The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-26
KANSAS COMMENT
THE RICH SPOTS.


A mining engineer who has just re-
turned from the Philippines says the
islands are to outclass Alaska as a
gold held, as soon as modern methods
ana machinery can be introduced
That announcement will take many
men into the mountains and jungles,
Tor the lure of gold never comes from
a land so distant and desolate that
men do not listen and heed. Among
the savageS of West Australia, they
/ have gone in answer to the call, build
ing up a great industry. Among the
Zulus of the Rand, gold called man,
ana ne came to develop the worlds
greatest mines. The Indians and the
fever haunted isthmus could not stop
MIN when he. heard of the California
strike of '49. A decade ago he dared
the frozen Chilkoot pass, that he
might share the wealth of the Klon-
dlke. Only yesterday, and even today,
ne Is building cities on the deserts of
Nevada answering the call of the yell
low metal. Anywhere, everywhere
that gold is found, there man will go
making a strike" Heat, cold. saw
ages, and a thirst that kills have all
guarded the worlds golden treasury
In vain. Which means they will flock
engineers statement, but as soon
as some pioneer really strikes pay
dirt" And the pitiful part of this
search for eldorados is the failures;
lucky ones ten to one. The world it
seems, cannot guard it's gold from
man, but it exacts a price; it doesn't
yield its treasure readily and willing
ly, else gold might become cheap. And
the price paid is men, and the small
hoard1ngs that come with years and
economy. The romance of gold con-
tafns much of tragedy, its chapters
marked with the bones of men. There
may be gold in the Philippines; those
islands are full of desolate places
where it is neither good to live, nor
pleasant to die. And in such places
gold is found.-Atchison Globe.
SHARPNESS OF KANSAS FARMERS
T. Benton Murdoch, the philosopher
of the Walnut, cites evidence to show
that farmers are the smartest people in
the world 1T takes smart man to
run farm he observes in his unique
style. Should the lawyers, bankers,
doctors, preachers, merchants and edi-
tors go to farming they would starve.
and the world would starve with them.
And this reminds US. Once upon d
time there was a presidential election
on. A Butler county farmer had a
bunch of cattle, big bunch. They
were grass fed and alfalfa and blue
grass fattened and were in prime con-
dition. He figured that if he sold be-
fore election he would make a little
money. He also figured that if one of
the candidates for president was elect
ed cattle would go off with a rush and
he would lose; but If the other candi-
date was chosen prices would boom, so
he held his cattle, believing that the
boom candidate would beat the other
one to FRAGILE. He was taking a big
risk but he is a Butler county farmer
and has his nerve. The boom candidate
was elected, cattle went up, and Jast
week the Butler county farmer sold
out, and he made enough money on the
bunch to start a bank. From the time
Adams mother-in-law raised a row
with him for going fishing on Sunday
to the present day the land owner has
been the ruler of the earth and it will
be so again, because land owners or
farmers are the s1lIartest people in the
world" 7-
1t may occur to Mr.. Murdoch some
time later that his farmer might have
forced his smartness. He may have
been wise in keeping his cattle for the
higher market, but maybe it would
have been wiser in him to buy some
more cattle instead of going into the
banking business with the money he
made in a business he seemed to well
The banking business, Tor
some reason has a fascination for
prosperous farmers.-Wichita Eagle.