Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-11-18


there is nothing of hope or encour-
agement for those west of the Tooth
meridian. This used to apply TO the
territory west of the 99th meridian,
however, SO it is seen, the doubters,
have yielded somewhat in consider
alton of general advancement. These
skeptics do know the region at which
they smile, or the earnest people
there, who are not only working out
their own salvation but at the same
time the problems of the prairies.
Here is one fact about Western
Kansas that looms as conspicuously
as a piece of black court-plaster on
a. fair woman's face Those who have
been there for years are well-to-do
or wealthy. They are conducting
their affairs in the ways best calcu-
lated to bring returns each year, re-
gardless of the season. One does not
hear of any old-timers leaving the
country; If any go, they are those who
came but. recently, and imagining
they knew more than had been learn
ed by the old pioneers; yet, according
to the 1911 population figures, it
western end of the state instead of
emigrating.
The farmers who know how are 60
ing forward with just as much assur-
ance as the people of any agricultural
country. In some sections it is by a
combination of the sorghum and live
stock. The Creator never made a
country that was better adapted nat
urally to animal husbandry than the
plains of Kansas, and they are the
empire of the sorghums. Elsewhere
the combination is SIMILAR, with
wheat as a side issue, on the summer
/ fallow plan. Some of the counties
| further north have already made
creditable records in both wheat and
Indian corn, and in all portions
wherever alfalfa f1ourishes it is in
evidence. Throughout is a growing
disposition to better prepare the soil,
TO use improved seed and to plant
properly. Kafir, milo and sorghum
are all dependable crops in Western
Kansas every season, as they are in
other portions of the state. In the
main, cultivated crops seem advis-
able, as the moisture is conserved by
the stirring of the soil.
| Wherever wheat growing is the
main industry, the farmer should
safeguard his welfare by devoting
forage and grain. and by keeping
livestock, with cows and fowls. De-
pendence should not be placed solely
on single crop. Experience teaches
that on the plateau livestock and the
sorghums should come first, and then
such other crops as promise most.
Wheat is not yet proven a dependa-
BILE product, and farm plans should
be drawn with that in mind. There
are crops, however, so well adapted
! to Southwestern and Western Kansas
conditions that, toquote the language
of thoroughly acclimated and well
seasoned westeners, ''they never dc
fall Hence to adhere closely to
these is wisdom. With the forage
and grain they supply, one could
hardly conceive. of a country more ad-
apted for dairying, and in the intel
ligent pursuit of this industry may
be found a source of Unreasonable
prosperity, contributing to the hap
piness of the people
4 Aside from the possibilities of ir
rigation, which is taking on new sig
Inificance there through discoveries
and development of underground
water supplies, the writer firmly be
lieves in Western Kansas and its
future, so much so that he would en-