Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-08

Sorreepondence OF The Evening Star.
WICHITA. KAN, June 4, 1891.
This to me is an interesting country in the
character of its soils and local institutions.
Being my first trip west of the Mississippi
everything is new and relatively attractive Of
course the fat prairie land which one sees In
western Ohio and through Indiana and Illinois
on the route to Chicago looks like farmers
paradise, with its fields cleared of everything
centuries since that could stop pillow or hinder
q cultivator. The soil black and rich and sew
eral feet deep. the result, 1 suppose, of yearly
burning Of the grasses SO long man has
roamed over them, and perhaps for centuries
before by lightning fires. depositing each season
layer Of enriching ashes.
WHAT THE FIRE DOES.
The fires would destroy the young trees If
they ever sprouted. and thus the prairie char
acter Of the surface be maintained. The mo-
ment you protect the young shoots here from
such accidents the soil nourishes splendid
trees. This town is lined with large elns, soft
naples. cotton wood and other great trees,
while the fruit trees are also healthy and pro-
hfc. The splendid tree growth Is largely due
to the fact that up to within a few feet OF the
surface here an abundant and unfailing sup
ply Of good water is always present. The mo-
ment the roots Of the trees reach that strata,
and they are not long in doing so, continued
growth Is assured.
WATER EASILY OBTAINED.
To this natural and wonderful condition the
water works Of this city owe their supply.
Two large pumping engines at work day and
night furnish between twenty and thirty thou
sand people with an abundance of clear.
sparkling. healthful water. During last sum-
mer for several months 5000, 900 gallons was
pumped every twenty-four hours out Of 100
wells just four inches each in diameter The
wells are formed by simply driving a four-inch
pipe about thirty-tiye- feet into the ground
1.-THE lower five or six feet being perforated
with small hOles) and then starting the pump
to draw from them. Soon the sand Is drawn
of and gravel collects about the bottom OF the
pipe and then the permanent condition Is
established. Enough water to fill the pipe
with an upward flow in response to the pump
comes in forever. In other words a great
broad river of fresh water that has fallen
(snow or rsin) in the porous soil between here
and the mountains west Is flowing a few feet
under the surface and through the soil of the
state of Kansas for the ready use Of its people.
A wonderful and nice provision.
THE BIG MUDDY.
The Indian who named the Missouri (Big
Muddy was philologically artist. When l
crossed it the water wasso thick that it actually
looked ropey, like the old-fashioned sugar
house molasses of forty yearsago. l wouldn't
be surprised if Edes' jetties would have to
redcn the lstnnlQS before tDt l5luluus canal
reaches the Pacinc to accommodate the out
flowing deposit material of the Mississippi
The Kansas prairie lands are rolling and not
a dead fiat. as had supposed, and this desir-
able condition continues down to near the
Indian country. And there seems to be plenty
of building stone close up to the surface for
many miles along the railroad from Kansas
City. Mo-. to Topeka and further south. /
notice a sign here advertising ''Chore Co.,
and the housekeepers are notified that any
,rsn hsaa ttan Ha1 To On shnrf
withdrawing to cleaning the paper on the
wall. earPentering, carpet shaking. &c.
This company must be great comfort to the |
average housekeeper, with Its encyclopedias of
trades
GRAY-HEADED MEN SCARCE.
Gray-headed men scarce here. and feel
as though was at a mass meeting Of the boys
when in the streets. The consequence is bust
ness stir and push. The boom is busted" to
use a familiar local phrase. but the little city
is doing good legitimate business. The whole
state is covered by large herds of fine cattle
and similar hocks of sneep and black pigs.
Whether it's a silent tribute to the old liberty
loving sentiment of the state, or that the China
Poland Is the most profitable herd of porkers,
i did not a single white pig among the thou
sands along the line of railroad in this state.
Fifty wears ago the exception the other
way.
WHERE WICHITA IS AHEAD OF WASHINGTON.
This little city of less than 81, 600 people is
building fine stone municipal building cost
ing not less than 100000. Its a shame that
the capital city of the United States is the only
one probably that has no local habitation,
though il has the foremost names. For one
propose to move earnestly and persistently for
what we ought to have had years since.
think nv brother Commissioners will agree
with me that by the time our successors are ap-
pointed we shall be able to give them a house
warming in an imposing municipal home.
j. W. ID.