The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-02-12
s0UTHRRN KANSAS.
John NJ. Hardin writes as follows t.

John NJ. Hardin writes as follows to
the Lawrence 1ri6nsae from Eurekas
Being engaged at present in travelling
over portion of Southern Kansas for
the purpose of finding miil-seat for q
COMPANY in johnson county, will give
you the result of my observations, for.
the benefit of the anxious thousands who
wish to obtain good homes. l write to
your paper, for the reason that it is de-
voted to the interests and development
of Kansas, and, further, is a welcome
guest IN the homes of thousands who
are interested in this part of the State.
Leaving Hartford, on the Neosho Fiv-
err, which, by the way, is a fourishing
village, counting one hundred voters,
all radical, l proceeded south across
Eagle creek, and travelled mp Four Mile
creek to its head, to examine the coal
beds on Mr.. McCullough's farm. / was
| surprised to see seams of pure coal two
feet thick projecting from the bank,
within six miles of Hartford and Bur-
| lington, that have not yet been worked
or disturbed in the least. One coal bed
| of this kind covers not less than i've
acres
In passing over the ridge that sepa-
rates the Neosho and Verdigris, / no.
ticed that the grass in the raYines was
still green to hight of about four inch
es above the ground, and the cattle and
colts that ranged there appeared to be
in much better condition than those thai
were kept and fed on the farms.
4 The Verdigris valley is covered with
splendid farms, generally of large size
4 My business in this valley was to in.
spect a mill site on farm owned by
Mr.. WATSON, a farmer from Illinois, who
had promised to give the necessary
ground to any company that would
! erect mill. On examining the site
concluded it would answer the purpose
but changed the conclusion Immediately
on being told by Mr.. WATSON that hi
would not take less than $50 per acr,
for the amount necessary Give acres)
On the next farm, Mr.. Long's,) a still
better mill site was found, though tire.
in all were offered, the one at the Fai
} being the best. The company will sool
be down to inspect it and proceed t.
business.
In the twenty-five miles between
: Verdigris Falls and Eureka, on Fai
} River, the valleys of four diferen
streams are crossed, each well-tim bered
: and with pure, uever-failing water
They are lined with fine farms, and wei
} stocked with cattle, sheep and horses.
Arriving at Eureka, find it to be on
of the most fiourishing, pieasantest it'll
towns in this lower part of the State.
A grander valley than this of Fal
River cannot be found. In no place il
Southern Kansas are greater induce
ments offered the farmer, mechanic o
capitalist. The soil of the valley is ex
, cellent, and the yield of grain average
well with other parts of the State. Al
old reliable farmer. who has resided
here a number of years tells me tina
since go the average yield of wheat pc
I acre has been 20 bushels, corn 35, oat
} ! so, spring rye 80 and fall 20. Irish ,po
q tatoes are not very certain crop, bu
. sweet potatoes do well. Cattle can
: raised at comparatively no expense, an,
e do as well as could be asked. Shee
: also do admirably, and do not requir
n to be fed at all at any time of year. Tn
salt for stock and other purposes is oh
tanned from the salt plain, 125 mile
Z southwest, where it can be shoveled u
4 by the wagon load, like sand. TIL
f majority of stock raisers and farmers
}. who came here poor several years age
= are now in independent circumstances
, and are getting rich rapidly.
The town contains one large hote
I the Eureka House, one drug store, on
e hardware store, two dry goods stores
>. one grocery and one newspaper, tn
Eureka Herald, edited by S. G. MeaC
: Esq. The paper. has circulation {
d about five hundred, and appears to b
: fiourishing. There is large stear
o grist mill about completed on the tow
!, site, and an excellent water power mi
on the stream, ten miles below. As al
, evidence of what men can do here,
b will state that one farmer, Mr.. III. G
a Branson, came here a few years ag
:, with $1,000, and now owns a farm {
L 500 acres, adjoining the town, has Ia
: head of native cattle, after selling stoc
s recently to the amount of 5000
o and also has $50 head of sheep. and 2
horses and mules.