The Kanzas news., 1858-08-21
Prom Emporie to Kansas City and
back


pany with mercantile friend, I took s trip
via Lawrence and Wyandot to Kansas City, ;,
and thence home via Minneoia. The first
day We dined with our friend Nickel, at
Waterloo, about sixteen miles from Empo-
ria; and while I am speaking of it viii just
remark that at no place on our entire route
was our "inner man" better cared for than
at Waterloo. From Waterloo to the town
of Superior, in Weller county, is about six
teen miles in northeast direction. Thence,
after dinner. We went. passing over the road
recently laid out from Superior to Elm creek,
and found it to be superior in most respects
to the one usually travelled to Burlingame.
Arrived in Superior about four O'Clock
turned our horses out TO Craze until we
could get some supper. The new hotel was
not yet finished, but We procured good
supper at private house. While IN town
l visited my old friend Shurtleff, of Leav-
enworth Constitution memory-found him
in the enjoyment of health and plenty
Saw also Mr.. A. B. Bartlett, agent of the
Superior Town Company, who had short
time previous removed TO Superior from
Wyandott. Sorry to find him very i'll with
the fever. Superior has grown some this
season. In few weeks it will have the
largest Hotel in Southern Kansas open
ed for the travelling public. A good brick
yard is in successful operation, and several
new brick buildings are in process of erec--
ton. The site of Superior is good one
sufficiently elevated to be healthy. Good
water is readily obtained at moderate depth.
The bridge across Dragon creek which was
swept away by the late high water is about
to be rebuilt. When it is completed the
main travel from Emporia to Lawrence
and the river viii undoubtedly pass through
Superior.
After supper we remounted and started
for DR.. Woods, on Waukarusa, twelve
miles distant--passing through Burlingame.
two miles north of Superior, and crossing
Switzer creek at that point. From Switzer
creek to Waukarusa ne saw no timber of
any consequences. The prairie was beauti-
fully undulating and no doubt very fertile,
but the settlements as yet hug the timber;
although believe the day is not far distant
when they will all be covered with homes
occupied by an intelligent. industrious peo-
pie. About nine O'Clock we arrived at DR..
Woods, on the Waukarusa, where we halt
ed for the night. In the morning, on look
ing around from the elevated position on
which the Dr's. house stands we could see
a considerable distance on either hand To
the west about three miles was Brownville.
whose buildings were now gilded by the ri
sing SUM-. And as far as the eye could
reach in all directions, it rested upon 6elds |
of waving grain and pleasant homes
This neighborhood is one of the oldest and
most intelligent communities in Kansas
From the Waukarusa we directed our
course to Big Springs, on the California
road, about twenty-five miles distant The
road for the most part was over a divide.
with but little timber along the route, and
the country was rather thinIy settled, with
less evidence of thrift than we had met
with the day previous. About eleven
o'clock We arrived in Big Springs. famed
as being the point at which was initiated
the Free State movement three and half
years ago. and the adoption of the Big
Springs Platform. It is now almost de-
serted, with no prospect but that of decay |
/
springs of pure water which are found, one
on the north and the other on the east side |
of the site. The town was laid out about
four years ago, by w. Y. Roberts and 9TH
ers as the site for the future Capital of
Kansas.
From Big Springs to Lawrence is fifteen
miles and to Lecompton FIVE miIes-the
two roads diverging from this point. My
business called me By the way of Lacomp-
ton and my friend was bound direct to Law
renee. so we parted here. / arrived in |
Lecompton about noon. The town was
even drier than usual. But few persons
were in town for the purpose of pre-empt-
ing. The saloon keepers were iounging
around and drumming up cusiomers.-
Whisky was dulI--and poor. About two
O'Clock 1 completed my business and start
ed for Lawrence, distant twelve miles, arri-
ing there about FIVE O'Clock.
Lawrence is decidedly .edull;" but little
is going on. and the mer-
chants generally complain of '.hard times"
Billiards and '.juleps" appear to "fow free
ly''-enough to keep the blood from stag
mating and small change circulating. In
the evening listened few minutes to Den
ton. the s.Geological InfdeI." who held |