Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-08-15
E. D. Smith In Plains

say, about two and one half hours
behind schedule time, the rain had
Just ceased and as we had passed
out on to the flats everything had
draggled and soaked appearance.
The wheat stacks appeared droop
ing, and the high grass bent under
the load of water on and In the
sheathes of the stalks. Corn, cane
and kafir corn were looking fine
and the buildings peeping above the
crops had the appearance of some
of the level prairles of Iowa or Hi
nois. Here and there miles apart
tiny grove showed, as reward
for the faith of the few who have
planted trees, either fruit or forest.
At Plains, the effects of the re-
cent heavy rains were evidenced
r here by the mud and pools of water
IN the streets. Also by the many
farmers who were in town because
neither threshing nor plowing could
be done because of the wet, which
for the last few days had been above
the earth, in the earth and dripping
from the clouds. However the
rains had not been so persistent nor
so bountiful further to the north
and west. Men who had been some
miles north said that threshing was
not seriously hindered by the ain
and that the ground was not wet
more than an inch.
| at once went to the Cash hotel,
good sized country hotel con-
structed of cement blocks and there
registered. Then out to see friends
and call on business men. am
frank to state that business surpris-
ed me by its volumn. Merchants
were too busy to talk of adds just
then and after cherry hand shake,
turned to waiting customers. Coal
for threshers and lumber for graner-
les and barns were going out in
small quantities, the heavy roads
perhaps hindering trade in these
lines, but groceries, dry goods, and
other lines were rushing. | saw
three dining tables sold in one
place that afternoon. Don't know
if there was rush on dining tables
or whether | happened in each time
one was called for. The grain men
were not SO busy as they said they
had been for some time back, owing
to the fact that the threshers were
mostly idle, in the country tributary
to Plains. But they were doing
reasonable amount of business.
Altogether the little burg was ac-
tive and presented prosperous ap-
pearanee from the present business
point of view. The town needs
some improvements The streets
need grading, sidewilks need ex-
tending and cross walks should be
raised TO a higher grade. No doubt
these things will be attended to
when the present rush of trade is
passed. Though judging from the
many stacks in sight from the town
and the car window the stream of
grain will continue to some consld-
cradle extent during all of the fall
and comming winter. Soliciting
adds for the Meade County Fair
Premium list was my business and |
was every where pleasantly received
and as well patronized, as one
could expect. did not stop to
talk at any place long and only on
my own or the general business of
the town. | gathered only one
item or personal nature. That
was called to my attention by Don
T. Edwards while was at his Office.
Don is always the prophet of pros
pcrity for Plains, and his facts and
figures, yes and ofentimes photos
and cuts to elucidate his arguments
ready to present at moments no
tice. r. l.. Ratclift miles south
of Plains had just threshed and sold
his wheat crop from 427 acres of
his farm. The grain graded as No.