Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-04-17
BARBER COUNTY,
While Hot Modern Garden Of Eden, Yet is
Desirable Place to Live.
A Fair and Impartial Statement Of Its Re.
sources, ana
A Good Word for Medicine Lodge and Other
County Towns.

Barber county has never been extern
sively advertised, and there has never
been any systematic effort made to in
duce settlers, business men or railroads
to come here. The early settlers were
sensible in the belief that rapid,
mushroom growth is always unhealthy,
and that rapid decay frequently follows
cities and counties that are densely pop
ulated as it by magic. These people
were satisfied that when the time came
that railroad would be built here, and
in this conclusion they were also correct.
The consequence of this elaboration is
that Barber county is to-day enjoying
prosperity and plenty; there is work
for all who want it; its farmers and
ranchmen own their lands and their
herds which they have acquired by un-
firing industry and perseverance. They
have built permanent and substantial
homes, they have their places fenced,
their lands in cultivation, and are gen.
orally free from large debts, and conse-
quently are cOntented and willing to
make the county their permanent abode.
Schools have been established and
maintained wherever needed; churches
are supported, Sunday schools are reg
ularly held; literary societies flourish,
and III fact every Indication of the high
er civilization is to be found Oh the
prairies and III the valleys of Barber
county, though but twelve years set
tied, that can be found in any of the
older municipalities of Kansas. This
tOO.wlthout any loud sounding of trum-
pets; without the aid of special evangel-
lists or missionaries paid to come here
from the east and civilize our people.
Barber is a self-made county, and the
work is pleasing to the makers.
Barber county is admirably situated,
geographically; its climate is delightful
and healthful. The air is not ladened
with deathdealing miasma, for there
are no swamps near; its soil holds sufii-
Gent moisture to keep away the detest-
able drouth, and at the same time rank
vegetation, breeder of sickness and
death, is not known. Vegetation of ev-
cry kind prospers here, and whether i'll
its native state in the succulent grasses
that carpet the prairies as if woven
with careful hands, or in crops planted
and sown, no county in Kansas can ex-
Gel us. Our corn is the finest ard
strongest, and our oats and millet are
the most nutritious. The soil, rich
from natural fertilization, imparts its
strength to the grain and the conse-
quence is that firmer, better article is
produced than in counties where the
soil is richer and the growth is ranker.
An evidence of this is shown in the
wonderful strength of the buffalo
grass which grows here in such abund-
ance where the ground has never been
broken. Cattle will live ON buffalo
grass twelve months in the year, and
there are herds in the county that never
tasted a grain of feed. Beef fattened
on this grass is superior to any produced
on tame grasses even on a foundation
of grain.
Barber county was used nearly ex-
clusively for grazing for several years
after the first settlement was made
here, and many nice fortunes mere made
by the fortunate stockman, who had
but to turn his punches loose and only
see them when the branding and cut
ting out season arrived.
AS the population of the county be-
came more numerous, the size of these
herds had to be diminished, and quail
ty. rather than quantity was the object.
Better strains were introduced and now
the Texans have disappeared and high
grades and even thoroughbreds are nu-
merous. These thrive here as well as
in the blue grass regions, and even bet
ter, for the offspring is invariably har-
der when grazed on native grasses and
fed on our home raised grain, than their
eastern cousins are.
The county is admirably watered in
every portion, not by stagnant lakes
and poisonous pools, but by waters
pure and cold, that pass through sleeves
of sand that remove all vegetable sub
stances and render it free from poisons.
Cattle are known to fatten and resist
disease when supplied with pure water,
where they remain poor and die when
compelled to drink poison-just the
same as in the human race. Barber
county is noted for the number of its
streams, and glance at any map of
the county will verify the statement.
The matter of timber is a big item in
this western country, and while much
the larger portion of Barber county is
without tree, the people have had all
the timber they needed for fuel. fencing
and in many instances for building pur-
poses. The streams are frequently
skirted with luxuriant growth of good
timber, ash, walnut, blackberry and
cottonwood predominating; while in the
canyons is frequently to be found cedars
as grand as those of the biblical Leba-
non. Hundreds of claims in Barber
county have on them sufficient to supply
the occupants with fuel and posts for
fifty years yet.
Where forests prosper fruit trees
grow. and it is a pleasure 10 relate that
in every instance where fruit trees have
been planted they have, in an incredible
short space Of time brought forth good
fruits. Last season as fine budded
peaches as were ever produced were
raised in Barber county and sold on the
streets here. Every variety of small
fruits do well here, and the time is not
far distant when Barber win be able to
supply large demand; when its vine
yards viii De numerous and noted.