The Iola register., 1891-06-26
WESTERN DEVELOPMENT AND PROS
PERITy

fEhIIf.
Kansas Farmer
The dawn of better days are at hand
for the trans-Missouri country. We
are uow entering upon an area of per-
manent development of the natural in.
dustries of this region of the country
that will make the West prosperous.
The lessons learned during the periods
of depression will lead to the rapid de-
velopment of our resources in such a
way as will insure the prosperity of
the West. The surplus livestock,
grain and minerals are produced here,
and the producer, under existing con-
ditions, is sure to receive an advance
over the cost of production.
The Omaha Bee, in discussing West
ern development, says there is evil
dence of uncommon activity In the
West and Northwest. From the
Missouri river to the backbone of the
Serrias, and from Manitoba to the
Gulf, the irresistible forces which I'm a
decade builded five new States and ad-
ded hundreds of millions to the Ma
tion's wealth, are energetically at
work.
A variety of conditions combine to
make the outlook for 1891 superior to
any preceding year. From an agricul-
tural point of view the prospect for an
abundant harvest was never better.
Copious rains have blessed and re-
freshed the land. In the semi-arid
sections of the Dakotas, Nebraska and
Kansas, the people, aroused by the
disaster of last year, are vigorously
providing against a recurrence Of the
drouth. Hundreds of miles of irriga-
ton bitches and canals are under way
and projected, and their completion
insures sufficiency of moisture to
protect crops from the periodical hot
winds of the Southwest.
Like energy and activity, but on a
larger scale, characterizes the irri ga
ton movement throughout the arid
region. The growth in population has
created innumerable local markets for
the products of the soil. The prices
these necessaries command, and the
certainty of steady expanding de-
mand, fully warrant the vast sums
now being invested in securing arti-
fetal moisture.
The great mineral storehouse of this
region is being drawn upon as it has
never been before. Not only are old
mines being worked with renewed en-
ergy, but new districts are beingopen-
ed up by the irrepressible fortune
hunter. The Gold Hill district in Wy
oming and theDeepCreek district, Utah
give promise of adding a substantial
snm to the years output of gold and sill
yer. Nor is this aggressive develop
ment campaign confined to the prec-
ious metals. The inexhaustible coal
beds Of Colorado and Wyoming, the
Ignite fields of the Dakotas and Mon
tana, the asphalt and sodium lakes of
Utah, the paint, oil and soda interest
of Wyoming, the iron, copper and lead
industries, and score of other COM
mercial commodities which permeate
the mountains and valleys, are receiv-
ing greater attention from investors
and yielding handsomely.
Under the influence of advanced
prices, the stock-raisipg industry has
TO a great extent recovered its wonted
activity. -Four years of depressed
prices all but paralyzed one of the
three great interests of the West. Re
returns are insured for a
few years at least, which will not only
the stockman for past
losses but substantially increase the
business.
A gratifying feature of these favora-
BILE conditions is the absence of specu7
lation and booms. 70 these causes are
due the reaction from which the gen
eral business of the West Is now suf-'
fering. The cause having disappear
ed, the effect must soon follow. En-
terprise and activity. are operating OH.
conservative lines, and the
record of the year, when made up, can
hardly fail to show substantial iu-
crease in, the development of the in
comparable patural resources of the
West. ' .--r-
Marvellous. as has been the growth |
and progress of the country, the fu-
ture promises grander results One
needs but glance at. the large cities
built up, the industries and trade cre-i
ated, the lines Of railroads penetrating
and valleys and the limit
less natural wealth of the region, to
foresee the, colossal business and Indus
rial empire which the most intelli-
gent observers believe to be the des-
Iiny of the trans-Missouri country. !