Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-11-01
An Open Letter.
The Hazelton
scribng 100000
swered by citizen and taxpayer ofHazelton township.
Some Substantial Reasons
should
that you should bonds

the amount of property The Hazelton Land Com
pany- has, should ask such question.
'How many people do you suppose it will add to
the county," Answer: That is largely guess work,
but it is safe to make estimate of any where from
two to three thousand and possibly more than even
that; we can only Judge by what Others have done
as to what the results of this road will be-
"What shipping facilities will the county gain
those exstence?" Answer: ANY boy ten
years old ought to be able to answer that question
1t will give US just one outlet for our stock
and grain, and give it in entirely different drec-
tlon from any we now have, and this is the main
thing we ought to look at.
'SWill it add to the fertility Of your land?" An
swer: Yes, insofar as it will add to the population
and give each man less land to work. and thereby
cause him to work it better and build it up instead
OF tear 1t down as many are doing now.
''Wil it make any better grazing?" Answer: Yes
for the more people we have, the more of our pas
lures will be seeded to tame grasses and thus in
crease the actual amount of grazing per acre. That
is another of your easy questions.
"Will it bring any water into the county?' Yes,
for the more we work our land and the better we
farm it, if all our wise men are not wrong the more
it will rain Another easy and simple, too.
''Will 1t make food, clothing, heat light, or any
of the necessities of life cheaper?" Yes, the more
competition we have in getting freight in, the
less merchants will have to charge US to get
their fair profits and they not asking anything
more than fair profit on their goods
'Will it bring any money into the county?' Yes,
and whole lot of it too before they can ever get
any aid from BIB county. First. they must build
the road and this can't be done without money, and
when this is completed they will have their road,
rolling stock, depot buildings and other necessary
buildings which the county will collect taxes
forever and then the road will be the means of ad-
ding two or three more good towns in the county,
which will add to our taxable wealth considerably.
suppose that even back in Pittsburg they know it
takes money to build railroads and also that it
requires some money to keep them running.
Show much good does two railroads do Kiowa
and Hazelton? That is the only real difficult ques-
tion in the whole letter, but get little benefit
on everything that is shipped in and out of these
two towns; 1t is made up of small items and would
be hard question to answer in full, but if you are
real anxious to find out just try Crseld, Corwin
Medicine Lodge rates, and then compare the rate
with Kiowa or Hazelton. This will answer the
question.
ssWhere do nine -tenths Of our homeseekers come
from?" Answer: They are forced to come from
the east As it now is they haven't got any way te
get here from the south and all are headed west.
we had a north and south road might get home
seekers from these directions also.
1t is rather far fetched for a in Pittsburg
Pennsylvania, to close his letter to felow citizens
Just as though he resided here he is non-resden
and can't hardly be Classed as of Let hin
come out and view the situation and then he will
be with us if he has any public enterprise abou
him, and is willing to he p build up our county.
Now, Mr.. Stockholder, | have desire to ente
into any extended argument regarding our interest
here, but must say that for one residing as far eas
! as you do from the field of action and taking tn
stand you do gives the idea that you are eithe
not we'll informedon general matters or take me tc
be little bit ignorant of what really need AM
what want. am of the taxpayers of Barbe
county and have so far been able to pay my share
the taxes and live here and will continue to do s
even if the county does not get another road, but
doesn't look right for one residing SO far back cas-
to try and influence my action in matter wher
even our largest taxpayers are dong all they can
push it along | am not yet satisfied to sit dow
and let other parts of Kansas get all the public ben
ehts and Barber stand still Progress is and alway
has been my motto, and am not going to be turn
ed aside by any man living IN Pennsylvania until
can show me that he knows as much of our wants an
nesds as think do, and while feel somewhat fla
tered by your taking notice of me in sending me tE
letter. must beg to say that am not easily atte
ed that it will have any effect on my action on No
7th | shall vote for the bonds and for the intere
of the masses of the people of Barber county as
understand it.
Yours very respectfully,
W. C. AFFORD.