Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-04-17

ERrR. kansas, April ., 1885.

ERIE, KANSAS, Aqfh ., AS@~'
Messrs. Editors REaIsTER-We have
often thought since our departure from
old West Virginia, and the ones we love
so dear, we would inform you where we
are, what We are doing, &C., and as we
now have few moments OF leisure we
will give you brief letter. We are
located in the southeastern part OF Kan
sas, in Neosho county, about 81 miles
from the Indian Territory don't see
very many "big Injuns," though, Mr..
Editor). We live at the county Seat
Erie being the same, nice little Town
with population of ] 200 Inhabitants
and very beautifully located about the
centre of the county, with all the ad-
vantages county-seat might wish. She
ia centered i'm one Of the wealthiest
counties in the State, and has good ac-
cess to markets. Kansas City, the
booming and wide awake city OF the
West, being about 100 miles northeast,
and ST. Louis about 800 miles due east,
provide for us good shipping and buy
ing PORTS.
We are at present engaged In the
grain, live stock and implement busi-
ness, which if properly conducted is a
profitable business in this country,
am told. We are young in the grain
business, and don't claim to be "bull
or BEAR" in fact we doubt whether we
correctly understand these speculative
terms; but we do understand the sensi-
tivenes. of the grain market, and know
ing this, can readily believe that the IN
tiuence now ut work will lead to ad-
yanced values, and afford the farmer
an opportunity to work off their present
stocks at better prices than eyer before
during the season. At this writing the
Kansas farmer Is able to get 90 cents
for his wheat, 80 cents for corn, 1925
for lax seed, $3.50 for castor beans, and
other products In same proportion.
Corn, flax and castor beans are the CHIEF
crops raised In this county. Messrs.
Editors, il doesn't require bone-dust or
a composition of ammonia, vitriol, &C.,
to get crop Of wheat or corn here.
Neither does it require SO much rain
fall. All that Is needed is u couple of
rains ut the pl oper period, aud we have
n crop. The land here is Sandy and
holds moisture longer and better than
does the limestone of your country.
From 40 to 76 bushels Of corn per acre
Is no unusual yield here, l am told.
Wheat yields per acre from IL to Az
bushels. Why shouldn't the Kansas
farmer make money! l tell you, the
farmer here hasn't as hard time getting
along as u good many of we eastern
people used to imagine he had.
We have been boarding ever since we
arrived in Erie, which was March goth,
1884, but If nothing prevents, in few
days we will be housekeeping, and eat
ing Kansas beef, hash, &C., at our own
table. We have bought ms little home
in Erie, and will soon be comfortably
fixed. Messrs. Editors, Kansas people
don't enjoy the luxuries, &C., particu-
larly that the East affords, but they live
happily and comfortably, hence they
seem content. | could write you a
lengthy letter, but time will not permit,
and l am also fearful that have al
ready imposed upon your time, &C., AS
1 imagine newspaper men don't like to
consume much time reading that which
is of little interest to them. Say, boys,
| must tell you that last Wednesday
dark cloud boiled up in the northeast,
and the guide" wife happened to see
1t; and you ought to have heard and
seen her. She came running to my
arms, and said, d, d, there
comes one Of those horrible and terrible
Kansas icicles - She meant cyclone,
Of course, but, poor thing, she was
scared so badly she didn't know what
she was saying. think she will brave
ly get over the cyclone scare after she
experiences few such as l have heard
Of since l have been here. For in
stance, picking horses up, carrying
them across the river, setting them
down in green pastures, and they 20 to
eating; hosting steam engines 100 feet
high, and setting them back in the same
spot, SC.
In conclusion, Messrs. Editors, will
say that only one copy Of your most
valuable paper comes to this town, and
that is taken by our little brother
Charles. AS there are five Of us to read
1t, have enclosed you one years sub
scription, for which you will please
mail me your paper regularly. The
REGISTER Is eagerly and anxiously
looked for, and when received Is thor
oughly perused. Your paper reaches
US every Monday morning.
Hastily yours, j. 5. X.