Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-14
BEAUTIFUL FAR MS
J. u. MITCHELL INVESTIGATES
TERRITORY ALONG WESTERN {,
BURLINGTON LINES.
Finds Prosperous Farms Over Terri
tory Where Few Years Ago He
Found Houses Widely Scattered =
Climate is Fine.

j. n. MlCcnell, OF this city, who was
recently made a trip over the western
lines OF the Burlington in Kansas and
Nebraska. has written letter to w.
s. Parker, Burlington ticket agent at
the union depot in the city descriptive
Of the country through which the
Burlington runs. The letter will be Of
value to those who are interested in
this section Of the country and Is as
follows:
II left Ottumwa some days ago to
look over the lands In southwest Ne
,braska and in northwestern Kansas.
My trip has been one of interest and
a great surprise. No one can realize
the rapid settlement of this country
until he goes over 1t.
II crossed the Missouri river at
Roulo, Neb., on the B. & M. from St.
Joseph to Denver. From Falls City
to Red Cloud, Neb., beautiful farms
could be seen on either hand, we'll i'm
proved, stocked with droves Of cattle
and hogs, with here and there piles
Of corn in great heaps without shelter
waiting to be shelled for the market
or fed to the stock. In the stubble
fields could be seen huge stacks Of
straw indicating fine yield of wheat,
oats and barley.
This picture Of prosperity cannot
be duplicated by Illinois or Iowa. To
my surprise found these lands held
at prices equal to that Of either state
mentioned, $50 to 800 per acre. Right
here fully realized what to go west
and buy farm meant IL you have the
money. Only a few years ago sold
goods over this section of the country
and would ride from one county seat
to the other and find but two or three
farm houses Of the poorest type and
these same lands sold at 50 to IS per
acre.
THE man that bought them can
now boast of a commodious residence
and tell you Of the bank stock he
owns while the clerk, railroad en-
ploye, renter and mechanic have only
to their credit the earnings of posi-
bly, last months wages or last sea-
sons share of rent we'll nigh used up
"On Wednesday morning left Red
Cloud, Neb.. for trip up the Beaver
and Republican valley through the
counties Of Harlan and Furnas, Red
Willow and Hitchcock, Nebraska, and
Phillips, Norton, Decatur, Rawlins and
Cheyenne, Kansas. Through these
countries found a vast territory of
fine laying land with deep, rich soil,
underlaid with sheet water at depth
of so to $50 feet Of. the finest quality.
In all my travelling have never found
any water of its equal in taste and
purity.
IN Harlan and Furnas counties,
Nebraska, and in Phillips and Norton
counties. Kansas, found them well
settled by thrifty farmers. The hand
Of providence could be seen. Plenty
of corn, wheat and barley with plenty
Of hogs and cattle to take care of it.
Here lands were within the reach Of
the home hunters or buyers ranging
from $50 down to $40. owing to i'm
provement, quality of land and dis
lance from the market.
GAS went further west through the
counties of Red Willow and Hitch.
cock, Nebraska, and Decatur and Raw.
Inns and Cheyenne, Kansas, found
beautiful laying lands Of deep rich
soil and splendid opportunity for
anyone to make safe and profitable
investment or to select piece of land
that would in time make fine home
"The principal crop here is wheat
and barley although have seen som g
nice fields OF corn. called on a
farmer in the heart of this vast terri.
tory that had settled there ten years
ago, He had comfortable home sur.
rounded by corn and buckwheat fields