The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-08-07
KANSAS LETTER.

ED. REPUBLICAN -
Having but recently returned from a
trip to Mcpherson county, Kas., 1
thought perhaps few items CLEANED by
the way might be of interest TO a few of
your readers. / left Kansas City the
morning of the Sd of July, arriving at
Marquette at 8 p. m. The day was cool
and cloudy, a heavy rain having fallen
the night previous. People all along the
way had been harvesting. Wheat was
not generally good, partly owing to lack
of rain at the proper time, and largely
to the ravage of the chinch bugs. Oats
were fairly good, but 1 never saw bet
ter prospects for corn. stayed all night
with Mr.. Norris and family, formerly of
Forest Co. Mr.. N. has been enabled as a
result of many years of hard work in
Kas. TO lay aside sum sufficient for old
age, so that he no longer deems it neces-
sary to work, has rented his farm, bought
a comfortable little home in town, and
seems to be enjoying life; really seems
to be growing younger.
Mr.. N. and 1 drove out to my farm the
morning of the 4th. Found everything
looking well; was very much pleased
with the way everything looked about
the place. The orchard was loaded with
| apples. 1t had been about three and a
| half years since last visited the place
and then In the winter. 1 felt strongly
tempted to stay instead of returning to
the city. After taking hasty survey of
the surroundings and stopping to shake
hands with few of the old neighbors
along the way, we returned to Marquette,
and in the afternoon drove out to the
homo ]. Y. Parker. Found Mr.. and Mrs.
| Parker busy, as usual; had very pleas
ant visit with them and remained till the
morning of the 5th.
Mr.. P. had out 230 acres of corn which
promised a very bountiful yield.
Thought from the prospect that he would
have from fourteen TO fifteen thousand
bushels of shelled corn. He had out %
acres of alfalfa, a species of clover. 1t
can be harvested three times in one sea-
son, and makes an excellent hay. AS
yet clover has not been successfully
raised, neither timothy, so that alfalfa
meets long felt want, and is much more
productive than the old time clover.
Prairie hay, owing to the land being
nearly all broken up, is becoming
a scarce article. never saw apricot and
plum trees so full as those in Mr.. Par
ker's orchard. 1 broke some small
branches from the trees intending to
have them photographed and sent East, to
let the people see what Kan. can produce
in the way of fruit, but being delayed on
my return trip so long on account of the
floods, the limbs wilted and the fruit
dropped off and spoiled my plans.
Peaches and apples were equally plenty.
Mr.. P. has so steers, As domestic cattle,
and rs hogs. There seems to be a better
prospect for advanced prices in stock
than for some time past. We were again
visited with a very heavy rain fall on the
night OF the 4th, almost deluge, accom-
panied with some hail, but not enough
of the latter in this locality to do much
harm.
1 lett Marquette for Kas. City the
morning of the 5th at 9 o'clock, the train
being two hours late on account of the
heavy rains west. We were detained al
at many places on the way by washouts,
saw at one place 400 acres of wheat
which had been harvested, all afioat. Al
Usage City, where we were detained
about "a hours, the water on Main st. was
three feet deep. The California delega-
tion of Christian Endeavors on their way
TO Boston were on the train, and merry
crowd they were. Almost everybody
seemed to be taking the delay good ma
turedly, determined to make the best o.
: it. We arrived at Kas. City about Il
T o'clock, Saturday night, about 30 hours
late. Times are some better in this city
this year than last, more work, building
and public improvements being done
and fever men being out of employment
Fruit, vegetables, and in fact produce o
. every kind, is very low, making it lesi
expensive to live. Well, we expect will
a good deal of stretching to pull through
these good old Democratic times, anC
hope for better times in the future.
With best wishes for the REPUBLIcAi
and its many readers, am, as of old,
. II. q. SHRIvER.
I 1924 Nj adison Ave, Kas. City, Mo.