Kansas State Grange Bulletin from Topeka, Kansas • 5

LAND AGENCY. S. H. DOWNS. GEO.

MERRILL. DOWNS MERRILL. Having establi ihed an Agency at this place for the sale or exchange of farm and other property, We invite the attention of those who desire to sell, as well as those who desire to buy. It is the intention to make this a State Agency for the sale and exchange of property of all kinds, and a bureau of information to the people abroad who may desire to purchase homes in Kansas. We shall endeavor also to gather full information from all points in Kansas, about Manufacturing, Milling and Mining advantages, with a view to inviting the attention of Capitalists, and keeping these advantages before them.

Communities or individuals having good water power for milling purposes, will find it to their advantage to place on our records a full and detailed statement of the value and advantages of their power. If in a wheat locality, state the amount of wheat raised; the kind of market for flour, railroad and shipping facilities, and whatever information will lead to a full and clear understanding of its advantages. If you have a salt spring, and advantages for the manufacture of salt place it on our records: If you have good beds of Gypsum easy of access, and water power near it to make our own house and land plaster, place it on ou-records. We send thousands of dollars out of the State every year for plaster. If you have farm property for sale or rent, give a detailed statement of its character state if it has creek wafer and timber, wells or springs; number of acres; how much under cultivation; the kind of improvements; size and kind of house and barn give the lowest possible price and easiest conditions, and whatever information will lead to a full knowledge of the premises, and send post-office address We shall make our Agency extensively known east, and invite attention to, and cre-are interest in the information to be procured at this Agencv.

Attention will be called to each piece of property placed our records by a Bulletin which will be issued as soon as the business of the agency will warrant the expense. A fee of Two Dollars will be charged for placing on our records each piece of Land or improved estate, or for each Milling, Mining or Manufacturing enterprise. From this charge we shall be enabled to issue the Bu lle-tin giving a digest of property on sale, and information about Manufacturing, Milling or Mining enterprises, which will sent out to the County Granges of the different States, and to correspondents everywhere. Commissions on sjdes are, for an estate worth $3,000 or less, 3 per cent worth 2 per cent. from $5,000 and upwards, 2 per cent.

We invite the attention of all to the advantages of our Agency for general information, and the purchase, sale, exchange or renting of property. Address, DOWNS MERRILL, Topeka, Kansas. Malting Ponds in Kansas, We desire to suggest as a subject of considerable importance, for careful consideration in our Grange meetings, the practicability and utility of building dams, and making ponds and lakes throughout Kansas. Dry seasons and suffering crops, occasions one's thoughts to dwell on green fields and lakes of water, and after a season of failure of crops, and long drives of cattle to water, we realize the importance of seasonable rains and ponds of water. Let us enquire now if we cannot have both here in Kansas, by exercising wisdom, and making good use of the resources and advantages given us by nature in the configuration and character of our land, and by nature's God in abundant rainfall part of the year.

Upon our rolling upland prairies, nature has provided us with abundant small hollows and depressions.as reservoirs for the storage of water. Almost every section of upland in Kansas, has a good natural resorvoir for the storage of rainfall, and a small amount of labor would construct a dam of earth which would store up for future use a pond of water. Every farmer who lives upon the upland knows to how great an extent he relies upon the pools in the sloughs, ravines and swales on the prairie for water for his stock. These pools are simply catchments of rainwater; our impervious upland subsoil furnishing a good tight bottom for its retention. Why not then enlarge this pool to a pond, by throwing up an embankment of earth, and retaining enough of rainwater to furnisjh an inexhaustible supply of good stock water.

We have an abundant fall of rain in Kansas, but it often falls in a short space of time, much of it running off down creeks and rivers to the sea, that ought to be retained here in pools, ponds and small lakes. There is no sytem of internal improvements, which would be of more service to Kansas than a system of impounding water. Individuals and communities should improve the advantages which nature has furnished them. There are many localities on our upland prairies where the community by co-operation, can at small cost throw up an embankment which will impound enough rainwater to give them an inexhaustible supply for their stock, and in many places the water can be taken to lower lands.to irrigate small fruit and vegetable gardens. Not only these immediate benefits will accrue to pay the outlay for the constructs i of earthworks, but with pools, ponds and lakes of water scattered over the prairies of Kansas, we can confidently look for a modification of our seasons of drouth.

