, 1897-03-06
THE GREAT KANSAS BOOM.

Populism in Kansas is the offspring
OF a collapsed boom and the want of
rain. Eastern Kansas is a magnificent
farming country. but as you go west the
elevation rapidly increases, the rainfall
becomes uncertain and the obstacles to
agriculture multiply.
For 10 years prior to 1889 a swelling
tide OF homeseekers and spectators
flowed into Kansas. Disregarding act
ual conditions. they swarmed owe the
new western country and covered it with
sod houses and mortgages. Rain fell in
encouraging quantity in one or two ex-
ceptional years; but drouth followed
year after year, when nothing grew but
debts and children: and many would
be farmers soon found themselves I'M
able 70 pay for the necessaries of life,
much less interest on mortgages. By
1891 thousands Of mortgages were in
default: thousands OF the population had
disappeared, and vast tracts OF terri
tory were already abandoned 10 the
grasshopper, the coyote and eastern
mortgage. Later years have only in
teEsiGied these conditions. I know OF
n school district in which the land is
mainly owned by non-residents and
where the actual voting population has
wife and Two grown sons. These four
voters levy the schol tax and elect a
school board. consisting OF the father,
mother and one grown O n This board
employs the other grown son as teacher
al $50 a month: and the only scholar is
the small boy of the family. The popu-
lar sentiment fer free education is
strong in that district.
Among the foremost causes which
produced this widespread boom and
subsequent desolation must be reckon
ed the ubiquitous loan agent. The in
ducement held out to every reckless
Spectator 70 take up a claim and get a
loan OF it, or to build a house in some
embryo Chicago with borrowed money,
was The most important factor in the
entire business. Years ago., when the
earlier settlers came west, they came
ing money, but to build homes and carve
out their destiny with their own hands,
and the hardships Of frontier life large
ly determined the character of the men
Who embarked upon 1t. But the aver
age Spectator. who bought an excur-
sion ticket and went to Kansas along
in the sos to take up a claim, with a
loan agent pursuing him, would have
laughed at the name Of pioneer as ap-
piled TO himself.
OF all the boom cities Wichita was
the most notable. Early in the sos the
idea prevailed locally that Wichita
would some day be a great city. and by
1886 the idea began to spread. Then
came the boom. All that was necessary
to transform a cornfield into city lots
was for the owner to file a plat with the
streets and alleys properly designated.
80 NNi 1iAhs ehouophuS VI iOlc III lc~
mote corn-felds had changed hands
many times and were loaded down with
mortgages. Over 600 additions" were
laid out-until the "city" extended eight
miles from north to south and seven
from east to west, approximating in
size the City Of Paris.
The Of the boomer were
endless. One tavorite scheme was to
start a college or university" and the
awakening to the crying need Of
educational institutions Of a high order
was a unique feature Of that period.
colleges and universities" were
under way. Men with no more
OF theology than a Kansas
grasshopper had Of astronomy suddenly
developed uncomfortable zeal in the
founding Of theological seminaries. The
buildings for most of these Institutions
never got above the ground. One large
structure was partially completed and