The Globe-republican., 1891-12-10
THURSDAY, DEC. 10. 1891.
SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH.


The procession still continues to
move toward Western Kansas. 1t
consists of actual farmers coming
with their families to establish per
manent homes. They come with
means enough to buy the land and
stock it SO as to make farming their
real business. Formerly our immi-
grafton boom was composed OF PEG
pie seeking free homesteads. Many
of them had but little more than
enough to reach these fertile plains.
The program carried out was to make
settlement by means of Il cheap shan
tv, then go away and hire out for
wages, coming back to the claim at
intervals to put in a little corn and
comply with the requirements neces-
sary to make proof of continuous resi-
dence. The reason they planted corn
WAS that it took less money for seed
than the small grains. The corn was
often left to take lis chances with the
weeds, and at husking time the latter
generally came out ahead. When ii
tie was secured from the United
States the preemptor or homesteader
raised what he could by means of a
mortgage, and congratulated himself
that this beat raising corn among the
weeds. Some of them stayed awhile
and spent the money, while others
skipped out for ''greener fields and
pastures new" A few who had a
little surplus money bought seed
wheat and realized handsome returns.
This encouraged others to do like
wise and they almost invariably raised
good crop. 1t is now an established
fact that this region, while produc
ing good corn with proper culture,
is especially adapted to wheat, oats.
rye, barley and the marvellous alfalfa,
the latter realizing as high as thirty
five dollars to the acre net profit III
one year.
The largest profits, however, are real
lied from adding live stock to con
sumo the waste left in chaif anC
straw from small grain and fodder OIL
corn stalks in the field. The fact:
concerning this region are becoming
known to thrifty farmers who have
the means and disposition to follow
agriculture as it should be to realiz,
the best results, and they are begin
ing to take advantage of the exceed
insly low prices for which our fertil
lands can be bought to day. We can
not claim they are comming in grea
throngs, nor that boom has alread
materialized. Now and then on
quietly drops into the city, goes gu
and inspects tract of land, calls O.
one of our abstractors to see that ii
tie is good, and pays spot cash for
deed. These purchasers general
have families and the next step is t
arrange for their removal to the new
ly acquired premises. This mov'
ment has just begun, but every Col
dition is favorable to its continuane
until these rich and fruitful plair
and valley of Southwest Kansas q,
made that for which nature intende
them, the greatest small grain regio
in the United States. The few fru
gardens and orchards already starte
have demonstrated that our soil an
climate are also favorable to produ'
ton of several varieties Of these bea'
tiful and healthful products of Il
earth, the size and favor of mo
fruits adapted to a temperate c
mate being equal to the choicest spe
linens from the Golden State. v
therefore look forward to marks
change in the next few years. l
stead of broad sweep of prairi
covered with native grasses, the who
country will be cut up into hom'
with orchards, gardens, fields of We
ing grain, alfalfa meadows and tn
othy pasture lands. The Il
mentioned grass has been tested
the uplands east of town, and wi
great success. Already this Sparse