The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-20
cheyenne COUNTY
Irrigation Transforms 1t Into
Garden Spot of Kansas.
St Francis Is Live, Hustling
City-An Prosperous.

st. Francis. Nov. 20.-St. Francis Is
about fourteen miles north and the
same distance west to the Nebraska
and Colorado state lines. There are
minds that st. Francis and Cheyenne
county are too far west to raise
crops. The county raises crops every
year: some years more than others.
This year has been an exception as
everywhere else, and crops are cut
short, yet several loads of corn and
wheat were hauled to town the day
the State Journal representative made
his regular visit to this community.
Plenty of forage for stock was raised
and some to ship out. The real facts
are that Cheyenne county crops
were generally better this year
than in the neighboring counties both
east and south. A fair crop Of wheat
was raised this year. at least two
thirds of it grading No. 2. according
to the shippers. The acreage sown
this fall will be fully 25 per cent more
than a year ago. They are still SOW
ing the crop in this county, and will
until the weather stops them.
Cheyenne County Is Progressive.
Cheyenne county has made most
remarkable progress in many lines
within the past few years. Intelligent
farming supplemented by favorable
climatic conditions and best of all
backed by broad-minded men who
have prophetic vision of it's POSSIBLE
tiles. all have worked to promote
many experiments which have been
followed by permanent results.
One OF these is the pumping plant
completed during the last summer by
Josiah Crosby. who for several years
was representative of this county in
the legislature. Mr.. Crosby's plant
L., 1T
ranch six miles northeast Of st. Fran
els.
The we'll is 80 inches in diameter
with water bearing gravel Of coars-
er formation than has been found
elsewhere in the state, according to
the report Of the U. S. Reclamation
service, and the underfiow tapped is
exceedingly strong, in fact, when. the
pump is working at its full capacity
of soc gallons per minute for q full
days run it does not reduce the flow.
This demonstration has proved con-
clusively that the underfow supply Is
obtainable, beyond any doubt.
The pump installed by Mr.. Crosby
is the one selected out of the many
which he examined and has more
than met his expectations in economy
Of running, power and results. 1t Is
a horizontal rotary pump. of slow
speed and Of so simple construction
that repairs, when needed, will be a
small item. The pump when running
at full capacity delivers 500 gallons
per minute. requiring an eight horse
power oil engine. The daily running
cost Of fuel does not exceed one dollar
at the most. This plant will irrigate
100 acres per season as 1t stands.
The plant has been seen in opera
ton by several expert irrigation men
of we'll known reputation, who have
been unbounded in their praise of its
operation. Mr.. Crosby is always
pleased to show and operate the plant
and answer inquiries regarding 1t.
Alfalfa Ions in Cheyenne.
st. Francis has about 10000 acres
OF fine alfalfa bottom lands tributary.
Among the large growers are Reinholz
& Puderbaugh, with 800 acres. Josiah
Crosby $50 acres, Robt. Damerill 200
acres. A. E. johnson 100 acres, E. M.
Collins & Son 100 acres, G. ]. C. Fell
zien 200 acres. ]. Uplinger 50 acres. and
several others who have smaller acre
ages. There will be several carloads
of alfalfa and sweet clover seed mar
keted this year at this place.
There are many fine farms in this
part of Cheyenne county, well improv-
ed, and the owners seem to be not only
contented but prosperous. Many OF
them have caught the fashion Of COM
ing to town in autos. There is Deroy
Daniels, the live hardware man, he
came here hard up. He has hustled.
Besides his store he has a farm of $50