Wichita eagle., 1888-01-26
NO MANS LAND.
The General Outlook-The Clinate-Soil
-Population--Politics and Legislation.

NO MANS LAND.
The General Outlook-The Climate-Soil
-Population--Politics and Legislation.
Correspondence of the Wichita Eagle.
After two years close observation and
personal knowledge, l am of opinion that
this public land strip is a good country;
rather above the general average of
western Kansas. 1t is so proving itself.
1t is better watered In this respect it is
par excellence.
The climate is all that could be desir-
ed: is perfectly healthy. The winters
are mild. This. which is an average has
not been unpleasant. The thermometer
never lower than six degrees below zero,
and that only a short time. The cold
waves are seldom over three days. We
| have had only four or five days that
could be called severe. Stock stood ii
well on the range. Men suffered only
when bewildered on the prairie, when
poorly sheltered or thinly clad. as is of
ten the case with the first settlers in so
new country. Some such might freeze:
some have actually frozen, but it was
sheer carelessness or negligence.
Timber has been plentiful for fuel, i'll
most places furnishing a meagre supply
/ for fence posts and shedding. but the
settlers in the strip and in Kansas, the
| last two years have swept most OF 1t
away.
The soil is generally Sood;a sandy loan.
! The geology of the country. rs well as
I man testimony from observation, indi-
cate that the surface was a sandy plain
| when rain struck it. probably a quarter
of century ago. and it has been i'm
proving ever since Like all these west
ern plains the soil improves by the rain
! fall which increases as thorough ctlltiva
| ton goes on. The country always looks
| better. and is better, as soon as it is in
! habited and cultivated. Hence the row
ing cattlemen and nomadic adventures
speak disparagingly of it for agricultural
purposes. while the granger and the land
| agent extol it to the skies. Each see it
! from different standpoint The wild
animals and the countless herds of cattle
which tramp the life out of the soil, dis
appear before the granger:
and so year by year, UNI
der such changes and processes acre
after acre of comparatively worthless
! land is reclaimed. | can see quite a
change in this respect since came here,
less than two years ago. and the change
will go on in a geometrical progression
as population increases, and only few
wears will lapse till most of the waste
| land will be classed with the good. three
| fourthS proving average arabic land.
probably half tirst-class and the balance
good grazing land, leaving none that is
! entirely worthless. This is no mere
theory: the fact that all over this western
! country was once counted desert, con-
| firms our statements.
AS to the population in the near
! future. from the above facts con-
clllsion is inevitable that No Mans Land
is capable of sustaining a dense poPula-
| ton. And it is most likely to be thrown
open to homestead entry only: and Is
! about the last chance which the govern
ment will have to offer homes TO the
homeless, free, by simply living on them
| 1t is reasonable to expect swarm OF
people will throng this region as soon as
congress passes law opening the lands
for entry and giving legal protection to
property and persons. Such an
influx of population was ready to enter
| last spring when the government failed
| to give us the needed legislation.
As it was. many homeless came on
bringing but little means, however
! Capital. which is always cautious, lin
gered back. waiting legal protection.
! This has made it embarrassing for the
six or eight thousand people in the Strip.
| Not much crop could he expected the
first wear and but little was raised. No
public improvements or public eXpendi-
lures going on. yet the people have
weathered through, and though buy
! little development of the country has
been made, yet there has been enough
| TO test and prove his character and pre-
pare the way for the coming throng.
Next season is promising one. The
/ abundance of rain. snow and freezing be-
( takon good season the coming year.
| Preparation for early planting has com
menced. The railroads are IN readiness
! to push their lines which are now at the
! edge of the strip into the heart OF the
! country. Cars are running on the Null
vane extension branch OF the Santa
Fe. to Englewood. which Is only three
miles from our northeast corner. and
pushing on this way. This will give us
direct communication with Wichita.
! Score another line for our metropolis.
She will be our wholesale mart.
Concerning politics and legislation.
would say. let ali who are think
ing this country, look out for
what congress NAV do in the premises.
and arrange their plans accordingly.
/ Whether new territory Is established
or not this session of congress the strip
viii certainly be opened The great
cauldron at Washington containing our
pottage is boiling. The herbs and wild
gourds are SHE'D into the pot by the poi
/ iticianS Our congressman. ohase- siin
clinging to territorial government or
/ nothing. tastes cautiously fearing there :
death in the pot. Dale. the home
steaderS delegate AT Washington. T.
PRAYING the prophets Ia cast The divine
meal INTO the mixture, IN hop-> tiiat ii
may vet Weld notIri>itEiig iorI
to tie starving settlers. Meanwhile.
>eranag-. tie Uiss>-s Of the strip. r on
the home stretch ST a sf--ri Vi swo-ien
with his tall for federal law and Hand
entry only And declares that he wiii
i-s layfH scrip bv the Attn ri March al''i
iJy July VIII have ten Thousand acres.
well i'm hand on the hest to@n--its's and
homeStesds.
In view of the situation the Kansas,
Beaver d AIbuaurque Railroad con-
pany VIII commence boring Tor sas ~
/. soon d. the tools can oe haa