Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-06-20
Stick to Stock Farming.

To tie Editor of tie HIoyld::
AS the readers OF the WORLD well
know, there has for some months past
been much discussion of the question
whether or not this region is adapted for
general agriculture. We believe, with
the WoRLn, that western Kansas is best
suited for stock farming; and some of the
agricultural correspondence of late has
seemed to us very misleading, as giving a
view of the, country's capabilities for
which there is no warrant.
AS the future can best be judged by
the past let us give glance at the his
tory OF Trego county and vicinity for the
for the past few years. Eight years age
this entire region was occupied by large
herds of cattle, ranging where they
pleased. In rs few settlers came; and,
in consequence OF systematic blooming"
OF the country that year at the East, a
great number more came IN the following
spring. The cattle of course had TO 60.
for "dug-outs," sod houses and stone
dwellings sprung up III every direction,
and soon the face of the country became
dotted with patches of breaking" The
little of crops that were planted in rs
yielded generously. in 10 almost moth
ing was raised. 80 was another gct d
year, and gave much encouragement. Bu
it was false promise. for 81, 50, and 50
went steadily from bad to worse. The
last mentioned year gave us no crop
whatever, unless it was little sorghum.
These three years OF hard work, with no
returns for it, were completely discourage
ing; and, with hardly an exception, those
who had adhered strictly to farming gave
up the fight and sought more favorable
country. Some, however, had managed
in one way or another (often by working
on the railroad or in the mountains to
get few cattle. Bysmaking butter and
working out they covered the expense OF
hving:-this meant, though, only the
barest necessities of food and clothing.
In this way they were able to retain the
increase of their cattle, until now many
Of them can see some prospect of making
comfortable living.
The terribly dry summer OF 'S3 was fol-
lowed by an autumn CT constant, soaking
rains, and very wet spring and summer.
This made last year the most favorable OF
any. and crops could not have been better
But zone swallow does not make sum.
mer;' neither does one such good year
coming as it did, at the end of series OF
increasingly bad years, prove that We
may expect an immediate change in the
climate, and that this is to become at
once land OF copious rains and abund-
ant harvests. That the climate may
change is not improbable; but the change
viii be gradual. and farming without
stock bring many dissarpcintments and
exceedingly small profits for some years
to come.
OF these who came here in 'TS and 70
at least nine out OF ten desired to farm:
and some now have stock who at that
time said they would never hold cattle.
They farmed faithfully. plowed deep, and
cared well for their crops. But they
found That the only crop of which there
was the least certainty was fodder; and
they changed to stock raising. not from
choice, but from necessity.
Why, then, tell those who are coming
here in search of homes that they can
make good living. and perhaps become
rich at farming, pure and simple? Were
such really the case, why not mention q
few men in Trego county who have don e
this, as an Offset to tie hundreds who
have tried and failed, and the many who
have lived through only by the help of a
little stock? Facts are more convincing
than prophecies and promises X.
EaSsrF. KAN, June Q. 1855.