Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-01
GLORIOUS DICKINSON.
WHAT 4 LEANING FIN ! NCI II
PAPER GAYS OF IT.
= FIattering Yet Fair Wrlte-up Of one
OF Kansas Most Productive Counties
A Description of the Advantages
Offered to Investors.


The general Kansas correspondent Of
the American Wool Reporter, published
at Boston, Philadelphia and New York
and the leading authority on invest
ments in the country, has in his last
article given Dickinson county write
up that will De uf much benefit as it
brings it directly to the attention of
the eastern investors, those whom it is
most desirable to reach.
The article which is signed with a
monde plume Is as follows:
DICKINSON COUNTY.
Among the central Kansas counties
to which attention has not been called
in the Reporters columns are Dickin-
son and Ottawa.
During 1853 the Kansas Pacific
Railroad company made Dickinson
county famous as the central figure in
the great Golden Belt' of Kansas,
which was to produce the greatest
wheat yield of the west. Single fields
of 5000 acres stretched away beside
the track and in summer all passenger
trains slacBened their pace that the
travellers might feast their eyes on the
sea of grain. The wheat fever soon
died out, to be succeeded by more
rational methods of agriculture, but
the advertisement given the cOun-
ty attracted many settlers to its rich
acres and made it one Of the most
thickly populated aud most wealthy in
the state.
1.-The county was organized in 1857,
and has large percentage OF tillable
lands. There are but few bluffs, and
almost every section is suitable for
crops. Six creeks and the Smoky Hill
river water it we'll and make 20 per
cent. of the soil into bottom land. The
creek bottoms contain many wealthy
farms that have been cropped con-
tinuously and successfully for 20 years.
1.-The county has population of 3d.
los. OF its S51 square miles 24O,764
acres are under fence. The farms are
valued at 1O,34S, 900 and farming i'm
elements atSI7O,0OO. Last year 60, 900
acres of wheat were raised, averaging
from 25 to 80 bushels; 125, 592 acres
were in corn, averaging from go to 50
bushels. Of oats, a. 57 acres were
sown. The total number Of acres in
croos was 240, 900. All kinds of timber
are common along the streams, and
good orchards are coming into bearing.
Water is reached at 80 feet; limestone
is abundant; beds of fire clay furnish
material for brick and pottery works;
gypsum for stucco and plaster is large
Iy manufactured, and extensive salt
works are in operation in the western
part of the county.
PRODUCTIVE AND PROSPEROUS.
1.-THE people are for the most part
from the higher classes. Pennsylvania
has large representation, the River
Brethren being numerous. The Ohio
valley and Western Reserve have sent
the next largest proportion, and west
ern New York is third.
"There is no more productive county
in the state, and none that contains
more successful farmers. There are
many pleasant homes, good schools
churches, etc., which go to make the
newcomer feel at home. Stock raising
is not carried on as business as much
as in counties where there is more IN
titled land for pasture, but many gooC
horses are shipped out yearly and thor
oughbred hogs and cattle are made
, speciality. Four years ago over 80,
600 sheep were owned; now there ART
not more than 5000. The rapid ris'
in land values as well as the depression
in the sheep and wool market, cause(
the forsaking of that industry. Farm
lands sell less rapidly than three year
8 ago, but still prices remain strong oil
account of the improvements. Few
, desirable farms can be bought for les
than $50 per acre. The farmers ar
coming through the siege of hard time
in good condition, those who farme'
intelligently. Over 200 chattel mort
cages were released during January
. and for six months the releases hav
. exceeded the new mortgages in mum
bers and amounts.
"Abilene, the county seat, has POP
, ulation of about 5000 and is prosper
Gus city. Three railroads enter tn
place-the Union Pacific, the Roc
q Island and the Chicago, Kansas an
Western Santa Fe). The MissOul
Pacific runs through the south part
q the county. Solomon, Harrington, Hop
o and Enterprise are all cities of owe
g 1000 population and do a live LOCI
,. business.
'sThe Travellers Insurance compan
- has an extensive Office here under I'd
= name of the Kansas Farm Mortgae
a company. This company. as well
= the banks, reports satisfactory recor
g during the past year and prompt pa.
10 ments
:. SITUATED as it is, nearly in the Gel
ter of the state, and with natural al
vantages unsurpassed, Dickinson coul