Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-06
thirty-one revolving years-the duty Of pre-
a,,t;nr, ON h;efnr;csl sketch of the difficulties

thirty-one revolving years-the duty OF pre-
sentinp an historical sketch of the dimcuities
and dangers through which Kansas was
added to the stars, and became one OF the
brightest in the constellation OF the Union:
TO me was allotted another task-that OF
presenting, as briefly and as clearly as am
able, the material development OF hansas,
and her present condition ana R Gsa,itn .,sI
| is at once delightful and dlmcu!t tash.
The growth of Kansas is a theme which mas
always enlisted my interest and excited my
pride, But cannot hope to present any ao-
eouate picture of the Kansas you know go
well-the Kansas of your love ana OF your
faith; the imperial young state, at once Ine
enigma and the wonder of American COM
monwealths.
THREE PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT.
The development of Kansas, it seems to
me, has had three periods, which may prop
erlv be called the decades of war, of uncer-
tainty, and of triumph. From 1859 to 1850.
Kansas was an armed camp. The border
troubles, outbreaking late III 1904, conIlnueo
until the rebellion was inaugurated. Kansas
in fact. began the war six years before the
nation had fired shot, and the call to arms
in 1861 found here singularly martial peo-
! ole who responded with unparalleled enthusl-
asm to the presidents demands for men. In
less than a year ten full regiments were Or
| ganized, and before the close or the war
Kansas had sent over twenty thousand SOL
diers to the field, out of population or put
little more than hundred thousand. Fields,
workshops, offices and schools were deserted;
and the patient and heroic women VINO mao
kept weary vigils during all the dark and
desolate days of the border troubles, now
waited in their lonely home for tldlngs from
| The larger field of the civil war.
! 1t is doubtful whether Kansas increased,
either in population or wealth, from lo6i to
| 1864. But the young state grew III public
interest ard reputation, and when the heroic
men, whose valor and patriotism had saved
! the republic, began to be mustered out, Nan
sas offered an inviting field for their energy,
and they came hither IN great numbers. Inc
population of the state, which was 1O7, POS in
1860, had increased to l40, ll9 IN 1868. The as
Sessed value OF IT'S propefly liicredSgu ron
a--;oio'-o 70 sI ~ - from 779
90 ~ snn 600 onras L wae not a ..boom },
w " 49, ~ s1n,n,t;o ar1 5ecov Vet II is
uol va - - nari -e -,boIa Of the Growth
~, NV these fiorres dates from the spring
e1cc, ~
u Ioot. .,-,,,,,,, o,,+ of Vo,s.c boc,an IN
,od ne Le'i uTs = ~ 60 rtorrn,'+ions
Looo. anu m, ~ Aas An e To1o aLornd % npr,,Ia
'iloe. oca 900 f ISi Sot u, a va
vioh ol ao III tba nop,iat;nn of
Seal'' % 10y 1i,i;,. 81, hof,an in 1861
ioo2 1iiii Eau 7, 1870 Tbe
iiio' '-oo -iitea wei III ~ roilroadS
Iiolle Ietui hliis hoiui.In o." 20 IT, stotos
cllle !ose.iiei. LII b ~ n o.r,oSs
came III taliai 800. =. u y $50 :;
| SoNS!eu ":.so, ~ .'! - ,,,os4 IS +bon,
me iign'i! M. eatiess' r,i, oonnfort.bIo cere
Went 10 tietr .iall1H ~ -,
tne loco,iiotNe' Oui sld;e iid' n; Z; H. at;,S
"coon-skln cap poputattpn' ~ Is 'h9 7. ILL, LIZ
OF the pralrles, noI VI .iS aU;e. n 10,
always a'tracteu men vi ili.eLis0oe' III w
knew Sooa tiih9 When .Iey saw IT, L,,n.s
nrousht VIII .Heai .lre Son To-, VIC y,
ana .ne plii.iiis PCS, ~ 5 H., baG
: orclaru anu 49, st ao so ~ e. .Sa1, ,aro
nar'esteu liei II. ni:' Up 1l CIV IL c.. ,on,
coihpelltyo 10 liSe III d u.,S .o ~ 49, 80,
! or Two: tney were reasoliap!y CERTAIN ~ o"'
l o'o-iiioA ''''i. io-'> VIZ
THE PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY.
The period from 1865 to 1873 was, however
\ period of uncertainty. Kansas remained
: an experiment. The drouth and grasshop
2 nor invasion of 1850 q meuacino memory anC
r For many wears. had inst becun to grow dim
!. ubon tbe droutb of 1879 and the still more
i disastrous drontb locust invasion of 1877
!. raviyad its recojIection and intensified the
nncertaintv If had inspired. The interven
1 mo yea we're NOT. If is true, without thei
e ayalfation and triumphs. Luxuriant har
re followed disaster
, ,ear in nnbroken succession. until 1873, ant
r wa ipdrIged in much iubilant Boosting ant
e aIflgratrtation oyeri orr fruitful soil, GU
5 baniGn climate end our gracious seasons
e Bnt over and through it ali brooded and raj
a feeling of Question: or uncertainty, which
5 manifested itself in MANY WAYS. The news
r naners while affectino to sheer at thos,
, Who did not believe Kansa
e to he country where rain:
1 always came lust when they were wanted
nevertheless recorded eyery rain with sus
. nicious prominence. Even the corner-lo
q snecnlator watched the clouds while he wa
q denonncino the slanderers who asserted tina
Kansas was "a dry country" ''Methink
tho LADY doth protest too much.n might hav
!. Leen aid of the Kansans who. from 1865 t
1875. yehemently maintained that the nor
v NAL condition of Kansas was that OF a quaS
i mire., ,o-,
+ ana IN the midst ol IL al Solle lo1o 't an
/, io'4. win theit Twin ueVaSIe'.io ea. t "a "a
d ialnlties. AelSe nun iGse 1 ah Seu -,
e months III a Iouoless say .ne paaou pt
EARN sllan ram anu Iad'H Ne SnG ' hot =
II wIthered and shriveieo IN Wihos as not d
:. the breath or furnace. but as II the ue
e structlon thuS Wrou9ht was no1 enousil, ou
n ron tHe oaiG oIaf, g;nh4 on,
\ a, nv, nho,,,;notion of desoIatio
IT rrharayer they aIigbted n was then that th
hrayest onaiie1 and our stur}iest farmer
# aborJonad oil bona Thousands of people
II now amonu orr most prosperous citizens
II rronld have cold evervthino thew nossesse
d CO.. 80 s;x+b of ;tsyaJne dnrino the Yea
= 1874 and ahandored the state forever.
= So,m , T mention the fact to thei
"