Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-03-27
KANSAS LETTER.

where else, only we have had but little
disagreeable weather so far. There has
not been one real spring day yet this sea-
son, and people are getting tired waiting
for one to come. AS for me begin TO be- |
lieve that Kansas early springs are
fraud, for none have appeared since have
been living here. The imagination ofsome
men and the elasticity Of their stories
passes comprehension.
For the benefit OF those who read circu-
lars and papers sent out by land agents
and rail road companies, l will say that
very little blowing is done here in Febru-
ary. Oats are not put in during that
month, neither are pot stoes. Corn is not
ready for the first plowing by the first of
April, neither are new potatoes, peas, rad
ishes, &c.
Stock must be fed from the first of De-
cember to the first of April, II not longer.
Wheat does not grow spontaneously, nor
is living to be obtained by loafing any
easier than in Ohio, in fact not so easy, for
here there are no free lunch counters with
their attendant saloons. Now l confess l
see no use in telling so many big stories
about Kansas, the plain simple truth is all
that is needed to make everybody see that
this is a much better place in which to
live than anywhere else, not even except
ing the Maumee Valley.
The election for Congressman to fill the
! place made vacant by the death of Haskell
took place the first OF March, after an un-
usually bitter campaign. 1t is wonder
full how many lies the average political
paper can tell when it tries, the lying is
not confined to county and village papers
either, but papers that take high rank
fos reliability and honor. After the cleo
ton here one of the Lawrence papers
frankly acknowledged that it was thor
ouphly ashamed of the course it persued
during the canvass. 1t said ii one half the
stories either side told of the opposing
candidate were true, neither OF the men
had the least spark of honor or manhood
about him, and was unfit to be seen on the
streets; so the conclusion was, as neither
of them were known to be notorious
swindlers before that time, that the papers
had lied about them. The paper referred
to preached quite a little sermon on the
subject and promised to do better in the
future.
The majority of Mr.. Fruston, (Rep)
over Mr.. Riggs, (Dem.), was some seven
or eight thousand. He will do we'll If he
fills the place of the late Mr.. Haskell, who
was strong man in every sense of the
word, and who was rapidly becoming 8
leader in the house.
OF course all have heard long before this
of the Kansas relief train, which passed
through here on its way to the Ohio Val
lev. 1t was a train loaded with II, 4O'
bushels of shelled corn contributed b,
Sedewick county. 1t was voluntary con-
tribution, being made from desire to re-
turn the aid that county receiv ed during
: the grasshopper "Reign of Terror"
The train was made up of thirty-tw'
cars. all decorated with cartoons repre-
senting various scenes in 1874, and con
= trasting them with those of 1884. On to-
of the first car was pictured an immens
v grasshopper, and under 1t was written
Y "An early settler, now extinct" One car
toon represented farm scene in IA,
lean cadaverous, ragged discouraged ma
9 was standing, looking the picture OF woe
e and admiring his lean scurvy stock, Will
in the back ground choppers" were every
where to be seen. One was mounted o
the roof of the house, and was demolish
=, ing the chimney with an axe. The door
and windows were being carried off an
the house was being entirely dismantle
by the voracious foes. In 's4 he was stant
le ing the picture of satisfaction, fat, we
l. clothed, wearing an immense diamond
l. with fat sleek stock, fine house su
IS rounded with trees. and bursting barn
,r and immense hay ricks, in the rear. Q
some cars were great ears of corn, c
which, was printed. "Broad caet upon Il
N waters" On others immense grassho
at pers staod at either end of scroll {
b. which, 1854, Sedgwick county remembe
er her own suferings, and sends aid to tt
til Ohio food sufferers, 1884," Each "hoppe
was weeping great tears into tin wa
rs basins.
S T. would take too much time and spa
y. to tell of even small part of what was
be seen on that far famed relief train.
~ is enough to say that it was done in Ka
~ sas style, and was well done. Here
Lawrence about two thousand peoI
~ were at the station to see the train ps
" through. Free transportation was fl
nished by the railroads, which was gu
a an item saved.
'ty Kansas is famed just now in way I
IN. lust to the best advantage of the Sta
me The foot and mouth disease has brok
We out in several places, most notably at
'rb osho Falls, or rather near there. Lie
o., Governor Finney, who resides at Il
ep- town. some two or three weeks since,
formed Gov. Click of tie breaking out
the disease, and asked that pro mpt acti
-. be taken. The Governor at once inform
~. ~. the National government of it, and asl
W that veterinary surgeons be sent to
mo vestigate. In a few days especial car
Jus ried Gov. Click. members of the st
Gus Board, prominent st ock men and the
sn geons down to Neosho Falls where Il
,oo ~, spent the day in visiting infected he
.io '.' and in trying to arrive at the best me
''A of controlling it. Tuesday the 1lth
novorpor xuos AGAIN at NeOShO Falls to