Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18

49, .................. Sss2 s@$ 3 ,;
Total. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. SSO,2li,2U. Il
CLUTCHES AND NEWSPAPERS.
Churches have multiplied ard newspapers
increased as have the schools. In 1866 there
were only 81 church buildings in Kansas, :lIid
they had cost only $143,35O. In 1870 the
number of churches had increased to 32!,
valued at 81, 722, 200, and i'll 1880 they num-
bered 2,5l4, costin. an aggregate OF 81
491, $50.
There were only q newspapers published
in Kansas in 1860, and of these only three
were dailies. In 1870 the number had in
creased to 81, of which II were dailies. In
1880 there were 347 newspapers, including q
dailies. During the year Just closed ISL jour
nails, of which 80 were daIies, were published
in Kansas. The aggregate circulation of our
newspapers, in 1850, was 1880, while for
1885 their circulation aggregated 395, 100
Every organized county has one or more
newspapers, and, as a rule, our journals are
creditable to their publishers and to the
state.
WHAT OF THE FUTURE!
And now, having sketched the growti, of
Kansas during the past quarter of a century.
it is proper to ask, what of the future?
answer, with confidence, that Kansas is yet
in the dawn of her development, and that
the growth, prosperity and triumphs of the
next decade will surpasS any we have yet
known. Less than one-fifth of the area Of
the state has been broken by the plow-lO.-
100000 of 52,OC0,090 acres. Multiply the
present development by five, and You can
perhaps form some idea of the Kansas Of
the year 1900 The light Of the morning IS
still shining upon our prairie slopes. Inc
year Just closed witnessed the first actual
permanent settlements in the counties along
our western frontier-not settle
ment by wandering stockIneu
or occasional frontierSinen, but by
practical, BODYBUILDING farmers and bust
ness men. The line of organized counties
now extends 400 miles, from the Missouri
river to the Colorado line. The scientists, l
know, are still discussing climatic changes,
and questioning whether the western third
of Kansas is fit for general farming. But
the homesteader in Cheyenne or Hamilton
counties entertains no doubt about this ques-
ton. He has no weather guage or barome-
tel, but he sees the buffalo grass vanishing and
the blue-j Joint sending its long rcDts deep
into the soil; he sees the trees gl0wing on
the high divides; he watches the corn he has
planted springing up, and waving its green
zuidons of prosperity in the wind; he sees
he clouds gathering and drifting, and he
hears the rain pattering on his roof-and he
knows all he cares to know about climatic
changes. He is going to stay.
A PROPHECY FULFILLED.
On the eth of May, 1856, great American,
learned, sagacious, and confident in his
faith that right and justice would at last pre-
vail, said, in speech delivered in the city of
New York:
'In the year of our Lord 1900, there will
be 100000 people in Kansas, with cities
like Providence and Worcester-perhaps
like Chicago and Cincinnati. She will have
more miles of railroad than Maryland, Vir-
ginia, and both the Carolinas can now boast.
Her land will be worth $40 an acre, and her
total wealth will be five hundred millions of
money. Six hundred thousand children
will learn in her schools. What schools,
newspapers, Libraries, meeting houses Yes,
what families of education, happy and re-
isious men and women! There will be q
song of freedom all around the slave states,
andiin them slavery itself will die"
Read in the light of the present, these elo-
quent words of Theodore Parker seemed
touched with prophetic fire. The ideal Kan
Sas he saw, looking through the mists of the
marvellous growth. the splendid prosperity,
the potent intellectual and moral energies,
and the happy and contented life he pre-
dicted, are all around US. At the threshold
of the year A. d. 1886, fifteen years before
the limit of his prophecy, Kansas has cities
like Providence and Worcester; has more
than double the railway mileage Maryland,
Virginia, and both the Carolinas, could then
boast: has land worth, not $40, but $50 and
500 dollars an acre; has wealth far exceed
ing $50, OO0, 900: has schools, newspapers,
libraries and churches rivaling those of New
England and has 100000 happy, prosper
Gus and Intelligent people.
The prophecy has been fulfilled, but the
end is not yet. The foundations of the state,
like those of its capitol, have just been COM
pleted. The stately building, crowned with
its splendid dome, is yet to be reared. Smil-
ing and opulent fields, busy and prosperous
cities and towns, are still attracting the in
telligent, the enterprising and the ambitious
of every state and country. The linn
its that bound the progress and de-
velopment of Kansas cannot now be gagged
or guessed. We have land, homes,
work and plenty for millions more; and for
another quarter of a century. at least, our
state will continue to grow. For we are yet
at the threshold and in the dawn of it ALL We
are lust beginning to realize what a great
people can accomplish, whom Glove OF
country moveth, example teacheth, company
comforteth; emulation quickeneth, and glo-