Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-06-23
FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.

EDITOR DEMOCRAT:
write this brief account of my trip
to the Pacific coast for the considers
ton Of persons who may read it. Since
leaving home on April Is l have been
in Colorado. New Mexico, Arizona,
California, Oregon and Washington:
and in order to see the character OF
lands and crops along my route, fire.
qusntiy laid over at night snd travelled
In the day time. And for the purpose
Of learning as much as possible OF the
productiveness Of the soil, its market
value per acre, and all expenses nee
essary to raise and market different
crops. including fruits and vegetables, |
cost Of living and climate conditions,
I was very inquisitive and talked with |
many persons as I would meet them |
off and on the train. On the narrow |
valley of the Rio Grande near Albui
qurqus. New Mexico, saw "benevo-I
lent assimilation" exemplified. Pueblo |
indians and Mexicans were living in |
huts. or very small buildings. standing |
near each other, and engaged in hunt
ing and fishing, and farming by irri-
CATION on very small scale, for liv-
ing. Albuquerque has many modern
improvements and has many enter.
prising citizens who are up'to date in |
their business.
Flagstaff in Arizona is nicely locat~
ed and has extensive mining and lum-
Der interests, and Is surrounded by |
the best lands saw in Arizona. There |
is very little land in Arizona fit for
farming, and none without irrigation. |
The cactus is indigenous to that soil |
and climate and grows from ten to
thirty feet high with large branches,
and are grown six to eighteen inches
in diameter. 1t was SO hot when we
passed through the Needles that the |
passengers sweat in their shirt sleeves. |
From San Bernardino to Los Angeles |
is fine valley of land beautified with |
orchards Of orange trees in bloom with |
both ripe and green oranges hanging |
on the same trees, also many lemon,
prune and olive orchards. grapes, shade |
and ornamental trees, and the richest |
and most gorgeous flowers Of so many
different species that it reminds one Of |
Paradise. 1t gives pleasure and enjoy- !
ment to the tourist, but the owners Of |
the land are not growing wealthy; |
nor as rule are they blessed with |
happiness and contentment. Lands |
are high priced and must be irrigated |
to produce, and frequently the water |
supply is short and crops very light |
and not paying. as the expenses tor
water right, taxes and cost OF plant |
ing, cultivating and spraying trees and |
gathering, cleaning. boxing and mar
keting the fruit are very heavy; besides |
the scale is ruinous to oranges and |
lemons; and very damaging to the |
trees. Farming and gardening near
Los Angeles are mostly done by |
Chinese who have crowded out the |
white man by their cheap method of
living and great endurance to work in |
the hot sun. Owing to the dry
weather the supply Of water for irriga- |
ton is cut short and the wheat crop in |
California ia almost failure, even in |
the San Joaquin valley, and other |
crops are light. Oregon has . cold |
clay soil that is good for grass but will
not produce other crops very long
without fertilization. 1t is great |
country to raise cattle, horses ana |
sheep. But few hogs are raised OIL |
the Pacific slope. Washington has
more natural resources than any other |
state on the Pacific coast and is desLIn- |
ed to become the most wealthy and |
prosperous. The country about |
Whatcom and Fairhayen onBeliingham |
bay is very fine, and has many natural |
resources including the fish Industry, |
which are now being developed TO the |
great advantage of Whatcom and |
Fairheaven. Seattle has three con
t1nual lines OF railroad, and steam |
ship lines to Japan, HAWAII, Alaska |
and many other parts and will by rea |
son of her extensive commerce and |
her many natural resources now being |
developed together with her man !
ufacturing Industries, become the |
largest and most prosperous city on the |
pacific coast, San FRANCISCAN not ex-
cepted, The Pacific slope is free from
cy clones and has but little thunder |
and lightning, but it is my honest |
opinion that the Kansas farmer better |
take chances Of cyclones and other |
climate conditions than to sell his land |
and go elsewhere to engage in farming |
with the hope of doing better; as the |
chances are against him. The man |
who owns q farm in Kansas, sad.I
especially in Barton county. has good |
reason to be happy and contented, as |
believe no better investment can be |
made than to buy Kansas lands at |