The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-08-12
LETTER FROM PARKER.

HARKER, MONTGOMERY Co., KAN,
July IA, 1870.
EDITORS NEWS: Leaving the neat and
thriving town ofChetopa, situated in the
south part of Labette county, we make
our course westward across q grand
and fertile section of country, until we
come to the new and enterprising town
of Parker. This is n new town and one
of as much interest as any that we have
found in our route. tits situated in the
southeastern corner of Montgomery
county, on the strip of land known as
the Cherokee strip, which is fraction
over two miles wide.
The first business house, / am told,
was built on this new town site last De-
cember by the firm of Parker, York &
Co., who have a well constructed house
and carry stock of goods of not less
than seventy-five thousand dollars, rep
resenting several branches of trade.
Trade of nearly every branch is pretty
well represented at this point, but the
present prospect of two railroads is en-
couraging to those that are seeking Il
good business location, as it will proba-
bly, make one of the best towns in South
ern Kansas. Within the short term of
eight months it claims about eight hun
dred Inhabitants. Some number it
higher, but of course Kansas towns are
always very modest in their estima-
tons.
Westralia, mile or two north of Par
ker is dead, and is being rapidly alb
sorbed by the above mentioned new
town.
Coffeyville, about two miles west, on
the opposite side of the river from Par
ker, is still trying to breathe, and her
only ''tonic" is railroad but we think
1t will be failure.
July 10. Leaving Parker we made
our way northward to the fourishing
little town of Independence-the coun-
ty-seat, numbering about five hundred
people. Distance from Parker all the
way from sixteen to twenty miles. The
ringing of the anvil, the chuckling of
wagons on the streets, and stir of the
people say at once they mean business.
We have not had an opportunity to
visit their editor, yet we suppose of
course that he is like the most of you
editors-loud!
Independence has every advantage
for holding the county-seat, being near
the center of the county, and having as
attractive looking, fertile lands around
It as we will find in Kansas.
Aside from towns we think Mont
gomery county will compare favorably
with any county in the State for good
springs, beautiful streams, plenty of
timber and rich, fertile lands. AS to
timber, however, it is the best that we
have found in our travels.
When we come to the more elevated
portions of country and have an entire
panorama brought to our view (young
lovers of nature) we conclude that the
accounts of Kansas have not been ex-
aggerated for grandeur and loneliness
of scenery, and then gradually decend
into the broad vallies and there remem-
Der that we heard some one say that
Kansas is no farming country, we are
almost filed with indignation towards
such persons, and say they lie and want
to get their living some other way than
by the sweat of their brow. The dark
green fields of corn, the many yellow
sheets of oats, large new potatoes, and
garden vegetables of every kind speak
differently and represent facts.
The Verdigris river passing through
this county we must not fail to say is q
beautiful stream and very valuable for
its many seats for mills, manufactor.
les etc.
The people of this county, am told
have voted the Lawrence & Galveston
r. r. Company two hundred thousand
dollars to induce them to pass through
their county. The town of Parker and
its township guarantees one hundred
thousand dollars to an east and west road
to be built by Joy.
We are all in very good health, with
the exception of very rayenous appe
tites for crackers and sugar cured hams
(Which are our principal luxuries) /; bu
we hope they viii not get the advan
tage of us oftener than about three
times per day. Respectfully,
A & c. p. sc.