The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-12-01
LETTER FROM KANSAS.

ELDoRADo, KANSAS, Nov 20, 1895
Ed. SPIRIT: During the month Of Oc.
tober ! made trip through Western
K,usas, and to give your many readers
q fain, idea OF the country will proceed
to write.
On the 27'h OF Ootober q number oil
gentlemen and my self, Of E:,lorado, start
ed on a tour through Western Kansas
for the purpose Of prospecting. We
went on the main line OF the Santa Fe tn
Garden CITY. which was our destination,
by rail. But as it was after night trav.
cling through that country I, Of o,urse
could not get good glimpse at the
country to obtain much kno Wedge there
from.
Garden City is 275 miles west OF Fl.
dorado, situated on the main line OF the
Santa Fe near the Arkansas River, and
10 indeed q beautiful village OF 1000 10.
habitants. From Garden City we took
the stage for Scott County, north about
40 miles. When in the geographical
center of Scott County We discover ed q
few houses Tor new town called Scott
City, intended for the proposed county
seat. The town was just one month old
when We got there and the only town 10
the county. 1t 10 very beautiful coun.
trv,s and as 1t is TOO feet higher than
Kansas City makes II a very healthy
place to live In. The soil is dark sandy
In the lowlands and q mulatto soil on the
uplands, covered with dense growth oi
buffalo grass, and in nv estimation will
produce any products adapted to this
State.
1t is astonishing to see so much immi.
grafton docking through Ne various gate.
ways into that county. seeking homes for
their families. But the old saying Is
Who comes & . gets oil the cream. 10
this county w 10 inn oil the clai ms taken
to be had undrr tue timber culture laws,
but yet plenty OF land to homestead OF
pre-empt. 1t was magnificent scene TO
take q view over Scott County and see
so many email cottages. dugouts and sod
houses scattered all over the country,
where men aud women are living in.
holding down the claims they have 6led.
Even, young. intelligent ladies, withou,
their parents there, are living alone out
ON the great "American Desert" waiting
for the time to come when the country
will develop itself into civilization. And
don't you eastern people forget it, the
day is not far distant when those young
ladies with their wonanly qri, las come
call it) will be veil rewarded for the
sand and nerve they possess. Then
surely must be Industrious ,enere etic and
= never.give.up set OF human beings.
From there we went across the prairie
into Wachits County, rs miles esst Of
The Colorado line, where we found choice
land to be had under the timber culture
laws. The land in this county 10 about
the same as in Scott County There are
two towns just in the prime Of life In
county, one situated in the geo.
graph cal center and o1e abont 5 miles
rom there, so'h fighting for the county
seat, but there is no telling which will be
so fortunate as to get there. After get
ling what land Ne wanted We again start.
ed for Garden City to the railroad, . dis.
tance of 53 miles.
In travelling this distance only saw
two houses, one located on large cattle
ranch, and the Other wss dbeont, where
We stopped for hash. and must confess
that It vas an excellent dinner, and also
The fret dinner ever ate in q dugout.
There is yet plenty OF game in that
country such as antelope, jack rabbits
r..
H,iofall has heen the great crv 10 that
country Especially by the cattle msD J
but just a. long as they could make the
granger (as they call him) beIieve that
1t never rained In western Kansas, Just
80 long could they utilize the weetern
domain as grszing country.
But their slumheis have heen broken
aud they are going back to the set ing
sun, taking down the wires, that enclosed
millions # acres OF land belonging to
Uncle Sam. Ere long this great "Ameri.
can Desert" unknown to all, will make
pne OF tue best wheat Countries 10 The