The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-01-27
Kansas Letter.
PEABODY, Marion Co., Kansas,


PEABODY, Marion Co., Kansas,
January 22nd, 1881.
We are about 1000 miles west from
Ravenna and about 200 miles south,
very near the geographic, Al center vi
the United States. Peabody ia a thriv-
ing town of thirteen hundred inhnbit-
ants, and situated OH the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, lS4 miles
west of Kansas City. This railroad
runs for long distance along the Cot
tonwood valley, one of the most fertile
valleys of the State. For some distance
before reaching this place the bluffs
and uplands, as seen from the cars,
present a broken and rocky appear
ance. These bluffs are known rs the
foot of the flint hills, and although the
land is somewhat broken and rocky
the valleys are very fertile, and these
lands furnish an immense range for
stock small streams and springs are
numerous and the best Of water is
found here. These lands can be bought
at from two to five dollars per acre.
After passing Florence, which is IL
miles east of Peabody, the country
spreads out into a gently rolling prairie
of unlimited extent. Here you pass
through belt of as rich agricultural
land as is to be found on the cOnti-
rent. This country is fast filling up
with people from all parts Of tho United
States, and one could truthfully say,
from all parts of the world. Near here
are the famous Russian aud Prusian
settlements. Land here is higher in
price; wild land from eight to ten dol
lars per acre. improved farms from ten
TO twenty dollars. Good so acre farms
can be bought for from $1,000 to $l5oO,
f60 acre farms from $500 to $1,000
This country has experienced extremes
of weather since it's settlement, which
only dates back ten years. Two years
ago it was extremely wet here; last
year it was extremely dry. Last win
ter it was very warm this winter very
cold. The thermometer has been down
to IL deg. below zero three times this
winter. There has been but very lit
tie snow, not over two inches ut any
one time. The roads have been dry,
and smooth as a pavement all winter.
Last fall a company drilling for coal
near town, at the depth of about 500
feet, struck a bed Of pure salt eleven
feet thick. No steps have been taken
yet to utilize this most valuable dis
covery.
Markets here are good for most kinds
groceries and farm implements are
about the same price as in Ohio. There
is quite large amount of stock being
fed here this winter, mostly owned by
parties formerly from New York,
Ohio and Wisconsin. 1t costs about
one-half as much here to keep stock as
in Ohio, while butter will average
fully as high in price and cheese near
ly double.
Peabody has good graded school,
employs four teachers has four church
and another in the course of
and one of the best pub
lie libraries in the State. This is con-
sidered a very healthy location, espec-
tally for persons with lung complaints.
The rule here for renting farms il to
furnish house and garden spot, and
give two-thirds of tho crop raised.
That is, the owner of the farm expects
one-third of crop, in half bushel or
Good horses or mules sell for
about one hundred dollars each q
good yoke of oxen about one hundred
dollars cows from twenty-five to forty
dollars hogs, live weight, from So so
to 81 per hundred weight; wheat from
so to 20 cents per bushel corn from 25
to so cents per bushel; hay from $4 to
81 SO ton /; potatoes from rs cents to
81 for good ones green apples So to
So 80 per barrel; dried apples to II
cents per pound; white beans cents
per pound. Coal costs So per ton.
I will say, before closing, that it is
not all sunshine in Kansas, and par
ties contemplating coming here will
find that it requires just as much Ia
Dor and economy to succeed here as in
most any other country. But there is
more room here, and land is cheaper
han i'm the older States. From this
point everything is East, and West is
The other side of the Rocky Mountains.
Respectfully, w. III. BETTEs.