The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-10-24
WHOLE NO. 2256.
A Jog Through N. E. Kansas.

Leaving Cameron, We passed through
the Missouri river valley via. IT. Jo-
seph to Falls City. Neb. The product
iveness of this valley cannot be excell-
ed. In proof of which the rank
growth of vegetation is sufficient evil
| dence.
Arriving at Falls City, we were hail
ed by Pennsylvanians. Here are 10
Gated the Musselman brothers. Nor
man advocating Republicanism
through the columns of his worthy pa
per, while NJ. w. Is rustling the real
estate business. Here, too, we met
John Horner, who has been citizen
of this place for many years, being en-
gagged in the transfer of express mat
ter and has the agency and is salesman
for the Standard Oil Co.
Leaving the city We called at the
neat suberban residence of Elias Mey-
ers. -Four miles north are located the
farms of Francis Shaffer. His broad
acres show the thrift and enterprise Of
their owner, while the well kept orch
ards yield an abundant supply of fruit.
Mr.. Shaifer is one of the pioneer set
tiers of this country, and has kept
apace of the times i'm the way of im-
provements, &c. While here we shar-
ed his hospitality. Charles VIII, too,
is farmer Of this community.
Going westward from here we next
arrived at Humbolt, IA thrifty town of
several hundred inhabitants. Here re-
side more Pennsylvanians, among
which are c. Morris family, Mrs. Ida
being a daughter of COmrade Henry
Horner, who sleeps in a southern
grave.
Travelling westward we arrived at
Odell. Here we found located ex-Sher-
i'll Perry Walker, who, being well adj
vaneed in years, has retired from act
i've business. He has been physically
affected by paralysis, from the affects of
which he has not fully recovered
There Is no marked change in the per-
sonal appearance of Mr.. Walker; his
memory of past events serves him well,
and with delight he rehearses these.
Mrs. Walker is active and supple for
her age; she superintends her house
hold affairs with neatness and dis
patch.
Onr next stOp-Over was at Hardy,
near which place lives Ed. VI. Schau-
lis. His buildings are prominently To-
Gated and show off their outlines in
this vicinity for many miles, a. the
suns rays are reflected from the well 1
painted sides and roofs. The passerby .
needs no instructions to know that a /
Pennsylvanian lives here, a. this j. .
suggested by the spacious barns and ,
cribs. Mr.. Schaulis has his implement .
house; place for everything when not .
in use, while some of his less thrifty
neighbors have implements scattered
promiscuously around.
Leaving Hardy We drove due south, I
e.-a.sein" the RenIblicau river into
sand. The water being limited 10 .
narrow channel shifting to and fro .
Proceeding southwark across Jewell T.
into Mitchell county, stopping at Be
lott. This section of country Is under /
laid by stratas of flag stone. These are /
extensively used for fence posts, being
cut the proper size and sold for 50 per
hundred.
Going westward we arrived ut the
Spirit spring. This spring i natural
elevated reservoir on the summit of
mound, the waters of which are strong
IN impregnated with salt, &c. The
traditional history of this mound l.
that the Indians of the plains resorted
hither to worship; offering sacrifices
by casting them into this crater where
they were speedily engulfed. Leaving
the spring we travelled onward toward
home where we arrived in due tire.
Oar trip occupied forty days and was
one of much pleasure To III, a. such
NtTc liit lhitHt-- We i'it 'Nhih" ~
all cares and worries. Now "a regards
crops:
We found the drouth general Ex-
tending over the entire State and into
adjoining ones. There i "A half crop
in the eastern half of Kansas, while in
Missouri the yield i above this In
western Kansas crops were failure.
Yet in visiting through this country
YOU will not find utter destitutiOn, ~
reported by some periodicals. You
will find the winters supply Of flour
in store and farmers again seeding
their land to wheat and rye, their cat
tie doing well on the wild pasture of
the range, where they live through the
winter ordinarily. Cattle are in de
mand and prices fair. True, many OF
the settlers have left us To find a better
country. The question Is: Will they
reach the land of corn and wine? They
are floating populaee and never win.
/ will not ignore this country by say
ing we raised nothing. NOtwithstand-
ing the drouth we raised a full crop of
vegetables and of superior quality.
This being done by irregation, and
utilizing the water of several springs.
This country has an underiiow of
water, which, if brought 10 the surface,
will increase the productiveness of our
soil one hundred fold. This question
i being agitated and We think the day
not far distant when, through this
agency, drouthy Kansas will blossom
as the rose. Respectfully,
j. \. G..
Sociable Neighbors.
La -.