Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-01
ONE WORLDS OLYMPIC RECORD BROKEN.
AN OHIO MANS VIEW.
Q. A. Fox Writes Entsrtainingly Of
Dickinson County.

AotteI huout tnie ciby anu counIy
Mr.. Fox visited here this summer fol
the second time. his first visit having
been made twenty years ago. He
writes.
Dickinson county lies in the third
tier Of counties from the north and
in the sixth from the east. Dickinson
county think can be compared with
any other in that state. After care
fully comparing Dickinson county
with any Of the others, can say that
it is equal in productiveness for grow
ing ali kinds Of grain and grasses, es-
pecially alfalfa and English blue grass.
l have seen hundreds of acres OF
alfalfa, and it looked fine. They make
that crop about four times in q sea-
son, and it yields from two to four
tons to the acre Of fine choice hay
which is relished by all kind CT stock,
even hogs. l do not know how long
alfalfa will last as a meadow but one
old man told me he bad field that
had been sown for fifteen years and it
was as good as ever. English blue
grass is sown for permanent pasture
when the native grass is destroyed by
blowing. 1t makes as good pasture
as the Kentucky blue grass does here.
The principal industry of Kansas
is farming, dairying aud stock rails
ing. Dickinson county alone has
twenty-four creamery stations, which
paid the farmers the past year $343,-
$50. The soil on the upland is gen.
orally deep rich loan. The bot
tomland soil near streams is Of a
black sandy loan Of great depth while
the higher bottomland show heavy,
rich deep loan. The soil is very
easily cultivated and exceedingly
productive. The Smoky river runs
through the county.
The bottom is wide and fertile along
that river. There are several other
smaller streams that empty into that
river. The land along Smoky river
sells all the way from $40 to 800 an
acre. | saw one. farm Of $50 acres
sold while | was there for $4,000,
but it was first class bottom farm
and only two miles from Abilene, the
county seat. The upland sells all the
way from SIS to $50 an acre. Land
is going up in value all the time. The
above farm that spoke Of sold three
years ago from 500 to $25 an acre,
but one acre Of that kind Of land will
produce more than four Of our aver
age land will around here. No fer
tilizer is used either. Corn is not as
high there as it is here, but they can
afford to raise it cheaper than we can,
for one man and team can attend 40
acres easier than we can s acres.
Good well water is secured at the
depth from 80 to 60 feet. Timber
grows along the streams. There is Il
salt well near Solomon, this county.
Gypsum beds have been found and
are being worked. There are l40 |
school houses in the county and
churches are found In many Of the
rural parts. The population Of Dick
lnson county is 22,00. There are
four railroads in the county. The
people are generally from Eastern and
Middle states.
will not say any more about the
but l will give you little
description OF Abilene. Abilene is
the county seat. 1t has a population
of 4,600. 1t lays on Smoky river
bottom. Abilene has broad and beau
iful streets and avenues. Its resi-
fences are large and modern and its
awns would grace any city. The
,ourt house is fitted up with all the
modern improvements and is located
within beautiful park. Abilene has
hree large school buildings and 1900
,hildren. The school buildings are
ocated on large school ground, COW
red with beautiful shade trees. The
ystem Of school grading used is
'qual to any city. They also have
commercial school. In the southern
'art Of the city is located the immense
nerry-go-round factory Of C. W.
'arker which is giving employment
o 200 men. A finely equipped
resmery is also located there, which
3 tho best In the state. 1t paid
S4S, $50 to the farmers the past year.
hey also have an Ice plant and cold
forage. The city has good water
FORKS system, supplying the city
nth Sand Springs water, which comes
rom three miles away. The city
ss Q good sewer system, electric
Ight and telephone system, q public
Ibrary, 9 beautiful opera house, four
cen churches, two daily papers, four
three banks and many other
Industries that / have not time or
pace TO mention.
Well | must say that Kansas iS all
iRht and l don't know hardly what