Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-06-06
Kansas and Oklahoma.


from neighborhoods in the country
contiguous to Abilene. Latterly
these letters have contained many
announcements OF farmers in Central
Kansas selling their farms aud re-
moving to Oklahoma. In the country
newspapers that come to the exchange
table similar removals are an
nounced. From the information at
hand it Is a warranted conclusion
that q considerable number Of farm
ers and their families in this part Of
Kansas will leave for Oklahoma this
season. So far as can be learned the
inspiring motive OF the migration is
q desire to possess cheaper land.
That some will be gamers by the
change Of location Is not to be doubt.
cd, but it may fairly be Questioned
II the interests OF the majority would
not be better served by remaining
where they are. There are a number
OF considerations involved which
should be taken into account In
reaching conclusion in the matter.
The recent advance in land values in
Kansas Is admitted to be tempta.
ton to many to sell and thus realize
on their investments. As an Offset to
this it Is to be said that the land Is
worth as much, II not more, to Its
present owners as 1t would be to
any and all prospective purchasers,
however anxious the latter may be to
obtain possession Of it. This Is
assuming that the land is improved
and practically paid for, and that the
occupant is the owner in fact as we'll
IS In name.
II a Kansas farmer is in comfort
able circumstances the inducement
should be very great indeed to justify
him in selling the home endeared to
him by long association, breaking
kindred and neighborly ties Of many
years formation and standing, and
casting his lot among strangers amid
new and untried conditions. This
part Of Kansas has been settled long
enough to have become we'll i'm
proved. Roads have been laid out
and brought into fair condition;
bridges have been built and school
houses and churches erected. All
these things have cost money, and
they have been paid for and are now
enjoyed by the present owners Of
farms In this section Of the state.
Many Of these necessities and con.
veniences will be found lacking In
the new country to which some cen
trail Kansas farmers are migrating,
That they. will miss them greatly
goes without saying. When the ex
pense incurred in securing them hal
been added to the price paid for Ok
lahoma land we apprehend that any
advantage gained on this score
through removal will be found to be
very small indeed.
Furthermore 1t Is to be remembered
that the farther the place OF produc-
ton is removed from the markets Of
the world the greater Is the cost Of
transportation and the lower the
price Of the articles produced, Quo
tations Of farm products in this coun-
try are governed by the New York
market, which In turn is responsive
to prices ruling in Liverpool. The
farther the farm from the eastern
seaboard, other things being equal,
! the lower the prices Its products
command, because the increased cost
Of transportation must be deducted
from the selling price in the markets
Of the world. This is a point that
should not be overlooked when the
temptation Of change Of location pre-
sents itself.
Those who 60 to Oklahoma will
presumably get what they pay for; Il
I is quite certain that they will pay fol
l what they get. Good land in Okla
homa adjacent to thriving country
towns sells at $40 to $50 an acre. Ou
fifteen and twenty miles from a rail
: road from $3.50 to $50 an acre Il