Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-04-17

limit 10 Its resources III this respect.
Its hills are already covered with a lux
uriant growth of everlasting grass, more
firmly rooted than any sown by human
hand, and in such quantities that ages
will not destroy its plant. These hills
are washed by everlasting streams, as
pure as if distilled from heavens dews.
It's valleys and level lands have but to
be touched with plow or shovel and
planted with any cereal that grows and
it responds in the most satisfactory
manner. Our summer sun cures the
crops for the husbandman, and when
they are ganered, dampness, mildew
and kindred evils are unknown.
An industrious man can secure a
claim in Barber county, pay for it, stock
it with the best blooded ANIMALS, enjoy
all the comforts he could ask in any
country, educate his children, and in
five years be independent, if not abso-
lutely rich. He need not Craze his own
lands even, in summer, for there are
thousands of acres that if taken up will
never be fenced, and this is Iublic
range, as free as the air we breathe
and of no more trouble to secure. The
settler can use his claim proper for
raising his crops, a winter pasture and
for his finer stock and use the outside
broken lands without paying cent for
the privilege.
The very best and most desirable
claims in Barber county have been gen.
orally taken. though there are thous-
ands of acres of good lands yet vacant.
This costs but 81 % per acre, and re-
quires a residence of but six months to
secure an undisputed right toit. There
is much broken, rough country, alluded
to before, not fit for agriculture, but
peculiarly fitted for grazing. The very
fact that it is rough and broken, is a
recommendation for it insures shelter
to stock from the winter winds. Much
of this broken ground is underlaid with
that best of all fertilizers, gypsum; and
this can be used profitably in various
ways. These hills are natural vine
yard grounds, and some day will be
much sought after to be used for grow.
ing grapes.
Should party desire to purchase
lands, for farming or grazing, he can do
so at very reasonable prices, and i'm as
large tracts as he may desire. Much of
it is fenced into convenient fields and
pastures and in cultivation, while 9TH
er claims are suitable for grazing. In
many instances, stocks of acclimated
cattle Can be purchased with the farms
ard ranches, for Barber county citizens.
like those of the entire world are al
ways ready to make change. Some
want to go farther west where they
wont be crowded, others are fascinated
with city life, but meme want to go back
to see their wife's people. Barber coun-
ty is too prosperous for that.
The society of the county is excellent;
education, cultivation and refinement
are noticed everywhere; the people are
patrons of schools, supporters OF
churches, and law abiding in every re-
spect. The population is made up of
representatives from every state in the
Union, those from Missouri, Indiana.
Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky Tennessee, Hi
nois and Virginia predominating.
Politically the county is nearly equal
" divided between the two leading par
| ties; but it is remarkable fact, that
politics appear to be thought of less
frequently than any other subject. Two
weeks in each year is about all the time
devoted to politics. 1t is not likely then,
a good place for professional politi-
can. \ good mechanic will be more
cheerfully welcomed than an Office hun
f,f g+, alv e..
will find more apDreciative friends than
ward hummer.
The rates of taxation are not unrea-
sonably high, and no new debts are be-
ing created. a steady increase in the
amount of taxable property in the
county, now going ON, will have the eff
feet of decreasing the rates of taxation
in the same ratio.
Within ninety days Barber county
will have nearly forty miles of railroad,
an extension of the Southern Kansas
road from Attica, its present. western
terminus. One line will extend TO Med
icine Lodge; while the other will tap the
Territory line at Klowa, 20 miles south
of here. Work is now under way on
these roads, and the contracts call for
completion by August 1st, next.
The towns of Barber are the pride of
its citizens, and well may they be- Med
icine Lodge the county seat, is solid
and substantially built little city and
has about 200 people. The business
houses are of brick, its streets are
graded, it has wide sidewalks, a good
drainage, and an everlasting water
supply, three living streams washing
three sides of the city.
1t is supplied with three churches and
church organizations, a graded and hil il
fu ortl aCfo mt to1 hoy be f,,.<.
class newspapers. Il full representation
in all the professions, the usual mel
camille establishments, shops, factories,
amusement halls, clubs, bands, etc.
Its people are prosperous and energetic.
and free from debt generally. The
town has good trade from territory
60 miles long by 80 miles wide. and
wholesaling is quite feature. 1t is
connected with neighboring towns by
daily stage lines and is the mail distrib-
uting point for a vast territory. Per-
SONS can reach here from Attica, the
present terminus of the Southern Kan
sas railroad in from three to four hours,
over a good road In comfortable stages.
From here stages leave for all points
west, south, north and east daily.
Besides Medicine Lodge there are
other thriving towns in the county.
Sharon is ten miles east, and the prin-
cipal station between Attica and this
place. Hazelton is ON the Kiowa
branch. New kiowa is the terminus
of the branch road. Lake City and Sun
City are nice towns west of here, while
Elm Mills is on the north.
Altogether Barber county is the most
desirable county in Southern Kansas
for persons deslrous Of finding new
homes. 1t stands on its own merits,
and while all good citizens will find q
welcome awaiting them. No effort has
been or ever will be made to get won
derful immigration on false representa-
tions.
Those in search of homes or invest
ments should come early, or correspond
with any one Of our many reliable
citizens.