The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-08-12


OF the States east of Kansas it is not
necessary to take much note in this cor
respondence. The one thing that sug-
gested itself forcibly to me was the in
quiry why people ever leave these fertile
and easily cultivated States TO seek homes
further west.- 1t is not strange that men
desert the old thickly settled Eastern
States and the over crowded cities to fol-
low the lamented Greeley's wholesome
advice--though only a limited number
of them are recommended to take Hoe
Cylin' er Press--but those located In the
broad States just mentioned should be
sufficiently imbued with worldly wisdom
TO lot well enough alone. Ills they NAV
have, as drawbacks aud discouragements
are everywhere in this world, but il is
better to bear them than to fly to others
we know not of. In northern Missouri.
for instance. there are, uneultivated
thousands of acres of as good fsrmiue
lands as the sun ever shone upon, AMI
it is a mystery why people pass them by
to go to Kansas or anywhere else
Our only stop of consequence was at
Kansas City, which has now grown to an
impoi tant commercial centre of over
5000 inhabitants. II is peculiar
place, yet all who stop like it. In ap-
pearanCe it is odd because being built
upon high and uneven bluffs the streets
run upon and down hill, and the cellars
of some houses are high above the roofs
of many near neighbors. Yet the build
ings are mostly of a substantial character
and there is solid business-like aspect
to the whole town. A slow process OF
grading the streets down to level is CO.
lug on in some parts of the city and per-
haps in the course of time much Of this
rongh and rugged exterior will be re-
moved 1t has been place of rapid
growth, commercially and otherwise, and
there is undoubtedly promising futur.
before it, It's trade comes from vast
territory to the west and south west, some
even from Texas and New Mexico. OF
course journey through on the cars is
not sufficient to gain much accurate
knowledge OF the advantages of Kansas
as farming country. Much has been
written pro and con about it by those
whose opportunities of knowing the
truth are better than mine, but am sat
isfed that there are as good lands in the
Cottonwood and Kansas Valleys as can
be found anywhere on top of Gods green
earth. Taken all in all there is ample
room and opportunity in Kansas for those
who are willing to work and endure the
trials of beginning. And it is difficult
to understand how men will remain in
large cities living in hoyels aud rearing
their children in hot-beds of vice, when
broad fields invite them to come aud
make themselves homes. Few fail of a
good living who come West with willing
hands and determined spirit. Without
these the experiment is useless, for ther,
is no royal road to wealth even upon fer
tile Western prairies. But the same la.
Dor and energy which earns scanty liv
ing in the crowded cities of the East viii
in few years surround family will
peace and plenty and secure future
Speaking of Kansas reminds me of
story lately told: How is the soil O
Ktnsas2' asked one of the group as tn
traveller paused. "Richest in the world
sir" was the reply. Il know a New
York statesman who went to Kansas sew
en- years ago with only SlS in cash. an,
he is now worth $4,000 "Whew
what did he raise principally" II be
, lieve it was check, ,Sir;but they couldn
exactly prove it on him Think of sol
) that will raise bank check for $3.50 t
$4,000 and in backward season a
that y
The traveller who enters Colorado O
the south will not at first be greatly pre-
possessed with the country, or at leas
with its surface indications. For nearl
hundred miles the route to Pueblo
through barren, sandy plain, whic
has been denominated the "Great Amer
can Desert" Yet beneath this uninvitin
: exterior lies rich soil, which, by th
application of water and the usual prc
cesses of cultivation, produces tran,
! formation more wonderful than the mas
5 ic influence of Fairy's wand. Animal
= in an about Pueblo. and in various spot
D near the river where ranchmen have b
their efforts interspersed little oast
grateful to the eye. The soil here, an
: for miles back along the road over whic
: we have come is, on top. about like pu
/ verized lines stone, and the alkali dui
a which drifts in the car windows is epoug
8 to both blind and strangle you-espec
t ally if you happen to come through o
(; a hot day. The water, too, is enough |
. turn your stomach If you are rash epoug
= to put any of it in your whiskey. Y,
S right here is town which stands as Il
d only rival of Denver, and which for moi
p than year past has been enjoying boo
: of considerable proportions. The opel
ing of the railroad lines into San Jua
Q and other Southern Colorado mimi
}, sections contributed to this result. Mar
s of the buildings are Mexican ADOBE
= and the place is otherwise unattracti'
n to me at first glance. After q calm il
/ spection it may appear to better adval
g tage. One thing which has been Il
/. source of constant surprise to us on Il
70 way here is the excellent meals furnish,
at eating houses along the route. Aft
scrosed the Mississippi river We rath
expected hard fare and made up o.
minds to eat anything, from a Prair
dog to picked Indian, but the reali
was very different thing. At the eatin
IL saloons all through Kansas, the regul
Is spread excelS even the famous Uni,
~ Depot Dining Rooms at Pittsburg al