Barbour County index., 1884-07-04

Under the above caption the kiowa
Herald publishes n lot Of trash, which
would indicate that there is some kind of
n fight for supremacy going on between
Kiowa and Medicine Lodge. There Is no
foundation for the thought. Medicine
Lodge rejoices at the prosperity OF its
southern neighbor, and our people would
be the last to say anght against Kiowa.
The Kiowa Herald is decidedly new In the
county; Its editor is fresh in western ways,
ignorant Of the interests of
Barber county, and certainly not informed
rs to the friendly relations existing be-
tween the county seat and its protege on
the lower Medicine river.
The article in question Is produced be-
low:
1.-The probability Of the Southern Kan.
sas railway extending its line westward
this season has given rise to great many
varied conjectures concerning the next
stopping place. Several surveys have al
ready been made. One survey Is located
within short distance OF Medicine Lodge
and another reaches within a short dis
lance Of Kiowa. These are only prelimi-
nary surveys and 1t 10 highly probable thai
another survey will be made. II Is con
ceded BY all that where the road strikes
the Territory line, or rather where the
road stops, there will be the largest city Id
the southwest. Railroads, like individuals
are anxious to strike the point where there
is prospect OF doing successful and re
munerative business, and now the ques
ton arises, which point would be likely tc
catch the most business, or In other words
which point would be most convenient tc
catch the shipments OF beef and stock cat
tie. Medicine Lodge Is Of tire opinion tina,
Il Is just the place and has thought 70 fol
the past six years. The town itself !,
nicely situated and were II not for the sur
rounding country beiLg so broken and the
town itself so far inland there might be 9
possibility OF some railroad coveting It
10 any one conversant with the country
however, 1t ean be clearly seen that Medi
cine Lodge, located where 1t Is, Is wholly
impncticable as far as the shipment OF
cattle is concerned. Show us the stock
man who will ship cattle from a point
where they will be dogged and laccratet
by being crowded into wire fences al
along the linrl
"A great share Of the country close tC
Medicine Lodge IL 50 broken that il Is TN
tit for trail cattle to Craze on and what il
not hills and hollOws Is under cultivation
and great part Of it under wire fence
Should railroad 60 to Medicine Lodge 4
could not rely on getting the c,ttle ship.
ments within twenty miles OF there to sly
nothing Of the Territory and Pan Handl,
trade.
"The impracticability OF driving stocl
and beef cattle to an inland shipping poin
was very clearly demonstrated ut Harpe
last year. II cattle could not be driven Il
Harper without Inconvenience and loss
how ale they ever going to reach poin
which Is even more difficult Of access
Now. let us turn to KiOwa. The town I
situated about on the line OF the Cherokee
Strip, Is bounded on the east by the Med
icine river and on the north and wrs b,
the finest farming country In the south
west. II Is on "a direct line for c0mmuni
cation With the large cattle ranches Of th
Territory and Texas. Its facilities 70
making cattle shipments, to say nothing o
Its worth as distributing point for mer
chandise, ETC., are uncxcrIlr,l and withou
rival in the whole state. Have shippin,
pens here and cattle could b. allowed {,
Craze right on the range until the mOmen
they were ready to be lOrtkti on board, ,k
cars. There are no barb wires 10 tormcn
and torture cattle. The whole corntr
south Of here is an open and grassy pr:i
rie capable Of furnishing food and waite
for hundreds Of thousands OF cattle. Til
country on all other sides Is very fertil
and is at present almost entirely coverc
with crops Of wheat, corn, oats, etc. IL
cate the town here and southern shipper
would not be obliged to leave the trai
from the time they start out until they ar
ready to load their cattle on board the CAR
We are happy to inform our readers tina
the railroad officials comprehend the i'm
pOrtance OF Kiowa rs a stock point an
have already purchased sufficient land 70
stock yards, side tracks, ETC., within shol
distance Of town. Betting now runs tha
the whistle Of the @bullglne" will be hear
at Kiowa within 90 days.