The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-20
Editorial Correspondenee.l

Editorial Correspondence.l
Topeka, Kansas, Sept. II. 1869.
No person, passing over the Kansas
Pacific Railway to see this country, |
should fail to stop at the State Capt.
tai. In fact, the citizens Of this aspir-
ing young city claim that Kansas IS
not seen and cannot be properly |
understood until Topeka IS visited.
Much as the people Of the
State estimate, their particular loca1i-
tv. there is no city or town, which
/ have visited, so highly appreciated
bv its citizens as Topeka. The Chi
eaeo spirit Of manifest destiny" per-
vades the whole community,
especially the real estate agents and
speculative owners Of town lots. And
II think with considerable basis of
fact and reason. The place is grow
ing more rapidly and the signs of
improvement are more manifest than
In either Leavenworth or Lawrence.
The town, or rather city, for 1t IS
such In name, organization and Bopu
lation, Is located on the south bank
of the Kaw or Kansas River, sixty
seven miles from the State Line.
The situation is a most attractive aud
delightful one. The site commences
in the first bottom at The river, and
gradually ascends to the upland, until
the main part Of the business houses,
Capitol. and residences are located on
a high plain, from which a broad
view is had Of the Kaw Valley and
the hill country rising on both sides
of the valley, and receding into the
interior. il is one of those charm
ing scenes Of quiet beauty, en-
bracinR the broad river, the wide
expause Of luxuriant fields, triDged
with the green trees Of the water
courses. and the distant background
of bluff upland, so frequent in Kan
sas. but not often excelled or equalled.
This upland surface of the city Is
broad enough for a very large popula-
ton, aud is gently rolling, making
drainage natural and easy, and yet
requiring no steep grades, exeava-
tions, or fills. The professional town
maker could hardly desire a better
location for city. The State Legs
lature has done many moro unwls c
acts than the location of the Capital
here.
Like most western towns where
land is plenty and unusually cheap
the houses are not very compacuy
built, and hence the corporation COW
ers a wide extent of territory. The
question Of population is a delicate
one, and my estimate will hardly be
accepted as correct by these people,
all of whose ideas are on an enlarged
scale. and where time, pride or per-
soRsg TaeiTe. FeW=7ssss22!J we'd. their hg-
Would place the present p6pftHfra aAtf6hf af
less than eight thousand, and the
more enthusiastic would fix it from
two to four thousand higher. j
cannot figure out, in my own
estimate more than four thousand I'VE
hundred to FIVE thousand. "A census
has recently been taken, but has not
yet been published, and may not be.
4 heard it whispered that by a
liberal enumeration at the hotels,
with difficulty the number was made
to exceed five thousand l remember
that in the earlier history OF
Evansville, when we were feeling
very important, an enumeration was
ordered by the Council, and liberal
minded citizen offered the census
taker a fine prize if he made the
enumeration q number named. i
believe that double listing aud i'm
aginary hotel returns failed to secure
the prize, and the result never saw
the light of day. All of our ambi-
tious young cities, Topeka and Evans
vile included, will reach the hard
pan of official figures after the Gov
eminent census of 1870.
But if Topeka is not as pOpulous as
its enthusiastic and enterprising citi-
zens would persuade themselves it Is,
L see no reason why it viii not steadily
and with satisfactory rapidity increase
In numbers and soon make a city of
very respectable proportions, business,
wealth and influence. 1t is the Capt.
tai of the State, and hence will always
be the center Of political attraction,
which is becoming more and more
an element OF power and prosperity
and from what have seen aud heard
Judge the Topeka people know pretty
we'll how to use it to the advantage of
their town. The country around it is
one Of the most fertile in Kansas,
Shawnee County being already the
third In taxable wealth in the
State. An important line Of railroad
is being pushed rapidly South and
West; the bridge connecting il with
the Kansas Pacific. across the Kan
sas River, is already built, and the
cars are now running twenty-seven
miles, and the company is looking for
ward to its completion to Santa Fe,
New Mexico. liz has already reached
the rich coal fields at Carbondale,
"a matter of great value to
fNawNnL~O \ III Io.~k
penetrate the southwest section of the
State, and open that fertile region to
the trade OF this place. Other rail-
road projects are In contemplation,
and In time Will doubtless be con-
summated There is under and all
about the town excellent building
stone, of which most of the substan
tial houses are already built; and it
will be found OF great Importance as
the city grows. aa
The signs Of growth are to be seen
in every quarter of the town. Houses
are being built as rapidly as mate J..
rails can be obtained, and the
present supply of mechanics can
erect them. Substantial frst-class
store houses. elegant residences, the
East wing of the Capitol and two or
three good churches, are among the
buildings being commenced or com
pleted the present season. The Cap
itol wing, built of the beautiful
cream-eolored Manhattan or June
sion City stone, will cost half million
dollars, and that Is only the com
mencement Of the work. There is
already one large public school house
quilt, and the contract Is being made
for another nearly as expensive as the
Evansville High School Among
the wants Of the place /.
public bridge across tn,
Kansas River leading to the depo