davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
REAL ESTATE MARKET.

The cheated term" since our last re-
port, has not produced so much de-
preston in the market as usual at this
season. Although we do not report
any actual advance in prices, yet hold
ers are. not disposed to concede any
thing. Sales have been numerous for
the season. Though but few improved
farms have changed hands since our
last report, yet sales of city aud unim-
proved country property have eontin-
ued with but little falling of in num-
Der, and none in price. A large amount
of property has been put In market late
iy, and still more will be ready for the
fall trade, and mostly at prices which
cannot fail to prove advantageous to
buyers. Many of our older citizens,
both in town and country, have decided
to put some of their land I'm market,
and to spend the money on the remain
der. We cannot commend this course
too strongly. ga little farm we'll titled"
etc. A number of additions to our
town, and subdivisions of adjacent
lands, are now, or soon will be in mar
ket. as will be seen elsewhere in this
paper. This will, we think act as safe
ty valve to the somewhat ovefiIeated
imaginations of certain parties, who
seem to think that a population of ten
thousand persons can be forced to in
habit one square mile of land, in this
boundless countrywide.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
THE ECLIPSE.

A Chicago dispatch gives the follow
ing concerning the eclipse as seen at
Springfield, where the observation was
total:
E"The eclipse at Springfield, Illinois,
was startling and sublime phenomena.
The sky was perfectly clear, not cloud
visible.
= "Prof Pierce, of Harvard, had charge
of the observation, which We're made
near the city reservoir. A hundred
photographs of the eclipse were taken
by Mr.. Black, Of Boston. When the
total observation took place the heavens
and the earth presented n scene of aw-
full sublimity.
ga brilliant amber colored corona APP
peared around the sun and moon, shoot
ing rays OF light outward in all direc-
tons, when the whole horizon was il
Illuminated with light of the same coll
or. The planets Mercury and Venus
and number of fixed stars were
distinctly visible, but no planets be-
tween Mercury and the sun were dis
covered. z..i-z-s
ga brilliant rose-coIored flame or pro-
tnberance was noticed in the western
limb of the sun during the period of total
observation. The phenomenon known
as 'Bailey's Beads" was also Distinctly
witnessed. The phenomenon, Prof.
Pierce thinks, is occasioned by the re-
fraction of light. He is also satisfied
that the corona or halo at the time of the
total observation was occasioned by the
suns atmosphere. Prof Chas. Schott,
of the. Coast survey, had charge of the
general arrangements, and, with a pow
erful telescope, observed particularly the
form of the protuberances, and made
special observations, i'll connection with
the photographer. w. p. Montague, a
graduate of Harvard College, was
detailed to note the lime by chronome-
ter, and during the entire eclipse, from
its commencement until its final close,
never for a moment allowed his eye to
wander from the dial-plate-thus not
losing sight of the eclipse in any of its
phases. s1@.Ua- sa.ss.E =esE
During the total observation of the
sun silence like death rested over the
city; birds flew to their rests, fowls to
their roosts, and chickens to their
friendly wings of shelter. A drove of
cows feeding near the reservoir, with
heads and tails erect and with start
led and frightened look, started for the
city and did not cease running until Old
Sol once more shone forth. Many other
incidents, some laughable and some
SAdEO, hdHspiTou uuf4hS INC eclipse.
Dogs were seen to gaze in wonder at
the terrible appearance of the sky, and
remain during the total observation in
an attitude of alarm and wondcrment,
but just at the moment the first ray of
the sun appeared again expressed the
joy they felt in way dogs only can.
The observations made by the scientific
gentlemen have been all that could be
desired. The photographs taken by Mr..
Black have never been equaled in per-
fectness of execution"
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
A SUBLIME SCENE.

