Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-01-17

II.
fdence entirely gone the part of investors.
is unfortunate one for the borrowers. While
the return OF favorable agricultural conditions
and good crops win be important element in
restoring confidence still it is not the principal
one, and the strongest proof Of this statement
is found in the fact that money real estate
loans can be obtained more easily. and at less
rates OF interest, in Missouri and Nebraska
than it can in Kansas.
The proceedings in foreclosure should be
made simple and inexpensive as it is posi-
BILE to make them. with a due regard TO the
rights OF the moFtgagor. The Missouri form oil
trust deed has proven. after many years of trial
very satisfactory. Something of that charac-
ter, with provision that the mortgagor should
have the privilege of redemption Tor twelve
months, by paying taxes, insurance and inter
est, would doubtless be satisfactory to the Dor
rover and lender. am confident that the best
interests of all classes would be promoted by
the enactment OF such laws as would tend tc
restore confidence in our ability and willing
ness to promptly meet our obligations.
Insurance Laws and Insurance Department
The laws relating to insurance corporations
and the transaction OF insurance business IL
this state ought be carefully revised ant
amended. The act creating the insurance de
partnc It, AID most OF the laws since passed
provid.ny fer the creation of insurance com
panies in this state. and their government, con.
tain provisions which ought to be separated
Al. provisions relating to the Incorporation
insurance companies ought to be in a distinc'
act from the provisions of laws relating to TIT
insurance department. The insurance depart
ment was created for the purpose OF regulating
insurance companies, both foreign and domes
tic, doing business in this state, and for pro
tecting the people from fraudulent or irrsspon
sible companies.
Irrigation.
The subject of irrigation is one of vast i'm
portance to the people of this state. In nearly
one-half of the state the scant supply of the
rainfall makes general farming uncertain and
precar1ous business, and renders compare
lively valueless, except for grazing purposes,
mlIllonS or acres OF the choicest lands in the
state. With ample supply of water at the
proper season at least twenty millions of acres
of land now not worth on average more than
given value OF twenty-five dollars per acre.
adding at least four hundred millions Of dollars
to the wealth of the state and making that Sec
ton the garden spot Of the state. Numerous
theories for the prevention of drought have been
advocated and tested, but they have proven
and the people are now turning to the
subject of irrigation. There are some diff
culties that confront them. The amount of the
water supply and It's availability for irrigation
purposes, are the chief problems to be settled.
The western settlers, in their struggles to de-
veIop that part of our state, deserve the hearty
support of every citizen. more brave, honest
and Intelligent class of men never cast their
fortunes in new country. An appropriation
of the public money to a limited degree, to be
under the direction of the state board
of agriculture, or the agricultural college, may
be advisable But should carefully avoid
any eXtraVagant expenditure of public money
in visionary experiments. The energy, in
dustry and pluck of the people are the
real basis of the development of any
country, and upon that we must de-
pend for the development of every part Of our
state, Wise and equitable laws controlling the
water supply of the streams that we have, may
be necessary, but the chief source of supply, in
my judgment, must come from what is known
as the ''under-how,'' and be utilized by pump
NJ vhn hiS arm
owns his water, and can own his plant no leg
islation is necessary to aid him in the develop
ment of his farm. Experimental stations, how
ever, can be made valuable, and thorough and
systematic survey of that portion of the state
may develop some new means of utilizing the
present water supply. 1 most earnestly COM
mend to your careful consideration the subject
Of retaining that beautiful section of our state.
Uniformity of Textbooks.
The question of state uniformity of text
books is an important one, and should receive
your serious attention. AS it is, there is
not even county uniformity. Indeed, in many
of our counties the textbooks change with the
School-diStrict lines. In some counties there
are from five to ten diferers kinds of text
books used in the public schools. family
moving from one district to another is thereby
needlessly put to great expense The result is,
that in the aggregate the people of the state
expend many thousands of dollars for which
they never receive any adequate return, which
would be saved the people if we had uniform
lty OF tcXt-DOOkS. TnlS IS all the more I'M
portant because this burden falls usually
upon those who are least able to bear
it. The farm tenant, who changes his
residence from year to year, the laborer,
who, seeking employment, must move from one
city to another, is almost invariably compelled
to buy set of books for his children.
This is imposing upon him an unjust burden,
and compelling him to spend quite large
amount of money uSeleSSly, because the books
which he is compelled to dispense with are just
aS valuable, and useful for the instruction
Of children, as the new ones which he is
PEELED to buy. There is valid argument
against the system of state uniformity, and
there are many arguments for it, and where it
has been tried it has proven very advantageous.
Chiclxainauga.
Under the act of congress- of August 10, $780,
park has been established at the battlefield of
and the government has pur-
chased, or proceedings are pending for the pur-
chase of over G,000 acres of the battlefield. en-
bracing most OF the heavy fighting ground. A
appointed by the president to
take charge of this work, and nearly all Of the
states whose troops were engaged in that bat
tie have already appointed commissions to act
In conjunction with the United States commits
sioners in locating the positions of the differ
emit regiments and batteries; and most of the
states have provided for the erection of suit
able monuments to mark the position occupied
by their respective troops on the field.
In that memorable battle Kansas was repre-
sented by Gen. Robert B. Mitchell, command
ing division of cavalry; Col John A Martin,
a brigade. and Lieut--Col. J. L.
Alternately, commanding the Eighth regiment
Of Kansas volunteers.
Eighteen states have already appointed COM
missions to assist the national commission in
the work of locating positions. The Eighth
Kansas regiment should have one monument
near the Viniard place, where it fought on Sat