JUNE 3 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY. 
JAMES VICK. 
Too late by one day for OUT last issue did 
we receive from Rochester the excellent por¬ 
trait of the good James Vick, an outliue ac¬ 
count of whose life and lamented death ap¬ 
peared in last week's Rural New-Yorker. 
It seems but a few months ugo, though iu re¬ 
ality over a year, that Mr. Vick with one of 
his sons, called at our office the day of his de¬ 
parture for Europe. lie seemed full of life, 
of energy, of plans for the future. It seems 
hard that just in the very flush of bis success 
and popularity, he should have been called 
away to another land, though there we may 
hope flowers bloom perpetually. The busi¬ 
ness which he founded and developed so large¬ 
ly, will, we learn, be carried on with their 
father’s energy and spirit by his four sons. 
(Tl)f Ijcrltsman. 
NOTES BY A STOCKMAN. 
Mr Henry Bergh is a worthy man and is 
engaged in a worthy and creditable work; 
but he sometimes makes a hobby of it. In 
some recent remarks upon the cruelties 
practiced upon cattle in their transportation 
to market he displays some unusual peculiari¬ 
ties, even for him. For when he states that 
cattle are driven to the slaughter-houses from 
the cars, burning with fever, lame and covered 
with deep-sunken ulcers, and that the fetid 
meat is the next day eaten by unsuspecting 
consumers,” he,to put it very mildly,overstates 
his case. An ulcer requires considerable time to 
become deep sunken; and could not possibly be 
produced or developed during a few days’ pass¬ 
age in the cattle cars. And if any person cau 
consume fetid meat unknowingly he must 
have previously taken a course of unusually 
fragrant Limburger, or be a very peculiar 
person as to taste. But if Mr. Bergh’s state¬ 
ment is true, ho reflects upon the shippers who 
send such diseased cattle to market and not 
upon the methods of transportation. 
A very satisfactory solution of the Short¬ 
horn Herd Book difficulty seems to have been 
reached. Mr. L. R. Allen has been the editor 
of the American Herd Book for many years, 
nigh to 40 I believe, and his perseverance, 
energy, labor, care and honesty in the man¬ 
agement of the record have been of vast service 
to the stock interests. While to some extent 
his services have been recompensed by fees 
and sales of the book, it is equally true that he 
has acquired a vested interest or good-will in 
the business, and it is only fair that this fact 
should be liberally entertained by the Short¬ 
horn Association. The committee, it is re¬ 
ported, have arranged satisfactory terms with 
Mr. Allen, and the transfer of the record is 
supposed to bo iu course of accomplishment. 
It has been a matter for compromise all along; 
the issue was always inevitable; and it is 
pleasant to think that the invaluable services 
of the long-time editor of the record are not 
to be ignored. 
TheNow York Live Stock Express Co. pro¬ 
pose to solve the problem of safe and humane 
—and also profitable—transportation of cattle. 
A train of ten cars provided with separate 
stalls for 10 head, the stalls being provided 
with springs to prevent serious jarring, and 
with water and feed troughs, recently carried 
100 cattle from Chicago to Boston in three- 
and-one-balf days. The shrinkage per head 
was only 21% lbs. average, which is about one- 
fourth of the ordinary loss and compensates 
for the higher cost of carriage. The cattle 
were fed and watered three times on the trip- 
CHANNEL ISLAND CATTLE AUCTION. 
A joint sale of Channel Island cattle from 
the herds of Messrs. Hoe and Mead, took place 
at the American Institute Building on the 23d 
and 24th of last month. The animals sold on 
the first day of the sale were not in as high 
condition as those disposed of at the same place 
a short time ago, and the bidding was not very 
spirited. ThB bulls of both the Jersey and 
Guernsey breeds went for butchers’ prices, 
with the exception, ]>erlmps, of Berlin’s Cham¬ 
pion, 7,050, a Jersey bull calf, which brought 
$260. Waccabuc, 2,001, a five year-old bull, 
brought $ 100; Giant Grim, 7,040, bull calf,$00; 
and so on down to the two-year old bull Yellow 
Plush, 0,600, w hich sold for $35—the average 
price for the IS bulls and bull calves sold being 
$0(1. Among the Jersey cows and heifers the 
highest prices were $2,000 for Fanny 2d, 6,072, 
eight years old; $1,500 for Salammbo, 8,777, a 
four-year-old, and $1,100 for Nausicaa, 11,843, 
another four-year-old. The total for the first 
day’s sale of Jersey cows and heifers was 
$17,075—an average of $300.70. But three 
Guernsey cows and three bulls were sold—the 
three cows bringing an average of $293.33, and 
the three bulls an average of $30, 
The second day’s sale consisted wholly of 
registered Jeraey bulls. The attendance was 
fair, but the bids were at low figures. The 
highest prices named wero $1,775 for Sultan 
Carlo 7,108, dropped Aug. 11,1881, and $1,500 
for Lord of Mountainside 7,111, dropped Oct., 
4, 1881. The third highest price was $470 for 
Florinde’s Duke II 7.027, and from this the 
bids lowered to $20. The total sales for the 
50 head was $0,985—an average of $139,70. 
