Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-01-05
The tales of The sufterings of the

unfayored land:
t.. "a ss serve to nerve
u, IA H., - ions CT western Kan
SIS ii "a, ~. hing we lack is
fuel, which the railroads ought te
bring US in larger quantities, and a,
cheaper rates Onr farming land is
fertile, and our farms are cleared anG
ready for the piow. Instead of being
years in clearing and getting ready
our land for crops, barring bad sea.
sons, to which all lands are subject.
We may at once be at the work of
production, and in large quantities.
1t is true the necessities of life have
increased with our increased facilities
for living What to the early settlers
of older countries were actual luxu-
ries, have become to this day and
generation comforts, and many of
them necessities. As Senator Plumb
puts it: "The Eioneers of other coun-
tries began at the bottom; the Kansas
homesteader begins ut the top" The
year 1887 has gone, and with it has
gone many pleasant ahd sorrowful
experiences to each. TO this country.
it has been year of unparalleled prog
ress and development. Great num-
bers Of settlers have occupied and
possessed it, vast portions of wild land
have been brought under cultivation;
towns have been founded, possessing
advantageous positions and perman-
ent characteristics; numerous railroad
thorou ghfares have been laid out and
completed; nor, in the busy work of
development have the mind and high.
er aspirations been neglected, as is
attested by the erection of educational
institutions and the slightly appear
ance of the towers of churches of the
various religious denominations; and
yet, all this is but the beginning Of
the glorious future which awaits Wes-
tern Kansas. By the close of the
wear 1888 will he recorded such fur-
ther development of our resources as
will astonish our most sanguine ex-
pectations and hopes. Agriculture is
our great resource. The tillage of
the soil will receive this year, greater
attention than ever before. Not many
years will elapse. until on each road
side viii! be seen, instead of buffalo
grass covered plains, fine farms, wei;
titled, each bearing paying crops of
cereal and other grains Orchards,
now in infancy, will bud and yield in
their seasons the delicate favored
fruits. Where now is the humble, yet
comfortable sod shanty, will be plac-
ed the commodious farm house and
barn. Grades of better stock will
have taken the place of the more har-
dy kinds now possessed by our farm
ers and stockmen. Great bodies of
now vacant, unimproved land will
have their active, busy residents of
happy and contented people. Adj
yanced and better methods of cultiva-
ticn will have been introduced and
used, and more suitable crops than now
known will be the source of revenue
firm which our increasing population
will gain their livelihood. Much has
been done. and much more yet re-
mains to be done to improve our
methods of cultivation and the raising
of stock. The successful Kansas far
mer is requirsd to he man of sound
Judgment. There are many difficult
ties in his way to overcome, to which
other lands are not subject,-there
are many things in his favor which
other countries do not possess-the
first. he must devise means to over
come, the last, he must learn to uti-
lie to his advantage. By the end
of this year much will have been
learned, and larger preparations made
to withstand the hardships of winter
life. With this New Years greeting,
the Thomas County CAT bids its nu-
merous farmer friends God speed in
their work, in the apparently cherries
work of developing new country,
and fitting it for the more enjoyable
habitatio0 Of man. Don't give up
your farms-to. the faithful, those
Who stick, certain win be their great
future reward. 3
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