Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1914 — Mrs. Felix French and Family Like New Home in Kansas. [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Felix French and Family Like New Home in Kansas.

Hutchinson, Kan., Dec. 7, 'l4. 1 consider it a pleasure to-contrib-ute to the columns of your Christmas number of The Democrat, and speak a word of commendation for Kansas, the state of our adoption. Hutchinson, Reno county, is a fine little business city of about 18,000 population, located on the Arkansas river, about the center of the state, and surrounded by a fine farming community. Land within a few miles, which 10 years ago sold for S4O and $45 per acre, sells now for SIOO or more. Wheat and alfalfa are among the principal crops, yet „ considerable corn, oatß, cane and kaffir corn, fruits, etc., are raised. Within the city limits and near by are some of the largest salt plants in the United States. A soda-ash plant, strawboard, several large flour mills, cold storage plants, ice plants, etc., are in operation. Just now preparations are being made to commence building a large milk condensery. We sometimes say, “All roads lead to Hutchinson. The A. T. & Santo Fe with its main line and two branches; the Rock Island and the Missouri Pacific go through here. We have excellent churches, a fine new high school building, with Seven ward schools, a business college, two or three parochial schools, a large new convention hall, thus affording religious and mental training. The state industiral school or reformatory is located here. For two years we have had the state fair, the grounds for which are being much improved. Kansas has long been a prohibition state, and a year ago fell into the front rank of Equal Suffrage. I have been asked by an Ohio friend if it were true that boys and girls in Kansas do not know what an open saloon looks like? I know of young business men who have seen theii first saloon after they reached their majority age, and then On going out of the state. We are having a most delightful vinter, only h little too dry, not having had any snow as yet. While the name “Indiana” and especially “Rensselaer” sounds good, to any member of the French family, yet we have fared very well in Kansas, and should be pleased to see any old friends or acquaintances from home at any time they may be passing this way. So wishing one and all a joyous Christmas season, a happy and- prosperous year, we remain loyal to the Hoosier State yet enjoy our hqme in the state of our adoption^—Mrs. FELIS FRENCH AND FAMILY, 115 E. Sixth street. ..