8 
Bulletin 77. 
numbers on “the flats,” which before could be occupied a short 
time only each year by cattle on account of scarcity of water. 
Now almost every settler has his own well and windmill, and the 
grape vines and cherry trees are increasing. 
Settlement. The tide of settlers which filled Western Kansas 
in 1883 to 1885 overflowed into Eastern Colorado in 1886 and 
1887. Kiowa and Cheyenne counties were settled thinly; Kit 
Carson county was nearly all filed upon—especially the eastern 
half of it; the Idalia and the Vernon divides were settled thickly— 
all land on the Vernon divide being filed upon, and all as far west 
as Kirk postoffice on the Idalia divide being occupied. Then, on 
the west of the sandhills, the country near Thurman, Eindon and 
Harrisburg was all taken up. All land near lines of railroad— 
either real or projected—was taken also. Washington county 
was thicklv settled along the B. & M. railroad. 
Successes and Failures. The years 1888 and 1889 were quite 
good years for crops, 1890 was not so good, but 1891 was 
better, and in 1892 such an immense crop was raised that the set¬ 
tlers called the land “God’s country” and wondered why people 
remained on rented farms in the East when so much free land lay 
out in this region “only waiting to be tickled by the skill of the 
husbandman to yield bountiful harvests.” Then, people planned 
large things and went in debt accordingly. Then came the par¬ 
tial failure of 1893, and following this the complete failure of 
1894. The year 1895 was much like 1893. In 1893, many left 
the country. More left in 1894, and in 1895 nearly all who could 
get away, went. Those who stayed received some help from 
friends, and worked together to help themselves, and in this way 
lived through. Each year since 1895, they have raised fair crops. 
But recognizing the fact that the cows and the hens had saved 
the country from returning to its old time use as a cattle pastiire, 
the settlers have taken to stock raising, and now the country is 
upon its proper feet. When the settlers first came in, they 
attempted to live by grain farming alone. They were taught that 
grain growing is not the proper basis of successful agriculture on 
the Plains. They have learned that farming without stock soon 
impoverishes the man in this country. The country is now rest¬ 
ing upon the three legs which are strong enough to sustain it, if 
used intelligently, through all generations. These are stock, win¬ 
ter forage and summer pasture. It is possible that they may use 
some cows for dairying when beef cattle prices again go as low as 
they were in 1889-’94. But the cows are in the country, and they 
are well distributed now so that no one need leave because he has 
no cow to tie to. 
