Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-03-22
LETTER FROM GLENCOE
In Which Various Matters OF In
terest are Ably Discussed.
Editors Western Kansas World:


is hit by nearly all the contributors,
which, l think, is unjust to us of the
western part of the state.
We have asked but little from
other portions of the state; have
not complained of restitution, and
if we have felt the pinch of poverty,
would prefer not to have the fact
advertised, asking no pity nor COM
miseration, preferring to carry our
success or failure under our own
hats.
The probability is that seventy
five per cent Of the hardships and
sufferings which have been under
gone in Kansas have been expert
enced east of the ninety-eighth par
allel and that ninety-eight per cent
of the pumpkin sauce, which has
been consumed in the state, has
been eaten east of the ninety eighth
meridian.
During the winter of rs and rs,
/ was moved by the appeals and
tears of soldier-over-coated sufferer,
from within seventy-fiye miles of
the Missouri river, to contribute,
and have never been sorry till now.
1 am persuaded that the very fellow
who wore out my old clothes is try
ing to pity me. | don't want it.
Pity is akin to contempt.
Horace Greeley, in his memoir
able trip across the plains in '66 de-
clared that Topeka was the farthest
western point where agriculture
could be carried on successfully,
without irrigation, and it was gener-
all so conceded at that time.
Prof. Shelton says ut is doubt
full if agriculture can be carried on,
at a profit, in western Kansas, ex-
cept in connection with stock" /
have failed to see any northern
state where the successful farmer
did not engage in stock raising, and
when they were unable to procure
stock "at a profit" his profits as a
farmer and the living of his family
were jeopardized. Never was a
greater truism written than-"Stock
farmingis the basis Of our indus
tries"
Prof. Shelton also says: "Climate
regulates vegetation and not vegeta-
ton, climate" 1t has been the ex-
perience of the older settlers, after a
large prairie fire, that the lack of
vegetation regulated the climate
for while. Prof. Shelton may be
right, in the main, but it cannot be
laid down as an axiom, for vegeta-
ton does influence our climate to a
certain extent. His assertion is too
sweeping.
The American people demand
that there shall be no American
Desert" They want it all for
homes.
The demands of a united people
are irrepressible, whether it be for
the abolition of slavery, or the de-
Fiction Of the isothermal line.
We, in western Kansas, would en-
deavor to hold up all industries of
the state and not wag our heads,
with downcaSt eyes, and sigh in
speaking of any portion of the state.
If these things are really so and
western Kansas is so poor a farming
country, we think it would lead
them to sympathize with US and do
us justice.
In the matter of school funds:
Trego county pays into the state
school fund over $4,000 annually
and does not receive in return ten
per cent of this. The district where
in [ reside comprises nearly one gov
eminent township. We pay into
the state school fund from sections
Is and SO, over two hundred dollars
annually, and receive in return a
trife over fifteen dollars! We have
no school house, and if we want to
build, we can borrow a portion,
which we have paid the state, by
giving bond on all the property
in the district and paying a good
interest. The state board Of educa-
ton proposes to raise, still higher,