The Wichita city eagle., 1882-06-15
FACTS ABoUr OUR VALLEY.

Colonel NJ. Steward, of this city, used to
live at junction City and was u warm friend
of ex-state Printer, Geo. Martin, whose pa
ter from Col. S. telling all about our town
and county from which we find room only
for few brief extracts:
"There are a few topics, however, left me
TO touch on, and shall start out by assert
ing that at no time since the settlement Of
this county have the people, as whole,
been as prosperous. Our farms produced
last year over three millions of bushels Of
corn, over nine hundred thousand bushels
Of wheat, fifteen thousand bushels OF millct;
and more hay was put up than could be fed
or sold. Over fifteen thousand head of
cattle from Missouri and eastern Kansas
were shipped or driven in to be sold or fed
here. and over twenty-five thousand head of
fat hogs were marketed in Wichita. The
sheep interest has had an immense boom
am not prepared to give the increase, but
1t is wonderful. Our close proximity, COM
paritively speaking, to the markets of Color
ado and New Mexico has stimulated produc-
ers in meeting the demand for garden pro-
ducts, butter, eggs and poultry.
The natural result of all this, is that men
who have located here are content to remain
and it is a rare Occurance for man to pull
up stakes, with a view to bettering his con-
dition financially in some other locality.
Good times with the farmers is synony-
nous with prosperity to the merchant and
trades-people who inhabit the towns; con-
sequently, Wichita, being the hub of large
thickly settled community, is meeting with
degree of prosperity truly gratifying to
those who have hoped and waited. Real es-
and is active at the advance; dwelling and
business houses of no mean pretentiOns are
going up all over the city, and we can boast
Of more shade and ornamental trees than
any town or city in the state. Major Henry
lnman expressed himself as being utterly
astounded at the march OF progress in and
about wichita. .'Why," said he, 81 sur
veyed through here fourteen years ago. and
it was then Il bowling wilderness; to-day |
believe ii stands unrivalled in the state for
beauty AMI business
The prospects for an enormous wheat crop
at this writing are intensely fiattering. 1t
stands waist high, heads long and berry
plump, and will be ready to harvest in a
week or ten days. The acreage is about
$1,000, and that of corn about double; veg
etables are plenty and OF good quality !;
peaches more than enough to supply the
home demand, other fruits a fair crop.
Politics ire warming up here as elsewhere
throughout the state. This is the home of
Senator ii. c. Sluss, whose name will be
presented TO the state convention as suita-
BILE candidate for congressional honors
Sluss is one of the boys-a private soldier
during the war, who time and again declined
promotion. This feature is characteristic OF
know, coupled with the high order of talent
possessed by him, he would have been in
Congress long since. Ii the convention sets
down on him, he is young and goOd-lOOking
and can stand it :. but if he gets there neitb-
er friend Anderson nor ID. c. Haskell will
carry all the brains of the Kansas delegation
under their Il plugs.
The letter would not be complete if fail
ed to allude to prohibition. The law has
been in operation now over one year, there
has been numerous convictions in our
courts, but still. the law is openenly
defied, and fifteen saloons are to-day rum
ming in Wichita and paying local incense
as in days OF yore.
'Tis true, It's pity and pity lis, it's true.
NJ. STEWART.