The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-02
Arid Land Being Taken by Pro-
gressive Farmers.
Dry Farming Valuable for
Southwest Kansas Valley.
TWO RAILROAD LINES COMING
VIII Further Stimulate Sales in
the District.
Ground Brings Ten to Fifteen
Dollars an Acre.

Real estately speaking, there is In
Kansas a valley of dry bones which is
beginning to rattle in a mos interests
ing manner. There is a section Of
southwestern Kansas which thirty
years ago suffered boom. Suffered
Is a good word. The boom was too
lively, and when it collapsed. great
was the fall thereof. Hopes were
dashed and ambitions destroyed by
wholesale. The country became a
desert, as far as farming WIS con-
cerned, and went back to pasture land.
Now it is coming back. Farmers
who know how to deal with the dry
conditions which are found there are
buying land, and crops which will
Withstand the aridity of climate are
being planted, to the huge benefit of
the country and of the farmers who
are resettling the country.
Nearly a quarter of a million acres
of land in the southwestern seven
counties of the state, were affected
when old standard" crops and con-
sentative measures were proven futile.
Many of the first settlers abandon I'd
their holdings, to be sold for taxes.
and many times not even the taxes
were forthcoming.
Land Is Being Sold.
Now a part of the land is selling
steadily to progressive farmers at an
average price of from $40 to SIS an
acre. From five to six sales a day are
being reported by the tax department
OF the Santa Fe, which has very large
holdings in that section, and which is
selling land on crop payment
scheme, which makes it easy for the
farmer to clear himself on the trans
action.
Land at $40 an acre. with eight
re III ma 1nrlf he I,,-
amount~due on a quarter section, Lao
acres, in any one year 1924, is drawing
many agriculturists who know what
crops will grow there, into the coun-
try.
Interest in the land is stimulated
by the fact that a branch line of the
Santa Fe is projected. and will proh-
ably be built thru that section of the
country some time soon
The branch, as projected, will run.
! thru Haskell, Grant and Stanton
counties, connecting with the present
line at Satanta. The exact location
and the time of beginning the branch
are uncertain, but that it is practicai-
ly certain to be built is stated by offs.
Gals of the road.
c., X. & o. Affects District.
1t is also pointed out that the Col
orado, Kansas & Oklahoma road, or
which construction has been started,
| will have its effect on the accessibiliey
! of the country.
THE interest of the Santa Fe in the.
sale of the land isn't thru the money
( to be derived from that SALE e. r.
! Cartilage, tax commissioner for the
| road, explains. Increased produces
ton of the country, and freight to be
hauled is where the road gets on"
steady campaign of education in
the matter of the right crops to grow
and the right methods to follow is be-
ing carried on by the men in charge
, of the sale of the land. :
I'VE receive several inquiries and
! usually make several sales each day..
Mr.. Cartilage says, in regard 20 the
interest which is being shown in the
land by prospective purchasers.
Thus for the second time in its hiss
tory, southwestern Kansas is coming
to the front as a land of promise. This
time 1t is coming back on basis of
scientific agriculture and conservative
| development which in the opinion OF
those who know. entities 1t to a future
as an important agricultural section
of the state.