The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-12-27
A VISIT TO MANHATTAN.
JUNCTION CRY, December Is, lS6:


EDrroRs UsIoS-Feeling disposition to enjoy
the beautiful December weather with which We
are now blessed. l left Junction City early Tues
day morning in the fast coaches of the Kansas
Stage Company for the pleasant town of Man
haitian, the gem Of the Blue, and the fourishing
county seat of Riley.
The Big Blue, the stream upon which Manhat-
tan is situated, at it's junction with the Kansas,
is decidedly the most beautiful river of the State.
l have travelled it almost from its source to its
mouth, and taking it altogether-its fine, wide,
aluvial bottoms, its luxuriant growth of timber,
its we'll cultivated farms, its fine scenery, but
above all. its clear. sparkling, beautiful water,
renders it one of the most pleasant and delight
full and as it is one day destined to be, one of
the most wealthy vallies of the State, Along
the course of the stream are many excellent and
valuable mill-seats, which must at no distant
day attract to it capitalists desiring to employ
water power in manufactures. In this respect
the Blue is the most valuable of our Kansas
rivers and this advantage is bound to tell in the
future.
Manhattan like other Kansas towns, has felt
the depicting and paralyzing effects of this fra
tracidal war in the number of its men and its
prosperity. But it is good town. we'll supplied
with business houses, and, what is always needed
in q good country, good Touring mill. The
principal business houses are the Messrs. Hig-
ginbothams, j. Pipher d Co., S. H. Wisner l. Co.,
and our good natured German friend, Lewis
Kurt The Mill is owned and run by Messrs
G. R. Barnes L. Co. 1t is in good condition, and
is doing good work. During the past season,
the Messrs. Higginbothams have erected fine
large stone warehouse, the best building of the
kind In this part of the State. They are now
engaged in packing pork, for which they pay
within fraction Of Leavenworth prices.
When peace returns again to bless our land,
and the Leavenworth, Pawnee and Western Rail
road has stretched its iron track to this portion
Of the State, Manhattan is certain to feel their
revivifying influences, and to spring forward on
the road to prosperity with vigor and rapidity.
had an opportunity of conversing, during the
day, with many of the leading citizens of the
town, and / was pleased to find that the feeling
of asperity, engendered by a supposed rivalry
between Manhattan and Junction City, has
almost entirely disappeared. This isas it should
be. Between the two places, twenty miles apart,
and situated in distinct vallies tributaries of the
great Kansas Valley, there are no conflicting or
adverse interests; but, on the contrary, the
strongest possible comfy of interests, which
ought to bind them firmly together, and unite
them in efforts for the improvement and devel
opment Of this portion of the State. The interes,
Of the one place is the interest of the other, and
whatever Will depress the one will depress the
other. Why then should not the two places
eo-operate harmouiously in efforts to develop the
Kansas Valley, and especially the western por
ton Of that valley. and its many and fertile
affluents.
Gen. A. J. Mead is recovering from the effects
Of the late defeat of the Mongrels Thinks Re-
publics are ungrateful, but eontentedly resigns
himself to his fate says the JUNCTION USles is
good paper and ascribes the defeat OF the CnioI
party in Western Kansas to its influence.
In the forenoon of Tuesday. in company will
Judge Pirher, one of the pioneers OF Western
Kansas, visited Bluemont College, situated OF
the outskirts of the town. l have frequently
seen the College building at distance, bu
never before had the pleasure of inspecting it
confess tina: the College. in the size Of th'
building, its fine finish. and its commanding
view, sgreeably surprised me. The College il
situated on Blue Mont. very elevated plateau
EASY Of access. and is surrounded. in the dis
ispee. ty regular smrithestre Of hills an.