The Lamar register., 1892-08-20
ArrIp on tho North Side.

The wonderful success in farming at
tained by the settlers on the north side
claims must be seen to be appreciated.
Last Sunday party, in which your cor
respondent was included, drove for sev-
eral hours through the higher cultivated
portion OF that section. 1t compares
favorably with the older settled districts
OF our unapproachable valley. Evidence
OF thrift and prosperity were every
where apparent, the latter attribute be-
ing evidently the direct benefit accrue
ing from the large irrigating bitches
which supply water to these ranches
the Amity and Henry. To one unac-
quainted with the benefits Of irrigation,
the results Of the use Of the water seem
marvellous. Here, corn Of q uniform
height OF eight feet or more, stood rust
ling and swsying in the breeze, the
stalks so close together that it was i'm
possible for the eye to penetrate beyond
few feet into the .pxuriant growth;
and there, alfalfa stacks reared their
brown sides, while the fields showed the
rapid approach OF a second harvest on
the ground from which the first had but
recently been gathered. Gardens, filled
with healthy plants, are seen on every
hand, and watermelons-your CORES
pondent is addicted to the watermelon
habit-Gave promise OF an abundant
crop. The only drawback to the rapid
development OF this section seems to be
that there were far more farms than
farmers After stopping at the home Of
Mr. McKibbon, who is the possessor OF a
well with well merited reputation for
the excellent quality of it's water, the
party,who had been driving parallel with
the river. turned TO the north, passed
the well cultivated ranch OF Mr.. Petrie,
and, with malice aforethought and an
enormous appetite, decided to dine with
that genial bachelor-farm and enter
taining host, Ed Gorden. They dined.
Enough be it that Mr.. Gorden cooked
the meal himself. More could not be
said His unexcelled dexterity with the
skillet and coffee-pot was amply demon
strated. Edward owns a claim which
he has not yet proved up on, but, in the
few years he has had it, it has been
transformed from the bald headed virgin
prairie to shining example OF the posi-
bilities OF intelligent farming in this sec
ton The return drive in the evening
through this beautiful garden spot is
one OF singular interest to a person un-
accustomed to the rolling prairie, COW
and then hght-footed and long cared
jack rabbit to give life and motion to
the scene otherwise too somber. One OF
the chief attractions OF this section is
the cool breeze which, no matter how
hot the sun, is always stirring. The
almost total absence OF trees can be easi-
ly remedied. as the ranches Of Messrs.
Jones and Gordon amply prove. And
the Amity ditch furnishes further in
disputable evidence OF this fact. This
ditch is only matter Of three years old
yet along its banks, here and there, q
vigorous growth OF young sycamore or
cottonwood trees have sprung up. The
secd had evidently been carried down by
the water OF the ditch and deposited on
the banks during an overflow, when the
fertile soil did its part. A trip through
this section is not only entertaining but
very instructive and its population are
hospitable in the extreme. A drive
through it will amply repay anyone.