Connecticut western news., 1879-07-23
Salisbury.
K nmS0S Letter.

V ed very appropriate texts. Y.
 Kansas Letter.
 MIR. EDITOR In 1867 government mili- tary station was established here called Fort Hays. At that time it was some 60 miles west of any settlement, and was located among the batfalo and the Indians. Last summer three companies of troops were sta- toned at the post and left in pursuit of the Indians, at the time of their raid through the state. At the present time some fifteen men in charge of Lieut.. Hay occupy the post, the after the establishment of the post, few small buildings were erected along the line of the R. R. survey, which for several years con- stituted the town, the population mostly be- ing made up of hard class of frontiersmen: Texas COW boys, and desperate set of oughs, who in all matters of difference, were law unto themselves Men were shot down in their drunken brawls, and buried on Boot Hill, so called because they were tumbled in with their clothes on. Within three or four years this state of things has been changed; the roughs have mainly left, law and order prevail, the community is made | up to great extent ofan intelligent and law abiding people, with as much culture and re- inement as can be found in any town of its size anywhere. Quite number of fine bus mess blocks have been recently built; an iron front hardware store 70 feet deep, and spacious dry good stores, tn e sales of three of them amounting to $l0O,OOO each yearly. There are others, five grocery stores and five parties selling agricultural imple- ments. Have counted fifty wagons ready put up for sale, and twice as many ready to put up. Three lumber yards with annual sales of $5O,OOO each The are six livery stables, with harness shops jewelry stores, etc. Where three years ago all was unbroken prairie, I now look out from my window upon beau tiful landscape, counting hundreds of cul- tivated acres, and many tasty dwellings.
 The R R. receipts have been for the last quarter for passengers and freight, about $5O,OOO
 The number of entries at the N States land office from Jan. 1st to May 12th in this land district, embracing territory 66 miles wide by l65 long, was 3,S65, embra cing 567, l35 acres. The sales of R. R. land have been about 20, 900 acres per month on the whole K. P. road. We will here mention that the number of acres set apart for the benefit o schools in the state would, if sold at the ap- praised value amount to between fourteen anC fifteen millions of dollars, with about million and half of available funds on hand. The call for land has not been as great lately, or account of the dry weather and short crops There was but very little rain from the time of last fall seeding, until this spring ant there has only been a moderate supply a three or four different times since. As con sequence, the" ground has been very dry, the E wheat crop is small, will hardly average ter bushels per acre against twenty-two las year. A better yield is claimed in the east ern part of the state Corn that was put ir early and caught a shower to bring it up will in some parts of the state be good crop
 but generally, spring crops will be short anc in some parts failures.
 The weather has been very warm with strong hot wind from the south east the 1, greater part of the time, with burning sun and no dew at night. A portion of the bear vines in the garden have been scorched SC that they would crumble, and sweet corr leaves look as if they had been bitten by the frost field corn stands the weather better
 we have seen some very good fields of it This hot dry air while being good for catarrf and like diseases, is very facilitating to many New England people, as oursef and better halfc testify to. The nights are al that can be desired, generally cool with 6 comfortable breeze prevailing, insuring good nights sleep in doors or out, so that we catch the breeze; usually no taking cold sleeping out in the open air.
 From our observation of this country by 6 three months residence here last summer
 and so far this, we have failed yet to discover that gold can be picked up in the streets, ol that it finds it's way into the pockets of the people without patient labor and tol Some that early built up business here or took uI desirable tracts of land while it was in the market, have grown rich,
 | Whoever comes here thinking that al , kinds of crops in all seasons can, by proper cultivation be made to yield in abundance
 will be disappointed, but if he comes he vii find good land beautifully located, and witt money enough to build cheap house, buy his tools and team, with something to live on fol season, prepared to encounter two seasons out of five more or less too dry for abundant crops can, by locating on government land
 or if he has the means, buy out those that have desirable claims or buy R. R. land witl six or seven years to pay for it, if he has in dustry and perseverance, secure for himself a farm and a competence for later years.
 We little thought some two years ago that we should ever attend the celebration of our [ nations birthday out here some 600 miles beyond the Mississippi and near the centre o the "Great American Desert" but taking the , excursion train on Independence day, we went to Wakeeney, thirty miles west. One year ago last Jan. the first buildings were erected there; now there are quite number