Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-04-11
LETTER FROM KANSAS
An Interesting Letter From a
Former Resident of Gratiot
County.
MODE OF LIVING AND CUSTOMS
o r. Robertson, of Healy. Kansas,
Gives an Account Of that Part of
the Great Southwest.


ing elapsed since last wrote will now
endeavor to write little more, relative
to this part of the great southwest and
l will begin with the mode of living and
General customs of the people, which
OH my arrival seemed or rather looked
very queer to me.
about two-thirds of the people live
in sod house or shack as they are
termed here. They cut the sod about
two feet long and three inches thick
with a tool constructed wholly for that
purpose which is drawn by a heavy
team, it requiring great deal of
strength as the prairie sod is very tough
in its wild or native state, this being
the reason why it takes so long, or
about three years TO thoroughly subdue
it, but, of course, plenty of moisture
greatly assists, however that is of rather
rare occurrence. The sod is laid so as
to break joints, giving strength to the
structure. Openings such as windows
used to prevent saying and then the sod
is laid on to top or caves. Some are
built with gable roofs and some with
what is termed car roofs, taking its
name from the ordinary railroad freight
car 2X and 2 ks being used. About
nine-tenths of the buildings are built
very small as the people are perfectly con-
tented with room enough to turn around
in; if necessary, they can back out. Any
old way is o. X. The roofs are made
of ordinary foot boards which are gen.
orally ploughed and groved and covered
with tarred paper on which coat of
sod is laid. Houses built with caution
in this manner have been known to last
for 20 years but during the last five
years they have had so much rain which
produced good crops that nearly all the
old settlers are now in comfortable cir
cumstances and so, during the past year,
nearly all buildings, especially houses,
were built Of lumber, the lowest price Of
which is $50 per 1000, that being the
chief reason sod is used instead of lum-
Der.
1T is said that il it wasn't for the
prairie sod, buffalo and cow chips, this
state would not have been settled yet,
however at present both are being fast
discontinued, coal being used for fuel at
$l.0O per ton and lumber for houses.
Other out buildings are small and few
IN number, chicken coops and stables
generally constitute the sum. These are
built of sod, cane or rock, which are
found in the canyons but never out ON
the open prairie. I might further add
that native lime and sand are also found
in the hills or valleys and which is used
in plastering on TO the sod walls.
"It is quite common on travelling over
the country to see the yards of farmers
strewn with wagons, harnesses and his
general farming paraphernalia, as no
pretentions are made for protection of
tools and but little for stock or domes-
tics. The roofs of stables are covered
with brush from along the creeks and
sometimes cane or prairie hay. OF
course this does not stop water but it
keeps out the bleak winds which sweep
across the prairie at the rate of 40 or
more miles an hour. This soon dries
out the roof or anything else. 1t may
seem queer but the telephone has found
its way out here and at present about
two-thirds of the farmers or ranch men
have them in the sod house as well as
frame or stone houses at an expense of
81 30 per month. At auction sales or
where business is transacted ON a large
scale nearly every ranchman settles for
his property by personal check on
County Seat Bank where his funds are
kept for safety This, of course, is just
nicely instituted or started in this part
of the state and is owing TO the good
and prosperous season of 1905. 1t is not
thickly enough settled TO command r
+. ID. mail routes and most of us are
thankful TO hear from the office once or
twice per week.
81 think on an average right through
either Lane, Scott or Cove counties
there isn't more than one settler to each
section. Domestics include horses,
mules, cattle, chickens and hogs The
farmers aim to raise only enough of the
latter for home consumption. Good
lraft horses are worth from 1926 to $500
and mules more yet. Cattle are low.
About $25 gets the best mich cows.
Ranchmen often loose cattle by the
thousands early in the spring in severe
storms which catches them without feed
Ind little or no shelter. This forces them
% the canyons in such droves or herds