The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1904-09-02
LOOKING AHEAD.
An Estimate Of the Southwest.

MT during seasons OF prosperity.
To an extent this is true, but 1t Is
also equally true thatin the best sense
the farmer and the laboring man Is
each year becoming better business
man, and 80 looking ahead and profit
ing by past experience. Especially
Is this true of the farmer, who, more
than any other class, controls our
commercial destinies. If crops are
good, prosperity reigns; IL crops are
poor, the reverse.
In keeping abreast Of the times, In
becoming more and more business
man, the farmer has learned many a
profitable lesson Drop failure, lack
of rainfall and other similar things
with which to contend, have all been
studied and ways and means devised
to overcome such setbacks in the fut'
ure. The result is plainly seen in the
spread Of irrigation, in Investigation
of crops, etc. Then, too, the farmer
has studied the markets Of the world
and has accordingly raised these crops
which command the highest price.
and sought the localities where such
crops could be raised to the best adj
vantage.
When, seven or eight years ago, rice
was first raised in Texas, number of
farmers from Illinois, Iowa and India
ma became interested. They visited
Texas, looked over the ground, and
eventually bought land and settled
there. They raised rice and found
ready market for 1t. LII soon proved
so profitablea crop that other North
ern farmers came and raised rice until
today the culture of rice is one of the
most profitable occupations in Texas.
In 1903 the crop averaged more than
43.5 bushels per acre 5.5 bushels more
per acre than the average in Louisiana
and worth to the growers upwards of
81 90.
This is but an example. AS the prices
of farm land have increased in Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana and other Northern
States, the farmer, especially the rent
ers, have had to seek cheaper lands
elsewhere. The movement at first
was northwest, today 1T is southwest,
where conditions are more nearly alike
those of the States from which they
emigrate. One great advantage the
southwest has is it's more equable eli
mate, and this, probably as much as
anything, turned the tide Of immigra-
tion. Here these Northern farmers
soon found they had all the natural
and social advantages of the north,
with cheaper land capable Of produc-
ing the same crops, with as good a
yield and a corresponding increase In
profits. The first Southwest immi.
grants found beyond question that
they had been looking ahead when
they immigrated, and told their
friends, and their friends are now
joining them. Given opportunity and
your average American asks no odds.
He is finding it in the Southwest, and
putting the discovery to practical
everyday use. With nothing but his
hands and average energy he can get
more out of the earth, can Guild his
fortune BETTER in the Southwest than
elsewhere. And the opportunity is
here, as we'll. for the man with money
to invest. be the investment in lands,
produce, mines or the promotion OF
industries. The Southwest is grow
ing; 1t has passed the sWaddling stage,
and it's cities and towns are expanding,
requiring more and better facilities,
more industries, and, as a natural con-
sequence, more workers, both in town
and field. Peopled by aD eager, pro-
gressive, wideawake population of the
best and most typical American stock,
well-enough is not satisfying-they
are looking ahead and building for the
future.
Briefly, the condition is this: The
Southwest is really IN need of nothing
save people. More men are wanted.
In the Southwest are vast areas Of un-
improved land-land not yielding the
crops of which it is capable. The same
thing, in different way, is true of the
towns. Few lines of business are ade-
uuately represented. There are OPEN
ings of all SortS-for mills and manu-
featuring plants, for small stores OF
all kinds, for banks, for newspapers
and lumber yards. Mechanics and
professional men, both are in demand
Fate has always, In all fairness,
served best those who come first, and
it is certain that as the years pass the
golden opportunities at present offered
the homeseeker and the investor will
dwindle as the influx increases. Low
as the prices uf farm and town prop
erUy now are, the day Is fast approach.
ing wher the values will double and
treble, enriching the prese Mt holders oil
the land. Striking out" is entirely
different now to what it was Ia the
early days, and the Southwest, while
new, has all the advantages OF the
land left behind.
Fortune making under such condi-
tions, with such opportunities as tht
Southwest offers today, Is feasible aut
rlcn and poor alike can get better re-
turns there than elsewhere.
To the man who is looking aheaC
the Southwest has an Invitation which
should not be thrown aside without
mature consideration. The opport-
nifty ia today, while homes can still
be purchased for from one-tenth Il
one-half the prices demanded Ia thu
North and East.
Do not hesitate because you have
notion that you are TOO poor TO max
beginning ia new country. Am
pie assurances to the contrary are tn,
everyday experience talks" OF the av
erage Southwesterner. Here, for ex
ample, is the experience OF an Oklaho
ma farmer In his own words.
my capital on arrival in Pottawat
tamie county in 1892 was one team o
oxen, an old wagon and sod pillow
I -. Il