Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-07
OBSERVATIONS IN KANSAS.
Thriving Towns and New Railroads
People Who Rush Into Debt.
of THE EVENING STAR.

Thriving Towns and New Railroads
People Who Rush Into Debt.
Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
LARNED, KANSAS, July 29th.
1t is two months since l left Washington for
southeastern Kansas. I went first 10 Labette
county. Parsons is the principal city of that
section. It is fine town of perhaps 5000 In
habitants. The shops Of the NJ, X. and I. rail-
road are located there. Business suffered
severely last spring from the protracted strike
OF the railroad men: The sentiment OF the COM
munity was unfavorable to the strikers. Citi.
zens attempted to guard the property OF the
company, but no trains were allowed to run
until the state militia interfered. Parsons has
several competing lines of railroads. and does
good business in grain and cattle. The country
surrounding it is q fertile farming region. There
are three xmas OF soil-chocoiate, gray and
might puzzle q new conner to determine which
was best adapted to agriculture. It is my opin-
titled in wet seasons, and that the black or
gumbo yields best during drought. Corn, oats
miiiet, clover and blue grass grow well here
Out wheat Is not regarded as q sure or profitable
crop. Peaches have not done well for several
years; the winters appear too severe, but very
nne apples are grown. The principal fencing is
the Usage orange, which grows iuxuriantiy and
gives the country fresh, green appearance.
While this section was once a treeIess prairie
one sees to-day considerable timber. Naples,
rapid growth adds beauty to the landscape, and
1t is said materially increases the rainfall
PROSPEROUS FARMERS.
The farmers are prosperous; the discontinued
ones are, as rule, burdened with debt Money
can be obtained on good real estate security at
per cent Land is valued at from $40 to $40
per acre, according to improvements Coal
lumber and articles OF general merchandise are
very reasonable in price. Taxes are high, but
owned by Messrs. F. ID. and A. A. Briggs who
Lad 1873 steers which averaged over 400
pounds. Fifty bushels of sheiied corn were led
daily, and the animals had unlimited paStur-
age additional. 1t was not uncommon to find
that by actual weight steer would gain on an
average five pounds daily. One hundred hogs
fattened on the refuse OF the CATTLE which were
destined for the Chicago markets. The streams
OF Labette county abound in fine fish, and the
There are few prairie chickens and blowers.
and in season large f1ocks OF ducks and geese
! am inclined to think, however, that the region
Is malariOuS.
BUSY TOWN.
From Parsons went northwest to Larned,
Pawnee county, passing en- route the queen
city, the pride and prodigy of Kansas, Wichita.
Larned is growing town on the Arkansas
river. Houses and business places are being
population and trade. Al present there is but
one line OF railroad, the A., L. and y. f., but one
other is graded to tnis point. and others con-
hdently expected. One OF the advantages OF this
region Is the unlimited supply OF water, which
Is ,ound at depth of from 20 TO 90 feet, accord
ing to The elevation. The number or windmilIs
III use Is great; almost every resident considers
tins one OF the necessities In the town tanks and
reservoirs are built, and pipes convey the water
Where needed, SO that trees and fine lawns are
no rarity. Many OF the residences are hand
some and costly. Larned has u. 5. depository
U. .. land Office, several banks aud two roller.
mills. met several old residents of Washing
ton here, among them DIR. Laurence Wilson
Mr.. Howard s. Abbott (formerly q well.knOwn
patent attorney, but now engaged In the STOCK
business), and Mr.. J. +. MedOerry.
JUST REACHED BY THE RAILROAD.
From Larned went south TO the new town
of Belpre, Edwards county. This is on the line
of the new railrOad-Chicago, Kansas and
Western. The road reached Belpre July 9th, at
about five O'Clock. 1t was an suspicious event
many miles. It is wonderful 70 see the rapidity
and perfection OF railroad building in the west.
As many as two miles are built In q day by
three hundred hands. This does not include
grading. Edwards county is, in my Judgment,
chiefly valuable for grazing purposes. Nograin
crop Is sure on account OF the prOtracted
Cattle were formerly very profitable, but severe
winters have lately caused heavy losses, and
the fact is demonstrated beyond u doubt that
stock must have shelter and feed. This of
course, takes largely from the gains OF the bust.
ness. the increasing valuation OF land and the
growing population are destroying the big
ranches OF former days. was through here in
1873, when tue cattle men had unlimited range
without money and without price" The SET
homestead and timber culture laws have Sc.
cured control of the former tree ranges. The
administration OF the public land laws by the
present commissioner OF the general land Office
is universally condemned. His arbitrary ruI-
ings are severely felt with respect to residence
and Improvement 1t is AN impossibility for .
poor man 10 reside continuously upon his
claim, for farming is not profitable and he must
leave it to obtain work in order TO support his
family. There is good deal OF speculation in
government land, but man is trading with
MS blrthright when he does SO. Que entry un.
der each act only Is permitted, and ii person
sells his right to quarter section it is difficult
to see who is injured by the transaction.
WAGES Low BUT LIVING HIGH.
REIMBURSEMENT OF quarter section of gov
ernment land in this region can be had for from
$500 to $1,000, according to location and Inn
Money loans at per cent and
higher. Wages are low and work Is scarce
Coal and lumDer are dear, and the cost OF living
is IN excess OF that further east. From
am inclined TO think that the prohibition laws
are q benefit. Men get liquor, 1t Is true, but the
boys and young men have not the tempta atoms
offered by the saloons of our eastern cities.
This cannot be otherwise than beneficial to fu-
ture generations. The climate OF Kansas is one
of extremes. The summer heat Is intense; 104o
in the shade is not uncommon. The cold Of
winter is severe and the storms are terrible.
The air is tnvigorating at all seasons and IA
vOrable to the cure OF catarrh and asthma. The
great drawback to the state is the fact that 1t Is
practically owned by corporations and eastern
capitalists. People do not seem TO hesitate TO
run in debt for q railroad, courthouse or any
thing they may happen to want They are not
content 70 await the gradual development Of
their greatstate; everything IL pushed or doomed
to its utmost. One admires their energy but
deprecates their imprudence. Kansas IL over.
republican, and II that political
faction should again control the executive will
have representative Ia the cab
met. d. d. A.
The BraveSt Battle.