Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-02
GREAT KANSAS
Secretary Rusk Shows How the
State VIII Advance.

State Win Advance.
Prosperity sure to Flow Because Of ths
Great Demand For Its Agricultural
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Sugar
and Irrigation
4 correspondent of the Topeka Cap
ital recently interviewed Secretary
Rusk at Washington as follows:
What is your estimate of Kansas as
an agricultural state, and of the prob
able agricultural development of the
states of the west during the next de-
cade?"
II see no reason for arrest of agri-
| cultural progress in the west said
Secretary Rusk. ''Great common
| wealths like Kansas have sprung up il
two or three decades Some have al
ready grown great from small begin
niEgs in a single decade. Forty years
ago few struggling settlements lit
orally fought for existence in Kansas.
Twenty years ago agricultural develop
ment was active in the eastern counties
had invaded the drier central areas.
and even ventured to attack the more
arid western section, while the world
outside was prophesying disaster
for 'droughty Kansas Yet settle
ment progressed, farms multiplied,
cultivation extended and settlers
coUrageously mortgaged lands to build
houses and barns and to stock and equip
their farms Their faith was sublime.
Their enterprise was audacious Is it
wonder that some, oblivious of possible
! drought, took heavy risks, met with
crop failures and finally yielded to the
fc- II fo1 - &l1A 1.-
years abundant crops have discharged
Indebtedness IN all directions, and are
fast dissipating the depression felt so
keenly by the class attempting home
making with small means under tenn
porarily adverse circumstances 1t re-
quires time to subdue soil that has
been ages in forming. for generations
packed by the feet of buffalo aud filled
to excess with mineral salts, BY means
Of the diligent labor OF cultivation and
the washing Of irrigation or the gentler
showers OF Heaven Every year OF judi
cious cultivation ameliorates and I'M
proves the naturally rich but fog time
intractable soils, Hberates their fertiliz-
ing elements, increases their available
plant food, and improves their filth and
ease of cultivation Vita wisdom in
practice OF scientific agriculture the
farms of Kansas should increase in pro-
ductiveress, and with the application
of the principles Of q wise rural economy
production Will become more profitable
as it becomes more varied But the
conservatism which will not change
obsolete methods, plant new crops OF
, learn the science of marketing with
profit, will not share in the improve
ment and prosperity which awaits the
progressive farmer of Kansas Kansas
will always be a great corn-growing
state, and, as such, Is especially inter
ested in all efforts made toward en-
handing the vslue of that cereal The
work which the department has beer
: doing during the past two years
through its special agent In Europe,
towards making the people OF that
continent better acquainted with the
value of corn for human food and
its availability as a cheap and
nutritious substitute for other cereals
[ ! is beginning to be recognized
and, indeed, has been referred *
SO much of late, that your people an
. doubtless familiar enough with the
work which we have been trying to do
l All government effort in this direction
| however, must be actively and energet
2 icallv supported by individual enter
: prise; but may mention incidentally
: Tor their information that there seen
, | to be in Europe a marked preference
: for purposes of human food, at least
J | for white corn The Development o
j the sorghum sugar industry, for W hicl
large section Of Kansas is eminent,
i ! adapted, will also be, in my opinion, {
] large factor in the future prosperity O
= your state. A great future awaits tn
a State of Kansas, and Its farmers are IL
= telliCent and wise enough to shar
!. eouitablv in its rewards OF industry"
u what is your opinion OF the futur
Z Of the sorghum sugar Industry:
q I'm regard to the localities where sol
l. phum cane will grow to the best advaI
S taQe il may be said that the ssrli-ari
regions of the central southern part c
4 the country are best for sorghum Be
ginning in central southern Kansas an
extending southwark through the In
| dian territory, Oklahoma, into ArhaI
: sas and northern Texas and Louisian
l. are vast areas specially suitei TO tn
e development of sorghum cane With mig
|. sugar content
!, the semi-arid lands of western kansas?
= Irrigation is, Of course, CERTAIN I
come in time TO those sections thss AT
: adapted TO It. In some sections WheT
surface water Is unavailable, the onl
thing that can be done VIII De 20 ut'
ize the underdow water by system G
! artesian wells Irrigation Is alread
s practiced TO a considerable extent To
e world ovez, and It's adoption only do
It ponds upon the extent Of the demsn
# Tor agricultural produsts WhsI
Is ever that is sufficient to 1u'tfy %
e Immediate outlay involved. is viii b
undertaken Hitherto, with the n
sources placed at the dispose, OF tn
department by congressional enae
ments, my efforts h9Te been ot:ec.ee
IS I exclusively to accommodating all tbs Il
.e formation possible which may be OF us
IS to our agriculture when ths ceFeioi
h ment OF the country and the demand Il
!, products which can best bs produce
q By a system of irrigation shall lus0i
a tie i-,--,--,d c.oecse necessst5
. bring les..c. seclon 81 r. country al
der irrigation A. 7-1sent; you a. a.
l. aware, this inquiry Is suspended % -
u expiration of the perioc cofssno py Il Il
a last congressional approp- 'asieFn fcF L
= purpose"