The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-04-06
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
PRArr, Kansas, March 81, 1885

ED SPIRIT: u nder Its new manage
ment the SPIRIT comes 10 me regularly,
reminding me that l lately promised to
write something for its columns about
Southwest Kansas.
This-i is the time OF year when the east.
ern man gets the western fever, and all
such who are looking for hetter add
cheaper homes should not fail to visit
this part of Kansas. Tue fact should
not he overlooked that no other State 10
the United Stats has ever enjoyed the
benefits derived from large immigra-
ton that this State has. For years peo-
Pile have been pouring in from Eastern
States, and still they come more than
ever, until now her vast territory. nearly
one. half of which was wild, unhroken
territory Eve gears ago, is aim ost al ta-
ken up.
Last fall homestead filings were placed
on nearly all the bes. land left in Kansas,
and this spring the settlers are moving
on their claims-tbe elk months allo we'd
Tor settlement having elapsed
On one Of the main roads in this coun
tv, on the 16h inst, 80 wagons loaded
with movers passed, and on the 18th Al
wagons we're counted. Most OF these
are homesteaders, and some ofthem cnn Q
from the eastern part OF the State where
they have pre.empted and sold out and
are now going TO exercise their right to
bomesteads. There are others from
every State east of this and rigged out
in STYLES of all kinds. A description Of
snme OF the Virginia. Arkansas and
Southern Missouri outfits might be in.
teresting to your readers, hat / do not
wish to incur the risk of being disbe-
lieved and will refrain.
A majority of these new comers have
good wagons and teams, and some mon
ey, and are going out to find homes and
will in all probability be successful The
reason this State has enjoyed this long
and uninterrupted 6pw Of immigration
is simply because it is fiue country,ev n
better than generally expecied,a while
other States have been as largely adver-
tised they have not come up to the STAN
dard OF expects alton and their immig-s.
ion has fallen of. Not so with Kansas,
mt just the reverse, proving that she is
lust what she claims to be: one Of the
best agricultural States 10 the Union. 1t
Is truly an agricultural country, and no
clsim is laid to anything else. Probably
the hest part of the whole State lies
South OF the Arkansas River, in which
fertile region is Pratt County, being the
first tier OF counties west OF line drawn
North and South through the center oi
The State and in the second tier from the
Indian Territory line. 1t contains 72C
square miles and the surface generally
presents the appearance OF level plain
but is every where uudulating enough to
drain we'll and not q stagnant pool il
found within its borders. Eastward
through theI central part flows the MIN
echsh River, with fall sufficient to turr
q number of mills on Its hanks, aud it,
pure unfailing water is an attractive fea
| ture of the country. The soil is of IN
questionable fertility and produces lux
uriant growth of everything that gro vi
! in this climate. Winters are short, th,
summers long and pleasant; even in mid
summer, when the thermometer register,
1907 in the shade it is made qnite com
Portable by the constant breeze. Atnigb
it always becomes cool and sleep is re.
freshing. 1t is the golden medium oI
temperate climes.
The rainfall is abundant ard evenly
distributed throughout the year, the pro
ducts we'll diversified, the people indus
trious, intelligent and cheerful. 1t is the
E lea of the south west-the peoples par
adise. Every few days receive letters
from persons in Ohio asking if there is
an opening here for them. lE the towns
here there is usually as much or more
opposition than in the east. and one who
succeeds must expect to meet it. Good
tradesmen OF almost any trade can find
employment a. fair wages. School teach