A dispatch from Hudson, N. V, dat
ed 7th inst, gives the following partic-
ulars of late gigantic landslide in that
locality:
The town of Stockport in this county
has been the scene of considerable ex-
element this week on account of a
gigantic landslide, and thousands have
Yisiten the spot. The place where the
old post road near the confluence of Kin
derhook and CIave Rock, about five
miles north of this city. 1t comprises
nearly five acres, and was an elevation
about dry ravine. A hill intervenes
between this ravine and n creek on the
east and north, of a little less than the
altitude of that which caved in.
The crash took place about half-past
six o'clock last Monday afternoon. The
movement was gradual, and the surface
of the earth undulated like the waves of
the ocean. No noise was heard until
the moving mass struck the base of the
intervening hill, when there was a dull
rumbling sound resembling distant
thunder and quivering sensation like a
slight shock of an earthquake The
earth caven in to a distance of eighty
feet, and the surface, as indicated by
trees and fences, moved distance of
over 600 feet.
So gradual was the movement that it
occupied about half an hour, and the
sight is described by those who witness
ed it as sublime in the extreme. Among
| the most marked incidents in the phe-
nomena is the fact that an oak tree
which stood by the roadsidewas moved,
with section of the fence, to the bot
tom of the ravine, distance of 600 feet,
and the tree and fence now stand as firm
and upright as ever. The weaker trees,
such as pine and hemlock, were snapped
as pipe stems, and some trees of this
| nature two feet or more in diamete
are doubled and twisted like wisp OF
straw.
The land is clay, founded on quick
! sand, with soil surface of not more
than two feet. tits understood that tn e
| quicksand has been gradually washed
away from beneath and passed off into
the stream. The copious showers of last
| spring left the surface mere shell, and
the dry weather which followed caused
the shell to crack and finally fall into
| the vacuum below.
! A crevice of several inches in width,
| fifty feet in length, and depth beyond
sounding, has appeared on the land adj
| joining the sunken portion on the south.
and fears are entertained that this crack
will soon fall.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
KANSAS ITEMS.

The State Treasurer has received a
dispatch from Governor Harvey, who
is in New York, stating that he had sold
the Capitol bonds. The exact amount
is not given, but it is not far from niety-
three cents, with the July coupons clip
ped. We regard this as Q very good
sale. 1t is not as much as the bonds are
worth for investment, but not being
regularly quoted in the market they
must be sold for what they viii bring.
1t is probable the Governor will return
,cedlth.
The counties of Butler and Sedgwick
are rapidly filling up with settlers. We
learn that the mail facilities of the peo-
pie of TINT section are very poor. g a
weekly mail between Cottonwood Falls,
Eldorado and Towanda, supplies the
people of Butler and Sedgwick counties.
1t ought to be at least a tri-weekly, and
should be extended to Wichita. There
is no mail route in Sedgwick county,
though a postmaster has been appointed
at Wichita. Hoyt, you are wanted
Topeka Commonwealth.
Col. N. S. Goss. Land Commissioner
of the Southern Branch Railroad, and II.
S. Stevens, went up the road to juno
ton City on Saturday last. The Colonel
has been to Washington on business
connected with the road. We under
stand that the land complications were
all satisfactorily adjusted, and that the
f" and Grant Railway and Trust Com
pany," who are building the road, are
cheered at the prospect of things con-
corning the road, and will abate none of
the Vigor they have heretofore maI,i-
tested in prosecuting the work.-4ope-
kG Comm 0alceGlth. as5 s1g 1szfa .5s
A woman of this place gave birth to a
curious specimen of child on Wednes-
day afternoon last. The babe was what
is technically called full-time child.
It had six fingers on each hand but
one developed eye; head partially de-
veloped no chin, and generative or
gans undeveloped. The most remarka-
bic feature was the development of the
intestines outside of the body, connected
with the umbilicus, and covered with a
translucent sac, through which could be
seen, plainly, the intestines. 1t was ex-
amined by nearly all the medical gentle
men of the city, and it was pronounced
the most singular specimen of babyism
within their experience. 1t lived about
fifteen hours. The mother is recover
ing. Dr. Hall attended her. The Doc
tor has the specimen in his office and
purposes to devote it to the course of
science. If it lived it would be difficult
to determine whether to call it j Ohm or
Jane.-,Junctioge Union.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
WHY, FRUIT TREES ARE BARREN.

