The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-08-07
Prom tie Emporse Ss,e..
From me upper Heo.hO.

IhIP " THE 0EOSHO AND ROCK
CREEK.-About three weeks since, taking
advantage of a few leisure hours, We
mounted pony and made flying trip to
Judge Bakers, at the Rock creek crossing
of the Santa Fe Road, about twenty-five
miles north west from Emporia We
crossed the Neosho about two miles from
town at Hicks ford, and went up the
north side of the stream to the mouth of
Rock creek. View much pleased with
the evidences Of thrift and enterprise we
saw on every hand. Where, one year
ago, there were but few settlers, and little
or no improvement, there is now large
population, highly cultivated farms and
comfortable dwellings. There is no land
in the country richer or better adapted to
farming than that of these Neosho bot
toms. They are wider, too, than even
the Kaw river bottoms. The crops of all
kinds invariably looked well, although
but Just recovering from the effects of the
rains and flood of the week previous,
which, in some places, covered the entire
bottoms. The winter wheat had all been
cut; the yield of this crop will be large.
About nine miles from Emporia we
came to Americus, a town which was laid
out one year ago by company of enter
prising men living along the Neosho.-
There are now several buildings on the
site, including an excellent hotel, which is
owned and kept by Mr.. Wesley Thomp-
son, who knows well how to cater to the
wants of the sinner man." in an accepta-
BILE manner. Mr.. T. is deserving of sue
cess. The town site is very good 6ne,
commanding an extensive view of the
surrounding country The proprietors of
the town anticipate the location of the
county seat at this point, at some future
time. Good water is readily obtained
here by digging moderate depth. After
stopping few moments in Americus, we
rode on toward our destination, crossing
two small creeks which empty into the
Nensho, before we arrived at the mouth
of Rock creek, where resides Mr.. Goddard,
the Sheriff of the county. This is on
what is known as the Kaw Indian Reser-
vation. Mr.. Goddard settled here over
two years ago. when the Indians had no
claim to the land. Their claim to Reser-
vation 20 miles square, including the
place claimed by Mr.. Goddard, was of a
later date and is in violation of the treaty
made between them and the General Gov
ernment. Their illegal claim will doubt
less be set aside, and the settlers allowed
to pre-empt their land. The doubt and
uncertainty in which the case is involved,
however, retards improvement of all kinds
Every timbered claim on the Reserve is
occupied. The settlers are generally in
telligent and good citizens and were all
doubts in regard to their homes removed,
| this part of the country would present a
vastly different appearance. Much has
been done, however, as the large fields of
grain on every hand attest. Crossing Rock
creek opposite Mr.. .Goddard's, and near its
mouth, we went up the west side to Judge
Bakers, distance of about eight miles.
We found the Judge at home and busy
repairing the damage done to his improve
ments by the recent flood Rock creek
raised about twenty feet in few hours,
the water sweeping over the bottoms,
carrying everything before it. The rise
was so sudden that no one was prepared
|
rain commenced falling, the water came
into the house of Judge Baker, which is
more than twenty feet above usual water
mark, to depth of about one foot ard
swept all over his farm, carrying away the
fencing from around seventy-6ve acres,
destroying his crops almost entirely. The
fall was as sudden as the rise In twenty
11fa ~
house, it had fallen so much as to leave
it entirely, and in less than three hours it
was entirely off the place. In four hours
after the flood, its presence could scarcely
have been told here, as the fences had all
been replaced. Mr.. Sewell, living near
Mr.. Bakers, suffered severely from the
| flood. The water came into his house so
suddenly as to allow him no time to secure
his furniture before leaving, and it was all
swept away. Others also suffered severely.
After remaining a few hours at Judge
Bakers, and partaking of his hospitality,
we returned speedily home, arriving late
in the evening of the same day, conside-
rably fatigued in body, but refreshed in
mind.
We could hardly realize the improve
ment which had been made within the
last year along the route we travelled, and
it is equally true of this portion of Kan
sas generally. Even to one who has wit
messed it all as it has been made piece by
piece, the aggregate is astonishing. Yet
the country is not all taken up" Thou
san Is of desirable claims are yet untaken
in this county alone and this is equally
true of all the adjoining counties. They
are fast being taken, however, and in q
short time the aggregate of population tc
the square mile will equal that of the
most favored districts of the older States
THE CELEBRATIoN-The celebration oi
the Fourth in this place, on Monday
the 9Th instant, passed off pleasantly tc
all concerned. The day was auspicious
Early in the morning the citizens began
to come in, and by the time the exercises
commenced, at least one thousand people
thronged the streets of Emporia. To most
persons, the number was astonishing
The notice was short and not extensively
circulated; the people generally have but
| little time to spend away from home, and
it was supposed that from the operation
of these causes there would be but small
turn out About eleven o'clock the exer.
cises in the speaking bower commenced
Mr.. L. D. Bailey, President of the day
made few appropriate remarks to the
audience, after which Rev. Dir. Lloyd
opened the exercises with prayer. After
the reading of very interesting poem
prepared for the occasion, Mr.. Bancroft
read the Declaration of Independence
The President then introduced Judge II
F. Conway, the Orator oss-zhe day, to the
audience, in few mplifAshtary remarks
The Judge prefaeed his Grafton with a
few remarks in regard to the country
i. which he had now for the first time visited
spoke of the rapid advancement in
wealth AID population which was taking
place in Kansas, and the glorious future
4 ixrn nsnh L