The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-10

suto-rsix. bsKecETA OINU MI UNNN
Secretary Coburn of the state board of
agriculture has seen fit TO place three
counties of western Kansas in the sugar
beet-bclt They are: Finney. Kearney,
Hamilton. Within the past week the
writer has been in one of these counties
Hamilton-the furtherest west of them
all, and on the Colorado line. II Mr..
CobuTn were to make a trip to that coun-
ty and talk with its citizens, he would
probably come to the conclusion that so
long as irrigation is not present in this
country. the raising of sugar-beets is
rot profitable. There is one man in Ham
ilton county who was an enthusiast a
year ago on the proposition. If Chester
l. Long had taken his present stand on
reciprocity with Cuba at that time, it is
doubtful if this man would not have rid
den the county in opposition TO
him and made an anti-Long campaign on
beets- But IL anyone says beets TO this
man now, he had better look to the
safety of his person. His name is omit
ted from this chronicling. but an incident
which is literally true cannot be. Here it
is: This man set out twenty-five acres
In sugar beets He thought if across in
Colorado they could successfully produce
the beets, they could in Hamilton county.
The grashoppers were rather bad and the
man thought If he had a little alfalfa
alongside his beets. it would protect the
latter But the 'hoppers passed ever so
lightly over the alfalfa and settled on his
beets. They left not a spear above
ground, and thus ended the mans sugar.
beet-raising career. This year he thought
to get even, so he took to raising turkeys
who could eat the 'hoppers. and there
fore clear him what he lost So far he
AYERS he has been successful in his ambi-
ton, but sure way of making him
downright mad is to ask him what he
thinks of beet-raising in western Kansas.
This mans experience, with little vari-
alton, is that OF others who have tried
ii in Hamilton county. So far as there
being sentiment against Mr. Long or reel
procity, II is mistake. There was moth
ing in Mr.. Longs speech at Syracuse
early in the week which took more readi-
~ or brought more applause than his
treatment OF the subject of reciprocity
with Cuba
Vernon ]. Rose in his speech at Hugo
ton the middle OF the week declared that
he would surrender his position in a
moment to Jerry Simpson, if possible
and it seems TO be the concensus of
opinion of his fellows that they heartily
join with him in the wish.
There is little left of historic Hugoton
in Stevens county, the county-seat -
store or two. q blacksmith shop. court
house and schoolhouse, a small hotel and
a few dwellings comprise what is left Of
the former bustling town OF Hugoton.
But it is even worse with Woodsdale.
That was also a city. and rival of
Hugoton. Many were the battles fought
out in the war for the county-seat fif-
teen, fourteen, thirteen years ago
Woodsdale has melted away-al but it's
choolhouse-which stands alone and de-
serted on the old townsite, nothing now
but a claim. The passing of the two
towns has brought the passing also Of
the bitter fratricidal feeling, and the
sturdy residents of Stevens county who
are left are busiIy engaged in their pres
ent avocations, making money, happy
and contented. and the past is the past
for all time.