The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-17
Syracuse Is Given as a Live
Western Town.
WlndmlIIs One Of the Features
That Makes 1t Grow.
is WE'LL IRRIGATED.
Good Territory for Sugar Beets
and CanteEOupes.
Cattle Ranches Plentiful With
Splendid Herds.
is WE'LL IRRIGATED.

Syracuse. Kan. Jan. 17.-Hamilton
county, of which Syracuse is the coun-
ty seat. is one OF the western tier of
counties Of the state with the Arkan-
sas river flowing through its center.
The county is very nearly square, con-
tanning 1908 square miles Of land.
The leading industry of the county is
cattle raising, vast ranges extending
for xnanx miles both north and south
OF the river upon which thousands OF
head Of cattle are annually raised and
shipped from Syracuse. One man has
a herd OF about 5000 head and many
other large herds are owned in the
county, while there are a large num-
Der OF from 100 to 400 head
Little by little climatic conditions
have in central and western Kansas
changed. Where once there was only
an uncertain rainfall in the spring and
fall there is now sufficient moisture
to make forage crops certain and
wheat and barley a good crop at least
two years out of three well out to-
ward the Colorado line In central
Kansas the moisture now lasts well
through the summer. so that corn Is
a reasonably certain crop.
But as corn has advanced westward
wheat has receded before it until now
the wheat belt is practically in west
ern Kansas. Probably three-fourths
rsar waS grown west of the center OF
The state. some Of the best Of it grow
ing far out toward the Colorado line
and Il So this region that il now at
Gracting immigration. It is only this
year that a dozen or more of these
counties have become pronounced
wheat counties For a number OF
years the Eemi-arfd region has been
little their CROPS have become more
pronounced until this year eleven Of
these heretofore supposed semi-arid
counties produced more than a million
bushels of wheat each. and a number
OF others produced even more amaz-
lnglys considering their limited acre
age. It is these counties that the
cheap lands are to be found and in
them the settler OF today has a far
greater chance Of success. If he pro-
ceeds along the proper lines, than had
the homesteader who settled in cen
trail Kansas quarter of century
ago.
While there is an abundance of land
to be had for from IS an acre UP,
there is some that can be had for
even less. There are still several
these western counties, and some of
Il IS undoubtedly excellent farming
land, though some is probably fit for
nothing but grazing, especially in
those counties where there is little
lert The reason why this land is so
cheap-good, rich land at SO or 81
an acre is cheap-is because there is
so much more land than there are
ing from 900 to 1.5O0 square miles
have only 1000 to 1000 population
When vacant lands begin to be scarce
In these counties they viii rapidly
advance In value. Twenty years
ago the counties q hundred miles
or more further east were in
the same stage or development as these
western wheat counties are now, yet
n he IN
hilSh as $50 and $50 an acre.
Syracuse was one OF the towns of
western Kansas which experienced the
folly OF a boom away back in the Sos
plated farm lands and cattle ranges
1nto town lots, then Iapsed back into
Its original state Of quietness for sew
sra1 years. The town was given a new
impetus by the removal Of the freight
division headquarters Of the Stanta he
railroad from Coolidge to Syrac llss
thereby adding a large number Of fam
lies 20 It's population. so that at the
present time the business community
IS prosperous and q general feeling Of
content seems TO pervade tha place.
syracuse has passed through the
nooEn, mas discounted the collapse OF its
irrigation companies composed of east
Srn capitalists who. when they failed to
realize dividends failed to
keep I'd their properties, ana has
cor the past ten years been developing
Der own resources by her own efforts
Aside from the direct advantage deriv-
ed rom monthly pay roll of consid-
cradle amount paid to its residents en-
pfoyed by the railroad company. SYRIA
cuse has all the sources of prosperity
at its command which are available to
any OF the towns OF the Arkansas val
ley In either Kansas or Colorado. She
has her cattle ranges extending for
many miles both north and south, from
which thousands Of head OF cattle are
driven Into Syracuse for shipment
end proceeds Of their sale spent with
her merchants.
She has thousands OF acres of the
rich bottom lands OF the valley extend
products OF alfalfa, wheat and other
Farm produce tributary to her. She has
an extensive range Of country covering
two or three counties, which find 1t the
most convenient point upon the rail-
road from which to ship their cattle
and to receive their freight, so that no
small item OF Syracuse's prosperity is
derived from the freighters, who. with
their six and eight horse teams and
trains of trailers, almost daily depart
with loads Of merchandise FOR the coun-
try to the south.
As above stated the original irriga-
ton system for supplying the lands
about Syracuse with water was allowed
to go to ruin and practically abandon
ed by the company owning It. so that
for a number OF years the Inhabitants
of the town and the farmers of the VAL
ley were obliged to resort to windmill