Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-06-19
TELLS OF KANSAS.
IndianTsn Writes interesting Letter
Of Barton County.

who has been living in Indiana for
the last twenty years, was here re-
Gently for a visit with his brotherlAs
law, Jacob Shively, and while here
wrote an Interesting letter to hiAs
old home paper, The Argos RefleCtor,
Of Argos, Indiana, which shows how
Great Bend and Barton county looln
to an outsider, and which we have
taken the liberty Of repriRting. Thia
letter in part IS as. follows:
Great Bend, Kas., MAY '2S. 1sN,
Dear Editor:
Having left Indiana ON the 18Th q
April for a western tour we arrived
in the Sunflower state in the city q
Great Bend early on the morning Of
the oath. After an absence Of 20
years we were somewhat curious 1t.
ter an all0ight ride, to see the couA,
try in which we spent 4 1-2 years
early life. We were not surprised 70
find it very dry, and vegetation ap-
parently suffering for want Of motsN
ture. We were informed that theY
had had three days Of high wind.
which was still evident, the adr being
filled with dust and dirt.
On the second day after our arri-
val my wife's brother, Mr.s Jehe
Shively, took us for trip in the ,
country in his Ford" We went
north and west and then east, making
a circutous route Of perhaps 25 Of
80 miles, going through Hoisingtpn
and passing through the Cheyenne
bottoms, famous IN former years -
the racing grounes Of the American
Courshg Club, where prizes we're CIV
en- to the best Grey Hound in chas-
ing the Jack Rabbit. The wheat ats
this time looked very bad, much Of
1t looked about dead. You couhnt
have given me a farm here Il | would
have to agree to hive On II. But LOT
AN is changed now. Today she's IKE
the pouting school girl, tomorrow
she's all smiles and sunshine. Co
pious rains have come and gentle
showers have fallen. Whist was once
barren and desoIate land is now
transformed by beautiful grass, yer.
dure and flowers. A land of milk an
honey. The wheat shot up, as 4
were, by magic and is now headed oVt
and promises to be the greatest ever
known In the history Of the state.
200 million bushels from an estimated
acreage Of $4,000 is the biggest
Kansas ever had or possibly ever WA
have. It is estimated here that 4
will make anywhere from 20 to 10
bu. per acre. 1000 men, 1t Is thought
will be needed In Barton County alone
to help gather the mighty harvest.
Some predict that wages will be q
and upward per day.
Other things of interest might b
mentioned. 1t Is said that Kansas
is one Of the richest staes 70 the
union. Her bank deposits are said
to be more than a thousand dollara
per capita. Great Bend has a populR
tion Of about 5000. She has three
strong banks. The Gerrnan-Ameri-
can, capitalized at 100000. The First
National, and the Citizens. It IS said
that some Of the farmers are hAaVy
stockholders. There are four fIorinf
mills, two Of which have a capacity
Of more than a thousand barrels per
day. The famous. brands, Made
Right" and Moses Best are mada
here. '. a.
Nineteen years ago a creamery waa
started with two patrons. We visits&
the plant this week and we're tod
that cream is now shipped here from
100 stations and that last Sundays
output alone was 1880 pounds q
butter. The average is more than
five tons daily. They ship 3 to 4
car loads each week. They have q
large churns with capacity Of 1000
pounds each, which are kept busy. I
would like to tell. you Of the new g.
pha't paving that is being put IN.
and the New Pos'office and the Car.
negie Library, commodious school
buildings, large mercantile houses, ~
igious influences, ETC., but time aud
space win not permit. We anxiousF
await the coming q the Reflector
each week and eagerly scan - col
mns for news from dear old Argos
and vicinity.
| Very truly yours,
LEVI PUTERBAUGH.
P. S.-PIeaee send nv next eopF