The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-03-26

and consequently greatly underestimate
them. This may be illustrated by the
fact that spOrtsmen not accustomed to
the country often shoot at birds 150 or
200 yards distant.
The surface OF the county Is rolling
prairie, intersected with numerous
streams of excellent water, running
southerly and emptying into the Wal
nut river, and eventually into the Ar
kansas river.
The prairie is in some places nearly
level, but nowhere without slope enough
to drain the surface water. Elsewhere
1t Is nndulating. sometimes rising into
knobs, and at the streams some bluffs
are found.
There is very little waste land. 1t lies
entirely west of a chain of semi-mouht-
aims known as Flint Hills. Almost the
whole acreage can be made available for
agricultural purposes. There are no
swamps or other accumulation of stag
nant water in the county, and hence no
malaria, and except in the timber along
the streams, musquitos are unknown.
The soil is rich and deep, adapted to
the growth of almost every variety of
grain and fruit. The bottom lands are
very rich black loam; the uplands are
generally what is known as mulatto soil,
the very best for small grain and fruit,
seems to have been obtained without
even the most superficial experimental
The upland prairie is rich, and wheTev-
er it has been cultivated has produce
| abundantiy. 1t needs only good farm
ing TO enable it to withstand the dry
weather sometimes experienced.
We have an abundance of pure cold
| water. Good springs abound. Wells
are from 10 TO 40 feet in depth, with .
| splendid quality of unfailing water. In
/ the streams. the water is remarkably
clear, pure and sparkling. Even in verv
/ low water, the water does not stagnete,
but is fed by springs in the bottoms of
the streams, which render the water
! cool and excellent for stock.
| The supply of timber is more abund-
ant than in almost any other portion of
| Kansas. 1t is found along all the natur-
al water courses, but perhaps most
abundant on Walnut river. The varie-
/ ties are walnut, blackberry, oak, syc6-
more, cottonwood, etc. If the fires are
| kept out the area will be increased very
/ rapidly.
! OF the wild fruits there are piums,
grapes, gooseberries, ETC., in abundance.
| Coal has been found in various places
but is yet undeveloped. Limestone
abounds in many places splendid quar-
ries can be opened, and an inexhaust-
ible supply obtained for building houses,
| barns, etc.
Gypsum is found in abundance in the
northwest portion of the coanty. It
can easily be made available for pur-
poses of building, it making splendid
cement.
AS for health, this county can COM
pare favorably with any other country
in the world. Chills and fever is found
only among those that have settled near
the streams. Fever and consumption
are almost unknown.
Walnut river is the most important.
1t rises in the southern part of Chase
county and runs little west of south,
very near through the center of the
county, and on in the same direction
nearly through Cowley county into Ar
kansas river. 1t is above 100 miles In
length, and along its whole course an
abundance of good timber is found, and
as fine bottom lands IS the world can
afford.
Whitewater is the most important
tributary of the Walnut. It rises in the
northwestern part of the county, and
flows southeasterly until its junction
with the Walnut, some ten miles south
of the center of the county. The west
branch of the Whitewater. Rock branch,
Dry creek, Gillian creek, Four Mile
creek, and Diamond creek, and some
others, are tributaries of Whitewater.
The following are some of the trib-
utaries of the Walnut: Coal creek,
Duncan creek, Satchel creek, Bernes
creek, Bird creek, West branch, Turkey
creek, and Little Walnut. On all these
| is fine timber and excellent bottom
lands.
EIdorado, the county seat, is young
town of scarce years growth, and yet
it contains % to 30 buildings, some Of
them quite respectable for so new
country. 1t contains at present four
stores, blacksmith shop, q steam saw
mill and corn mill. There are two
practising physicians residents therein.
/ We also have court house of modest
| proportions. EIdorado is very near the
! geographical center of the county.
Chelsea is nucleus for town in the
northern part of the county, some ten
miles northeast of Eldorado.
Towanda, on the Whitewater, is al
most due west from Eldorado, some
eight or ten miles. They have q post
office, store, ere.
Augusta, at the junction of the WAL
nut and Whitewater, is the beginning
of another town. At or near the mouth
of Little Walnut there is a store and
post Office also.
This county is unsurpassed for its
magnificent pasturage. Cattle and
horses fatten very rapidly in the spring,
|
Indeed, both horses and cattle are often
wintered without either hay or grain,
and except when the snow happens to
lie on the ground few days, can do
very well.
Persons who have come from other
States and have put up supply of hay
| for their cattle can hardly understand
why the cattle will not eat it when fed
to them. The truth is there is variety
of grass the frost does not kill, and the
animals get sufficient of that grass to
render their pasturage agreeable, more
SO than hay, the winter through.
Wheat, both fall and spring, has been
successfully raised, as also rye, oats and
corn. Occasionally the grasshoppers
have taken the wheat, but we hope that
trouble is past. Both sweet a:ld Irish
| potatoes do well, especially the former.
Beets, onions, tomatoes, pumpkins, mel
ons, ETC., are grown in abundance.
| There are but few apple trees In bear
| ing as yet, but as far as tried promise
well. Peaches grow splendidly, as well
as small fruits.
| Like all new countries we have some
people of all sorts, but the virfuous,
temperate and industrious are gaining
the ascendancy. There Is preaching in
various localities I'm the county, and one
or two sabbath schools in successful OPP
! prati0n