Volume 9 , Issue 37

Alva! Where Is It?

In an old 1893 newspaper, The Alva Pioneer, Alva, O.T., M county, there was an article with headlines that read: "Alva! Where it is Located; How it is surrounded."

The article goes on to state, "Alva is 18 miles west of a line running south through the center of Kansas. 218 miles west of the Missouri line and 14 miles south of the southern border of Kansas. All of Barber and half of Harper counties in Kansas adjoin "M" county on the north, and there are no two better counties in central Kansas than the two named."

Alva was the county seat of "M" county, which is 57 miles north and south, by 54 east and west and contains nearly two million acres of land. At Alva is also located the land office for a district 18 by 57 miles.

It goes on to state back in 1893, "Among other advantages Alva has is the old reliable Santa Fe railroad. The people need not be burdened with taxes in this county as they have in their old homes."

The reserved lands were to be sold for public purposes that would make it unnecessary for the settlers to vote bonds for erecting a courthouse and other public buildings. The country tributary to Alva is about 1,400 feet above sea level, only about two-fifths as high as land on the Kansas and Colorado line.

The soil is about like that of southern central Kansas, whose reputation for wheat growing is known far and near. The climate is as healthful as any in America, being half way between the ocean-sde and the rocky mountains.

During two months prior to the opening of this land to settlement, very damaging untruths were circulated through the daily papers in the east in reference to the drouth; but the fact is, the eastern part of the strip was suffering as severely and at the same time, and the heavy rains ever known in the west gave relief at the same time the east received it.

"M" county was settled by people from all over the United States, but perhaps 40 percent of the people were from central and southern Kansas.

The news article goes on to state: "The reader may ask why a Kansas man would settle in a country so much like Kansas? For the reason that they came west 8 to 12 years ago, all alike ignorant as to what the soil and climate were best adapted, and if they made one good general crop they forthwith became enthusiastic mortgaged their homes to buy more land, make (in many cases) unnecessary improvements or to speculate in cattle. A partial failure of crops came, (as they do in all states) and interest could not be met (but they could have lived well if the farm had been kept clearly) and finally the mortgage took their farms. This class of farmers are sensible enough to see and acknowledge that their "bad luck" was the result of their inexperience or mismanagement, and they know better how to manage now -- know that crops are best adapted to the soil and climate. They are going to try it over again, and they will succeed."
  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---