The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-05-06

Through the kindness Of Mr.. j. =. Black
stone we enjoyed ride, one day this week,
along the line Of the A., r. & S. +. railroad to
the distance OF six or eight miles northeast of
town. On our way out we passed by some
very fine farms, whose fields of wheat, oats and
other grain looked beautiful indeed. We no.
ticed also that farmers are making substantial
improvements on their farms. Probably there
is vastly more being done in this direct IL this
spring than ever before. Wepassed by avery
fine farm residence belonging to Mr.. Osgood.
These fine improvements betOken prosperity
on the part Of the farmers. healthful condi-
ton Of things most gratifying to others well
as to the farmers themselves. At about the
distance OF six miles northeast of town we
reached tho camp Of Messrs. BlackstonetS Tolle.
These gentlemen undertook, a few weeks since,
n contract Of two and half miles of grading.
and so faithfully and eDergetieally have they
pushed forward their work that they have
their portion Of the road ready for the iron.
They are experienced railroad contractors, and
started out by advertising literally for men
and teams, which they soon received in super
abundance. They have now employed up
wards Of $50 laborers, and by Wednesday of
next week they will have their work entirely
finished. So satisfactorily have they filled their
contract that the superintendent has given
them another job, beginning at the point where
the depot Is TO be located and extending thence
west through town to the distance of one mile.
These gentlemen have very pleasant camp,
sketch OF which Mrs. Geo. Bridge, a poem or
two Of whose we have recently published in
these columns, is preparing. We were in
formed that north OF where these gentlemen
are at work the road is nearly all ready for the
iron, aud that the company have u very large
force OF traeklayers, who are putting down the
rails Mt the rate of one mile per day. Adjoin-
ing Blackstone $. Tolle on the south, the rail
road company are at work. They have the
stone work for the bridge over Plumb creek
finished, and have but little more labor to per-
form before their portion Of the road shall be
completed. Mr.. Geo. Plumb has the next con-
tract, extending to the Neosho river. He is
doing his work well, and getting along finely.
The stone work for the bridge over the Neosho
Is also finished. The masonry OF these abut-
ments gives evidence OF splendid workman
ship, the credit for which is due to Mr.. Dillon,
who superintendent it. On this side of the
river for two aud half miles, MI Carpenter
has q contract. The grade for the most OF this
distance does not require much labor, eompar-
| atively, the worst part being the construction
| Of the grade across quite a wide body ofwater
which has an average depth of three or four
feet Mr.. Carpenter has a grading machine
which he is using with considerable success.
A pillow throws the dirt on a revolving plat
form some eight or ten feet In length, which
conducts the dirt up on the bed o. the road.
Mr.. G. seems to have considerable confidence
in its utility. IL requires six horses to draw
it. Mr.. C.'s contract extends nearly to the
town limits. Another party has a contract
| thence to the place where the depot is to bel To-
Gated. There is but comparatively little labor
yet 10 be expended on this road as far as 70
Emporia, ere it viii be ready for the iron, and
the rapidity with which the track-laying il
i progressing, insures the speedy coming of the
engine. Look out for the cars.