Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-08-19
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IMPROVEMENTS IN TIE WEST.

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IMPROVEMENTS IN TIE WEST.
Bridging the NIissouri-Aka nsas CITY
md LcnveMwOrth-Farm -.sJoy's
KOad-knMsas Pacinc-Pubiic Lands
Prosperity Of Kansas.
Correspondence Now York Tribune.
| Tho first bridge across tho Missouri has
just been completed. opposite Kansas City.
1t cost over 81 100000 and was built under
tho supervision of O Chnnutc, chief engin-
Ger. Seven lines already center ut Kansas
city, making it the most important point
west of Chicago. They converge on tho
low bottom lands above tho town, and pro-
perty in that noighborhood nl-
ready commands $4,000 per acre.
In the city, tho best business
lots, 1875 feet deep, bring from $500 to $500
per front foot. A few months age 4 census
was taken by order OF tho municipal au-
thorities Under tho State laws, if the
town had more than 30, 900 people, 1t could
make II fresh issue OF bonds to aid II much
coveted railroad. By remarkable coinci-
dcncc. the population proved to be 81 900,
and the bonds were issued! l supposed
the inhabitants actually number 25,OUO. =
lIt SItul StlIl ANt\l ~ NisSt pl
grading; and strong jets ofwntcr from hose
a,c now cutting them away inst rs the hills
OF California arc disembowelel by hytlraul-
ic mining.
What shall be the metropolis of the Mis-
souri, Valley? Leavenworth, 30 miles above
Kansas City, Ivy no means gives mp the old
contest. Its site is much better than that
of it's rival. and its population nearly as
largc. Within tho next twelve months too
it will have q bridge across the Missouri, ut
II cost of $4,000 under a contract lust
made with Boomer, of Chicago. by the
time this work is finished, Leavenworlh,
with six radiating railways, will have its
loins girIcd anew for the race. Kansas
can boast of the best retail trade and the
most wealth, but is retarded hy the old,
slow Missouri element. Leavenworth does
the largest wholesale business, md it's peo-
ple are Yankees. At present Kansas takes
the lead, but the final result remains
doubtful.
went 80 miles south to Spring Hill, in
johnson county: Where, ten years ago,
ono saw only ''claim cabins" eight or ten
miles apart, he now finds pleasant houses,
farms which command from $50 to $50 per
| acre in cash, and thriving villages which
echo the brakemau's cry of ''twenty min
utes for breakfast. It is ono of the richest
regions in the Union. Last fall new
oats in the field sold at 10 cents a bushel,
and corn at SO. Now oats bring from
so to GO cents, and corn 81. 1
saw cottonwood trees only 10 years
old 81 feet high, with trunks II inches in
diameter, and black walnuts and naples of
the Same ago half Us large. Farms of a
| thousand acres are not uncommon. In
deed corn or wheat field of hundred
acres does not excite the least attention
anywhere in Kansas. Between Wyandotte
and Lawrence the other day think our
| train ran for five miles through one un-
broken corn track.
"Joy's Railroad"-ambitious named
the "Missouri Valley, Fort Scott, and Gulf
| of Mexico passes through johnson Co.
It is completed for 40 miles south OF Kan
sas City, and within the next year it will be
far down toward the Indian Territory. The
people on the Neutral Lands, led by dem
agogues, present the unprecedented spec
taclc of q new community fighting q rail-
road which is coming toward it. Thew ro-
ceive no sympathy in Central Kansas. They
had no shadow oflcgal right to settle there.
and the policy of the Government, in per-
hitting them to retain their lands at from
$3.50 to SIS per acre was very liberal.
James L. Joy Of Detroit, President Of
the Michigan Central, is large owner in
the Boston and Albany, New York Central,
Great Western of Canada, Michigan Cen
trail, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and
Hannibal md St. Joseph, as well as this
new Kansas road. His aim is to secure
one unbrokcn line, Of uniform gauge, from
Boston to Galveston, Texas-a work sec.
ond only to the Pacific Railway in magni-
tude and Importance.
The Kansas Pacific Company is building
its line to Denver, and laying the founda-
ton for n heavier local traffic than any of
our Pacific roads. Already between Ran
sas City and junction City, 139 miles, four
north and south lines IRE building across
it: l. 'Joy's Road" already completed, 40
miles to Paola. 2. The Leavenwo1th tn, Law
renee, and Galveston, now running from
Lawrence % miles south to Ottawa. 3.
The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe, fin
| ished from Topeka southwark, 18 miles to
Carbondale, where it reaches the richest
| coal beds in Kansas. L. The South
Branch of tho Union Pacific, starting from
junction City southeast toward Emporia
and Fort Scott. All open exceedingly rich
regions, and will prove invaluable feeders.
These are only few of the new Kansas
lines. Everywhere throughout the State
railroads are beginning, and all the coun-
ties are issuing bonds to aid them. An
enormous immigration is flowing in from
the Middle States, New England, Canada,
Germany, and Sweden. AS the new set
tiers are we'll supplied with money
times are flush. Kansas already con-
tains 400, 900 people. No other State in
the Union is growing so fast, and mono has
| fairer future. The old attempts to fasten
slavery upon her through violence will tell
upon her political character for MI coming
time. Not even Massachusetts is more in
tense in its republicanism. At the last
Presidential election many townships and
their every vote for Grant and Colfax
Ispent night among old friends at the
beautiful city of Topeka, which now has a
population of 5000. Ono wing of the new
State House-of Junction City sandstone
will be ready for the Legislature next
winter. 1t costs only 100000, and the
rest of the building is not to be completed
until the state grows richer.
A good deal of Kansas land is still held
in large tracts. Among other heavy pro-
prietors, Thaddeus II. Walker, Of New
York, owns 100000; -. King, of Clevc-
land 10000; Col. G. W. Veale, of Topeka
1900, and J. G. Aver & Co., Of Lowell,
Mass, some 10000. A million of acres,
belonging tc the Kansas Pacific Railway,
are also in market They are sold
through the National Land Company,
m organization subsidiary to the railroad
corporation and under the general manage
ment of William Z. Webb, Of Topeka In
his Office huge, shaggy buffalo head on
the wall frowns down vpon the visitor
Along this road, in summer, one may
ride tor a hundred miles, hardly ever losr
ing sight of tho bnfalocs; and trains
are often compelled to stop for them
The buffalo who tries to butt loco
motive off the track may not be a prudent
brute, but tho locomotive that don't halt
for him is equally rash. For my own part
an u new and therefore Jealous convert
to the doctrine Of fencing railroads
against butf,locs in Kansas, against elc-
plants III India, and against cattle every
where. Since our experience ut Laramie I
never hear the whistle for seattle ahead"
without strong desire to be allowed to get
ont and walk.
Strange Disturbance in Ireland.
The London Daily Telegraph gives the
following account OF n disturbance in the
County Wexford: The young Marquis of
Ely, minor, has estates in this county,
which he lately visited, accompanied by his
mother, the Marchioness. Their presence
was, as usual, the occasion of local fet s;
their tenants received them with enthusi-
asnl, and call went merry as n marriage
bell" AT one of tho .tetes tho people,
toward the close of tho day, gathered
around their young landlord, and cl,ccrcd
him Justify. The Marquis agent, u
Mr. Hare stood bv his si1e. and the