The second annual sale of blooded stock from 
the Simpson herd of Jersey cattle was held at 
the Simpson homestead at West Farms, N. Y., 
on the 21th ult. The total number of cows 
and heifers sold was 25 head, which aggregated 
$15,390, or an average of a little over $615. 
AJphea Queen, 13,732, about ten months old, 
brought the highest price, viz., $2,300; Island 
corn acreage. Grasses this season are abun¬ 
dant and remarkably fine. The open Winter 
has been very favorable for gracing, and stock 
is looking well, both cattle and sheep, not¬ 
withstanding that the high price of com pre¬ 
cluded its being fed except in special instances. 
The long train of the Kansas City, Fort 
Scott and Gulf Road, as it left its northern 
terminus, was well filled with travelers—tour¬ 
ists and home seekers. We noted the rapid 
changes and developments in vegetation as 
we whirled further south. It was a typical 
Kansas Spring day with cloud and sunshine 
beautifully intermingled. At one moment we 
would drive through the pattering storm 
whose pearly drops made music on the window- 
pane, and the next, spring forth in the sun¬ 
shine viewing the leafy trees, the flower- 
decked borders of the track and the waving 
Winter wheat, as beauteous a picture of pros¬ 
perity as ever painter brought forth upon the 
canvas or poet in his inspired verse. We rode 
James Vick.—Fig. 176. 
Countess, 15,264, brought $2,000; Island Flow- 
er, 15,265, brought $1,550, and Island Pet, 
15,263, sold for $1,125. Twelve head of bulls 
were sold, bringing a total of $5,325—an aver- 
age of about $44 4. The best prices were for 
Zalmu’ts Mercury, 0,988, $1,650, and Bounce, 
6,331, $1,000. The 37 lots sold, it will be seen, 
brought a total of $20,715, or an average of 
$500. 
Cokin’ Tuuo’ this Rye.—Fio. 177. 
(Catalogue of Water Color Soelety.) 
XWlOMS. 
A PROMISING SPRING. 
Reflex of our Observations in Southeast¬ 
ern Kansas and Southwestern Missouri. 
MESSRS. HOLMES AND 8WEETLAND. 
f8peelal Correspondents or the Rural },ew- Yorker.J 
The characteristics of the country contig¬ 
uous to the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf 
Railroad, over which we have just completed 
a trip, hare been perhaps as much written of 
os uny portion of the State. The outlook for 
this Summer's crop is at present exceedingly 
promising. The rainfall bos been abundant 
and at propitious intervals, a very important 
feature for Kansas, The stand of Winter 
wheut is very good and the only dauger to be 
feared as likely to prevent a maguiflcent crop 
this season, is the Chinch-bug which fright¬ 
ened a good many farmers last year. The 
probability is, however, that the post will do 
very Little damage, especially if the rains con¬ 
tinue but a short time longer. The acreage 
in wheat will be le68 than last year, but the 
growing interest in stock will augment the 
through the counties of Johnson, Miami, 
Lima, Bourbon, Crawford and Cherokee in 
Kansas, making our first stop at Baxter 
Springs located within two miles of the Indian 
Territory, where we spent a very pleasant 
day. 
A great many farmers in this vicinity are 
making excellent use of the advantages afford¬ 
ed them by the unlimited extent of grazing 
land in the Indian Nation, and riding along 
upon the 8tate line road we noted hards of 
cattle and flocks of sheep numbering far into 
the thousands. The Springs are becoming 
noted as a place of resort, and some little 
effort is being made to beautify the grounds 
and render the bathing accessories sufficient 
for the needs of the visitors. The natural 
roads around Baxter oannot be excelled. The 
orchards in Cherokee Co., and, in fact, in the 
entire territory tributary to this road, are 
numerous, look thrifty, and promise good crops 
this season, as the buds have not been affected 
by the late frosts. The growth of small fruits 
is very extensive, and the crop will be abund¬ 
ant. In the culture ef corn and W inter wheat, 
for which Kansas has become especially fa¬ 
mous, the record for the counties mentioned is 
up to and even above the average. The total 
wheat area for 1879 was 82 332 acres; yield, 
1,254,000 bushels; 1880, acreage, 127,538; yield, 
2,215,030bushels; 1881, acreage, 157,778; yield, 
l,o36,607 bushels. The total corn acreage for 
the same counties in 1379 was 428,061; yield, 
16,436,405 bushels ; 1880, acreage, 432,169; 
yield, 17,286,760 bushels; 1881, acreage, 447,- 
774; yield, 8,358,433. 
Although wheat and corn have been, and 
probably will continue to be, the groat and 
main staple of the State, there are other pro¬ 
ducts and industries which are being rapidly 
and profitably developed, notably sugar-cane; 
the value of the sorghum sirup from this pro¬ 
duct in the State last year was over $3,000,1X10 
Other profitable and growing industries are 
the manufacture of glucose from corn: the 
culture of castor-beaus, flax, broom-corn, bar- 
ley, rye and vegetables; and also the develop¬ 
ment of the interest of silk culture. Land in 
tins region has not yet advanced to fancy 
prices, although improved farms range from 
$10 to $25 per acre, and sometimes even higher. 
