The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-21
KANSAS AND CHARGERS"
prosperity Stories in Harper's w eek
ly by Franklin Matthews.

The following is from the last Har-
per'S Weekly: The manager of one of
the largest coal companies in Kansas
told me that in November last he went
into the -four mill of an acquaintance
in Larned, PaWnee county, beyond the
center OF the state and almost on the
border Of the short grass" country.
He met a farmer past middle age COM
ing out of the mill. The farmer was
tucking little piece of white paper in
to his pocket. The man had been in
such straits of poverty that his trOus-
erS were patched with burIap. His
boots were broken and through the
holes his bare feet showed. The mans
attire was really that of a tramp.
Did you see that farmer going out %
said the miller to the coal man.
yes" said the visitor
How much money do you suppose I
just paid him in a check?''
''Oh, $500 or $780,
tWen, gave him check for 81 O00."
That 81 900 represented only part of
the wheat raised on a 81, 200 farm. The
farmer had 1000 more bushels to sell.
That man had owned his farm clear,
but had little working capital He de-
cided that under no consideration would
he run in debt His family lived on the
dairy products OF the farm, and went
without those things for which cash
must be paid usually.
The first thing he did with his money
from last years wheat was to fit out
his family in clothes, and then he went
in for some luxuries. He bought two
carriages and a piano. Then to show
his faith in Kansas farming despite
drOughts, he put the rest of his money,
except the receipts from the 4. 900 bush
els of wheat held in reserve, into more
land.
There is a farmer in a town near the
center of the state-I am not at liberty
to give his name-whO had a section of
land-640 acres. 1t was worth probably
$1,000. He had a mortgage on it for So
thai had been urging the bank which
held the mortgage to have the indebt-
ednesS reduced. He regarded the mort
gage as rather Shaky security Ear
ly in October he received a letter from
the bank officials saying that the farm
er had raised ST, 900 worth of wheat on
that land, had paid off the Sc 900 mort
gage, and had bought an adjoining
quarter section of land for 49, 500. He
had cleared, deducting expenses. $14,-
500 on his wheat, and he had 81 900 left
after making his purchases, with which
to improve his farm and to lay aside
for a rainy day, which in Kansas means
another drought.
Out in Thomas county, in the ''short
grass" country lives a former member
of the legislature. He had a $50 acre
farm. Its value was not more than
81, 200. The hard times sorely pressed
him. He went to Topeka, the state cap
ital, and hung around his former aSSO-
ciates. fairly begging them to give him
some kind of a job, even if it was worth
only a few hundred dollars a year He
failed to get place. and went home
discouraged He put in a crop of wheat
on his land-there was nothing else for
him to do-and, almost hopeless, he
sat down to watch it grow. 1t did grow,
and when he had harvested it he got
SO 900 for it. That man is no longer
looking for a political job.
In Sheridan county, adjoining Thorn
as, there is man who had half sec
ton of land, 800 acres, on which he
owed $780, He put 300 acres of his
farm into wheat. He raised 1000 bush
els, which he sold at IS cents a bushel,
bringing him in $3.50. He paid off his
$500 mortgage, paid 81, 500 for whole
section of land adjoining his farm, and
had $3.50 for improvements and a re-
serve fund.