The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-05-29
RUSSELL COUNTY.
Wonderful Growth and Development
of tho Country.
Some Of the Finest Farming Land in
the West
In the Centre ofthe Famous Whest
Growing District.
Unusua! Attractions offered to In
migrants.
An Interesting Description of the
County and its Resources.

suSoSotSS
Correspondence of LEAvESwoRrH TIMES.
RUSSELL, KAN, May 10, 1S79.-The
wonderful growth and development Of the
country and towns along the line OF the
Kansas Pacific road, can only be realized
or at least faint attempt at realiz ition can
he made-by comparison: comparing the
country as it is to-day with what II was
even so short time az two years ago. The
tide of immigration which has flowed west
ward has deposited thousands and thous-
ands of thrifty husbandmen, the majority
Of them having reasonably liberal sup
ply of this worlds goods, together with
money reserve sufficient to guard against
poverty, should ihe first years crop not
equal anticipations. Russell county has
been the recipient this year OF a goodly
share OF
THE NEW CoMERs,
and has been, perhaps, more than merely
fortunate in securing the very best class OF
thS iiSoShb n ssdstLIcHls III
cold figures, of the increase in population,
conveys to the reader but faint idea of
the development of a county or region, and
the fact that Russell has doubled in point
OF the number Of her population the past
year, does not allow anything more to
THE SEEKER AFTER KNOWLEDGE
than the mere opportunity to exercise his
imaginative powers and make guess as to
the actual growth and development which
has trken place. Russell has heretofore
been looked upon as one OF the extremely
new western counties, notwithstanding the
fact that there were counties to the north
and west Of her which were settling up all
the time, while, in a measure, she was
passed by, and exactly why no one could
exactly tell for in Russell is to be found
SOME OF THE FINEST FARMING LAND
in the western or any other country, at
prices within the reach of everyone, and if
man were too poor to buy he could pre-
empt. A better grazing region than Rus
sell county affords needn't be searched for
anywhere, and thousands of cattle can find
a not only comfortable but luxurious living
all the year round. The county is well
watered and good springs abound. The
timber supply is limited, it is true, but then
there is an abundance Of coal, and then
farmers are planting artificial forests ex-
tensiyely.
THE SOIL Is RICH
and yields largely, 30 that the farmer can
always expect, and with reason, too, good
returns from every years crops, except, Of
course, when some unforeseen calamity,
like drouth or grasshopper visitation,
comes along to blast his fond hopes. But
the grasshoppers don't come every year, nor
once every five years, and as the country
grows older and artificial forests spring up,
THE DANGER OF IRoUTH
becomes materially lessened, SO that in
reality the Kansas farmer needn't have
anything to bother him unless the trouble
is Of his own conception and Matching.
When one thinks Of what has already been
done in Kansas in the way OF crops, it very
naturally leads to the belief that what has
heretofore been done can be duplicated
and it can.
OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE
wears proudly, and by right, the name of
the garden spot of the country, and she has
the certificates, in the shape OF medals and
diplomas, both national and State, TO show
for it. Russell is a beautiful county, and
if any one who doubts it will but take q
ride through the territory enclosed within
its limits, he Will not dare deny the truth
pf the Tho lop1 N ~,
OF gentle undulations,
ISTERsPERsED WITH CHARMING VALLEYS,
which are caused by the numerous streams
and water courses, and it is along these
latter where the timber supply of the
county ia to be found. The percentage OF
forest land will hardly exceed one and one
half, although it will come up to fully that
figure. Some portions Of the county are
inclined to be somewhat bluffy, although
the main body OF the land rises and falls in
gentle undulations, like the swell OF
THE WAVES OF THE OCEAN.
About twenty per cent. OF the face Of the
country is bottom land, the bottoms aver
aging in width about three-quarters OF a
mile, although there is not an acre of it
which cannot be advsntageously utilized
and furthermore it should be distinctly re-
membered that none of this bottom is
marshy or boggy, but on the contrary, is
the richest, pU rest and most productive OF
all the land in the county. The varieties
of timber grown are those such az can be
found in any of the country in
| THIS SECTION OF THE STATE,
and include elm, cottonwood, ash and vii.
low, while, more particularly on Paradise
creek, are to be found black walnut, cedar
and some oak, although the latter il moi
found in any very large quantities. The
principal streams OF the county are the
Saline and the Smoky Hill rivers, the
former flowing a little north Of the centre
lire Of the county, its most important trib
utary being Paradise creek, which comes in
\ from the northwest. Salt and Cedar creek.
come in from the south, both OF which
ARE GOOD SIZED WATER COURSES.
Wolf and East Wolf creeks flow through
the northeastern part Of the county, and
and have several tributaries, which wsiel
that portion pretty thoroughly. The
Smoky Hill river flows eastward across the
county, south of the centre line, ard has &
score or more of tributaries, the largest o.
which is Big creek. Lardon's, Sellon's
Wright, Beaver and Walnut creeks flow
into the Smoky from the south, and Fossi
and some other streams OF somewhat lessel
importance, from the north. The county
is very we'll supplied with spring., and vel
water can be obtained at an average deptf
of forty feet.
THE FUEL QUESTION.
Coal, although in comparatively incon
siderable qusntities, has been developed
the veins, however, not running thicke
than from thirty to forty inches. 1t i
worth 81 90 per ton at the mine, and up Il
the present tine it is probable that abou
$500 tons have been mined, all of whicl
has found very ready sale. As nat1ra
consequence, the coal having been foun,
near the surface, it is not of as good qualit,
as could be found by going deeper; but i
is now an established fact that coal ha
been found, and when the time comes tha
it will be needed az an article of fuel, i
will be developed in sufficient quantities Il
meet all demands.
BUILDING STONE
is found in considerable quantities all owe
!. the countv, but more especially in the west
ern part, from where it is shipped via tn
Kansas Pacific road both east and west
The magnesian Limestone, which is easil,
| quarried and very easily manipulated
| making as fine building material az coul'
ba viahad foy IA fnupd in Iavara f,oyr, All