Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-12
MATTERS OUT IN WEST KANSAS.

SHoCKEY, Grant Co., Kan, April 8.
To the Editor of the Eagle:
Southwestern Kansas is happy. Prob
ably never in the history of our country
was such vast acreage prepared for
crops, in given amount of territory as
has been this spring i'll Grant county.
Kansas. February and March gave us
very favorable weather for preparing the
ground and planting the crops. A great
been planted, but the weather continu-
ing dry, many farmers began to fear a
drouth; last Saturday, however, all such
fears We're expelled. For more than a
week past, each day, there appeared
signs of rain. and on Saturday afternoon
the rain came in earnest, lasting fully
three hours and wetting the ground
thoroughly everywhere, to an unusual
depth. With one such rain at this sea-
son of the year this country is assured a
good crop, the soil here having such a
remarkable capacity for absorbing and
retaining moisture. a characteristic pc
culiar to the porous soil Of western Kan
sas, and not found in any other portion
of America.
Sunday and last night rain fell stead
lily.
Without some unlocked for calamity
overtakes Us this season. Western Kan
sat will be not only self-supporting, but
will have large surplus to dispose of
next fall and winter. What we most
stand in need of now is railroads TO haul
our surplus crops and cattle to market.
and deliver to us our coal, lumber and
other supplies, needed in abundant guam
titles. That an east and west line of
railroad will eventually be built along
this famous Bear Creek valley there is
not the least room for doubt, and the
company that first secures control of the
shipping interests of this great belt of
rich and fertile lands will indeed be for
tunate.
In regard to the needy circumstances
of our people out here in the west. so
much has been said by the eastern press.
that few words perhaps on this subject
will not be out of place. Thomas W.
Swinney. esq, trustee of Grant town
ship, (Which means all OF the morgan
lied county of Grant, two weeks ago
10 Oul NnSkIltI
really were any needing assistance in this
county or not. and if so to furnish
them the necessary supplies, appointed
committeeman IN each congressional
township TO ascertain if there were any
such and if SO if their names and amount
needed. He advertised through the
county papers and by posters all over the
townships that meetings would be held
in each township on the 4th inst. In this
township but one man met the commit
teeman and he said ne could get along
very well without assistance but had
misunderstood the purpose OF the call.
Other townships heard from show a sim
liar condition Of circumstances There
fore we conclude that Grant county is
amply able 10 take care of itself. and It's
needy settlers, if any such there are.
without calling on the people of the east
for aid. True, we must look 20 the older
settled portions of the country for our
supplies for year or two 10 come. but
we expect TO be able TO pay cash for all
we get from them and in addition nav
enormous railroad rates for freight. I'M
I'll we are so fortunate AS 10 have the adj
vantages of competition on freight rates.
Until such time we are at the mercy OF
a railway monopoly, u,