Wichita eagle., 1886-08-21
DIGHTON.
Facts About Splendid Section of
Western Kans q ). and of Digh-
ton. Its Metropolis.
From tie Garden CITY Sentinel.

change does not know southwestern Kan
sas, for county lines are not marked by
: water courses, mountain ranges, nor heavy
growths of timber, but by section lines
The eleven counties comprising what may
be called southwestern Kansas are quite
similar in many respects but each anc
every one Of them has some peculiarly Of
its own. One county may be generally
level, another will be quite rolling. One
may be at the present writing sparseiy set
tled another very thickly set
tied. Lane county is no exception
, to the general rule 1t has
rolling land, living streams of water, nat
ural water courses which have at certain
seasons of the year plenty OF water, but
which are at certain other seasons OF the
year, dry. 1t has slight elevations Of land
which are not sharp but broad and abund-
antly covered with buffalo and blue stem,
offering abundance of feed for the grazing
stock. Between these elevations are broad,
level flats Of from one to five miles wide;
these flats are equally well adapted to agri-
cultural pursuits and Judging from the
manner in which the county has been set
tied up, many and many poor farmer has
here found the long looked for home Of his
dreams and he has good cause to thank the
Giver Of all good for guiding his footsteps
to this beautiful country, and en-
abled him at the expense of a
few dollars 10 secure for himself
and family the ground work for u happy
and prosperous home. 4 drive through
the country reveals the fact that Il superior
class Of working people have come to Lane
county 10 whittle out for themselves a
home. On every hand may he seen good
&,
are half frame and the other half sod and
dug outs, while the better class of houses
are made from the tough buffalo sod Af-
ter completing them coat of plaster On
both outside and in completes as good a
house as the most fastidious farmer could
wish for The county, ike all the rest Of
this section Of the state, has been but Il
short year or two in settling up. But the
progress already made in the way Of de
veloping the country is truly wonderful
At every house may be seen large patches
Of corn, sorghum, broom corn, mllet,
wheat. oats, rye and alfalfa; while inme-
diately around the house may be seen all
kinds of vegetables far advanced, as com
pared with farther eastern states And the
women folks show their culture and good
| bringing UP by the many pretty little flower
gardens.
Stock men, several years ago. plowed fire
guards through some portion OF Lane coun-
~ and today those fire guards are covered
with thick growth Of fine hay grasses,
which only shows what will be the result
in u few years if the fires are kept off the
prairics. While the buffalo grass affords
good pasturage, the blue stem is fast taking
| It's place, and the latter not only affords
good paSturagc but makes the very best Of
hay equal almost to timothy both in yield
and nutrmenf. In speaking Of the soil,
can but repeat what is usually said of south
western Kansas But if there is any dis
tinction in depth, richness Of color, richness
| Of quality, or one county more productive
| than another, Lane county can certainly
lay claim to these advantages. The black
soil, or what is generally termed the pro
ducing soil, is from one to five feet deep
But even the earth taken from cellars and
wells at a depth Of six, eight or even ten
feet, has been tried and found to be
quite as productive as the black soil on the
surface. Indeed it is the writer's opinion
that this deep sell, or earth, will at some
future day be utilized for fcrtiliZing pur-
poses Scientific men tell us that what is
now land, was at one time the sea That
being the case, Is it unreasonable to sup
pose that that portion of country under con
sideration, should at some day, or time in
the past, been the feeding ground or habi-
tation OF countless numbers of the fnny
tribe, or some water animal and deposit
made OF such a nature as TO be quite desir;,-
bic for fertiliZing purposes, and it has lain
there all this time for this age and genera
ton TO make use of.
Lane county is at present but temporar-
lily organized, but us there is but one town
il the county and that is now the tempo
rary county seat, those wishing to engage
in business run 10 risk in investing their
money III DightoI. There are no rival
towns aspiring TO the county seat honors.
and ii has all the trade of the county
The manner in which the town is laid
off, the substantial character Of the build
ings, the energy and enterprise of the citi-
zens, are enough to give faith and hope TO
the most unbelieving
The town was laid out in May, 1885.
and in September Of that wear there were
twelve houses; in November there were
eighty and at the present time there are
1876. This includes by actual count all the
residence or business houses of the town.
Eighty-two of these are business houses.
and business is now being transacted in
them. And of course like all towns more
or less of the population live in the busi-
ness houses There are thirty-two two
story business houses and the architecture
is commendable and the liberal way in
which paint has been used gives the place !
an inviting appearance. There are several !
business houses that are worthy of special !
mention, but space will not permit |
However, the Wichita Avenue hotel is t
in such marked contrast to the |
hotels OF other towns. whether on or off |
the railroads, thai mention of it Will not /
toe out Of place 1t is three stories. with a |
mansard roof, and cellar full size of the |
house, which is 50xl00 feet; large office. |
reading room and sample room. together /
with the town company's two offices, com
prise all Of the rooms on the ground floor.
except the large dining hall and kitchen.
The latter is supplied with the latest i'm
proved ranges and other paraphernalia Of a
trst-class house. The dining hall is large.
well ventilated, handsomely decorated and
made as inviting as money can. The two
upper floors have upwards of fifty sleep
ing rooms. all of which are supplied with
new beds and bedding; carpets adorn all
the floors, and the furniture used is of the
best quality and plenty of it The house
is finished throughout with southern pine.
and never fails to bring from the visitor re-
marks Of admiration and surprise
There are no tree claims to be had in
Lane county. But there are few homestead
and pre-emption claims and those wishing
to take advantage Of their rights should
lose no time In coming to Lane county
The population is made up of people com
ing from the eastern or middle states and