Railroad lands can be purchased upon the 
usual long time and easy terms, or if for cash 
at a liberal discount. Goal is found in almost 
every locality at a depth varying from three 
to sixty feet below the surface. 
The first branch of the railroad, after leav¬ 
ing Kansas City, diverges a few miles below 
Pleasunton to the east, penetrating through 
Rich Hill to Carbon Center, Mo, 
Rich Hill, a city now of over 4,000 popula¬ 
tion with handsome brick stores, fine bank 
buildings and a $15,000 hotel, is in the center 
of the fluest coal district in this region, cover¬ 
ing an area of 600 or 600 acres. Less than two 
years ago this city was platted; now it has 
two railroads, with two more being rapidly 
built, a zinc smelting works to cost $50,000; a 
fine roller flouring mill, and an unequnled 
opportunity for the influx of manufacturing 
industries. A complete water system is now 
being constructed: thus with abundance of 
water and unlimited quantities of coal at low 
rates the establishment of numerous factories 
is only a question of time. 
The newspapers are excellent, and educa¬ 
tion, religion and social relations have received 
attention. Jay Gould is largely interested in 
the mines and smelter. The Rich Hill Town 
Co. will answer inquiries. 
The main line of the K. C. Ft. S. & G, is 
now completed beyond Spriugfleld, Mo. (a 
live, active and beautiful Southern city of 
several thousand population), and will be 
rapidly pushed through the great pineries of 
Missouri and Arkansas to Memphis, Tenn., 
which point it is expected to reach about Jan. 
1st. 1883. This will be a very important link 
when finished, uniting the West and South. 
There is a narrow-gauge line crossing the main 
line at Cherokee, running from Weir City 
through Parsons to Cherryvale. The main 
line extends eastward from Baxter Springs to 
Joplin, Mo., a city of some 8,000 population, 
with numerous smelters, mills, foundries and 
zinc works to utilize the immense quantities 
of lead and zinc mined in the vicinity. The 
Missouri-Kansas mineral region extends over 
an area thirty miles square, embracing parts 
of Jasper and Newton Counties, Missouri, and 
a part of Cherokee County, Kansas. Joplin 
is thus made a commercial and mineral center. 
One peculiar feature of the surrounding coun¬ 
try is that the mines of lead and zinc 
frequently underLie (in fact in ulrnost every 
instance) superior agricultural land, capable 
of raising 5U bushels of corn per acre. 
A feature of the Loue Elm Company's Works 
(by far the largest in operation here) is worthy 
of a special mention,being a recent innovation, 
of great value in lead smelting. It consists of 
a process for condensing and utilizing the 
smoke and fumes from which pure white lead 
is made. It is said that over 16,000 pouads a 
day arc thus produced, which by all other 
processes of smelting are lost. Experiments 
are being made at this time to save by the 
same process the amount of silver lost in the 
reduction of silver-bearing ore through the 
fumes. The agricultural and horticultural 
resources of Southeastern Missouri as well as 
the present condition of this year’s crops are 
very similar to those of Kansas described in 
the early portion of this article. The Kansas 
Record, a paper published in Fort Scott—for 
free distribution—gives very glowing accounts 
of the prospects in that section of the country. 
We made a short but pleasant sojourn in 
Columbus, the county seat of Cherokee 
County, at which point the St. Louis and 
San Francisco Railroad crosses the K. C. 
F. S. & G. It is a pretty little city of about 
3,000 population, having several churches, good 
schools, three weekly newspapers, several man¬ 
ufacturing industries and excellent opportuni¬ 
ties for new ones, as good coal is within a mile, 
and it is thought also that it underlies the 
city. Coke of a good quality is now being 
made from this coal. This would be a good 
location for zinc smelting works, an oil mill 
(to utilize the flax of the country), a foundry 
and other manufacturing interests. There is 
a good bonk and numerous business houses. 
Those desiring further information con ad¬ 
dress the S. K, Kan., R. E. and Loun Co., 
at this place. There are many pretty towns 
along this line, of which our lack of space 
forbids an extended notice. Of these the more 
important are Ft. Scott, Girard, Paola and 
Olathe. 
Thereseems, when summed up, a quantity 
of I’easons whv the State of Kansas has 
made such rapid strides in development in 
the past and still continues to hold her own. 
Not the least important of these are the lat¬ 
itude and consequent mildness and equality of 
climate. The rigors of a severe Winter are 
unknown here; cattle can graze the year 
round and sheep need but little protection. 
There bos been a great increase in tbe amount 
of stock carried in the State, and much of the 
grain formerly put upon the market is now 
fed, as farmers by the experience of past 
years see there is more money for them in 
beef, pork, mutton and wool, than in raising 
grain exclusively for market. 
At the time the liquor prohibition act was 
made a law in Kansas, many newspapers 
contended that it would do much toward 
turning immigration away from the State 
but the experience of the various railroads 
since that time fails to verify the prediction. 
It is true that some have left the State on 
account of it, but by the larger class of pop¬ 
ulation it is regarded as a measure which 
will bring many future benefits to the entire 
commonwealth. Success to Kansas 
