The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-04-23

Il HU1ES EBOA HE EpUHTKX.
PLEAsAHTvIHW, Arr. 80 see.
ED. NKws: In eomplianee with your on.
repeated request that perSons IN different parts
Of the country conmunicate to the TaH NEWS
anything Of interest regarding improvement
crops, what the farmers are doing, their pros
peets, etc.. shall endeaVOr 70 sEate a corrscf.
~ a possible what knowledge possess con.
corning matters and things ln this locality.
Some Of the largest and best cultivated farms
IN the eounty-oWned by industrious and pros.
porous farmers-are In this vicinity, and be-
caase nothing has yet been said about them
1 am induced TO make this attempt, believing
that they are worthy Of mention. But before
wandering further il may be a. well TO make
known the locality we are aIluding to.
Well, the writer's place Of residence Is called
by himself) "PIeasantview." II Is situated
on gentle eminence, commanding view of
the surrounding country for mIles--in the
midst Of broad, rich pasture where nu.
merous herds annually graze-wifh ''wOods,
hills and fields close by" Flanked On one
side by beautiful tributary Of the Neosho,
the latter stream being a mile southwark, IL IL
about as pleasant and desirable . site a. can be
found. The place we speak Of Is In Fremont
township, school district No. p, and we shall
eonfine our remarks to Affairs within the dis
trict.
The advent Of Spring is hailed with joy by
all The birds welcome it with gladstone songs,
and with feelings Of pleasure and thankful
ness the farmers are busily engaged with their
spring work. Nature Is smiling on every hand
green fields, and forests budding forth in
spleudor, are few Of the attractions thst sur
round the ruraIist's home and tend to make it
cheerful. The prairie presents q beautifully
Verdant aspect, the grass being large enough
to afford subsistence for stock and cattle are
fast improving in condition. In short. every
thing is lovely in the country, and naught
discouFages the 'hOnest tiIler,p or threatens
90 bright his prospects.
The conveTging point and most important
place in the neighborhood IL the district school
house, on the Lawrence road, near the Neosho
It is II large stone building with green window
blinds. and Is capable Of seating eighty or a
hundred scholars comfortably. It was erected
and furnished at cost Of $4,000, in all. and
the entire debt contracted in its building has
been fquidated, and there ara now over
$500 in the hands Of the Treasurer; be-
sides, the district owns valuable lands. The
school house is inclosed with tight bDard
fence. inside Of which, this spring, one hum
dred maple trees have been planted. While
the people enjoy all these educational advan-
tages it is not likely that the interest already
manifested in that particular will abate. In
size, finish and adornment Of grounds, this
school house is not surpassed by any in the
county, outside of the towns.
The spring term Of school is now in session.
and between 40 and so scholars are In attend
ance; quite large number, considering the
business Of the season. Miss H. Louise Gill
lette, of the Normal School, l. teaching
here, and we are informed that her manner
ofimparting instruction to the youthful rustics
is ereditable and satisfactory. A large and
interesting Sabbath school is conducted here
under the superintendent Of MIR.
A. Blackburn, of Emporia, and occasionally
there Is religious service.
+. A. Cowles, near the school house, has late
ly put up frame stable 2lx24 feet, that will
twelve horses. 1t is the largest
and best stable in this vicinity, and shows that
Mr.. c. takes care of horses. He has let the
contract for building a two-story frame barn,
or granary) to be 26x40 feet, in which to store
the products of his farm. It is to be substan-
tial building, and will surpass any similar one
in this part of the country. He has also erect
ed an addition to his residence, planted fruit
and shade trees, and otherwise improved his
premises.
On the old Rinker farm, Mr.. Wells and his
six sons-every one Of whom are able to do
farm wOrk-six brawny, laborious and will
boys--are busily engaged in fenc-
ing more land and repairing things generally.
There is not better farm in the county than
this A hundred acres are fenced; 80 bushels
of spring wheat were sown this season, and
it promises good yield. On this place is =
peach orchard Of several hundred trees, that
last year grew an abundance Of fruit-more
than the whole neighborhood could consume;
but such will not be the case this year, as 1t
seems most Of the blossoms were winter
killed. The place has been owned by Mr.. Wells
but short time, yet very perceptible change
in its appearance is visible, and In .
year or two the original owner would not
recognize it.
Adjoining the Wells place on the east are
John HammOnd's patches" containing in all,
240 acres Il believe,) under fence. This is q
farm worth speaking of; the greater portion Of
it is broken up; spring wheat is growing on 60
acres, and may add, it is the best have seen
this season. 1t was planted with drill, early,
and the probability is that it will yield rich
return. ''Bill' Hammond manages the place.
He takes to farming with good grace, and his
industry shows itself in many ways.
North Of Hammond's, Peter Bishop has
nice fOrty-acre farm; part Of it is sown with
spring wheat, which is doing well. Heis add
ing room to his dwelling. Mr.. Bishop follows
coopering, and makes = superior quality of
barrels, casks, etc.
Further east, on Plum creek, lies the farm
of r. b. Plumb, managed by Geo. Plumb. The
fields have been enlarged considerably within
the past year, and there are now 125 acres I'M
der pillow; 80 acres Of spring wheat and 20 of
oats, all fiourishing finely. They have between
400 and 500 head of sheep and 70 head OF cattle.
StOek-raising has paid well on this place.
Up the creek, northward, are the joint farms
Of r.. G. and VIM. Gilmore. Their farms have
been largely increased in size lately, and now
contain a hundred acres, fenced; IS acres Of
spring wheat and about the same Of oats, prom
Use to yield good crops. They have about 60
head OF cattle, and raising stock is beginning to
he a profitable business for them. On r. CPS
farm is thrifty orchard Of 80 apple trees aud
80 peach, nearly all bearing, and grape vines,
cherry trees, gooseberry bushes, straw berries,
etc., without number.
shall pursue my observations further, ere
long, and report. @I%M~R%.
COTTONWOOD BRIDGE.-A petition has been
presented TO the Town Board asking them to
make an appropriation of money sufficient in
amount to pay the interest on the county war
rants for one year to secure the immediate con-
struetion Of the bridge across the Cottonwood
south Of town. 1t was generally understood
when the bridge proposition was voted on that
one Of the three bridges should be built each
year. The Neosho bridge was ordered first,
and now the Commissioners propose to build
the Cottonwood bridge this season instead Of