The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-03-01

ak to seven thousand A few families came
here as early as 1855 but the bulk of its ear
ly seti lers came from the grand army of i'm
migrants Of 1857. Its people are intelligent,
in dnstlious and energetic.
TIMBER AID WATER.
1t has greater number Of streams and more
timber than any county in Southwestern Kan
sas, aud it's surface is less broken and abrupt
In all its valIies is found first class farming
lands. Eight or ten streams run through it in
different directions which afford sloI stock
water the year round, and good we'll water is
found almost everywhere by digging from %
TO so feet.
EpUcATIOSAT ADVANTAGES.
We are furnish Il with the following facts
in regard to the educational condition of the
county, by Rev. G. c. Morse, County Super
intsndent of Schools:
The population of Lyon county is made up
If representatives from all parts of the coun-
try. Though each has his own notions an d
peeuliaFities, all, or nearly all, ars united N
the support of Congress and popular educa
ton. The county. as it we'll my be. is in
tensely 10y al and in favor of Common Schools.
1t is not enough that there be free school, but
it must be a good school, and for this obj eet
money is expended with no sparing hand. Con-
sideriDg all the draw backs that have been ex.
Perieneed the progress made in this direction
Is truly very great. OF the 80 organized dis
tricts in the county IS are supplied with a
comfortable school house, some IF which are
Of superior character, costing from one
thousand to six thousand dollars. Arrange
meLts have also Oeen made for the erection of
eight more the present season, so that every
district Of importance will have a good house
The State Normal SchoO; is located at EN-
Poria and is in furnishing condition. The
influence of this institution In eleVating th c
pOr ular idea of what school should be is
very great, and already contributes lar geIy
the realization of that idea in a greatly i'm
proved class of teachers that are being sen t
forth to their work. Lyon c-unty shares
largely in the benefits of the Normal Sehot ],
and with present progress the tim, is not far
distant when the fIee schools of thi county
will not suffer in comparison VITA those of
any other part of the country.
At Hartford. on the NeoshO, there is an in
stitution known as the Hartford Collegiate In
stitute, u1der the control of the N. E. Church
1t is now under the care of accomplished,
efficient principal, adding much to our educa-
tiOnal facilities.
Value of distri It school buildings, $ls.5l0
Hartford Collegiate Institute, 5000
State Normal School, 1900
Total value of school buildings in the
county. $40, 500
AaRro Cultural SOCIETY.
The Lyon County Agricultural Society is an
Institution which has been in existence sever
al years. Three Fairs have b zen hell, the
last Of which was decided success.
CATTLE AND SHEEP
The farmers of this county are turning thei r
atten ton largely to cattle and sheep growing.
1t is found TO be very profitable. Large herds
and fOcks are owned by many. Wa already
have cattle and sheep OF quality as goo a 5
is found in any of the Western States Fine
stock is greatly on the Increase. Last year
about 1000 head of cattle were sold in this
county for the EaEternmarksts, which brought
into the county somewhere in the .neighbor
hood Of $50 600. Persons East looking up 10
cations for Investments in cattle, sheep, or
any other stock, or in the dairy business cam OF
find better country than this part of Kansas
MARKETS. r.
The immense trade on the great plains lit
tie to the west of US, together with the constan
influx of immigrants has always afforded
good market at fair prices for all the surplus
the equity has raised. We are closer to the
western mines than any other agricultural
country, hence there will always be splen-
did market in that direction Cor oil we ra Use
Lyon county cheese. from tn e factory of P. B
Campbell, at Americas, has already found its
way to Colorado and New Mexico, at big fig
ures to the manufacturer.
STONE. te,a|
The scarcity of timber is com pen stated FOX in
the abundance of building and fencing stone
on almost every quarter sec ton. The best
stone we have seen in the State is the fine white
lime stone, now being used in the eonstruc
tiOn of our county buildings, of which there
is enough in this county to build large city,
RAILROADS.
Ofcourse we have great expect atoms in re-
gard to Railroads. In this respect we ma
fairly say Lyon is better off than her neigh
boring counties. The Southern Branch Union
Pacific travertes this county from vest to east
along the Neosho Valley. This road has
large land grant, and is attracting the mott e
of the people OF the SOuthwestern State
whom it is intended more particularly to ben
eft. All that is wanting to put it upon live
basis is the aid asked for it Of Congress, nd
we have great assurances that this aid will
come before long. In two years the iron hors e
may be steaming down the valley form Fort
Riley for Galveston Bay. We also have good
prospect for road from Lawrence 60 Empo-
ria. This road has a grant of laud and the
counties along its line have voted bonds to aid
in its construction. Other roads are project
e. to this county.
COAL
No coal to amount to anything has
been discovered yet in the county. To the
south twenty miles in Greenwood county, con-
siderable coal has been fouad, and is being
used by come Of Our mechani.s. To the east
Is miles, on the Sac and Fox reserve, c cal ex-
lists in large Quantities near the surface, Will E
it is only thirty miles to the immense coal
fields of OSuge county. 1t is believed, on good
grounds, that coal exists Plentifully in this