Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-03
WHAT A STRANGER THINKS OF US.
WICHITA, Kans., July 80, 1884.

WICHITA. Kans., July 80, 1884.
Mr. EDIToR:-l am stranger in Il
strange land. i'll should introduce
myself to your columns in the way oil a
little sketch of NV observations for
for the last few days, hope you will
NOT think me too familiar. | am res
ident Of central Ohio, known in histo-
ry as the Buckeye State. Having
friends in this vicinity, my wife and !
boarded the train in Columbus, Ohio,
union depot on Wednesday night II
II O'Clock and over the l., Il. 4 W.
road 10 Bloomington. thence the Chi
cago g. Alton TO Kansas City, and the
Atchison e. Santa Fe to Wichita, ar
irving there Friday night at 8 o'clock.
We took a straet car from the depot
and went TO the fremont hotel where
we spent n very comfortable night in
IA pleasant room, enjoying most re-
freshing sleep after our run Of nearly
n thousand miles on the cars.
On the following morning we were
driven by gentlemanly driver from
one of your livery stables, TO the beau
tjful home of Mr.. John w. Shaiier.
who came here five years ago from my
neighborhood in Ohio. They were
not expecting us and seemed agreca-
bly, surprised, almost overjoyed. The
following day Mr.. Shafler drove Us
ten miles west from your city, and ev-
cry day since have been looking over
the Arkansas valley in this vicinity.
This is my first trip west. have
been in many Of the eastern states,
have seen the mountains of Pennsyl-
vania and the valleys of Virginia: the
coal fields of Ohio and the table lands
of Vermont. have no aN TO grind in
Kansas. do not own dollars worth OF
property in the state, except the few
old clothes have on and a clean shirt
in my valise. | am going to give my
opinion of the state Gas well as my OBJ
seryations) through which ] passed on
my route here.
NV home is two miles from Hart
ford, Licking county, Ohio, ON The
Ohio Central railroad, twenty-eight
miles from Columbus the capital OF
the state. SO if any one wants any
vouchers or references they can get
them by addressing a postal card to
the postmaster or marshal of that
place.
II was very dry when 1 left Ohio
(don't mean II was dry socially but
the weather was dry. Crops, cspe-
cially corn and potatoes were suffer-
ing for rain, pastures were perishins
and stock water very scarce, many
driving their cattle two and three
miles to water. Our hay crop was
not a heavy yield, but good quality
Wheat is medium crop, some fields
yielding % to 25 bushels, while others
will not yield more than II to IA
bushels. My wheat made about IA
bushels and was threshed two days
before came away.
The general cry was for rain. and
the common talk of farmers was,
lawful poor corn weather, too cool
and dry" There is plenty of fields of
corn in Ohio thai can't make any
thing but very poor fodder should
rain come as we desire. Only two or
three potatoes of the more early var
ieties with vines dead, while there is
none On the later varieties, and will
not be if we do not have good rains
soon.
Wool is our main commodity IN
Licking county, and that is selling
slow and draggy at from 20 TO =
cents, while the sheep of high-grade
flocks are only worth from $3.50 to
$500 per head, and few buyers at that
price. Hogs and cattle are selling AT
fair Prices, but few in numbers as our
corn was poor last year and nothing
to faften with.
The sheep industry OF Ohio is ruin
ed unless the tariff is restored. My