The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-04-22

Fertile Acres Awaiting the HOmeseeEsr-
Agricultural Resources.
The following by George R. Caldwell
appeared in the Sunday issue Of the
Rocky Mountain News:
Goodland, the county seat and chief
town Of Sherman county, northwestern
Kansas, is a passenger and freight di-
vision point on the main line Of the
Chicago and Rock Island railroad; and
has railroad machine shop, round
house and fine depot and eating house;
has 3 population Of 200, and excellent
public schools and exceptional social
and religious advantages, and has both
city and railroad water systems-the
railroad well being 80 feet deep with
40 feet Of water.
The county had last year 10000 acres
in wheat, 1000 acres in corn, and 1000
acres in rye-the wheat yield approx
imsting 10000 bushels, the corn cr0p
reaching 10000 bushels, or an average
Of 90 bushels per acre, while 10000
bushels Of rye were harvested.
This year the 10000 acres Of wheat
will be 1900 acres, the 1000 acres Of
corn will be 5000 acres, the 1000 acres
Of rye viii be 5000 acres. while the
Wis Id Of all kinds of grain will be, Ow-
ing to the exceptionally favorable ag-
ricultural conditions Of the present
spring, nearly double per acre that Of
last year. For the year 1898, Sherman
county confidently expects 100000
bushels Of wheat, while corn may reach
the same number Of bushels.
The county had on the first day Of
March, 1897, 5000 head Of cattle, a fig
ure which has since been more than
doubled by import and the natural
local increase.
There are in this county about 5000
head Of horses, we'll graded in both
draft and speed strains.
From the first Of October, 1897, to
the first Of June, 1898, the county will
furnish the Denver market with 900
hogs. the pOrkers averaging go pounds.
These figures will be very largely in
creased next season.
Sherman county has about $4,000
acres Of arabic land, Of which only
per cent is in actual cultivation, all of
the balance-Over 100000 acres-be-
ing in the market at various figures
the prices running from = to $40 per
acre, with small cash payments and the
balance on easy time.
For homes for eastern settlers these
lands are Of superior attraction. To
the esatern renter who pays annually
from $3.50 to s. per acre for land which
has been cropped and recropped into
utter exhaustion, the proposition Of IN
limited acres Of soil Of virgin and al
luvial fertility at a purchase price
equal only to the yearly rental per
acre Of WORKOUT eastern land must be,
indeed, in the nature Of an agricultural
Mecca.
To the natural advantages Of these
western and Sherman county lands
must be added the stock interests kin
dred to and intimately associated with
these lands. The farmers from Illinois,
Iowa, Missouri or Indiana intending to
come to Sherman county can gather
up few head Of cattle to bring with
him and, on arrival here these cattle,
on the nutritious grasses Of the ranges,
viii give him and his family a good
living until he can make a crop. Again,
these cattle by their natural increase,
will bring their owner a herd which
in the course Of a few years, will be a,
competence in itself. The annual loss
of cattle on the ranges here is, on a
conservative estimate, less than per
cent-a loss which can only be quoted
as merely nOminal-while hogs and
horses can also be counted as large
aud lucrative adjunct Of the stock
farm.