The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-01-14
THE Usage RESERVE.

EDS. NEWS: With your permission,
will use your columns as convenient
medium for answering numerous ques-
tons concerning the Walnut and Ar
kansas valleys. Probably il will be
hardly worth while to narrate all the
ups and downs of q two weeks camp
ing expedition the game which We
did not shoot, the poor jokes and
short rations. l will rather follow Mr..
Gradgrind's lead, and narratc the more
important Jacks"
Eldorado seems to be hourishing be-
yond her former experiences. Business
is brisk, whisky scarce, town lots rising.
The town is yet in its rough infancy, a
total stranger to white paint and pine
siding. We found our old friend DR..
White suffering from most gratifying
presence of customers.
Below Eldorado the valley widens,
and farms are being rapidly opened.
Augusta is less excited than Eldora-
do, but seems to be doing good busi-
ness. Douglas, near the Southern line
of Butler county, has a beautiful site,
three stores, extensive water-power, and
one of the best hotels on the border.
Butler county is larger than the State
of Rhode Island too large for conve-
venience or comfort. There is much
talk about carving a new county out OF
it and Cowley; in which case, either
Douglas or Augusta would probably be
the county seat.
Three miles south of Donglas we en-
ter Cowley county and the Usage Re
serve. The valleys grow in breadth anC
beauty, and numerous squatter cabinI
are visible, as we approach Lagonda
better known on the border as Dutci
Creek. The word Lagonda is said t.
signify clear water, in the language o
the Osages, and the name is well applied
to a most beautiful stream, but the Dor
der settlers are not poetical, and adher'
to the old name. The town consists, a
; present, of one log house and a log store
the former being the residence of Mr.
C. Wood, formerly of Cottonwood Falls
and the latter owned by Baker & Man
, ming of Augusta. This is a pleasan
: site. has one of the finest wnter-power
9 in Kansas, and is surrounded by goo'
country.
While at Lagonda we were somewha
amused and interested by attending
"cIaim trial" The squarters on tn
Reserve are thoroughly organized 70
seIf-protection, and all claim dispute
, are referred to their league. Some NIT
u of the pioneers were present on this oc
. casion, and the question was decided b.
: vote. If legal forms were not yer
u strictly adhered to, we at least cOnclnd
!. ed that substantial justice was done.
u Below Lagonda the scenery changes
1t The Walnut valley, still broad an
. beautiful, is bounded by vast precipice
u of white magnetism limestone. III
y stream is exceedingly toftpOus in il
. course, and the timber large and sbnpd
ant Crossing the Walnut one NIL
below town, at the ''Kickapoo Carol.
!, we climb the divide, and driving to
= miles to the southwark, stand upo
high bluffs overlooking the Arkansa
The river here 10 about the size Of Ii
- Kaw at Lawrence. The bottoms Al
~ broad and fertile and the grass wonder
full in Its growth. We measured sing
a stalks over ten fact in height. The 50
Wv il = sandy loan, loose in texture, b.
with an increased proportion Of clay
C. the depth OF four feet, and therefore ~
IN. liable 'leach." The settlers at Wicl