The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-10-14
BUTLER COUNTY.

Inc Traveller. IN visiting TINS part oil
Kansas, is at once struck with the exist
ence of all things that tend to attract
immigration and give itgreat prospects
of being, at no very distant day, one of
the most populous and wealthy coun-
ties in our State. The soil is unsurpass-
ed in fertility, and no county is better
watered. There are probably but two
counties in Kansas that are better tim
bered, either in quantity or quality.
The Big Walnut traverses the entire
center of the county from north to
south. The bottom is wide and very
rich. Its main branches are the White
water, West Branch and Little Walnut.
All of these are possessed of wide bot
tom lands, and heavy bodies of timber.
The timber of this county is mostly
composed of oak, walnut and hickory /;
little or no soft wood is to be found.
THE TOWNS.
Two years ago we passed down the
Walnut Valley. at that time Eldora-
do was the only place in the county
that bore the name of a town. 1t then
consisted of only six or seven log huts
and shanties. Now there are as many
as six fourishing villages, with two
we'll supported newspapers. The spirit
of rivalry existing between Kansas
towns, has sometimes produced good
results but between the villages of this
part of the state it has in some cases
amounted to bitter enmity, and its
effects have been evil. Now we certain
ly think little competition lends a
great deal of activity and life to bust
ness, but we do think the thing is lit
| tie oyerdone in Butler county, at pres
| ent; and while we desire to advocate
the best interests of southwestern Kan
sas, we are not prejudiced toward any
particular point or county. BY visiting
the different points and talking with
the citizens, we are. led to believe that
all parties are doing themselves great
injustice by harboring and fostering
such feelings of jealousy and antipathy
toward each other. We sincerely hope
the people will think of this matter, and
that in the course of a few years all
these sectional troubles will cease.
ELDORADo
Is the county seat, and is assuming a
very important position in the affairs OF
the southwest. Enterprise is a very
prominent feature in the population.
They have never been afraid to
take hold CT any public enterprise, and
although they have had many difficult
ties to contend with, we think the town
will make, Gas indeed it already isl a
good point. Their public schools are
in good condition. Mr.. Price, for
mer student oft the State Normal School,
is the principal teacher.
However much interested they are in
the cause of education, they have never
paid much attention to the fact that they
are in need of a good hotel, though it is
hoped that the present incumbent of the
position of landlord, will be superced.
ed in few days by party from the
east, who has made arrangements to re-
lieve him of this position which he is
so eminently untitled to occupy.
During our stay in town we should
probably have suffered, had it not been
for the kindness of the editor of the
Times; and we hereby extend oul
warmest thanks to Mr.. Murdoch and
his family, for making our sojourn sc
pleasant and comfortable.
We spent some time with our joculal
friend, that famous ex-'limb of the
law" d. NJ. Bronson, and are under OBJ.
legations to him for a. valuable present
We left Eldorado in good humor.
AUGUSTA
Is the location of the Usage land office
and is building up rapidly. We arriv.
ed in town at midnight; tried to get s
bed at the hotel-couldn't. Exhausted
all of our eloquence in trying to per.
suade the landlord to drive just one
man Off the floor of the dining-room OIL
the office, or kitchen, or anywhere, fol-
we were sleepy and wanted to lie down
That couldn't be done; so we amused
ourselves for the next hour, (betweer
l and o'clock a. No. canvassing for 6
|
that hour we were frequently blessed
by sleepy sounding voices from within
At last we (accidentally)knock on the
door of the Crescent Office. Of course
the big hearted Putnam shared his blan.
kets with us, and we we've happy. Au
gusta is full of strangers all of the time
seeking locations and looking at the
country. The land Office will be opened
in few days. Mr.. Shannon Informed
us that everything was ready except
plats ofland. The large frame school
house is nearly completed. Mr.. G. "
James and his lady returned home /;
few days ago from an extensive triI
over Kansas, but think the WaInu
Valley just little superior to any othel
place they ever saw.
CHELSEA.
We stopped at Chelsea one day, ant
are very much pleased with the place
and think its location an excellent one
They probably have more timber il
their vicinity, than any other part o
the country. Most of the citizens were
engaged making hay. Our enthusiast
ic young friend, j. G. Becker, is put
ting up large amount of hay, and wa
well prepared for the rain by having
out about twenty tons, the color O
which was changed from green to .
beautiful black. During damp wealth
er Becker hunts prairie chickens. HI
is expecting to kill one every day.
We formed the acquaintance of Smith
& Bishop, dealers in groceries and pro
duce. They have a good trade will
the surrounding settlements.
J. A. III.