The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-03
KANsAs ANp COLORADO.
sDeeulations as to their Future by One
OF Our Citizens.
HIyERFkyo CoUNTY,
IILE-IsE -AsU1 WV }
Colorado. Nov. &c. 1880.

Colorado, Nov. &c, 1880.
While am here, shut mp in the house
during the present cold weather, take
pleasure in thinking of the friends in
Kansas-how they are fighting man.
fully life's battles, and do not think it
Ell rely out of place, to write some
thing of what see and hear, that effects
the interests of the people of our state.
shall not say much, if any thing, of
the gold aud silver mining of the eOun-
try, or of the towns, for the reason that
they have already been so well written
up, that what might say would only
be repetition of what has already been
said on the subject.
But there is much that may be said of
many things here in the west that, in my
judgement, more directly affect us as
producing community, in connection
with the especial economy of the great
''rockeys," of which but little has been
said, and is less understood by Us.
The passing through the central por-
ton of our state, and from thence pene-
- :
of that great artery, the Atchison, Tope-
ka & Santa Fe railroad, is doing and has
done more to develop these great inter
ests than all of the railroad enterprises
that have yet crossed the great Ameri-
can desert"
We that have long been led TO believe
that the rainless belt, covering the west
ern portion of our state and the eastern
portion of Colorado, was, perhaps, worth
less as region to be brought under eul-
tivation, can, with some degree of GER
tainty, look forward to a day when all of
that portion lying near such streams as
the Arkansas river will be brought
under cultivation, and if possible be
more productive than the same number
of acres in the more favored eastern por-
ton of the state of Kansas.
The future of these valleys will not
depend upon rain for moisture, but for
the broad bottoms great irregating ca
nails will be taken from the river, cover
ing immense tracts of land governed by
system that will equalize the supply TO
the demand for water, perhaps by joint
stock corporations, or under the CO oper-
alton system. Irrigation will be applied
and as years go by, experience will
teach the intelligent farmer this manner
of cultivation of the soil. The world
does not yet, in general sense, under
stand the value of the application of
water to the plant just at the right time,
and the effect of thorough application
of this system, but when we think that
lands which are subject to irrigation in
Spain, are worth $500 per acre, and
those which are not are sold at q greatly
reduced price, we will at once see that
IN countries where the subject is under
stood that 1t is appreciated.
The question of our future market is
an interesting one. The settler will ask,
must 1 go, east with my grain? I will
answer yes, at present, with portion,
but that tho time is not far distant when
this state will consume all that they
will raise, al remunerative prices.
Colorado and her mines are in their in
fancy. The length of the mines that
have already been dicovered are not de.
veloped into working condition. The
projected railroads, that are planning to
enter every considerable mining district,
is giving new strength to all mining en-.
terprises, bringing about great activity,
new confidence and with the prospee-
tive cheap provisions and facilities
of transport, many properties will be
put in operation that are now idle,
while when We now see these people
paying from $1s to $40 for Kansas hay,
according to locality from 1926 to 81
per bushel for apples, 40 cents for our
butter, and no eggs to be had at any
price, we may not be jealous of the pros
perity of our sister state She is the
ma4ing of US. Our future is identified
with hers in every respect.
In my next I will write of the fuel
prospect of the great plains, which to
those who do not understand is vexed
question. think this enough tor the
present. Very respectfully,
z. Fl. WILMINGTON