The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-21
They Went Unprep.reA.

We came upon them At tho closo Of .
September day, Eve miles out from Co.
lumbua, Nebraska, their schooner"
anchored on the prairie sea for the uigat
and the wanderers preparing their evening
meal. The little Arabs tossed about in
an extemporized hammock whila father
fetched tho water from the stream and
mother boiled tho potatoes and broiled
the ggouse shot two hours before. Olose
by the horses we're coralled. Old Tow.
ser, the faithful watch dog during all
these long journeyings-stretched under
the wagon waiting his dnish at the vict-
uals, which, however, soaring hawk
apparently believed would fall 10 bis lot.
It vas . most picturesque scene, as the
setting sun cast food of light upon all
around, and then disappeared beneath
the billowy grass, just q one sees the
bright orb drop below the ocean waves.
They had been travelling all day, poor
things. Man and besst were weary aud
worn. They had been to the far West,
and were now vending their way .lowly
back home East of tho Mississippi, heart.
sick and disappointed with days and
weeks of travel before them. We did
not question them too closely, but it was
plain to observe that they belong to that
large class who push for tho far West
without sufficient forethought and prep.
aration. Worry many reach their desti'
nation in safety, construct q sod house,
break few acres, and then have not
means to tide them over until they can
harvest crop. Others lose their cropa
and are uuabls to winter. Still others
become discouraged owing to sickness
and other causes, and are bound to get
back east again, no matter at what sacri.
6ce. If they have not funds to carry
them back BY rail they drive back, con-
suming weeks and even months 10 max
ing the return trip. So it trsnspires that
1T cartain seasons and in certain locali-
ties in the Western States and Territories,
claims and breakings can be bought
from discouraged owners at . fraction OF
their value. Frequently the disheartened
settler, after hs has built his house, made
bis 6rst payment, and broken thirty
acres or more, will "lst the whole busi-
ness slide" for enough 10 carry him and
his family out of the country. During
the grasshopper period, the prairie roads
of Kansas and Netraska were at time,
fairly alive with returning settlers, whose
crops had been devoured, aud whose
claims were being bought ct & song by
cormorans spectators or old and new
comers who had more faith in the future
of the country.
In 1855 and 7, the railroads expert.
enced great difficulty in selling thei,
lands in some portions Of Kansas and
Nebraska, the abandoned claims we're &C
numerous and sold 1T such low figures
Often the deserters after remaining Eas
for q year or more, will return again, tt
find the claims which they gave up nov
held by thrifty occupants and very vslu
able. So they have to push on still fur
ther away from the railroads, where land
are cheaper, and begin all over again.
Moral.-Don't be tempted by the allu
ring advertisements of some railroad t
start for the new West, before you ar
fully equipped. And when you do start
go expecting to encounter hardships
and determined to stick it out, though
grasshoppers, or short crops, or rain!
seasons, or blasting winters are among
your earlier experiences. Then tim!
will bring you out all right.-DAy1D W
JUDD, in american Agriculturi,t for Eco
o7f01.u