10 The Condition of the Western Farmer. [288 



which the most benefit can be derived. Again, the detailed 

 study gives us the best opportunity to investigate the local 

 causes of changes in financial condition. The causes which 

 would tend to produce depression among agriculturalists fall 

 in general into two classes : those due to the general economic 

 condition of society, and those more directly connected with 

 the local conditions of agriculture. The first class of causes 

 is entirely without the scope of our inquiries, but in seeking 

 the facts of the present status of the farmers, we obtain natur- 

 ally, and in the same process, knowledge of the local condi- 

 tions and of their effects during the years which the study 

 covers. 



The materials for the study were gathered during the sum- 

 mer of 1892. For the historical part of the paper, the var- 

 ious collections of materials for Nebraska history were used, 

 as were also the documents, speeches, and manuscripts in the 

 possession of the Nebraska State Historical Society. As a 

 basis for the study of the township proper, the records of the 

 United States Land Office at Grand Island, Nebraska, of 

 the Union Pacific Railway Land Office at Omaha, and of the 

 office of the County Clerk of Hall county, were exploited. 

 The personal information as to former residents was col- 

 lected from old settlers in the township, mainly by personal 

 interviews at their homes. 



