Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-04-19
THE DODGE CITY TIMES.

KANSAS WHEAT PRO0PECT0.
The land department OF the AtchisoD,
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad is in receipt
of its first series of reports on the condition
of winter wheat along its line Of road.
These dispatches embrace the Cottonwood
and Arkansas valley counties, and in fact
the whole southern half OF the state, except
the southwestern tier of counties. A more
rainy March, or one better suited to the
growth of wheat has rarely been known in
Kansas. The kilograms now to hand confirm
this fact.
The question asked by Col. johnson Of
his correspondents were these: ~ Give
some account of the condition of winter
wheat in your county. (2) Compare With
condition at same time last year. (3) Does
early or late sown look best? az Is there
any injury from frost7 (5) Has recent
weather been favorable? (6) Are farmers
adding to their livestock, and what is fair
estimate Of the profits on cattle and sheep
in your vicinity?
No reason need be given for the last ques-
ton. Every farmer and capitalist in the
West is interested in some way in the SUBJ
Ject of stock. Here in Kansas the indica-
lion is that the state will ultimately become
. greater stock raising than farming region.
The returns to the state board show a con-
slant addition to the number Of stock held,
and q rapid rise in the value Of such
animals, indicating that the quality is inn
proving as the number increases. Again,
there have been misleading stories circulated
az to how much could be made on cattle and
sheep, and it was deemed wias to get state
ment of profits from reliable correspondents
over considerable breadth Of territory.
All things considered, and keeping in mind
the importance of the wheat estimates, it is
probably not too much to say that the re-
plies to question No. 6 are the most imports
ant brought out BY the land commissioner.
There is no correspondent but adds his
testimony to the general opinion that Kans-
as farmers are everywhere increasing their
herds, while profits ase estimated. al the way
from Is to 20 per cent, and in some cases
even more. Twenty-Five to forty per cent.
ssems fair average based on last years re-
suits; yet in every case where there has been
careful and intelligent management more
has been made. As the hopeful charachter
Of such q general tendency in a new state
much may be said, for in an area like Kans-
as suited best to adiversifed system Of aeri::
cultre, there is always an unsubstantial class
Of farmers who are likely to be carried away
by speculative agriculture, and 20 partially
fail. With sheep and cattle properly cared
for, such men become Independent of wind
and weather.
Wheat prospects are good; the reports
show them generally better than at the same
time last year, and it will be remembered
that the crops of 1882 was the best ever
harvested in the state. EARLY planting is in
the most satisfactory condition, and the area
of winter killed is not large-in some
counties none is reported. While there 10
consensus of opinion as to the particularly
favorable weather of the past month, it l.
also generally reported that the plant is not
30 far advanced az usval at this season, al
tho ugh ~ fresh and healthy as it could we'll
be.