The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-28
KANSAS FARMERS GIVING UP.
Thousands of Settlers ON the Barren
Plains Leaving Their Homes.
Sslina Kan Snncial

Thousands of Settlers ON the Barren
Plains Leaving Their Homes.
Salina, Kan, Special
In spite of all that has been said about
the prosperity of Kansas, the fact remains
that the settlers on the frontier are having
a harder time than can be realized by out
siders. They are comprehending the full
meaning of the "Great American Desert, y
and are upon the verge of suffering such as
they have never before experienced. The
western third of the state has for the last
three years had short crops-indeed, al
most no crops and even the casual OBJ
server cannot fail to note the dire results.
The eastern and central parts of the state
are in the fiush of prosperity, but their
neighbors at the foothills of the Rockies
are giving up their claims and wandering
eastward. All the fall the white-covered
wagons have been stringing along toward
the sunrise, and even yet, with the sharp
winds of winter singing through the cam
vas covers, they are still on the way.
The season has been disastrous one as
was that of $780, 80. The corn failed en-
tirely, not even nubbins showing on the
majority of the nelds. The wheat crop
was fair, but the acreage was small. The
lack of corn made 1t impossible to fatten
any stock, and even If this could be done
the prices are not such as to encourage it.
The settlers have many of them been
struggling for six TO tfteen years to make
the desert blossom as the rose, but the
lands of the buffalo grass and the coyote
are more LIT for grazing than for agriculture,
and their efforts have not been successful.
That many have become discouraged is
shown by the last census, which shows
that the population has in the last decade
actually decreased in many of the coun-
ties. In Rawlins, Decatur, Cheyenne,
Wichita and a dozen other frontier coun-
ties there is remaining but barely enough
population TO keep the county in running
shape. In Thomas county there is said to
be less than 100 families, and in Rawiins
only thirty-ave In both these were
fiourishing towns and hanlets two years
ago.
solicitors are out all over the state gather
ing up the old clothing and extra provis-
ions that can be spared. A camper who
passed through here from Phillips county
today told pitifuI tale of the sutferings he
and his family had undergone this fall.
He said they lived on cornmeal and beans
kept over from last year, and burned "buf-
falo chips" to keep themselves warm. He
had been, during the summer, together
with number of his neighbors, employed
on the irrigating bitches of Southern Colo
RADIO, but they were cheated out of their pay
and returned home to find the farm unpro-
ductive and the wives and little ones in
need. Their cattle could hardly be given
away, good cows selling for S. and So,
while their horses were almost too poor TO
drag themselves from the country. The
claims had been mortgaged long ago to
Eastern companies for more than they
were now worth, and together with his
neighbors he had packed his few belong
ings into prairie schooner and started for
the East. He hoped to get as far as South
ern Illinois before January, and he GER
tainly would never return. Seventeen
wagon-loads of his neighbors accompanied
him, andsall told the same story. They
said that those who remained through
blind faith In ultimate success or because
too poor to get away would have hard
time. They had little to eat and less to
burn and wear. Some of the men of the
party had been in western Kansas since
1878 and seen all the vicissitudes of seven
teen years. including the grasshoppers and
hot winds. They said that the loan COM
panies held the majority of the land or
would eventually do so, as the rascally
agents had manipulated loans with reck-
less prodigality during the boom times for
the sake of the commissions.
A farmer from Rocks county says: ssThe
people of Western Kansas no longer try to
conceal the fact that many have left that
section. Many have already gone, and
many more are preparing to leave. There
is no other way. Over 5000 have left
Rocks county alone. Many of those re-
manning are unable to get away. For miles
over the prairies one can see nothing but
tenantless cabins and abandoned farm
machinery"
The government has been petitioned for
aid, and it is expected that Senator Plumb's
bill TO furnish seed and money for the suf-
fering will be acted on soon.