Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-03
A DESCRIPTION OF A WESTERN rR1r

Lieutenant Governor Merwin. of Con-
necticut, upon his arrival home from
Kansas and the west was interviewed by
the New Haven Daily Union, copy OF
which interview is handed US by Mr..
Knight and which we reproduce.
Lieutenant Governor Merwin, j. d.
Dewell and others of the party who
went three weeks ago to inspect the
western country, returned home last
night after very successful and ENJOY
able trip. The lieutenant governor said
this morning that he was somewhat
fatigued, but on the whole the trip was
a more gratifying one than had been
anticipated. All OF the party were well
and stood the trip without the least IN
convenience and without any startling
incidents. When the party left New
Haven they went directly to st. Louis,
their main object being to traverse the
western lands and see for themselves Its
condition. From st. LOUIS the party
journeyed to southwestern Missouri, to
| Carthage, through southern Kansas,
thence to Omaha, to Sioux City, st.
| Paul, Minneapolis and then home.
On their way to southern Kansas the
party ceased their railroad journey for
two days and employing carriages, were
driven over prairies, inspecting the
various places through which they went,
learning of the true state OF affairs and
of the hopes of the farmers by conyers-
ing directly with them. In this manner
perhaps they have secured better idea
of the fertile condition of Kansas than
they could have otherwise done by mere
ly a cursory glance from car window.
The condition of Kansas, or the east
ern half of it, created favorable opinion
in the minds of the visitors. Lieutenant
| Governor Merwin said this morning that
principally the southern and eastern part
of the state was in glowing condition
of cultivation. The soil was immensely
rich and the crops this year were some
thing enormous, especially so in corn and
wheat. Great advancement had been
shown and it would only be short time
| before Kansas would equal her rival
states in progression and cultivation.
The principal counties in southern Kan
| sas visited were Elk. Cowley. Sumner
and Harper, and without exception they
were in high state of cultivation.
In Harper county new industry
had been put in operation that
bid fair to form an important
factor in the operations of the
state. 1t had been put in op-
Grafton in other parts of the state, but
probably it had reached higher state of
perfection in Harper county than else
where. 1t was the production of sugar
cane and the manufacture of sugar. In
Harper county big sugar mill had been
erected, and machinery to carry on the
| work had been secured at large ex-
pense. The state by recent enactment
had offered bounty of two cents per
pound for all the sugar produced for five
years. The result of this work so far
has demonstrated that about 100 pounds
of sugar and sixteen quarts of syrup
could be secured from ton of the sugar
cane and it has filled the farmers with
sanguine hopes. The price paid for the
sugar cane delivered at the mill is So a
ton, and at this price the farmers can
make more by raising it than anything
else that can be produced upon their
lands.
Wichita impressed the visitors. 1t is
a thriving city, but the big boom that
once made it famous has collapsed. At
Sioux City they viewed the wonderful
corn palace. At st. Paul and Minneap-
oils there was evidence on every hand of
their rapid and substantial growth. At
ST. Paul the lieutenant governor inves-
tigated the Middlesex County Banking
company of this state. Its affairs were
in good condition.
The question was asked Ithe lieutenant
governor as to the value of the western
loans. which were taken to a great ex-
tent in the east. This subject has been
the cause of great deal of speculation.
sentative in his reply. He said that
loans properly made were as safe in the
west as in the east. if all depended on
the value of the property when the
loans were made. Loans that were
made on poor and uncultivated lands
were liable to prove as worthless west as
east. On the other hand loans judicious-
ly and conservatively made were as
profitable west as east. AS a general
thing it was conservative eastern men
who had gone west and who made the
loans, although III the west as well as
east there were INSCRIPTIONS men who
would take advantage of an investor.
1t required men who thoroughly under
stood the condition of things to make
successful loans west. 1t was inferred
from what the lieutenant governor said
about loans properly made tlat there
was more of a difference i'll the price of
land west than east, simply because Gull
tivation was not so widespread In
counties west there might be piece of
property in township under full
cultivation that was exceedingly
valuable, while adjoining it might be
a piece of property which might be
be made just as good, but was of great
deal less value through an absence of
proper cultivation. In fact the value of
land seems to depend more ON cultiva-
ton than on location. Hence, to make
western loan safe investment it re-
quired that the agent making such loan
be fully acquainted with the property
itself. The tendency in the west being
toward increased prosperity, "A loan on
good piece of property was safe, mas
much as it would grow in value by the
growth of prosperity. Property i'm
proved had but little chance Of taking a
backward turn, therefore a loan judi
ciouslv placed in this view of the case
was good one. 1t was only when loans
were made on representation on paper,
and not on the basis of actual value that
the western farm loans proved unprot
liable.
The lieutenant governor was very
much pleased with the treatment he and
his companions received wherever they
went. They received every considera- |
ton possible at the hands of the leading
citizens in the various places visited. |
Nor did they escape the newspaper men, |
who bobbed I'D serenelv like Banquo's |