The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-17
AN ALFALFA KING.
A CitizeE of Dodge Talks of His Town
and Surrounding Country.

Capt. J. H Churchill, of Dodge City,
who is known throughout abe state as
the Alfalfa King" says that Dodge
Citv has so changed lately that it is
now called New Dodge and that it
is fast becoming a prosperous place
and the center of great cattle raising
territory. From this district thous-
ands of cattle are furnished to feeders,
and the world is supplied with meat.
Speaking of the town Capt. Churchill
said: 1.-The railroad has done much
recently for our town. Besides the
yard improvements the new depot and
eating house which will be opened
February % is a great addition. The
eating house will be the finest one run
in connection with a railroad between
Chicago and San Francisco. 1t is to
be on the Harvey system, which insures
its excellence. We have population
now Of 5000 and it is growing steadily
electric street lights, great improve
ments in streets and walks, and our
store buildings and residences nave
Capt. Churchill is the man who re-
Gently became famous for his feat in
grating alfalfa roots to strawberry
plants and raising large berries which
startled everybody. This story was
circulated about him all over the
country and people in Texas actually
placed orders with him for strawberry
plants on which alfalfa roots had been
grated He has 5000 acres in alfalfa
and is raising about 600 head of cattle.
In regard to the cattle raising in this
territory Capt. Churchill said: That
country is not a, good one for raising
grains for it would be too uncertain.
but we can raise alfalfa and wild grass
es to feed cattle. Having no grain to
speak of our whole energies are direct
ed toward raising cattle and selling
them to feeders. There has been such
a demand for everything that the
farmers and ranchmen have been able
to dispose of everything, even the
straw stacks which formerly rOtted in
the fields. The population in that part
of the country is somewhat thinned out
and there are actually less people there
than the country would afford a good
living to. This is a reason, claim,
that hard times will never again be ex-
perienced in the western part of Kan
sas. All those who are there are fOrg
ing to the front and they are making
money. Better crops are raised and
better cattle are raised. Plenty of for
age crops are raised which help out
much in the hard months. Farms and
residences are being beautified which
makes it much better and more pleas
ant for the women folks. It also serves
to break the force of the winds which
are prevalent in that country. The
people out there who have bTaved the
cold winds of winter and suffered the
hot blasts of summer have been re-
warded, and now western Kansas is
becoming independent, and the world
eats our beef and pays good prices for
it, Ford county is coming to the
front and there has been a great change
for the better"
Capt. Churchill is the Kansas mem
Der of the executive board of the Ma
tional Irrigation congress and is prom
inent in irrigation associations in the
state. The float representing Ford
county in the Santa Fe parade during
Fall Festival week, was planned and
carried through to completion by Capt
Churchill. 1t was one of the best ex-
hibits from out of the city and was
highly complimented by the Santa Fe
officials, and appreciated by all who
saw it. 1t represented IN immense
field of alfalfa on which a herd of cat
tie grazed.