The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-16

A resolution indorsing Mr.. Harris has
been introduced into the state senate.
and will undoubtedly be adopted The
editors of the state viii meet in Topeka
before long, and they are anxious to get
into the game unless they are too late
This morning there was a car ride
over the city given by the city railway
to the members of the board. Two car
loads of visitors were bumped along
over the rickety rails for a few hours.
and the street railway did not even do
the guests the courtesy OF placing one
OF the new and handsome cars at their
disposal The Two cars which hauled
the tourists were about the worst in the
city railways collection. and that IS
saying a great deal.
This evening the programme includes
two important papers, one on Improve
ment of Farm Crops" by Prof James
Homestead. and one by Mrs. Henry
Block, of Syracuse, on Gardening on
the Santa Fe Trail
This mornings session included a
paper entitled Growing Beef on High
Priced Land" by F. A. Burnett, pro
fessor Of animal husbandry at the Uni
versity of Nebraska. Lincoln. and one
by Otis L. Benton. of Oberlin, Kas.
MR.. EENTON'S ADDRESS.
The paper Of Otis L. Benton, Of Ober-
lin, Kas. was by many considered one
Of the most entertaining of the entire
session. The subject was The Live
STOCK ana Agricultural uIuIG VI
Northwest Kansas Mr.. Benton WAS
unable to be present in person, and his
paper was read for him 1t is of inter-
est to Topeka people to know that Mr..
Benton attended Washburn college a
good many years ago, and was the Beau
Brummel of his time. He is now one Of
the wealthy and cultured farmers and
stockmen of the northwestern part of
the state.
Mr.. Benton first told of the settlement
of the northwest. and the manner III
which the boom times came and went.
He said in part:
There are few Kansans who have ex-
perienced the boom days who do not
now pray that the boom has departed
to return no more. With this early set
Element came many whose intentions
were good: many who honestly desired
to obtain for themselves and their pos
terity a home so literally provided for
by Uncle Sam.
More debts were made. high rates of
! interest promised, expensive machinery
purchased, and together with these
came interest on the real estate loans,
and finally. hot winds, short crops, de-
faults and failures. Some could stand
it longer than Others while some
studied and mastered the conditions of
a new country and have succeeded.
Many. honest in their intentions. no
doubt, were unable to withstand the re-
verses and unable to cope with the con-
ditiOnS of a new and undeVelOped cOun-
try. Some went back to their wife :
people, others to try it again in another
new country.
I'VE have heard a story of one OF
these departing early settlers, who after
/ boardin- p train for the east, with his
/ family Of several in number, found that
! his money was all gone and still he was
short on transportation. With tears i'll
his eyes he pleaded with the conductor
and told of the fine farm he had ADAM
/ dOned: explained what fine prospect Il
had been ruined. and Just when all
seemed bright and certain the hot winds
blew, and finally the grassh0ppers came
eating up everything but the mortgage
The heritage left US because of tbs
early trials and failures in northwest
Kansas is the priceless knowledge thai