The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-10-16

CORRESPONDENCE.

PORTLAND, Oregon.
DEAR ENQUIRER:-I think | closed my
last letter with some description of the
country along the Missouri Pacific rail
road. In passing through Kansas | saw
a great number of corn fields and learned
from fellow passengers something of the
method OF its cultivation in that section.
/ The farms are comparatively small and
are cultivated by their respective owners.
! The farmer plows his rich prairie with Il
three horse sulky pillow, plants with corn
planter, cultivates with a double cultiva-
tor and does nearly all of his work him
self. A gentleman, who said he was the
owner of several farms which he rented,
told me that it was not unusual for an III
dustrious man to work eighty acres OF
land by himself in corn. The fields, III
fact, did not indicate very thorough Guilt
walton, being full of weeds and grass.
Notwithstanding this imperfect cultiva-
ton, they usually get about ten barrels to
the acre No effort is made to save the
fodder The farmer in the autumn and
early winter goes through his field and
Picks as he calls it, the large ears from
the stalk, but leaN es the short ones for his
cattle and nogs to gather. In other words,
as was informed the western farmer be-
yound the Mississippi employs careless,
slip-shod methods of agriculture. To
quote the gentleman referred to above.
the Kansas populist has pretty good
time of it, and plenty of leisure for talk
lug politics. l passed Topeka just at the
close of the usual autumn carnival, and
my train was crowded with men, women
and children returning to their homes,
some of whom had gone a whole days
journey. There is an evidence of Jest and
| independence about these people, that is
not seen in the East. They become de-
votedly attached to their homes and their
State and local pride is developed to an
abnormal degree. You will rarely find Il
person who has lived IN the West. willing
to return to the East.
In Idaho we passed through reserva-
ton of the Soshone Indians and quite IA
number of the Red Skins boarded the
platforms of the cars and rode several
hundred miles. They We're wrapped in
blankets, and the squaws loaded with
trappings and baggage. | was told that
by ar unwritten law or custom they board
trains and ride in this way whenever they
desire, the custom having arisen years ago
when it was important to cultivate the
goodwill of the savages to prevent them
from wrecking or molesting trains. The
railroad officials do not interfere with
them SO long as they remain on the plat
forms of the cars, and if they drop off and
lose their lives no one would care, as a
dead Indian is looked upon as the only
good Indian in that region.
A prominent person in Idaho is Hon.
William J. Clagett, who has in Prince
Georges county, Md, brother, Mr..
Thomas Clagett, of keokuk, and hume
Gus other relatives. | saw some gentle
men in travelling who informed me that he
is now making an active canvass of his
State for election to the United States
Senate, with most excellent chances of
success. He moved from the northern
portion of Idaho to Boise City, and is
known now as 1.-The Grey Eagle of the
North He is an accomplished orator
and is of course, silverite. | also met
very delightful companion in the person
of Rev. A. J. Holworthy. the Episcopal
minister at Wallace, Idaho, who has in
his congregation Mr.. Thomas Clagett,
eldest son of Mr.. Thomas Clagett. of
keokuk, who left Maryland about fifteen
years ago to seek his fortune in the wild
West. He also is in politics, being can
didate for the Legislature on a platform
endorsing female suffrage. This senti
ment, by the by, isspreading in the West,
women being allowed to vote upon all
questions in Colorado, Wyoming and
Utah, and Idaho will probably be in the
same column soon.
My former favorable impressions of
Portland have been intensified on this my
second visit, rs | now see it in sunshine.
My experience before was during the
rainy season which makes the city proven
bal for showers and mist. The annual
Exposition is in progress, and the diver
sitied interests Of very enterprising city
are therein set forth to best advantage.
But of this in the future F. s.