We can expect to load the wings of the wind with moisture, and arrest the blasting influence of dry hot winds. If we can intercept the sweep of winds as it shifts back forth across our State, with sheets of water, it will absorb and charge itself with the moisture, to be again precipitated in rain, or dew upon the thirsty earth. During those seasons, when the winds come to us laden with moisture fro the Gulf and from the Mountains, and pour upon our prairies a superabundance of rain, we ought to be prepared to st re up for future use, that which now runs off and quickly finds its way to the seas again. We hope to see this question of building ponds and lakes thoroughly discussed in our Granges. We think there is no question of more importance to the interest of farmers and the State at large, than our water supply.

And we take pleasure in referring the enquirer for details of this principle of water supply, to the articles of Col. William Tweedale, published in some of the. back numbers of the Kansas Farmbr. Our Advertisers Our readers will please note that all of our advertisers are business houses that are now, and some of them have been for two years pasF, dealing direct with the Granges. Montgomery, Ward have been doing business with the Granges in different States, in this State for some time past, giving, we believe, very general sa'isfaction.

Dolton Bro. have been dealing with us for some time, and have a large and varied as-, sortment of Grange goods. Consult their advertisement for prices. Z. M.

Hall have also been doing business with the Granges for some time, and in the grocery line, keep a large stock, and fill orders promptly. The Climax Mower, Our readers will please note the communication advertisement, and prices of Gibbs, Sterrit for this Mower. This machine ems to be growing in favor; it has been adopted by the State Grange of Missouri, and some ether States. The manufacturers now depend wholly upon the Granges to support them in their endeavors to manufacture a good machine at the lowest cost, trusting to the sale of a large number of machines to make a profitable business from low prices. Kansas Wagon Company, These home manufactured wagons are now fast crowding out all importations The appended recommendation to their advertisement, from the committee of county agents, is an endorsement that needs no comments.

The company are doing ail they can to deal direct with the Granges. Keith Billingsley," of Topeka, have been doin business direct with the Granges for the past year. Their sales are for a-per cent, above New York prices. Their dealings have thus far given general satisfaction to Shawnee and surrounding counties. D.

S. Skinner, Boots Shoes, has betn doing business with the Granges for the past year and given general satisfaction. Frank Babcock, Hardware, has been doing business with the Granges for a year or moe, and is ready to fill all orders in his line, at lowest cash pricee. Bodine Lohman. This firm did business with the Granges of this State, through the State agent last year.

Their Drill and Rake, is among the best made. See their ad-veitisement S. Barnum Co. This firm has also been dealing direct w.th the Granges for a year, and have engaged to continue fr the coming year, for Shawnee and adjoining counties. Will fill orders from abroad promptly.

Lee are now doing business direct with the Granges of Shawnee and adjoining counties. See their caid. Wc desire to call attention to the advertisement of Downs Mm ill. This firm has established an agency fur the sale of lands or other property in any of Kansas. Mr.

S. II. Downs is well known to Patrons throughout the State; having been connected with the State Grange Agency since its cstablishnent; part of the time as Acting State Agent. Mr. Ged.

Merrill, has, until recently, been the Receiver of the U. S. Land Office at Topeka. Patrons abroad contemplating the purchase of property in Knsas, will find in this firm accomodating and reliable busines men. TRICES ifduced un range Blauki.

Sold lww madj firm Jn th 1'iiitM tnt- cuo tr them. Prlc Hit ent THE BEST FAMILY JOURNAL IS THE VET. The Kansas Farmer will be nt the balance of the year 1873, for $1 00. $1. $1.

$1. SI. SI. $1. Pay for the Farmer for the balance of 1875.

81. 81. 8l 81- 4)1. 61. Pays for the Farmer for the balance of 1875.

$1. 61. $1. $1. $1.

fll. 81. Pays for the Farmer for the balance of 1875. The managers of the Grange produce at Indianapolis, have published their report, and make a statement of highly results..