You know these
women are great on fuel and water. -
Coal is worth from 90 10 Ss; the latter
price being for Colorado, which is
most equal to Pennsylvania coal.
think when the country IL fully deyel-
oped and has more competition in rail
roads, we shall get coal az cheap as IN
Illinois. We have been very much IA
yored this winter with regard 10 wind
/ only one day what You would call very
windy this winter. Ii is a mistaken
idea some people have east as TO this
being very windy country. IL is q
common thing not to have much rain
for four or five months during fall and
winter, hence such fine roads and
small wheat this time OF year. L an
we'll satisfied this is the best climate
for my family, as far as health is con
cerned thus far; do not know what
changes summer will bring forth, but
hope for the best. Ny wife has walk
ed more since we left Michigan thar
before in ten years, aside from about
the house; still she is enjoying good
health and spirits for her. think this
Just the place for person with veal
lungs. II my daughter had exposed
her health as much in Michigan as she
has here, she would have been confin
ed TO the house under the doctors car,
most OF the time; now she can cndur,
/ exposure with safety. With regard Il
my youngest sons health, il is perfect
! ly astonishing how il has improved
and as health is worth more than al
the riches in the world, am satisfied
with the change have made.
{ / am in hopes none Of your Michi
gan farmers will come here with th'
expectation Of getting rich raising
d grain; IL they do they will be sadl,
mistaken. Stock raising is the bes
q agricultural business here, il maj
has the means 10 start with, and min,
> being very limited shall do the mex
best thing, wheat raising. Most farm
ers here are IN debt more or less, anS
as near as / can learn those who cam
here with some considerable cash ar