Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-10-06


prize here, unexampled inR. r. history.
Facilities for travel are good and con-
stantly growing better.
Yet Topeka, and indeed any of the i'll
terror towns of the State, offer far less
number of advantages than the fevered
imaginatiOns of our Ohio friend describe.
Beyond the question of cheap and rich
est Of lands, it is hard to conceive where
in Kansas can vie with Ohio Land, your
tourist will find, is the Intoxicating and
absorbing theme of the high and the low,
the rich and the poor. Every thing yields
before this. To-day, Topeka is the mer-
est bubble upon a sea of speculation
Does she produce? No. She tolls not,
neither does she spin. She has no trade
of consequence. Her wares are almost
wholly, lots, houses, lands. Each house
holder builds not as we are accustomed
to in Ohio, homestead for life, but a
marketable commodity which shall en-
rich its owner in double its cost upon it's
sale a year or so hence. Here is conse-
quently n peculiar state OF things. Mems
interests are cautiously attached and
made ready to let go upon the shortest
notice.
In another letter we may give Topeka
her laudatOry chapter, but nowshe must
come in for her share of clear grained
criticism, which is not I know in fash
ion yet. But our good Ohioans must
visit for themselves to learn that here
fortunes are built in the building Of
towns, very exactly in the same way
that Plantation Bitters realize to their
seller his princely revenue, and that
is by " judieiOus use of printers Ink"
There is no town in the West that is so
extensively advertised by circulars as
Topeka. BY its own showing, one pa
per is issued in monthly editions Of
twenty thousand each. Another is pub
lished also here with perhaps a smaller
circulation. These men have made large
fortunes thereby, during the past few
years. Upon them the good people Of
Topeka look as the founders Of the for
tunes Of Topeka.
These papers are scattered to the ut
termOst parts Of the East, and pene-
trate into every hamlet and are read at
almost every fireside. Let no one who
reads those papers. permit his imagina-
ton to paint too vividIy, as it will in all
probability, pictures evensurpassing the
combinations of color made up by those
highly disinterested and ingenious wri-
ters Of the aforesaid papers. .
Kansas and Missouri are glorious
States. What more could we say. And
yet how little may be comprehended in
those terms. To the emigrant who has
left, perhaps, a comfortable home in the
midst Ofrefnement and culture, and all
the luxuries which the pOfieient East
has, brought Cheaply to almost every
door, these words, tho the natural wealth
that greet him over these prairies COM
pei him partly to confess their sincerity,
yet what, to him, is not here and what
to him is most dear, and out here, most
unattainable makes him feel their emp
tiness.
It's good place in which to make
money. Not because men are large pro-
ducers, for as yet the productions can
not be said to be many or great, but
from the fact that much money is being
brought here the largest portion of
which probably is being invested in
land. u..
Also from the fact, that so much mon
ey is in constant demand, Bankers and
money lenders are waxing rich and fat
in a marvelousIy short time. What is
sought and what Of course impels men
here is the almighty dollar. Almost all
else is in greatest ObscuratiOn' now
People havn't time, and are not ready
yet to entertain or develOpe many social
traits. Selfishness predOminates. Such
is the face Of things here. Rather a re-
pulsive face, and the first almost that
one meets: and when one meets it. the
first prompting Ofthe feelings is toquick-
ly draw ones coat closer and meet de-
family and as nothing a throng SO soul
less to which he himself seems as MOTH
ing. Society here has few attractive ele-
ments, and the strangerObtains a stand
ing room either by rough elbowing or
by money.
At Topeka, are to be met scores OfI
familiar faces from Champaign COUNTY.
What they say about matters and things
perhaps does not comprehend all the
animadversions we have just made.-l
They do say it is a great country, and
they may well feel somewhat favornbIy
disposed towards it as they are aequir-
ing what attracts all here-the dol
lar. That it is windy they admit
For when they come into town during
plOwing time, with their Outrigrinp
well clewed down and even then torn,
and lashed with the blind fury Of a wind
blowing great guns" until thev lind
themselves scudding under bare poles, |
their faces blacked with the fine dust Of
the prarie clod, you way be sure there is /
no other account to be given for their |
unusual coming thus into town, than |
that the wind has blown them plow, I
horses, and all out of the furrow and out
of the field. To a stranger these words /
are more appalling than any other war
ring of the elements; for its not a thing
of few hours merely, but they prevail /
during the Spring, for days and weeks.
But the old settlers seem to regard them
as health producing agents, and their
equanimity is never disturbed, by I'VE
winds Of morning" but buffet them with
a right good will tho it requires all a
mans, strength and skill to tack against
one of your Kansas head winds.
The prairies when you get thus fur out
into this State, are the play grounds Of
the spOrtive element which is continual
ly breaking loose from the great cav
erns of the Rocky Mountains q thous-
and miles west. There are no interpos-
ing barriers either Of earth OF forest OF
any extent, and the winds have unbrok-
en- sweep.
A sure indication Of rain is a steady
wind from the South.
To one living in this warm latitude
Turing the Summer months, a sleeping
apartment opening to the South is all
desirable, the night air invariably stir
ring with a most refreshing cOolDass nm