The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-03-22
IFOr The EmpOria News.
what has been Accomplished!

our representatives IN the late Legislature
accomplished for the advancement of the
material interests of our county 90 allowme
to sag. in the fret place, that the traitorous.
lengthy and odious name which our county
bore (Breckinridge), was changed to the
short, easily written and :. loyal name of
Lyon-in honor of the General who. while
leading the Kansas Second Regiment in a.
desperate charge At the battle. of Spring
field, lost his life; at which time and place,
Trask, Burt, Hammil and Miller, in the
same regiment. citizens of our county, also
fell. The propriety and reason of the change
must .be..apparent to all. No General ever
sacrificed more for his country than Lyon.
no General against this rebellion has been
as highly complimented by Congress, the
Government and the people, as Lyon. For
our safety, here, he endangered and finally
lost his life-preYiously willing to the Gov
eminent his large property. All be was, all
he had, all he ever expected to be or to
have, be threw down at the feet of Govern
ment for our protection. His energetic
campaign in Missouri. no doubt. prevented
Kansas from being overrun; and the nam
ing of our county after him is but small
tribute of respect to his memory by loyal
and patriotic community.
A law was passed. setting apart Wash
ington Park, in Emporia, for county build
ings. That the county seat will remain at
Emporia, may say, ''for all time, - there
is not much doubt Before many years the
county will of necessity be compelled to
erect buildings; and, had not this park been
set apart for the purpose named, the county
would some day have had to purchase a
site. By this act, about three acres of
land, near the center of Emporia, worth,
according to the assessed value of lots
around it, one thousand dollars, have been
transferred to the county-a saving to the
tax payers of no small amount, besides Sc
curing an eligible place, convenient to the
business part of town, for the transaction OF
all county business.
The question as to whether twelve miles
of Madison county belonged to this, was
settled in our favor, and law passed trans
ferring to this county all books, papers, etc..
which of right belong here. In the settle
ment of this question, we have added to our
county large agricultural, tax paying, in
dustrious, energetic, temperate community,
which, with all of US, must be equally ben
Gifted by the change. We have now the
largest and Que of the best agricultural
counties in the State, with no debt hanging
over it, nor anything to prevent it from
ranking, in every respect, among the first
counties in Kansas.
We shall hereafter have in the Legisla-
Iature from this county three Representa-
tives and one Senator. The Representatives
being elected from three separate districts
in the county-each district electing its
own Representative - completely cuts out
and entirely does away with the ''local
strife which has heretofore entered into all
our elections, at sacrifice, too often. of
principle, as well as the general interests of
the county.
The claims of this part of the State for
the University were so urged as to prevent
its location at Manhattan, where, on account,
principally, of the large offer made to the
State. nearly all thought it would be located.
For reasons, which would occupy too
much space to give, Emporia noU stands a
better chance for this desirable institution
of learning. than any other point claiming it.
Other things have been accomplished, of
immediate importance to the county, which
might be mentioned but it is perhaps
enough to say, that our '.local strife'' is
over-our county greatly enlarged site,
free of cost to the county, for its public
buildings, secured-its permanent repre-
sentation increased-and its prospects for
future favors very flattering. indeed. So far
as local legislation is concerned, who could
have accomplished more than this, or who
expected more than this to be accomplished?
A number Of bills, important to the citizens
of our county, were 'swamped'' with about
one hundred others, for want of time to
pass them. Had it not been for the frauds
committed upon the State by its principal
officers. and the consequent loss Of time in
legitimate legislation, to investigate them.
many Of these important bills would bave
become laws-our statutes would have been
more complete, and the interest of the State
more thoroughly promoted. E.
Little Ross Of the Topeka Stale Record.
and others. committed great frauds on the
Topeka city treasury, on account of the late
canvass for the State Capital. He tried to
get the people of that city to indorse them
at the recent municipal election, but the
anti fraud ticket was elected by quite q