Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-01-22
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
Questions Answered.

Mn. EDIroR-Dear Sir Several friends OF
Clearfed county, who desire to move West, and
have heard Of Kansas by reading the papers"
ask great many questions which no one can
fully answer within the limits Of a letter. /,
therefore, solicit your permission to reply through
the columns Of your paper to few Of the leading
questions usually asked by seekers for informa-
ton, as follows
"Whst sort Of climate have you in Kanshs ?"
We have a climate which, all things considered,
will compare favorably with that OF any section
Of the Union. We have as much rain fall during
the year as Pennsylvania, or any other average
State, which It has never occurred to anyone to
call droutby." We have few days every Win
ter Of severe cold but, with this exception, the
Winters are much milder and the weather Of a
more agreeable type than the average throughout
the Eastern States. We also have few quite
hot days in summer bat it Is an arkuoWlcdged
fact, that the breeze Invariably accompanying the
hot weather renders Il more eniurable than a
much lower Summtr heat 10 n more humid at
mosphere, ia other words. labor 10 the Kansas
harvest.6clds with the mercury at lOsS, 10 more
easily borne than in PcnIsylyAnia when 1t stands
at 9Oo
"How is the watefi"
Tue very bes, Of water is fouad u, from di iieen
to iity feet throughout the State In some cases
deep wells are necessary. but they more Of
them under twenty feet than over that depth.
Running streams are numerous--not large, but
we'll distributed and never failing.
" How is your timber
Every stream, large or small, has its belt Of
native timber, composed Of ash, elm, cottonwood,
and similar varieties. OF these, tho ash, cotton
wood aud walnut are vigorous growers aod propa.
gate themselves rapidly. IL 10 unquesiionaole 10
that The annual praifie fires alone have been re-
sponsible for the open state Of this country, and
their ravages being now held in check, the task
OF raising timber 10 more easily accomplished
than In the old timber localities themselves. Fire
wsod Is delivered, or can be procured In any oil
the towns, At $S to IS por cord. Coal Ia cheaper
now than ever before, owing to reduced rates Of
freight on the railrond.
"wbat are your best crops ="
], L. difheult to Distinguish. When the atten-
| ton VI some was hrst directed TO the favorable
condition existing IN kantas for wheat raising
upon the bottoms, success 20 signally attended
their efforts that II seemed 70 coalasnd itself most
highly. AZ soon, however, AZ fhs upiands were
fairly tested In corn, II was thought that there
was whore the money lay and 20 with oats, rye
and barley upon the middle lands There is
probably not a section of land In Eastern Kansas
that vii not pay largely Va either one Of these
products, aud la which best, the skilled farmer
must determine for himself.
How about stoekf"
Tn, question Of stock 10 ,cltlsl 10 eonaeclion
| WIN thes' eha"ttta auufoa WIN tut tlnhltf tut
water and the crops, stock .rsisirg h simply a
question Of individual enterprise. The herd law,
whicn was the deah-blow ~ the loose - stem con
nected with the Tsxas oaitle trade supon the other
hand, the most brnelcent agent 10 establishing &
the better methods nov IN favor. Sheep are be-
ing intfodueed IN large Cocks, and, ~ Tar, prom.
ise well, Owners are sanguins that particular
localities are unsurpassed 10 facilities Tot the busi-
ness.
"whai does 1t cost to raise the htt crop Of
wheat Z"
The fra operation necessary is not. as 10 the
other States, grubbing, or removing rocks, but
breaking the sOd when costs, " hired, $3.50 per
acre, aud Is dons from May " July. A great
many tracts are sown without even cross. .ploeing
Or harrowisg. Ifthese be necessary indi sidual
eases, the former costs sl.25 and the latter rs
cents pet acre. The seed, average, for good, CON-
mon varieties, costs 80 ceuts per bushei, and one
bashel 10 the acre. The drilling 10 ~ cents mors.
Ibis u the hrst years total expense. Tho neat
June IL 10 harvested aud stacked--if BY contract,
st 81 per acre thresbed Tor D to Y cents per
busbsi, and hauled TO market, say ten miles, for
4 4 cents
What 10 the average yield per acre !"
Crop, darls the past three years, averaged