S 80
Trees that expend all their forces in
! the production of wood growth, car
produce little or no fruit Indeed it is
not possible for any tree to perfect q
fruit germ, and not again, in some way
disorganiZe it, unless the wood growth
shall cease in time for the leaves to elab.
crate food enough to grow both leaf and
fruit the following year, or until a part
OF the leaves shall attain to nearly OIL
quite their full size. That this is so will
be apparent when we consider that the
leaves which first appear in the spring
were formed in the buds the previous
year. perfect in all their parts, and in
the embryo state contained each indi.
Yidual cell found in them when fully
grown.
The question may arise, if there is nc
addition TO the number of cells, how dc
the leaves grow. The answer is thai
the only difference we can see between
an embryo leaf and one fully grown is
in the size of the leaf cells. As growth
begins in the spring, these small cells,
which were formed III the previous year
begin to expand. Each individual cell
thus enlarges, until all the numerous
cells of which these leaves are composed
IRE OF full size. Fe further illustrate
this, let US suppose, on brick wall that
each brick at the same time was, grad.
ually to expand to several hundred
times its present diameter, and you have
just what takes place in the growth OF
an embryo leaf Here we see tree in
possession of full grown leaf. This
leaf did not form itself, but was formed
by the tree in the preceding year.
To produce and sustain this cellular
enlargement, there had been stored the
previous year large share of nutriment
i'll the buds and in other, parts of the
tree. This nutriment must not only be
sufficient to feed the embryo leaves, but
must also be sufficient to produce the
small waFty eXcrescences-the rootlets
and spongioles. These new leaves and
spongioles are the trees laboratory
And those leaves and spongioIes first
grown were made, with the exception
of moisture, wholly out of the materials
that were stored by the tree during the
growth of the previous year. When
these vegetable stores are in sufficient
supply to do this, and nourish the fruit
germs also, then we shall hear little
about imperfect fertilization. On the
other hand, had the food been consum-
ed the previous year, by ripening an
oVer-crop of fruit, or by making a very
succulent growth, then the tree would
not store a sufficient amount of plant
food to perform its three-fold office in
the production of leaves, roots, with
their spongioles, and fruit.
In this condition, a part of the leaf
and larger part of all the fruit buds
yield up their nourishment, which goes
TO the production of root and lea
growth. The tree, therefore, is barren
of fruit for the summer, its whole
growth being required to recuperate its
own vigor. Such trees often bloom
! freely, and then cast their blossoms
| When this occurs, uniformed persons
often attribute it to want of fertiliZa-
| ton, or suppose that the rain must have
washed away the poIlen.-Dr. HuH.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
EMpoFTA AS 4 RAILROAD CENTER.

We are we'll aware that every town
and hamlet in the State expects to have
at least half dozen railroads; and 1t is
with good deal of diffidence, that we
attempt this article Yet we wish, in
ali candor, to present few thoughts on
this subject, and desire that they may be
considered fairly. The speedy constrnc-
ton of two roads, crossing each other at
right angles at this place, Is assured.
Both of these are e grand trunk" roads,
with which others, for, their oacn
sGkes, must connect. Already the road
from Pleasant Hill via Lawrence, is
looking for Immediate connection with
this point, and will soon do SO, either
by a separate track or by a favorable
combination, with the "A. t. s. ST.. r..
r. It has already been proved that forty
miles can be saved between st. Louis
and Junction City by building . road
from Holden, on the Mo. Pacific, to En-
poria, thence west via the Neosho Val
ley road, now nearly completed to this
place. That this road will soon be built,
there is scarcely doubt, as IL is sup
ported by the Mo. Pacific, and by the
heavy capitalists now building the Val
hley road. yz-5a =.ff - SO - fas asa
E OF all the schemes. of our Kaw Valley
friends to reach the Ferdigris and Fall
river Yallies, none is so feasible as the
one now under discussion, of line di-
rectly south from this place. It would
form a valuable feeder to all the other
roads that center here, and some one, or
all of them will undoubtedly take hold
of it as soon as the subject is properly
presented to them. With these roads,
constituting in effect seven lines, all
either in process of completion, or I'M
der favorable discussion, we shall, for
the present, be satisfied. Strangers have
often compared our location in the State
to that of Indianapolis in Indiana, and
an examination will show the eircum-
stances to be very similar. We are with
in four miles of the exact center north
and south, ninety miles west of the Mis-
souri, line, and the permanent center of
population east and west. Located at
the junction of the two finest valleys in
the State, with more and better water
power than any four other counties, with
abundance of timber, coal, the finest of
building stone, soil capable of sup
porting q very dense population, heavy
population already, of energetic, go
ahead men, with clear heads aud ready
hands, who shall call us visionary when
we claim this as the future railroad CEN
ter of KaHsas.-BaRcToft's Real Estate
Register. -,1s-- --5 -@
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20


