The Kanzas news., 1858-07-31
Down the Neosho.


friend. We took passage behind slow horse.
in dilapidased buggy, for 0ttumwa, situs-
ted about twenty-five miles southeast of
Emporiss on the Neosho. The objects of
the trip were TO attend railroad meeting to
be held at Ottumwa on the next day, and
take view of the country, crops, ETC.
Leaving Emporia at about four o'clock p.
II. We passed down the divide between the
Neosho and Cottonwood, nearly to the
junction. when turning to the right, we
crossed the Cottonwood near Esquire Bal
iey's, and about quarter of mile below
the new Steam Mill of the Baker Brothers.
The word .sdivide" to most personsac con-
veys the idea of an extremely elevated ridge,
usually uninhabited, from the scarcity of
water, remoteness from timber, thinness of
soil, etc. But the divide over which we
passed, between Emporia and the Junction
of the Neosho and Cottonwood, bears not
the slightest resemblance in character to
divides generally. It is not SO high, is
more level, and susceptible of the highest
cultivation, as the large fields of waving
grain growing along it will testify. Many
of the settlers living on the divide have
erected for themselves comfortable frame
dwellings, around which are presented evil
dences of taste and thrift unusual in so
new country. The claims are all occu
pied, and almost every one under cultiva-
ton. After crossing the Cottonwood as
above mentioned, we came into broad,
level bottom from one to three miles in
width, on which grows most luxuriant
growth of grass, in many places FIVE and
six feet in height Many of the settlers in
this bottom are new corners, and less i'm
provement has been made generally on this
side the stream. But they are not far be-
hind, and another year this bottom will
"bloom and blossom as the rose" We no.
ticed that those who could built their hous-
es on the high lands beyond the bottoms,
and that in the center of the bottoms there
were no houses. We think this is but fol-
lowing the dictates of prudence, as all ex-
perience has shown that to enjoy good health
one must be free from the miasma of the
low grounds, and in situation where the
brezes have full play.
We are now in Madison county, and as
we drive along in the direction of Florence
we recognize the residences of some of the
most prominent and respectable citizens of
the county, among which we may mention
Messrs. Bailey, Mitchell, Harvey, and 9TH
ezs. About three miles from the crossing
OF the Cottonwood, we come TO the Neosho
opposite Florence, and below the Junction
about two miles. The stream here is broad
er and deeper than above. We cross. and
coming to the top of the hill on the other
side are on the town site of Florence
This is almost entirely town in prospect, :"
much difficulty having been experienced in
regard to the title of the site which we are
glad to say has now ali been settled, and the
site pre-empted. The location is beautiful
one and possesses many advantages. Near
the center of the site, Mr.. F. r. Page, one
of the proprietors, has erected large frame
hotel which viii soon be ready for occupa-
ton. There are also several other buildings
on the site, and arrangements have been
made for the early construction of two
store houses for the accommodation of the
trade of the neighborhood. A vein of ex-
eellent stone coal has been opened short
distance north Of the site, and we should
think that so far as position and advantages
generally are concerned, Florence stands as
good chance to become town of impor-
tance as any other in this portion of Kanzas.
1t was nearly dark when we left Florence,
and Ottumwa was good twelve miles
ahead. Through ignorance of the route
we took the bottom road which we found
about half under water, and nearly all of it
in next to impossible state. However,
after various mishaps, such as getting stuck.
breaking our s'go-hicle." ETC., we arrived at
Ottumwa about midnight, and shortly after
our arrival we found ourselves snugly en-
sconced in ''bed of down. at the Ottum-
wa House, kept by Mr.. James Harris. And
while We are in the way of it we viii speak
a good word for friend Harris and his hotel.
There are few hotels in Kanzas that will
compare in size or accommodation with this
one, and then the traveller is allowed to car
~ away enough money to pay his bin at the
next place. the ''skinning process" being
entirely unknown to friend Harris.
The country between here and Ottumwa
is similar in character to that along the Up
per Neosho-the bottoms are of about the
same width and the timber is about the same
quantity. Comparatively few prairie claims
have been taken, but ali those having tim
L.. ora aoouniad 0x.z.- ohsoz..af ten. ho;,c-