The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-01

the eastern part of the state, particu
larry in the splendid cities of Ouahs
and Lincoln, are beginning to feel the
great depression resulting from extraor
binary accounts which have plastered
the entire state as place OF woe. Wis
itors TO the country have looked from
car windows TO see the ADMINISTRATOR
bodies of the farmers lying in the fields
and have trod lightly IN the streets
OF Omaha to keep from crushing the
bodies of babes. But the point should
be emphasized that the grievous condi
ton is confined 20 a comparatively mar
row section of the western part of the
state.
Gov Holcombe said TO the writer
at is true that there IS much misery II
the state, but there Is not the universal
privation which hes been declared
Crop failure was unknown until 1S9(
when the farmers lost much of then
labor, but at that time, and in 1925
when partial loss was experienced
the eastern half of the state was abls
to take care of the western half where
the failure was pronounced.
This year has been so complete a
failure as to reduce many to extreme
poverty, but do not think that there
are more than twenty per cent. In need
Great irrigation enterprises that are
now being inaugurated viii, no douot
eliminate the course of failure in large
districts OF the western part of the
state. The grain that is produced alo
stock that is raised in this state put il
commonwealth. have no doubt that
in a year or two her barns will be over
flowing. i see nothing in the present
situation nor in the history OF the state
as have observed il for sixteen years
that ought to discourage those who
contemplate coming here TO make
homes. In the western part of the
state, vast amount of universal specu
2ation has caused great losses, but tina,
part of the country cannot be excelled
fer grazing, and irrigation will, nc
doubt, render it safe and profitable fo,
agriculture. in the greater part of the
state, the people are suffering no more
cultural districts of the states 1t has
been brought about as much by the
general national depression as by local
causes"
1t Is probable that few years Will
see the farms in the greet Platte river
valley watered by irrigation, but dis
tricts that have not an aiiiuence of wa
ter viii depend upon windmills. The
wells in this state never fail during g
drought. They furnish an abundance OF
cool and good water. Some farmers plan
to build little storage reservoirs upon the
hilloclIs of the prairie. They are made
by simply throwing up banks of earth
and then allowing cattle to tranple the
interiors until hard and watertighi
bottom Is formed. In this manner 8
farmer Wal be independent of the mos,
terrible droughts
Taking the years in groups of five
the rainfall was at its lowest from
1885 to 1890 when the general average
was 22.3f inches. The general ave'agt
for 1891, 1892 and 1898 was 23.s6 inches
But 1894 now enters the contes. with {
record of but 1910 inches. People are
now shouting that Nebraska is to be
come arid. In past years when rain
falls were enormous they shouted that
Nebraska was to become great pond
The final quality of these farmers
who have remained in this portion OF
the state is their faitE m the ultimate
victory of the land and their industry
They have determination TO wait IN
til nature, with her mystic processes
restores to them the prosperity and
bounty of former years. If a mar
stays right by this country, he'll come
out al right in the end"
almost any man in the district will
cease speaking of his woes to recite the
beauties OF the times when the great
rolling prairies are green and golden
with the splendor of young corn, the
streams are silver in the light of the
sun, and when from the wide roads and
Tho little hornestcSds there arises the
,oundiess essence Of HYMN from the
happy and prosperous people.
But then there now is looming the
eventual catastrophe that would surely
depopulate the country. These be-
sieged farmers are battling with their
condition with an eye to the rest and
success of next August. But if they
can procure no money with which 20
buy seed when spring comes around,
the calamity that ensues is an eternal
one, as far as they and their farms
here are concerned. They have no re-
sort then but to load their families in
wagons behind their hungry horses
and set out to conquer these great dis
tanccs, which like walls shut them from
the charitable care of other and more
fortunate communities.
In the meantime. they depend upon
their endurance, their capacity to help
each other. and their steadfast and un-
yielding courage. STEPHEN CRANE
PLAIN ESTlON.