The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-02-14

pareS faYOrGbiy with any other of the new
| points in relation to stock growing hereafter.
Emporia, Feb, II, 1863.
Town of Americas and Surround
ing Country.
Americas is a small town on the Up
per Neosho. 1t was laid out in the sum-
mer of 1857, on as fine site as any prair-
lie town in the State. The Kaw lands
comprising some of the finest in Lyon
county, are situated about half a mile
northwest of Americas. In consequence
of this nearness to an Indian Reserva-
ton, it has not improved as fast as it
would had the Indian lands, so near by,
| been available for settlement. There
are fifty thousand acres of this land in
| Lyon county, yet unsettled, a great pOr-
| ton of which is good farm land. A
| treaty has already been signed by the
Indians and is now awaiting the ratifi-
cation of Congress for removing
them farther south, throwing open to
presumption every even section of these
| lands. After the pending treaty is rat
| flied we anticipate large immigration
to this part Of Lyon county, which will
| be great benefit to this town.
Americas is nine miles west of north
| of Emporia, the county seat of Lyon
county, in the center of as fine piece
OF country as the sun ever shone upon.
1t is within l Il miles of the Ncosho riv-
er, on the west side. and is Immediately
on the line of the Union Pacific, South
crn Branch Railroad.
| Crops in this vicinity the past year
| were good. Some of the farmers claim
to have raised eighty bushels of corn to
the acre, while the general average claim
ed was about fifty bushels per acre.
Wheat was not quite on an average with
former crops, owing to the grasshop-
pers, which were very numerous in the
fall of sc. They were so plenty that
many did not sow fall wheat at all. and
they destroyed portion of that which
was sown. Vegetables are abundant,
| such as potatoes, turnips, beets, &c.
Coal in large quantities and fair quail
/ ity has been discovered within four
miles, on the south of town. and also
on the northeast, within three and a
half miles. Timber is quite plenty,
enough at any rate to supply the de-
mand until the Railroad gets into oper-
alton. Stone for building purposes,
both sand and Ii me abounds on
nearly every section in the township, or
| near enough at least to be available to
every quarter, without hauling over
q mile.
Experienced brick makers say that
material for brick is abundant on the
town site. Wood is only So a cord, de-
liVered.
Water! This is one of the best To-
cations in the State for good well water.
We only have to dig from % to 81 feet
anywhere on the town site, to reach wa
ter of the best quality, and never failing.
Some of the farmers near town have
been obliged, after striking water, to
throw in stone to fill up their wells
eight or ten feet before they could be-
gin walling, the water came in with
such rush. Water is invariably found
in vein of coarse gravel, which APP
pears to purify it and make it cool and
pleasant to the taste.
There are three grist mills within
eight or ten miles of town, yet good
grist mill at this point is much needed
by the farmers, and would be paying
institution to the proprietor. There is
a saw mill in operation here now. There
arc two blacksmith shops, and stores
enough to supply the demand, until the
country settles up more. We have
Clergymen and Physicians enough to
prescribe for all the ills of soul and
body.
Americas can boast of having the
|
! Cheese Factory in the State. It's capac-
ity is sufficient to turn out $50 lbs. of
cheese per day. 1t possesses all the
modern improvements and convenien-
ces. The proprietor has the only regu-
| lar down-east constable in the State.
At night his cows are each tied up
where She is sure of her proper feed,
without fear of interruption from the
others This Cheese factory is of as
| 81 80 oil
or institution in the neighborhoOd, in
deed, more so. The farmers for miles
around bring in their milk during the
hot weather and have it made into
| cheese, which is great saving of Ia
Dor as well as of large profit to them.
1t converts the grass lin which this
country abounds) into cash. There is
room for more such institutions in this
country and we hope to- see them.
For the past two years we have had
all excellent district school, as good as
any in the county.
1t has been thoroughly and satisfac-
torily proven that the Usage Orange can
be cultivated to advantage, as hedge
fence In this part of Kansas. There are
now miles of it in the neighborhood,
/ large enough to turn stock.
| Sorghum is raised with eminent sue
cess and profit. Thousands of gallons
| of syrup are made every year in this
| immediate vicinity. of the best quality.
! Fruits of the various kinds are raised
here. giving general satisfaction. There
| is peach orchard on the farm of our good
| friend Thomas II. Stanley, within four
miles of town, which produces several hun
| bred bushels of peaches every year: There
| are also several fine apple orchards just be-
! ginning to bear fruit. In fact. this part of
/ the State will produce anything that any
other State in the Union will. with but few
| exceptions. We have in this locality es-
pecially. vast area of first class grazing
| Iand-grass plenty for stock to feed upon IN
| summer, and still plenty for making hay
| for winter feed, shedding. &c.
| Persons wishing to open up new farms,
| nortunjtv than in this vicinity. There are
| thousands of acres of land of the first quail
| itv in the hands of spectators, who are de-