The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-19
AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE
NEGLECTED,

The state seems to be absorbed in poll
tics, but as that matter is in the hands of
the people, il is certain TO be settled
Justly in the end, and while fully recog-
nizing the importance of just and law
full settlement Of tie squabble, we still
find other important matters to con-
slider.
After all, the state cannot be perma-
nently injured, as long as patriotism Is
something more than name, or justice
prevails. That which underlies all, the
foundation upon which everything Is
built, is the prosperity Of the individual
and Of the family; that once established,
the state will not long follow this or
that ism. Prosperity issudden death to
radicaIisn, and conservatism IS always
the refuge of the prosperous.
The often-quoted axiom that the pros
perity Of Kansas must come out of our
unequalled soil, can not be too strongly
set forth. 1t is our salvation; but its
power 10 save is more than ample, aye,
ten fold more than sufficient, to make
Kansas the most prosperous state III the
Union.
An unqualified soil, climate that is a
benediction, are claimed by many locali-
ties. but wherever this claim may fall
short, it is fully realized in Kansas, and
is found in perfection IN this, the Great
Arkansas valley.
The price Of land is largely a relative
matter: some lands at 800 Der acre are
cheaper than others at $40, but in any
locality where by the pursuit of agricul-
tare, raising the great staple crops of
food-wheat, corn and oats, cattle and
hogs, the farmer can in a single year
realize enough profit from the cultivated
land to pay for it, the price of the land, II
must be admitted, is cheap. The farmer
coming west shrewdly con siders two
things-how mnch profit can he realize
on the money invested and labor ex-
pended, and what advance in the price
of The land may he obtain. The first
question is answered when we said
above that often the profit of given
cultivated tract would in one year pay
for the land; that fact also answers the
other question, for land raising staple
crops that will come any way near pay
ing for the land in one year, must be
relatively cheap, and is as certain to
enhance in value as that the grass shall
continue to grow or water run.
Much has been said of the productive
ness Of this, that or the other state.
One produces celery and apples; another
apples and grapes, while potatoes are the
hope of third. Florida and California
are great in producing semi-tropicaI and
deciduous fruits, but their lands sell at
fabulous prices, notwithstanding none Of
these products are staple and nearly all
are perishable, and the business of pro-
ducing them subject to many vicissi-
tudes. Overstocked markets of fruits
and vegetables often entail heavy losses
to the grower and the shipper, while
wheat in Kansas, even at 80 cents per
bushel, is profitable; and, together with
corn and OATS, will keep for a better
market, and, being non-perishable, will
bear transportation to the farthermost
ends of the earth whenever short crops |
or the necessities of life make a demand. |
There can be no doubt but that the pro-
duction Of staples, as well as the dealing
in them, is the most safe and conserva-
tive manner of accommodating wealth in
the world
The great and prosperous states of the |
west, and Of the east, too, for that mat |
ter, became wealthy and powerful |
through the production, handling and |
dealing in the great staples which Kan
sas produces in quality and quantity, !
without an equal, at less cost of labor,
and on lower priced land than they.
The emigrant to the west formerly |
came out for the purpose of settling
upon the low priced public lands, calcu-
lating upon the increase in price which !
time would bring, for his profits in the !
undertaking. The rapid development of |
the country often helped him to success,
but his life was hard and thankless, and |
often for years gave him no other profit, |
either in his cash investment or in his |
labor. But today in southern cen
trail Kansas, the most productive |
land in the country can be pur-
chased, often at prices so reasonable
that the crops, on the land cultivated in |
a single year, will pay for the land, and
the immigrant is no longer a pioneer, |
but is one of a community, which enjoys |
all the advantages and comforts of civil |
ization from the start.
He makes his profit with certainty,
lives comfortably, and in few years
becomes rich from the advance in price
of productive acres.
The matters Sc, forth herein will bear |
investigation. and to all those intending |
TO better their lot by coming west we
say that no greater favor could be be- |
slowed upon them than that which
would cause an investigation of the
claims Of the great Arkansas valley.