Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-07-24
From Kansas.
lola, ALLEN Co., KAN,
July S, 1880.

4 viii WPlfe you Few lines thle
morning in which | will give you
an idea of things ia this partof the
country, which is the Neoshe Val
ley in Southeastern Kansas.
viii go as far back as July ~,
when we had few weeks dry
weather which cut our corn crop
down some, yet satisfactory crop
was made from which good prices
were realized. After that time we
had sufficient rain with a very
mild winter. In March and April
last we had but little or no rain,
which cut our wheat crop down
probably one-fourth, but gave our
farmers good opportunity to get
out corn, which was well used,
and the increase in acreage over
last year is very great. Since the
10th of May we have bad splen-
did season, and the rapid growth
of corn and all kinds OF vegetation
is really wonderful. The pros
poets for a corn crop are very
promising, and with the good
soaking rains a few days ago
makes it very near sure. think
new corn will be fed here about
the first of August.
The grass crop is good. Since
the first of April our stock has
had sufficient grass, and at this
time are roaming over the'prairies
in grass to their kness.
1 think the increase in the corn
crop by dry weather in March and
April will over balance the cut off
in wheat, as there Is but little.
wheat sown in this part to COM
pare with the western part of the
State. Raising corn and feeding
stock is thought to be more profit
able than raising wheat. l have
no doubt that there has been
some suffering in the western part
of the State on account of the fail
ure of the wheat crop. l think it
a very great mistake in emigrants
to pass through country like this,
where prosperity is to be seen,
to the western part of the State
where drouths are frequent, SIM
ply with the idea of homestead
ing. We have lands here owned
and offered for sale by the Kansas
City, Lawrence and Southern r.
r. Co., at $500 cash, or "a per
acre on seven years time, and
from my own observation l don't
think the company has said any
more of their lands in their adver-
tisements than they really deserve.
These lands have been taken up
very fast in the last year, yet some
are to be had. / have talked with
numbers of eastern men who have
travelled pretty we'll over the
State, that say they think Allen
county one of the best counties, all
things considered.
Mr.. Samuel Bailey, formerly of
your county, arrived here with
his family in April last. Since
that time he has travelled over
seven counties and has returned
with the idea that ne will locate
in this county. Mr.. Bailey, whom
you probably know to be a thor
Ough temperance man, informs
me that while travelling over the
seven counties he visited fourteen
towns and in these were only two
licensed saloons. From this you
can judge as to the society, sobrie-
ty, &C., of our county.
In travelling over this part OF
Kansas we see nothing of sod
houses and dug-outs. Occasional.
ly we see deserted log cabin and
one mark of prosperity is to see
the old occupants near by living
in O good substantial farm house.
We have some very good bank
barns.
We have good fruit crop. APP
piles and peaches have been in the
market since the Goth of June.
We have great many fine
orchards Of apples and peaches,
ranging in numbers from one
hundred to a thousand trees in an
orchard. We have had a great
many additions made to the stock
interests of our country by the EN-.
igrations OF last year. We have
some OF all the leading breeds oil
horses. cattle, sheep and hogs.
The business of sheep raising is
increasing very much. This coun-
ty has herds numbering from five
hundred to two thousand, all doing
well, and sheep men think our
climate, soil, &C., very suitable for
the business. have received a
premium list of the agricultural
and mechanical association for the
year 1880, to be held at Martins.
burg, w. Va. l am truly sorry
that can not exhibit the little
herd of Jerseys, as have done be.
fore, yet the association have my
good wishes. l will mail you pre-.
lima liaA Of Aha ILnnLa.x.