The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-06-03
EnrruR HEzALp :

+ Travelling through the Western States.
you can stop nowhere bat that you viii be
informed that you are now in the worlds
best eo1utry-tbe Garden OF Eden etc. Adj
n1itting AL this - avoid con.rpyersg. yen
pass on Bur Oak, the pride Of Jewell Co,
Kansas, Is the centre Of large scope Of up
lind prairie. the soil comparing favorably
with that of river bottom IN fertility I. has
population Of eight hundred inhabitants,
and more business than private hou<e<
can boast of three drug stores. all doing q
booming business. As this is prohibition
stale. druggists lead the van
The Bar oak Hrald. published hy IT. +.
Faidiey; hailing from Somerset county, has
a patronage he may well be proud Of The
inhabitants Of this community are engaged
ing the shipping season the daily ousgoings
often amounting 10 twenty ear loads Of
stock and hogs from this point.
While here / met Il. l. Horuer. son OF
ex-CommiSsioner Horner, and 5 c., son of
&. Forney, formerly Of Somerset county, now
located at this place These enterprising
young men farm over one hundred acres OF
corn. and forty acres Of small gram Their
crops will be forwarded to Chicago, through
the medium Of hogs and cattle, Of which
they have large herds.
KazsGs C5ra Ctltsrs--The method Of
blowing the corn prior TO planting Is in q
measure dispensed with, using instead what
is termed lister" or plow and planter
combined This throws the soil both ways
into ridges, puIyerizing the bottom Of trench /
deposits, and covers the corn This Is cali
ed listing THESE trenches are gradually /
filed as the growth Of corn admits
Listed corn viii bear more droath and
storm than surface planting. Harvesting 1
the crop they drive the wagons through /
the corn, picking as they 90. dspositing the :
corn in open cribs. or piling il on the ground 4
without cover. while others less scrupulons
do not musk AT all, bat turn in the stock 70 (
feed 81 leisure
The peculiar feature of this county are the |
chalk mounds. They are composed of cal I
eareous matter. the principal parts being !
made I'D Of chalk lime, magnesia and aka |
L. Viewed from distasce, they resemble |
great heaps of slaked lime. varying in d. |
mensions from two to thirty inches in diam !
eter, and iu height from fifteen to thirty-iye |
feet. The sides are void of vegetation, |
while .thelr submits ara covered with wild |
grass. the soil around the base being tillable /
and very productive. These mounds are
admired BY travellers and tourists. as they
break the monotony of country otherwise
existing in prairie country. The submits
of the more prominent mounds command a
grand view With a good field glass you can
take in the prairie for forty miles. either
way.
Mortar made of this material IS almost
equal 10 lime and sand for masonry and |
PiaSteriag. This county IS d-sined by
streams drumming water, the principal one
beirg the White Rock stream of fair di- |
mensioas, the bed of which hes deep and al
most hidden from view by is perpendicular
banks. Travelling heedlessly forward. one
Is liable TO step of and be precipita;ed a dis
lance of thirty feet into rs chasm. This
has been the receptacle Of buffalo and other
wild animals roaming over these prairies
remains Of their icarcasses still visible, tell
the tale Of their sad fate.
Emigration IS still pouring west from this
country. Going west Is an expression quite |
common here Should the mania increase,
they will finally be obliged 10 bridge the
Pacific TO iii the demand for homesteads
Nv next topic Who should 90 West
la G.