Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-11-30
ADDRESS


Mr.. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentlemen
In complying with Mr.. Parkerp re'
quest TO make few remarksat this meet.
ing, feel highly honored by being fa-
Vored with the privilege Of addressing
those Of you, who represent the cream Of
Reno county and western Kansas, |
hope thoee OF you who have assembled
here representing the dairy Interests In
your localities may learn, and believe
will learn, today from professor Cotutll's
address, more perfect know edge Of the
great dairy industry that Ia destined Ia
the near future TO make the western half
OF our State the most prosperous section
of our country. thought 1t would be-
appropriate on this occasion to briefly
consider the past, present and the future
Of western Kansas.
In reviewing the past Of this our be
loved short grass country, l have often
wondered why the early settlers, those
who FIRST left the popuous eastern cen
tiers OF our own country and foreign lands
TO establish what they then believed per-
manent and happy homes, were doomed
to meet with disappointment. Why the
hardshlps. privations and dangers
through which they pissed were not re-
worded with success and why the virgin
soil of these fertile plains refused ~
yield its fruit 10 their energy and indus
try, causing those foreruuners of u
brighter and higher civilization to turn
their faces eastward and In their prairie
schooners turn back over the Santa Fe
trail TO the old folks at home murmur-
ing to themselves, ii were better had we
remained in the laudof Egg pit rather than
10 have sought this much advertised land
of promise and prospects. TO me this
problem renamed unsoIved until short
time since IN conversation with Mr.. Par
ker on this subject, he called my atten-
lion TO this fact, that the explorers and
pioneers who first came TO western Kan
sas found this vast territory alive with
buffalo and prairie chickens. To use
Mr., Parkers own words the wild COW and
wild hen, showing that this section Is the
natural home for this domesticated ami.
NAL and fowl. 1t was then, gentlemen,
this problem of failure to me had been
solved, | believe to be successful In till
ing the soil we must work in harmony
and not In opposition TO the natural laws
and natural surroundings of the all wise
Creator. As Illinois, Missouri and east
ern Kansas yields to the industry Of man
bountiiul harvests of golden grain be-
cause the soil, the climate, and the mOis-
ture is by the great law of nature espec-
ally adapted 10 that industry, 30 must
the citizens OF western Kansas study the
natural advantages of our soil, our eli
mate and our altitude and apply those
conditions to the industry to which they
are adapted before we can hope for per-
manent success and continued prosperity.
Enough of the past, and let us for u
few moments consider the present hiss
tory of the short grass country. In DIS
'cussing this part Of my subject find
within the past two or three years the
prevailing opinion of majority Of the
business men and farmers, III fact MD
jOrity of the citizens of western Kansas
with whom have conversed on present
conditions, believe that we must devote
our attention to the cattle industry which
will make it necessary to again divert
the short grass country into grazing
lands, While am ready 10 admit this
would be marked improvement over
that of the past and 10 measure has
brought and will bring prosperity to a lin
tied number Of people who will find profit
able employment in caring for the thous.
ands Of range cattle yet contend thisin-
dustry as is being developed ut the present
time no matter how extensive it may ex-
pAnd or grow in the future cannot and
will not fully develop this magnificent
domain either in population or wealth.
SO gentlemen in directing your attention
to the future | want to say there il YET
another field Of labor which il developed
to that high degree for which nature has
made such bountiful provisions will re,
cord western Kansas In state and govern,
ment statistical reports to be the greatest
wealth producing section OF our common
country. This record can be- attained by
giving our attention to dairy and poultry
farming, The dairy enterprise in vest
ern Kansas is as yet only in its concep-
ton.
1t has not even reached the stage of an
infant industry compared with its future
stupendous growth If protected as II
ought to be by restrictive legislation from
competition with 0leo Margarine and
beef fat that now finds its way into our
markets as butter. Let the business
men, the professional men, the daily and