The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-02-14
THE sEosHo VALLEY.
Its Railroad Prospects, Towns. Property
Fertility of Soil Etc

From a late number of the st. Louis Repub-
ttedn we clip the following excellent and truth
full talk about our valley, its towns, railroad
prospects, etc. The article was written to the
Republican by Thos. Ellis, Esq, of ST. Louis,
who lately passed through this part of the
State on business tour. He formerly resided
in Kansas, and feels great interest in her
welfare. The letter was written from june
| ton City:
"A trip through the entire southern half Of
Kansas has afforded me an opportunity OF max
! ing many observations IN regard to the growth,
health, climate, railroad enterprises, crops, &C..
some Of which may be interesting to your nu-
merOus readers.
That portion Of Kansas lying south of the
kaw river is acknowledged, L believe, by all
who have seen it, to be the best section oil the
State, not only for producing the various pro-
ducts for which its soil is peculiarly adapted.
but on accoun OF the steady development Of
| its resources, which is operating alike to open
many important avenues Of trade, and people
| that portion OF the State with large and en-
t:rprising population.
The Neosho Valley, which extends from near
/ this place to the southeastern corner of the
state 4 distance Of about one hundred and fifty
miles, is unsurpassed for the richness of its
sJil, the mildness of its climate and the album
dance of its timber; and although but few
years have elapsed since the 1irst emigrant
sought home i'll the valley, to-day it is peo-
| pied by thousands of thrifty farmers, whose
| lands Yield the richest and most abundant har-
vest. Many handsome towns have also sprung
into existence, the growth OF some OF which Is
indeed marvellous. Council Grove is situated
near the head Of the valley, and was once the
most important point in the state.
! The next town is Emporia. which is the
largest and certainly the handsomest in the val
| lev Datween junction City and humboldt. 1t
contains about 800 inhabitants, and Is located
! in one OF the handsomcst sections of the State,
and is surrounded on all sides by rich and
fertile a conctry as man ever beheld. The
town Is situated near the NeoSho river, and
occupies a commanding position. and bids
fair to rival all its competitors III the Valley,
i'll location, interest and Importance. The State
Normal School is located At this place, ami Is a
building which would do credit to any state in
the West: The institution, which owes Its loca-
tiou, ut Enporia, to the energy ana enterprise
Of CCl. &. V. ESkridge of that place. VINO, as
the representative of Lyon county i'll tia LeaslS-
iature for many successive years. laboreG zeal
ously for the accomplishment of this end Is III
f1ourisling condition, and will eventually b.
one OF the most important educational institu-
tons in the State.
The Junction City and Neosllo Valley Rail
road, Cor Union Pacific, Southern Branch
which Is an enterprise now engrossing the at
tention Of the people of this section of the
State, WILL ere many years shall have elapsed,
thunder along the entire length of the Neosho
Valley to its confluence with the Arkansas,
and open up and develop the richest, and, l
verify believe, the handsomest country ON
earth. \ preliminary survey of the route has
been made, and all the necessary arrangements
are now beng perfected, with view Of COM
mencing the work early in the spring. \
company has been fully organized under the
charter, and steps are now being taken to put
the work under contract as speedily as pos
sible.
The road was put under contract last Sep
TENDER, to responsible Eastern capitalists
ED. NEws.l
This road will pass through Council Grove,
Emporia, burlington, Leroy, Neosho Falls and
Humboldt, besides many other smaller towns
in the Valley.
The At>hison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail
road is also an enterprise to which the people
of Southwestern Kansas look with much inter-
est, and, should is construction be established,
Emporia is the point at which it would be like
ly to cross the junction City and NcoSho Valley
road.
Western nan are alive to the importance and
necessity OF railroads, and, although the means
are not here complete them, these enter
prises, by continuous and unceasing agitation.
are brought TO the notice of men Of influence
an. capital, and the work is contaminated.
All along the Neosho Valley the farms, dur
ing the past season, have produced the most
abundant crops. The wheat crop. which in
consequence Of the grasshoppers of last year,
was less than that usually produced, was, not
withstanding, of an excellent quality; and, al
though the present season has been somewhat
unfavOrablc for fall wheat, yet an unusually
large amount has been sown; and. with an
average season, Kansas will next year harvest
an immense quantity Of this important product
of the soil.