The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-09-10
A Letter From w. w. Woods.
LINCOLN, Neb. Aug. 30. 1897

EDITOR JOURNAL L:-Having Just re.
turned from my visit to Washington
this summer, l tho1ght that perhaps
a few words in regard to conditions in
the Great Middle West, especially
Kansas and Nebraska, might be of in
terest to some of your readers, as
many Of them came from this section
of the country. When I left for Shell
ton early in June, everything here
looked prosperous; but you know hot
winds occasionally come along and
play havoc with crops later on, and 1
was not certain as to what condition
of affairs | should find on nv return.
| am glad to say, however, that when
my eyes first rested on old Nebraska,
| saw fields of waving corn. Even out
IN the western section of the state
where failure is common occurrence.
fields of corn stretched out as far as
the eye could see. I spent couple
OF weeks IN Kansas on my return trip,
and there too, farmers and every one
else are rejoicing over the prospect.
Never before have Kansas and Nebras-
ka had better outlook for crops, and
l am glad also to state that there is a
growing feeling that prosperity is COM
ing or rather that it is here. Wash
ington has felt the effect of the price
OF wheat, and Kansas with a popula-
ton twice as large as Washington has
reason for double rejoicing, especial
ly when the immense corn crop is add
ed to the wheat production. The
same can be said of Nebraska. The
immense crops and the increased pri-
ces is going to knock free silver and
populism sky high in this country,
and then this will be desirable
country to live in.
If Washin gton under the return of
prosperity can't succeed in ridding
herself of the populist and free silver
octopus, | want to invite the civilized
portion OF your community to make
your abode with us in the great Mis-
souri, valley region; but l have 10
doubt but that Klondike and rs cent
wheat will knock the scales off the
eyes of benighted Washington, and
that she will again join the grand ar
my OF states which marches under the
banner Of Republicanism. Real estate
IN both Kansas and Nebraska is re-
covering its former value. Purchasers
are more frequent. and less amount
is on the market.
| tell you it wsuld be a grand thing
five could exchange some of our corn
for your timber out there. Some way
must be derived for cheaper transpor-
tation rates. They must come either
by reduction in legislation or in gov
ernment control of trans-continental
line. Don't you think great reduc-
ton in rates could be brought about
by placing the matter in the hands of
the Pop. legislature of Washington?
There is evidently something wrong
when you had to pay $1.25 per hun
dred for corn which sold for ID cents
bushel here, and we have to pay $40.
per thousand for lumber that sells for
SIS. thousand there.
| shall not take any more of your
space except to give one or two impress
sions | have derived from my trip.
The first is that if person has de-
sire to go west, he should go clear
across the range and settle in either
Washington, Oregon or California. /
think if one desires to see desolation
personifed. he should take a trip
through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Nevada, and Colorado, I don't believe
that | would trade the western part of
Nebraska, poor as it is, for the whole
bunch | have mentioned. Of course
this is (exaggerated,) but it expresses
my opinion of that section of the
country. When the mining is ex-
hausted in them, they will be deserted
to the owls and bats. The coast states,
however, have a grand future before
them, think, and Washington espec-
tally. The only thing it needs is to
redeem itself from Populism, and when
it has accomplished that, it should de-
wise some plan to get that milk-sop of |
an editor of the Post-Inte1ligencer,
who writes editorials about Irritation,
love, wide-open town, etc. instead of |
good sensible articles, removed, and |
then the state will again be in line for
w. w. WOODS.