The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-02
KANSAS CHANGES
Sheridan County Is Prolific In
New Developments.
Pioneer Settlers Describe How
Independent They Are.
FARMS NOT FOR SALE
Property in the Hands of Peo-
pie WHO Expect to Stay.
Are $4,000 Acres in Wheat and
Not Poor Field.
FARMS NOT FOR SALE

the last few years is the subject OF
conversation uppermost in the minds OF
the pioneer settlers, who tell the story
over and over to the newer corners who
come out here to see for themselves
And no section of northwest Kansas
has developed more rapidly than has
Sheridan county. Every farmer who
has farmed his ground well has made
money, and they are so independent
that their farms are not for sale unless
the farmer can get his price. The coun-
~ now has population of over 5000,
larger by several thousand than in the
boom days Of by-gone years. Many
new corners have settled in the county
in the last few years, and others are
coming almost daily. And it is a praise
worthy fact that the large per cent of
the new Corners are making purchases
to make Sheridan county their perman-
ent home, and few, if any, lands get in
to the clutches of the spectators. In
close proximity to HOxie, the county
seat, one will see the fine homes and
large barns of Joseph Cooper, John
Thew, A. F. HaVerkamp, E. O. Walden,
John Cooper. Frank Phillips, F. C. J.
Witt, J. c. Sidesinger, L. c. Miley, and
dozens of others, who for time, many
of them, lived in sod houses, whose new
homes have cost them from 81, 500 to 49,
OOO- They came here with practically
no money, but with plenty of nerve, and
now carry bank accounts running into
the thousands of dollars. And so 1t is
all through Sheridan county; the thrift
ty ones are those who farm fewer acres
and farm it we'll.
One of the pleasing sights in Hoxie
is to inspect the grains and grasses on
xhibition-samples from farms in
Sheridan county land company, of which
E. H. Lupton is general manager. 1t
has been a question for years whether
alfalfa can be raised on upland in
nd he T1IoG on
exhibition in this office prove that it
will grow on the uplands. Samples of
alfalfa from the farm of G. NJ. Taylor,
of the second cutting. measures over
and he considers it one of the best pay
ing upland crops, that can be raised.
many other farmers are raising alfalfa,
and doing well. From off this same field
one seed crop produced five bushels an
acre, which sold for $3.50 a bushel, max
ing a return of $3.50 from the seed
alone on each acre, besides two good
crops of alfalfa hay. And this land is
$50 feet from water. Many fields have
been seeded for ten years, and have
stood the test Samples 1Of wheat cut
from this farm threshed out 80 bushels
an acre, and another cutting, of %
bushels per acre. There are samples of
timothy cut from the farms of M. j.
Trueblood and VIM. Deibert, measur-
ing over four feet. and samples from
many other farms of about the same
height. There are also samples of oats |
from the farm of G. M. Taylor, of 80 |
acres, which threshed At bushels an
acre while on the farm of John Gill |
more, his oats threshed out 60 bushels !
an acre There are samples of rye |
nearly feet high. So en- |
-husiastic is the manager of the Sheri- |
Ian county land company that he is |
breaking out 1000 acres or more, most |
IF which will be soWn in fall wheat, be- |
sides the company are having broke |
several hundred acres for nonresident |
parties.
Sheridan county can raise corn. Re
.urns from many fields in 1906 show
hat as high as so bushels an ere was
'aised on old ground, while from 35 to
10 bushels an acre was raised on the
sod.
1t is difficult to correctly estimate
he number of acres in Sheridan coun-
v sown to wheat. Careful estimates
tut it not less than $4,000 acres, which
S the largest acreage ever before soWn.
There isn't a poor field Of wheat In the
county, AS one of the big wheat rails
rs said: You can't do justice to the
wheat prospects in Sheridan county this
year by talking about it, it must be
Gen." The weather all through winter
vas good for wheat, cloudy and ample
moisture This same man is authority
hat there will be an increased acreage
f oats and barley, especially the latter,
Which acreage will be about double for
ner years. There will also be more
reaking for sod corn and number or
team plows are at work
The ''short grass title which has
cen a common expression for so many
ears has gone forever, so the people of
meridian county wish and believe. The
uffalo. or short grass, as you like it,
as given place to grain fields, ana the
lodern homes have taken the place of
he '.soddfes'' Sheridan Is prospecting
nese times as the county never has be- ,
ore. It has more population than ever, !
has more farmers who farm rather !
nan own their lands for mere specula- $
on. There was a time when the /
yoxie people knew most every farmer :
.ho came to town, now they see hum
reds of strange faces. The changes |
ave been phenomenal in a few years \
With all this prosperity. and the pros {
ects for a continuation, and lands g
radually soaring skyward in prices, 1t :
: time for those who are seeking in
in northwest Kansas to see
} it at once.