The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-03-06
A SHORT TRIP SOUTHWEST.
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a ShOht IA1k,FS0uTHWEST.
EMroR11A,. February 22d; 1865. 5
Eleven years ago this morning the
writer stood on tiehigh land near where
the Normal School now stands and
looked for the, first time upon the beau
tiful valley of the. Cottonwood, thinking
then as now, that a leyelier scene never
filled the eye ofa'lover of nature. Then
not sign ofman or his handiwork met
the eye in any direction. Now -four.
ishing town, already growing noisy
with the hum; of, trade, with tasteful
public and private the cotin-
try, as far as the ere can reach, thickIy
kdotfed w7th2coHlfortable farm houses
and rich productive farms. On this
lovely morning, the exact counterpart
of the one eleven years ago, left En-
poria for trip-to the southwest.
In company with, Out. Jovial friend,
Col. Il, Twas rapidly bowlcd over the
road, behind Spanking span of bob
tailed bay "a This is slightly imagina-
tive. Only one of the horses had his mar
alive abreyiated. Ineed not describe
the ride up the Cottonwood valley, or
the many changes which have taken
tpIaceHin a few short years. Arrived at
| Cottonwood Falls in time for an early
dinner, and spent two or three hours in
calling on old acqdaintances, and noting
the many improvements going on i'll
this thriving town. The abundant wa
| ter power at this place is OF great i'm
portance to the future of the town and
country Ca Rritton is putting up a
fine Touring mill, and cannot use one
fourth of The power at his disposal. AT
i ter dinacr an easy drive of ali hour
brought ~ to Bazaar, on-fhe South Fork
of Cottonwood, at the mouth of Rock
creek, and to the house of our old friend
NJ. r. Leonard. The Doctor was not
at home, but We were made welcome
by, his amiable wife. At this point the
Messrs. Manly have just got in work
, ing order find steam saw mill, and are
+ rapidly supplying the neighborhOod
: with good lumber. There iscxcel-
lent water poweE-at, this place, which
Twill ere long be improved. And right
, here let me call the attention of your
; readers to q fact of great Importance
which has been almost entirely over
!, looked in the settlement ofthis country
AS timbercd country is settled and
: improved, the timber cut away, allow
ing the sun and wind to penetrate to tho
= damp soil, many of the, springs and
smaller streams dwindle away, and fl
nally dry up Now exactly the OPP
posite of all this takes place in rolling
! prairie country like this. The reasons
for it are very simple. Our prairie soil
, in state of nature, is almost, impervi
Gus to water, and the heaviest rain j
quickly drained off into the ravines
thence through the smallers streams into
the larger, and SO in a short time it hai
entirely left the country, Disguised will
its inhospitablc reception.
/, Now suppose these vast surfaces
deeply cultiguted and partially shaded
> as they soon will be, by. trees, hedge
and tall-groWing crops. When water
falls on such a surface it immediatel,
penetrates the earth, first through thu
mellow cultivated seil,=next by mean
of the cracksSand cFevices which every
where checker the sub-soil. What be
: comes of ali this Water5 A portion viii
seek the surface as it becomes dry
while the greater part win seek an out
L let OH a lower plane, thus forming sub
a terranean channels, and finally bursting
out in the. form of springs. Thes'
!. springs will gradually feed the small
:. streams, distributing the yearly suppl,
of rain more. equally throughout thu
t year, instead of compelling them to car
!, nv it all off, III two or three months
: The day is not far distant when many
of our little streams, now nearly dry
the most of the year, will furnish surG
and abundant water power for grea
manufacturing State.
-Four miles further up the creek
: against stiff south wind, brings US
9 nearly chol1ed and blinded with dust
< to James S. sAIitchcll's, where we tie vi
Z for the night. Here we find GOOD
: barn. and our horses take to 1T kindly
Il Mr.. Mitchell has ninety acres. in good
cultivatioAgforty of it in wheat, sowed
very late for fear of the grasshoppers
which is new coming up finely, and
p gives promise of a fine crop. A large
e herd of cattle and horses, plenty of hay
t and grain, fine growing orchard, good
$ fences, stone on hand for new house
4 and shade trees in front of the dwelling
4 give, this place the appearance of com.
4 fort and plenty not often attained in sc
8 short time Mr.. Mitchell, of course
: takes THE News.
: Feb. 23d.-This morning the wind
: was sweeping down the valley with
e terrible force, bearing before it such
: dense clouds of dust and cinders from
: the burnt prairies that we concluded to
t keep in doors. After dinner, the wind
t having subsidized, we drove on past fine
r farms and cosy farm houses, five miles
: to MERGERS Spring, where We. left the
d valley and crossed the divide, eight
$ miles toSyeamore Springs at the head
of Walnut creek. Thence our road led
S down the rich and beautiful valley, pasi
!, the deserted town, q beg Pardon,) city
a of Chelsea, nine miles to the house OF
j Hon. G. I, Donaldson, where we were
: Hospitality provided forby Mrs d., hei
g husband being absent sttendiagto them
: terests Of Butler county In the Legis'
J