The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-14
o. A. & W. E. z.
ABILENE, KANSAS,
JanUarV 1Ith 1894

ty was almost barren waste with only
few patches of land here and there
over the county in cultivation, but in
1884, or just fourteen years later in its
history it comes to the front with a lit
tie more than two hundred and eighty
thousand acres in cultivation, and ranks
as follows in the eighty-one organized
counties of the State: 1t is second IN
wheat raising, seventeenth in the pro-
ductiOn of corn, and sixth III point OF
stock growing, these being the prlncl-
pal productions of the county we pur-
pose combining ourselves in this article
to those above named, and our figures
are taken from the State Agricultural
Report of 1854. The wheat crop of
that year was two million. five hundred
and seventy-three thousand and eighty
eight bushels, and brought in the mar
ket an average of fOrty-twO cents per
bushel, or one million, eighty thousand,
six hundred and ninety-SiX dollars; had
the Topeka, Salina and Western rail
road been extended into our county,
a little more than one year ago at the
present prices offered on that road.
the entire crop of the county
could have been sold at an advance of
five cents per bushel, which in the ag-
gregate would be one hundred and fifty
eight thousand, six hundred and fifty
four dollars, and with the same advan-
tages that Davis county has it would
have increased our revenue in wheat
alone two hundred and five thousand,
eight hundred and forty-seven dollars.
The corn crop was four million, one
hundred and ninety-One thousand, six
hundred and ninety-SiX bushels, and
with the present advance along the
new railroad of three cents per bushel
would increase the revenues of the
county one hundred and twenty-five
thousand, seven hundred and fifty
dollars, and at the prices to be had III
Davis county two hundred and nine
thousand. five hundred and eighty-iive
dollars to the above we may safely add
on live stock an advance Of five per cent.
or thirty thousand dollars. Aggregat-
ingon these three products in the county
for one year alone, an increase of two
hundred and eighty-fve thousand dol
lars, say nothing of thousands of d OIL
lars to be derived from all the various
products of the county not enumerated
in this article and the many thousands
to be saved on fuel, lumber and the
various commodities, we are often
times compelled to pay exhOrbitant
prices in the absence Of competition in
transportation, suppose we say that but
one dollar to the inhabitant is saved, |
then we find more than twenty-five |
thousand dollars retained in the county. |
But say the farmers, mechanics and
Iaboring men, Mr.. Case, Mr.. Hamaker,
Hodge Bros. and Mr.. ROthschild are
opposed to voting railroad bonds. We
have understood that they do so for the !
reason that their trade has been in
jured by the Topeka, Salina and West
ern Railroad, giving produce an outlet |
and fearing a further decrease Of their |
trade by the proposed line North and
South. But suppose they do. is that
any argument against the proposition?
L think not, Haven't these men all
grown rich by mOnOpOlizing the trade Of
our county, buying eggs at ten cents
per dozen and selling them at fifteen
cents, butter at twelve and half cents
per pound and selling at twenty cents,
and other produce in like manner;
specializing off the farmers hard earn
ingS, and following their natural in
stincts they still wish a continuance of
this state Of things. Havn't you known
men in your life time who having grown
rich themselves are jealous of every
other person, We mean dog in the man |
ger style) oppose every more that
would open up away of trade to others
whom they have been gOrmandizing Ctf
of, have and doubtless you have too.
At no time since the settlement of our
county has it been clear of such class
of people who oppose every project
calculated to cheaper imports, enhance
exports and give labor to working men.
Why, scarcely a soldier who now lives
but who will remember Gen'l Grants
famous order Immediately after the
battle of Shiloh when the Jews attempt
ed to monopoliZe the sutler trade in
the army saying that 1.-THE draft would
take place among the Jews tomorrow
morning at o'clock a. M" The re-
suit was that there wasn't Jew with
in five hundred miles in twenty-fOur
hours thereafter-Pitya Grant couldn't
issue such an edict now.
But say you Mr.. McClaren is opposed
to the construction of the railroad and
working against the bonds! Why Of
course he would! You all remember
the little unpleaSantness he had with
the Kansas Farmers Mutual Fire In
Co., of Abilene, about twelve
,,,o,+bg oro rrbiob hoe Gu cOr1ro6 bic |