The farmers of Riley and adjacent
counties have just completed the har-
vest of the heaviest small grain crop
in the State. Considerable of the grain
has already been threshed and put in
market. Fields of wheat, both spring
and fall, that yielded at the thresher
common thing. At the celebrated
Rocky Ford grist mill, spring wheat
commands so cents although the aver
age market price in that section of
country is 70 cents for spring and S1.0O
for fall wheat. Eight thousand sacks of
flour out of the crop is now being
ground ut that mill for the Government.
Oats are plenty at 80 cents. Potatoes
are selling at % and 80 cents. Corn will
probably command about the same
price in that market, as the corn pros
pect in unprecedentedly fattering.-
Topeka Communicable.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
From Wilcox a. Langel's Real Estate
Pnhlisher

Lou. Wagner, citizen of Montgom-
cry county, Illinois, writes the follow
ing letter to the Litchfeld Monitor,
which we republish, to show what trav-
elers say of our State: -
EMPoRIA, Kas., June 9th, $50.
DEAR MONITOR: ANY good thing is
worthy OF. being once repeated. This is
especially so in regard to removing the
erroneous impression prevailing as TO
Kansas matters generally. Take, for
instance, drought. The climate for the
last four weeks in my vocabulary meant
drowning. Kansas Drought 1t has
soaked my last change of clothing,
aroused me at midnight from slumber,
besides causing the loss of several valU-
able paper collars! / was in one instance
compelled to swim or sink beneath
Kansas drouth. Next, the Grasshopper
He, too, has done wonders-stopped
railroad trains, obscured the light of the
sun, devoured entire crops, etc. But the
fact is, have yetto5 see the first half
dozen. l do not mean to say such things
have never been in sections of this State.
In fact, / have heard the settlers story
affirming all this. But I ask. any rea-
sonable man what have these Incidental
plaques to do, ranging, if at all, only in
spots, with the general character OF a
country. l have conversed with the
settlers upon the spot. Though, admit
ting the failure of last years crop, they
feel confident that the soil and climate
cannot be excelied for farming pur-
poses, and are willing to try once more.
have heard the old settlers of Hills
boro tell harder tales of suffering when
they first laid claim to the soil in old
Montgomery than / have from similar
sources I'm Kansas. Crops have failed
and are failing every season in different
parts OF the country, but think time
will prove Kansas soil is capable of fill
ing the granaries of the world, and En-
poria the great railroad center, west of
Kansas City. 1t also commends Itself
favorably for manufacturing purposes,
lying between two rivers, the 9.Neo-
sho," two hundred, the COTTONWOOD"
one hundred miles in length. It has q
building, stone, not surpassed in the
State, which is saying much. Now is
the time to invest here. Capitalists can
have rich harvest here, until the stur-
dy mechanic comes along and super
sedes him. @
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20

The BURLINGTON WATER PowER.-
The Messrs- Cross have returned from
Topeka and completed their arrange
ments to commence work Immediately
on this enterprise. They purchased six
teen acres of ID. r. Metcalf, and ten
acres of Col. Whistler, which gives them
undispnted possession of all the river
front necessary for mill operations.
They have returned to Topeka and will
move down their families, when work
will be commenced at once on this inn
portant Improvements. They have the
necessary means to fully develope the
power, and will erect the finest mill
and other manufactures in the State.
We understand they viii erect a large
i've story brick building, and have il
completed and in readiness for manu-
featuring Aonr by the first of january
next Burlington Patriot.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20

The Quincy Gill; Wing, in its account
of the eclipse as seen in that city, says !:
"An impressive and solemn incident
occurred during the eclipse, which, we
city in the United States, and will long
be remembered by those of our people
who witnessed it. AS the moon was
obscuring the sun, funeral train was
passing down Main street, and had al
most reached Sixth when totaiity en-
sued. AS the light faded, the solemn
procession halted in the street, and
while the city was enveloped In partial
darkness, q prayer was offered mp As
the light burst upon us from the sun
the procession moved slowly on, while
those forming it began singing fHne-
raj chant. The scene will not soon be
forgotten" a@
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20

