The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-03-22


The Stockton Record says there is g
considerable force of root diggers in
Rocks and adjoining counties. Though
not allied in any way to the Digger
Indians, they are an enterprising, hard
working set of fellows and their calling
has in the main proven quite lucrative.
The pioneer in this work we believe
was Elan Bartholomew, who three or
four years ago gathered with the assis-
lance of his boys, a considerable guam
tity Of roots commonly known as snake
root. though he didn't. call IL by that
name. If our recollection serves US
right he said it was "polygonum bistor-
ia" or words to that effect The roots
were shipped to Cincinnati drug firm
to be used in the concoction of certain
patent blood medicines. Our encyclo
pedia says that snake root is one of
the strongest vegetable astring ents and
and is much employed in hemorrhages
and many other complaints.
Later on R. E. jackson, who was
murdered in Smith county last year,
moved to Stockton and went after the
snake root on a much larger scale, em-
ploying a number of hands, and his
operations extended over many cOun-
ties. His widow, Mrs Fanny S. Jack
son, living at Phillipsburg, is still en-
gagged in the business.
Our townsman, Fred Lawson, be-
came interested in roots a year ago
last April. Before he had worked some
for Mr.. jackson, Since that time he
has bought and shipped large quanti-
ties to eastern markets, employing at
times eight or ten people, and buying
the products Of many others. On the
whole he has found snake root pretty
good commodity to deal in, the demand
being generally larger than the supply
though sometimes the market is over
stocked. His rule is to contract ahead
for delivering a certain quantity at the
fixed price, which does away with the
fluctuations of q very erratic market.
He furnished one company In so days
over 1000 pounds. Last fall he bad
eight men at work steadily for two
months. The cold weather interfered
somewhat, but at present four men are
at work for him. In Is months be has
bought and shipped about $1,000
pounds.
a few years ago the root was very
plenty on wild land, but Of late they
have become quite scarce in many To-
calities. The plant is properly known
as "nigger head" and some call it "red
top sunf1ower." 1t grows six feet eight
inches high, with flower resembling a
small suntiower. 1t tbrives best on up
= land in chalky hills. The men are now
working on the Saline in Ellis county.
Last winter the richest section was
found on the south side of Paradise
creek, between GodelI and Natoma, and
5000 pounds were taken out in a short
time. The roots vary from the size OF
lead pencil to a broom stick. They
run down very deep and are got out in
short pieces from six to eight inches
long The proper time to dig them is
from September to March, when the
sap is down; they can be stored in that
condition. The plant is found most
abundantly on a strip of country ex-
tending from some point in western
Nebraska, southeasterly across Kan
sas into Oklahoma, though we are not
informed whether it Is not fully as
abundant in many other parts of the
country.
The digger who bends his back and
grubs, might be considered by those not
posted on root digging, to be in the for
lorn condition of Edward Markham's
"Man with the Hoe" but they get from
three to seven cents a pound and make
excellent wages. Jess Stewart dug last
fall little more than 100 pounds daily
for 81 days, averaging a-little more
than $3.50 per day. Others have done
nearly as we'll. 1t is very hard work.
but the pay is as good as in any other
occupation.
Another root, popularity known as
"rosin weed" has secured a market
through the efforts Of Mr.. Lawson, and
promises to reach the proportions of
the snake root industry; in fact he
shipped more Of that this winter than
of the other. He took a sample of the
weed back to Ohio last February and
found firm that used it in the manu-
facture of certain kinds of medicines.
The plant is very plenty and two men
dug 1,345 pounds of it in one day on
the Saline.
Fred recently. received orders from
two companies in London for large
quantities Of snake root and will make
his first shipment in April He is pre-
pared to handle roots in any quantity
until the supply runs out. One good
feature of the work is that the very
rVaor7r rvfiob -. a.