Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-17
a sreezy Note from the Northwest


aro They decided to change their farm
inr operations from Georgia cotton rails
inr 10 stock raising in far-on Kansas
Thev live not a great ways from the Col
orado line. and their children are growing
up with the c6untry and they are identi-
ned with all its interests.
They were excellent citizens In Georgia,
they are equally as good in their adopted
state.
"A visit 20 the old home place I'm Georgia
and home friends Of the long ago gave me
an opportunity TO hear of~their adopted
home and It's opportunities and draw
backs. They live on prairie land, all the
timber they own they must cultivate and
plant out for themselves before thehy get
H. They burn coal altogether for that
reason. but they have coal saving heating
stoves that make a little coal do a great
deal OF house warming. IF lived In
Georgia now I'd use these stoves. re-
marked my friend you set so much
more comfort. with 50 much less labor
and they are cleaner"
Coal Is high-ss50 a ton. but Is OF first
rate quality. The whole country Is cover
"a with native grass and cattle are herded
on the range. The cows bring calves ey-
cry year and the steers are sold al fatten-
ing time, or market time. The heifers are
kent 70 raise from NCows and calves run
together on the range and take care OF
themselves These careful farmers EN-
olov herders and the cattle are driven
home for water, which Is raised by wind
mills IN plenty for all purposes
Wells are dug az various depths from 80
70 10 feet. An irrigation company brings
IN water for these farmers 10 irrtgate
their cultivated lands. and they use water
(rather than fertilizers. as we do In Geor-
gia) 20 bring crops along rapidly.
Il costs these farmers Is cents an acre
to make crop with irrigation. The wat
er that our friends use comes from the
Arkansas river and Is carried ten miles
into the settlement they inhabit.
This Irrigation question IS the great
problem OF the northwest. With an abun-
dance OF water those prairie lands would
bring fabulous prices and yield enormous
crops without fan every year. II viii be
come q burning question in all arid re-
gions IN the next century.
II Georgia could utilize the water that
goes 20 waste or flows unchecked into the
open sea, there Is no measure that can
be applied 10 the increase In proft which
would follow
The Arkansas river led along by these
managers OF owners OF irrigation plants.
Is making these grass lands worth now so
an acre and upwards.
How about schools7'' I asked 'Ex-
-elient schools and absolutely free TO the
,upils- No paying OF taxes and then pay
NJ for a seat In a school. room as your
neighbors are doing around here We
have good teachers. good school houses,
and every child OF school age under four
teen years. Is compelled 20 50 70 school
four months I'm the year. or their parents
are fined SO for this non-attendance."
How do you like this compulsory at
tendance7 inquired
1T Is q good law. IL makes the business
n stable one. because the scholars are
kept fun and up 20 the mark in attend
ance.
we have the best Of roads. and a drive
OF eighteen miles 70 our principal mar
ket town Is nothing 70 stop our going. as
70 trouble. Ny girls and myself drive in
70 any cantata or fine entertainment and
can get home By I o'clock afterwards
without hard driving"
Have you negroes out there7'
None IN the country, some few IN
towns. We have not a lock on outhouses,
poultry houses anywhere against
thieves or burglars"
What do yoE get for steers7"
In dun times SIG or SIT; last year from
81 70 SIS"
II thought to myself. about the cost OF
producing a bale OF cotton and a steer
that fattened on prairie grass and made
a mental note OF the difference in cost
How about healthg' asked.
Fine. could not be improved on. have
had doctor only twice in about Is years.
when the two baby girls first came TO
make our acquaintance and live with US.
But the doctors put a price on their Wis
It's you may be sure; when they get a
chance az you you pay for Il.
we so 70 preaching regularly. We en-
10Y Il. good roads. good churches and we
are always ready and anxious TO attend
N Sundays"
do you want to come back TO Geor-
gia?"
"oh. Ike 70 make you all a visit. and
see your faces. but there Is nothing In
Georgia IN a business way, that would
bring rs here 10 live II takes so much
more labor 20 make a living IN Georgia
than where We live and we have tested
both sections. very thoroughly"
We have excellent gardens. At this
very time we have an abundance OF nice
white cabbage OF our own raising. now
stored away like turnips or potatoes.
have plenty OF beets. etc.
We live as well as any farmers IN
Georgia. and when the gardens are irri-
gated the yield Is immense In vegetables.
I have suffered as much or more with
cold since have been out here this win
ter a. ever did In Kansas"
do not know when I have been more
interested than In the recital concerning
my friends western home and their sur
roundiugs. II was a story OF pluck, en-
ergy. perseverance and united effort a
long pull. strong pull and a pull alto
gether.
When think OF the hundreds OF people
VINO are herding about our towns and
cities. with no future but poverty and
0ftentimes destitution. I do wonder why
they DO not try the west with its pros
poets
E~~.gf.--. - 49, -r-.. -