Mohave County miner., 1891-01-31
Pressing On 10 Possess the Land Bsyoad the
bis hsddy and Fleeing the Farmers
by the way-A Picture Of
the Past.

generally referred TO as the ones who
were going home TO spend the winter
with my wife's folksn Some had gone
west, fought good fight against the
drought and the grasshoppers, but
werc hnally compelled to surrender
and return 10 Gods country" as they
termed the states east OF the Missouri.
The motto, kansas or Bust" which
they had painted on the sides OF their
wagon covers when on their way west
would be changed to "Bus,ed, by
Thunder" Others who had met with
i'll fortune in the west would, on their
return "trip, use their wagon covers as
bulletin boards on which we're painted
warnings for all to keep away from
the scenes OF their misforiunes. 0c-
casionally returning Kansan would
put his kicking into meter something
like this:
Farewell. Kansas, fare you well,
A long good-by forever;
We may enigrate some time TO b,
But back to Kansas, never.
Notwithstanding the warning OF
those who through mismauagement or
misfortune had been worsted In the
struggle, the great stream Of emmi-
grafton continued TO flow toward the
land Of tie setting sun. Westward
the star Of empire takes its way"
While the disabled and the stragglers
were getting back to the rear the great
army OF homeseekers kept pressing TO
the front The many huge. white
covers Of the wagons moving up and
down the undulating hills or across
the broad stretches Of level prairies
looked not unlike slow, sailing vessels
upon the bosom Of placid sea. They
we're truly the ships Of the prairies
making their way across seas OF wav-
ing grass to the fulfilling or the blasting
OF hopes that led their crews to press
on TO the vanguard of civilization,
there TO take upon themselves the
hard. sturdy lives of those who carve
out home on the frontier. Most OF
them were bound for Nebraska or
Kansas, but others were bound still
farther into the Northwest West, or
Southwest The railway facilities for
reaching the lands beyond the Mis-
souri, we're at that time somewhat lin
tied, ana the popular means for emil
grafton we're the white-covered prairie
schooners. An emigrant train in those
days popularity meant long line OF
covered wagons following a sinuous
trail that stretched like dusty brown
ribbon across broad expanse OF
green.
The picture thus presented was
very familiar one To the occupants OF
an isolated home on the Iowa prairies.
In those days the more or less widely
separated western Iowa homes that
were located upon the lines OF travel
were by force Of surrounding circum-
stances converted into hotels and
places OF shelter for the comfort and
entertainment OF man aud beast 1t
made but little difference whether or
not the proprietor OF a home cared to
serve in the capacity OF mine host il
was not his TO decide, and 1t frequently
happened that he was almost COM
PEELED to unwlllingly serve those whom
he wished might have tarried under a
roof where they would have been more
welcome. For periods of weeks at
time there would be no hour during
the day when a greater or less number
OF the white covers we're not in sight
Ever coming, ever going. drifting by,
not unlike the ceaseless flowing Of a
mighty river. From what at times
might have in a measure seemed
necessity, but much more often from a
predisposition so to do. many OF the
emigrant trains formed themselves into
what could have been mildly termed
foraging parties that almost lived
upon the country through which they
passed. Hay was plentiful everywhere
during the summer season, but corn
and other grains could De gotten only
by purchase or otherwise. II must be
frankly stated that many Of the travel
ers preferred to procure these com
modities otherwise, and woe unto the
field Of cora that was hidden by a hill
from the farmers house or was near
favorite camping ground 70 be visited
under the cover OF darkness When
the season for husking the corr arrived,
unless the farmer had taken extra pre-
cautions TO prevent piliering. nc would
find largo share Of the work already
done and the harvesting nearly com
p'eted The taking Of few ears of
corn no dombt seemed like a very
small matter to each Of the travellers
committing the wrong, but The thcits.
when estimated collectively, assumed
considerable proportions. Occasionally
an emiCrant would be caught in the act
of helping himself 70 feed OF grain
for his team, when he would reluct-
antly pay for the grain taken and re-
solve no doubt TO be more cautious in
the future. During the SESSION when
the traveller had plenty Of opportu- \
mites to thus help himself TO the prod
uet Of the armer's fields, the cmigrant
was thought to be an example Of hon
esty who expressed a desire 10 purchase
the sanoa