 |
A fellow by the name of Tom Armstrong said recently that the domestic division of labor in most American homes is like this: The wife cleans the house, cooks the meals, washes the clothes, and takes care of the children. The husband changes the batteries in the TV remote. FFF In 1929 J. Ralph Jett published a magazine called the Western Empire to introduce Cimarron County to the world. It was a grand introduction, and he was very optimistic about the future of the county. The publication was given to me by Harry and Ruth Hall of Scottsdale, AZ, former local residents. Jett stated that the most important mineral of interest at that time was oil, which showed great promise. He explained that there was no merchantable timber in the county, but in the broken country in the northwestern part, there was pine and cedar which had been invaluable to small farmers and ranchers for use as posts and firewood. At that time the land within a ten-mile radius of Boise City could be bought for an average price of $25 an acre. Outside of the ten-mile radius it would be $5 an acre less. Covering an area of 1849 square miles, Cimarron County is approximately one-half larger than the state of Rhode Island . Its evolution from the habitat of herds of buffalo and the roving bands of wild Indians who sought its control as the richest hunting grounds of the great plains regions, to what it is today, is one of the many marvels that dot the pages of American History. Its vast acres of short grass and mesquite brush have been transformed into waving wheat fields. The buffalo has been supplanted by some of the nation's most valuable herds of white-face cattle, and in the hip pocket of the cowboy we find the checkbook instead of the six shooter. In place of the single track trail of the range herds, the empire builder has strung the steel rails that unerringly mark the path of progress. In 1925 there were 300 people here. No hotels, no power and light plant, very poor telephone service, the streets were not graded, and there were no sidewalks. The courthouse was in a small frame building, the school house was a small stone affair. At that time there were 75 students in high school and 175 in grade school. These are just a few facts that were publicized in 1929. By the next year many changes had occurred. Farmers raised good wheat crops, but there was big trouble in New York City and the depression was on its way, with wheat at 25 cents a bushel. There was much more about the county in this publication that would be of interest to anyone who has lived here for many years. I would loan the material to anyone who would like to read it. However, I would demand that you leave your youngest grandchild with me as assurance that I get the article returned to me. FFF Now here is a more modern item written by Dave Barry that most folks have noticed lately. “Can young people wear their pants any lower? Their waistbands are now at approximately knee level. Where will this trend end? The shine? The feet? Will young people eventually detach themselves from their pants altogether and just drag them along behind, connected to their ankles by a belt? FFFF P.O. Box 278 |