The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-09-02

bringing with them refinement, moral
culture and social advantages far supe-
pior to great many towns of num-
Der of years standing in the east.
Such is the brief history of Arkan-
sas City, as she now stands without a
rival this side of Emporia. Many 9TH
ers, realizing the importance of this
point, came here soon after our town
company did, and ON finding the ground
occupied and themselves disappointed
in their plans, instead of wisely taking
claims near by and cooperating with
the company, they made the vain at
tempt to discourage our efforts, by va
rious detrimental rumors and insinua-
tions. Good judges of human nature
would have known that such q course
of conduct, if it had any effect whatev-
er on enterprising men, would be to
stimulate to greater achievements. But
it has not had even that much effect.
The town company have treated all of
their blowing with silent contempt, not
more than does a train of cars notice
the whiffit that comes on its track and
barks in ignorant impotence, until the
engine, wholly unconscious of its pres
ence, brushes the Insignificant creature
out of existence. No trivial cause can
retard or accelerate the growth of this
place, for it is simply the unfolding or
developing of preconceived plan by
men who have fully proven in former
enterprise that they well know when
and how to make the most of a good
opportunity. 1 refer to the rise and
growth of Emporia. have before
mentioned that our project actually be-
gan on the 1st of January. But the
principal work up to about March LIST
was simply to hold the claims in the
interest of the town company. Before
the latter date. the town project was all
ideal, but since then it has actually
sprung into existence, and when we
consider the time since the first family
Chat of Capt. Norton) moved onto the
town site, and behold the change that
has been produced since then, we can
not but express our candid admiration of
the genius and energy of the men who
are operating the machinery so success
fully in this great scheme. Nor do we
think it detracts from their credit at all
to say that they have every natural adj
vantage in their favor, simply because
it was their wise foresight which ena-
bled them to discriminate in choosing
from the many inviting points in the
Walnut valley the one having all these
natural commercial advantages, which,
when combined, enhance the import
ance of any location.
A mountains peaks catch the first
CLEAN of the morning sunlight long be-
fore it reaches the valleys below. So
great minds illumincd by superior wis
dom acquired by long experience,
which enabled them to see the possibili-
ties and advantages of this section long
before it entered the minds of the great
mass of immigration now pouring into
the country, foretold the future great
ness of this point, and are now simply
fulfilling their own prediction, much
more rapidly, however, than the most
sanguine expected. Nor shall we be
unmindful of the credit due to the
many individual enterprises now in
successful operation, each of which
may be regarded as an important spoke
in the wheel of town building. Our
principal hotel, Mr.. Woolsey proprie-
tor, is doing fourishing business. We
also have good-sized boarding house
with daily increasing patronage; a
hardware store by Mr.. @. r. Sipes,
young gentleman noted for promptness
in business, and whose general address
is candid and right to the point. Mr..
Bowen has very good stock of grocer
les and provisions, and bids fair to
come out successful merchant as the
town advances. Mr.. Goodrich has a
general assortment of dry goods, gro
ceries and ready made clothing, and no
one who goes there to trade comes
away dissatisfied with either price or
quality of goods. Capt. Norton and
brother still hold forth at their old
stand, but soon intend to move into a
large and commodious building on
Summit street. The increase in the |
number of stores has not diminished |
their custom, because the influx of i'm |
migration more than keeps up the de-
mand, and their sales, which have been
heavy from the first, are constantly on
are now looming up, the most impor-
tant of which is Mr.. Meg's store, a fine !
two-story building 20x32, with nicely
finished pannelled open front. Messrs.
Gray and Livingstone have just opened
their new store, inviting the public to
invest in a new stock of ready made |
clothing. Their building is fair-sized
two story square front, with fine walnut
finish. Mr.. Freeman will soon COM
mence the building of a ferry across |
the Arkansas, the timbers for which are |
now being sawed at the mill.
Our reliable blacksmith, Paul Beck,
has commenced blowing his bellows for
Southern Kansas, and one would |
think, from the manner in which he |
opened up his business few nights
ago, that he was obeying the divine |
commandment of ''Let there be light"
anu as II lliIO blAC SL4CCb anu
flashed upon his sturdy figure, with his
right arm raising the hammer to strike |
an additional blow for the advancement
of Arkansas City, and
Our hearts kept time TO the cIinking sound,
And throbbed a welcome to him.
While q horse near by came up with bound
And neighed for Paul TO shoe him.
Thus man and beast, to say the least
Were thankful for the favor
Bestowed upon our busy town
By this new branch of labor:
For labor Is life, and life is Joy
To man or beast, in season:
But the sluggard hangs back like snail
on his track,
Ora dr0ne devoid of reason.
Then to each branch Of industry
A welcome we will give;
Our motto now and e'er shall be,
ITO labor is to hye.''
Then hail to the sound of work and mirth,
May they ever be found togetheri
Fihres of iffe's golden thread earth