The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-02-14
Correspondence 1.-THE Democratic Advocated
Letter from Kansas.

sIrxER LAKE, SHAWNEE Co., Feb. 2, 1885.
MEssRs ED1TeRs: Quite time has
elapsed since the news Of Kansas has been
chronicled in the columns of the ADVOCATE,
and now your correspondent tiatters hlmseH
to think your readers in general would De
glad to hear of his whereabouts and the hap.
penings of this part of the Jayhawker
State.
The cold wave which passed over this
country about the middle of last month, on
the Dist ult., contracted the mercury at this
point to 1872 below zero. Old settlers claim
we have had the most regularly cold weather
this winter they had for some years. We had
intense cold weather from about the 10Th OF
December to the 28th of January, with but
slight variations. During this period the mer-
curry averaged about 10 degrees below zero.
In perusing the columns OF the ADVOCATE
one would think the young folks of Maryland
had full faith in the first clause OF the eigh-
teenth verse of the second chapter OF Genesis.
To those the writer extends his most earnest
congratulations May those who have launch
ed their little bark on that vast experimental
sea of matrimonial bliss, ever find 1t perpetual
happiness.
over the Oklahoma lands in the Indian Ter
ritory. The Legislature of Kansas has pro-
posed various resolutions for lnstructlng their
senators in Congress, and requesting their
representatives to use all honorable means to
procure the passage of the bills opening up to
settlement these lands. The legality of the
act is discussed on every hand Every level
minded person is of The opinion that they
should be open for settlement, and great
many state their intention to migrate thlther
if they should be-
Kansas claims the greatest public school
facilities of any State in the Un1on. The
system Of conducting them is vastly different
from those Of most of the Eastern States.
There is a state superintendent of public IN
struction, elected by the people OF the state
every four years, whose duty IS to superln-
tend and promote the interest OF education
throughout the state There is also one
comfy SUPERINTENDENT of public instruction in
each county elected by the people thereof
every two years, whose duty 1t IS to superin-
tend and visit the various schools of their re-
spectiye counties, and do all in their power
to promote the interest of education therein.
Each school district, at an annual meeting
held every year, elects its officers, and leyies
its own tax for the support of its school, thus
securing to each district the privilege OF pro
curing the most competent Instructor Ac,
cording to the State Superintendent annual
report for 1884, there are in the state 6lol
public school buildings. In these were
! tauoht 39O. 416 pupils To instruct them were
employed 5, lis teachers. The highest aver
age salary paid per month is in Atkinson
county, which is for males S74, for females
S43. In this (Jackson) county the average
price for males SI3, females $50.
As the writer has been here now almost a
year, no doubt great many would like to
know his advice to those who desire to go
west To such he would say-those of you
who have farms, or who are getting along well
in business, and are out of debt, or nearly so,
stay in Maryland But to those who have to
toll every day to meet their expenses, or those
who have little capital-not enough to pur-
chase a little home in that country-and who
are willing to go to work like man, and not
sssponge' off his acquaintance, and give up
the pleasures of high society and sympathiz-
ing friends, he would say come West. Do
not come unless you are determined to stay,
unless you just come for visit j. l. Il.