Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-09-06
Communication.

Communication.
The following communication was
not written for publication, but it
contains interesting news, written
by Mr.. and Mrs. r. A. Merritt, for
merly of this city, and who have
many friends here who will be
glad to hear from them:
OAKLEY, Kansas,
Aug. 80, 1900
ID. NJ. HARRIS, Dear Friend:
In the first place will say we like
this country very we'll, but not as
we'll rs we did the east part of the
state.
No, we are not in the stock bu-
siness or on a ranch yet, and have
but little stock as yet, but are yet
of the opinion that there is more
money in it than in any other L.
gitimate business, and when we
get the right chance to make the
change, will go in.
We are still in the mercantile
trade and doing pretty we'll, altho'
not selling as many goods as when
in the Valley, but get q trife bet
ter profit, andthen my expenses is
only about eighth what they
we're In the Valley, which leaves
US better net profit.
Oakley is small but growing
town; there is not an empty house
in 1t, and is considered one of iii
best tows in this section of ths
state. Gov. Stnnly, and many of
the distinguished men of the state
have, on different times, visited
this town to address the people.
We have had the Methodis,
camp meeting. and the Soldiers
Re- Union. SO you see We are not
quite out of the world.
There was quite good wheat
crop raised around here this year,
considering the way they farm;
they only pillow the ground once in
3 to 5 years and sometimes in 10
years. We think wheat will ave-
rage about 10 bushel per acre, and
this makes a very good thing fol
the farmer even if the yield is so
small per acre, us one man with
plenty of teams can put in a big
lot, some as high as 1000 acres.
and then when it comes harves!
lime they use header, aud a man
md two teams can cut from 40 to
50 acres per day. Wheat is the
only grain raised here to sell, yet
hey raise little corn, barley, oats
millet, cane &c, for feed, and is
nigh priced, and costs too much
to ship. II this country was sure
of a crop every year we could not
want anything better than raising
wheat, but by the way, this is no,
]. wheat country.
We are right between the wheat
and grazing country; after gong
l5to 20 miles west or south there
is no grain raised, and just around
here we don't think there is over
,ne-ffth of the land farmed, the
balance is pasture which is used
the year round for that purpose.
We expect Is you were here TO
look at the country you would say
tn 1T the pasture is pretty poor but
just the same all stock keep faton
It both summer and winter. The
average stock man, we believe,
never fed his stock over a
dozen times last winter, but let
them get their own living out on
the prairie, except when it storms
then they look after their stock.
We should like very much to
come up to your County Fair this
fall but don't see how we can, as
we are 80 very busy.
Would like you to visit us and
see our country.
We like the climate here, as il
is much like the Colorado climate
being about 1000 feet above Kan
sas City. This part of Kansas
and the easten part are no more
alike than day and night. The
eastern part is q paradise to this,
but we knew it before we came,
but we didn't come down here Just
for pleasure.
We had very pleasant visit by
Mrs. Arthur, of California, who
once lived in the Valley, and had
been east on visit, aud stopped
with us on her return home. She
Gays this country reminds her Of
Iowa in an early day.
The Times comes regular-only
missed one number, and no differ.
ence what we are doing we stop tc
read it. 1t reaches here on Sun
day morning.
Kind regards to all.
Mr.. AND Mrs r. A. MERRITT.
novn Morro,, bo, h;r, colo %le