The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-27
HAN
SAPOLIO
II ensures an enjoyable. invigoF-
ating bath; makes every pore
respond, removes dead skin,
ENERGIES THE WHOLE BODY
starts the circulation, and leaves =
glow equal to Turkish bath.
AL cRocERs AND DRUceIsTa

good condition. it seemed TO me. for
an alfalfa root. especially in view of
the fact that L had seen alfalfa roots at
the st. Louis exposition that were
over fifty feet long.
Biologists say of the artesian valley
of the Crooked creek that at one time.
ages ago, it was a large lake. AS the
waters subsidized from the uplands they
drained and settled into this lake at
whose bottom gathered alluvial depoS-
its for no man knows how long One
can easily credit the theory, for in driv-
ing through the valley one can trace
a lake in the upper bench leading to the
uplands.
Four Crops in Season.
Dotting the valley everywhere are
small groves. which were planted years
ago by the homesteaders who took up
tree claims there and thought they were
settled for life. They were unaware,
however, of the gold mine which lay
beneath them in the form Of a sheet OF
living water, and they had never heard
of alfalfa Accordingly they made the
mistake of planting Indian corn as they
had planted it on their farms in the
east. The altitude was too great and
the rainfall too slight, and the result
was failure. The valley soon became a
series of abandoned claims, and was
again left to the cattle men In recent
years many of these early farmers have
sold their claims for a song, glad to
get anything from their failure in west
ern Kansas, and not knowing that they
were parting with lands which would
pay from % to so per cent interest on
an investment of 800 per acre
Wheat and alfalfa are the leading
products in this valley, the latter thriv-
ing marveiously. The climate is such
that the alfalfa seed natures perfectly.
which is rarely the case in alfalfa sec
lions, and three crops and a seed crop
in a single season are the rule, yielding
49, 80
crops, hay, millet, sorghum, potatoes and
vegeta bles are grown with exceeding
profit BY the use of irrigation this
valley could be made to grow anything
that is grown in any irrigated section
of the country, and grown as abundant-
u as to yield In fact most of the crops
which are making irrigated sections
famous can be proftably raised here
without irrigation, but with irrigation
the yield could be greatly increased
It would be difficult to find in all the
west a place where the conditions or
contentment and plenty are more hap
PLY blended The valley is located in q
country whose poor farm stands aban-
doned and crumbling. Years ago when
the exodus began from western Kansas
Meade county, together with others, es-
tabliShed a poor house in which to try
to take care of its impoverished set
tiers. For a. time the institution thrived,
but for the last five years it has not
had an occupant nor has there been an
applicant IOT HIS y d ACIO4ds
I fancy, that few counties in the sup
posedly richer east can duplicate 1t IS
not strange, therefore, that during
three days drive in an open wagon in
southwestern Kansas I failed to dis
cover a single dissatisfied farmer
The stories of success which were I'M
doubtedly true were frequently almost
too good to credit. On the Leach farm
in the valley for example. I found q
man who six years ago drove into
Meade county in an immigrant wagon
He bought a section Of land, paying 81
an acre for part Of it and getting credit
for the rest. Today he IS a director in
the bank at Meade. and you could not
buy what is included within the con-
fines OF his wire fences for $4,000 cash.
The get-rich-quick possibilities, how
ever are not what they were a few
years ago. for the truth about western
kansas is becoming known and good
things are getting deaTer.