The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-11
Can Turn Over 35 to so Acres
Each Day.
BIG AID TO FARMERS.
Now Close to Acres 100000 of
Wheat Around Colby.
More Corn Will BE Planted This
Spring Than Usual.

seem to be taking the lead in Thomas
county. There are no less than 20 in
use already, ard more will come. They
can turn the prairie over at a great
rate, from 35 to so acres each, daily.
In addition to the 100000 acres now
under cultivation in the county care
full estimates say no less than $4,000
acres more will be put under cultiva-
ton during the year 1907, and the
steam plow has made it possible for
this increase of farm erea which the
farmers of Thomas county are going
to put into crops. The steam piows
have made great changes in converting
the raw prairie of a few years aso to
well cultivated farms today: Buffalo
grass is fast disappearing. M. A. Low,
general attorney of tie Rock Island
road, could hardly recognize Thomas
county now as he saw. it ON his first
visit here during its building. Then
its stead are well improved farms;
then two raw quarter secticns adjoin-
ing Colby were offered for S1T.5n0, anG
this attem pted holdup IS said to hava
cost Colby the railroad division, for
few years later they were sold for taxes
at prices poor country editor could
afford to gather them in. With the adj
vent of the steam pillow the scene
changes, and now Colby is surrounded
with Industrious farmers, herds of cat
tie end hogs and green wheat fields.
There is close to 100 600 acres sown to
fall wheat, the largest acreage ever be-
every acre of it is in healthy condi-
ton. In addition the corn acreage will
be larger, ]. N. Fike, has out 1900
acres of wheat, and is preparing ground
to Plant not less than a section of land
in corn.
Ike Crumley, member of the legisla-
ture from Thomas county, and w. S.
Ferguson, own jointly 1880 acres, of
soL, To-,
They have 900 acres in wheat. and will
plant from 200 to 300 acres of corn.
They farm on the Campbell system.
They make a speciality of all kinds of
new farm seeds, besides they have ten
acres in orchard. With such farmers
as w. L. Ferguson, Ike Crumley, ]. 1.
Fike, and plenty more of the same |
sort, it is no wonder the surface Thorn |
grass to make room for a garden of
roses in all her confines. In the midst
Of all her farm prosperity the county
seat, Colby, is making good second. |
ted about the middle of the year, a |
SIS, 900 opera house will be in use be- |
fore fall, a $4,000 high school building
will be erected this year, and arrange-d
farmers elevator of IS, 600 bushels ca
pacity, which with the three already in
operation, will give Colby a storage ca
pacity of 100000 bushels. A fine sys-
are under contemplation. Besides there
Is a movement on foot to either incor-
porate a national bank, or convert one
Of the state banks into a national.
Careful estimates of the number of
new buildings erected in Colby, in 1906,
not far from 70. Many of these resi-
lences cost from $1,000 to $500, and
'un as high as $4,000. The year 1907
promises to be exceedingly brisk in the
building line as the prospects for the
seasons crops advances.
One must see for themselves that Col
1y and Thomas county are all right
firms doing business. A dozen will not
over the ground, and yet they all do
business. The government land office is
coated here, and then this is the home
Ike Crumley, member of the lower
house, and ]. N. Fike, ex-member of
he state railroad board, and these
people give the place recognition. 1t
las one of the most complete and mod
IN laundries in the north half of the
tate, the property of D. P. Sims, a
zig Touring plant, whose products
each all over the country and into the
Id world, two great lines Of railroad
wo big newspaper plants, the man.
moth Opelt hotel, where congressman
ave been made and unmade under its
oof, the most famous. yet one of the
riot or any other district for that
natter, ample churches, and with her
ew school house as good school ia
ilities as any town needs for years to
ONE.
There is push and public spiritedness
Il the people of Colby. Look through !
he place and witness the way their
ONES, many of them, are fitted up
nth shade trees and blue grass yards,
nd her cement walks leading ali over ,
he town Then visit as a general thing !
er stores, and the visitor will see here :
4 Colby business houses that will COM :
are with any in larger and more IA !
ored towns in the eastern states. And ,
his town is so situated that it will .
row larger and more important, in a
commercial point of view, as the num-
rous steam plows get in their work.
nd turn over her remaining acres of
cd and buffalo grass for the further
eneft of the farmers yet to locate in
he confines of Thomas county.
CONGREGATIONAL MEET. !