The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1861-12-12
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
LAWRENCE, KAN, Dec. 7th, 1866

| DEAR UNION oN:-Owing to the many
pressing affairs of business which haye oc.
cupied my time since leaving the fair city Of
Junction, l have been unable to write you.
This morning, for the FIRST time since my
departure am possessed of leisure sufficient
to allow of writing a letter, and all l need
is the material out of which to manufacture
the missive. No incident has occurred as
yet to mar the pleasure of my trip, or fur
nish an item for your readers.
At Topeka, the people were in excellent
spirits over their success in getting the
Capital. The time intervening since this
grand acquisition, has, of course, been too
limited to admit of improvements, though
we observed preparations making by many
for building. The grass which has been SO
long undisturbed, is now trodden down in
the principal street, and the " loving herd'
are compelled to find grazing far out in the
suburbs of the city. A plain dirt road has
been marked out through the town, and eff
forts are making to extend it beyond the
city limits. Visitors will not find it diff
cult 10 get in or out of the Capital, proyid-
ing they've got no money.
Already frst-class saloon has been es-
tablished there, and rumor was current that
a blacksmith shop would soon be opened.
The benefits derived from this last men
toned enterprise, it is presumed will be in-
calculable. Should the State fail in getting
money to buy boots for the Legislature, it
is proposed to have them shod at the "new
blacksmith shop" The "new minister"
has arrived there. He came in on " boss
back and is reported as favorably impress.
ed with tie condition Of things, s,-which in-
cludes salary and perquisites. Jake Smith
keeps the finest Tinshop in Topeka. He
takes all kinds of rags in exchange for
goods, excepting Lawrence bank bills. BY
way of joke, Jake says he prefers " his
own tin" As an inducement to the trade
in Western Kansas, Jake offers to trust
every man in that section. Kellam Bros.
have been erecting fine brick structure on
the sunset side Of the dirt road. Their in-
creasing drug business has made this rash
step necessary. The new establishment is
i" bigger'n all out DOORS" The newspapers
are making "live." At the Tribune We
found matters getting on swimm;ngly.-
Cummings is getting fat and Shepard 'aint.
But both are fast becoming immensely
rish. Cummings has been building a new
dog-kennel, and bought a fresh plug of nail
rod the day before 1 arrived. "Shep" talks
insanely about enlarging the Tribune some
time within the present century. A new
subscriber has been awarded them By the
City Council for their tremendous services
in securing the Capital at Topeka. This
makes their total subscription twenty mine.
Ross Of the Record is taking breathing
spell. He oyer-exerted himself during the
campaign, and wants four weeks to Iecuper-
ate. Shouldn't wonder if some of his de-
inqueut subscribers could facilitate his re-
We found Lawrence call our fancy paint
ID her," If there is beautiful point in
Kansas, this is it. Real Estate is selling
lere for higher prices than is realized for
econdrate junction property. Missouri
efugees Of sable hue are very abundant.
The Journal still brea:hes, or blows-at
east, Trask does. As was feared by the
'eople here, the Republican survives the
efeat Of Speer for the Senate. The El-
ridge House still continues to be the best
lotel in America. This house has been
ewly renovated, and every door has been
rnamented, SO report says, with magui6-
lent gilt lettered placard, set in gutta-per-
ha frames, announcing the pleasing intelli-
ence that sold man trust is played cut en-
rely" The Eighth Reg. Kan. Vol. are
tationed here, under Col. Vessel, which
ives the city quite martial appearance.
)ur old townsman, the Hon. ]. B. Wood
'arh, now Surgeon of the Kansas Eighth,
! lying on his back at the Eldridge, suffer
,g from severe hurt in his leg, caused by
'lling up or down stairs when he was sober
[e will recover, in time. Ii
Winter has made himself felt hereabou.s. I
our inches of snow fell three or four days
90 j; but at the present writing has entire I.