To BE NorED.-In cloudy saorning
it is matter ofimportance to the farm
er to know whether il win be sunshiny
or showery in the afternoon. If the
ants have cleared their hole nicely, and
piled the dirt up high, It seldom fails to
indicate clear day, though IL may be
cloudy until eleven o'clock in the fore
noon. Spider webs will be very numer-
Gus about the tops of the grass and grain
some cloudy mornings; and fifty years
observation have shown the writer that
these little weather guessers seldom fail
in their prediction Of fair day.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20

During the American revolution, il is
said, the commander of little squad
was giving orders to those under
him relative to a log of timber,
which they were endeayoring 10 raise
to the top of some military works
they were repairing. The timber went
up with difficulty, aud on this
account the voice of the little man
was often heard in regular vocifera-
tons of:
Heave awayi there she goes
heave ho!"
An officer, not in military cos
tune, was passing, and asked the
commander why he did not take hold
and render little aid. The latter, as
tonished, turning with all the pomp
of an emperor, said: ~
Sir, / am Corporal"
t9You are, are you 20 replied the OIL
Ger. 81 was not aware of that" and
taking of his hat and bowling,
the officer said, sI ask your pardon,
Mr.. Corporal" and then dismoanted,
and lifted till the sweat stood in drops
on his forehead.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
8B $40
NUMBER 81.

When the work was finished, turn
ing to the commander, he said - aa4
''Mr. Corporal, when YOU have
another such job, and have not men
enough, send for your Commander
in-chief, and will come and help you
q second time" 81 Esas3rssf 45gss.t
The corporal was astonished. 1t was
Washington who thus addressed him,
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20

Asa Packer, smart Connecticut boy
of old-faslrioned Yankee stock, left his
native State when seventeen years old,
with some SO in money and clothing of
about equal value, and brought up in
Susquehanna county, North Pennsylva-
where he apprenticed himself to learn
the trade of carpenter and joiner, which
he followed for some years thereafter !;
marrying in due season, and buying q
tract of wild land, which he proceeded
to clear and till. At length he pulled
up stakes and struck for Mauch Chunk,
the heart of the Lehigh coal region,
whence he ran coal boat to Philadel-
phia, then started store, and soon en-
gagged extensively In buying coal lands,
building railroads, &C., whereby he
grew rapidly and enormously rich. He
is now worth at least S20,000,000, and
we believe he came honestly by them.
Though we do not belong to his thrifty
class, we appreciate them as useful men,
and believe the world is better for their
existence.-Neto York Tribune.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20


We learn from the residents of Rich
land Township that cattle In great num-
bers are dying in that township. Some
farmers have lost almost their entire
herds, and the loss falls particularly
hcary on some of them. Milk cows
seem to suffer worse than other cattle
The cause of this sudden and unexpect-
ed epidemic among the cattle is attribut-
ed to some Texas cattle which made
their appearance in the township last
April. and which were driven out of
the township at the Time by the citi-
zens Our readers will remember at
the time of the occurrence that the citi-
zens gave. notice through our paper
that no more Texas cattle should be
brought into the township. Thee now
swear that, by the great St. Paul, if any
more are driven in they will try the eff
fects of a hempen cord around the necks
of the owners.-Paoia Republican.
The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
Mr.. A. D. Richardson thus diseourses

MI. -. mus
about the great farms in California:
"The Californian invites an Eastern
visitor: Come down to Sam Matacco
and spend week with me- Have you
a ranch there p yes; little place.
What do you call little place? Well,
10000 acres-or 10000 or 10000, as the
case may be. Everybody seems to have
a little place. The other evening met
General Beale. known as an old army
officer, who led one of the Government
explorations for Pacific Railroad. He
resides in the South, below Los Angel
os, though his summer home is In Phila-
delplfia. Have you q little place, too 2
1 asked. Yes. $4,000 acres on my
home ranch. and $4,000 more in North
ern California; That home ranch if
it were asquare tract, would be 10 miles
across. It is one-third as large as the
State of Rhode Island. There are other
men who own 100000 acres apiece.
Beale dispenses something of old Bar
onial hospitality Every wayfarer is
welcomed to table and bed without
moneo and without price. Some
nights thirty travellers are there enter
tained 6-AAa