The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-09-23
ARVONIA.


new town in Usage county, laid out by
colony of enterprising and industri-
Gus Welshmen, and few days ago we
had occasion to make it a visit. 1t is
situated upon a high. beautiful, rolling
site, on the south bank of the Marais
des Cygnes, and overlooking fine valley
for miles. 1t is twenty miles from En-
poria, twenty miles from Burlington
and twenty miles from Burlingame.
Whether it is far enough from Lyndon
to ever make point or not, remains to
be proven. But certain it is, that Ar
vonia is in the heart of rich and what
is soon to be a well settled country, and
that it will soon become a good bust
ness point no careful observer doubts.
1t has No. one water-power adjoining.
Fine valleys of land are found in every
direction. Cherry and Coal creeks emp
ty into the Marais des Cygnes near the
town, thus giving a good supply of tim
Der, bottom land and water to the in
habitants of the town and surrounding
country. The adjacent hills contain a
fine quality of blue lime and red sand
stone which dress nicely, and make
abundant building material. There is
also large sand bank near the village.
Coal, of an excellent quality, underlies
not only the town site but all the ada
cent country. A short time ago gen.
tleman in digging cellar found vein
of excellent coal fourteen inches thick
only four feet below the surface of the
earth. Good water is found on the high
est part of the town site by digging
twenty-five to thirty feet, and at a less
depth on the hill sides.
The town contains about fifty build
ings, all larger and of better class than
those usually found in villages in Kan
sas. A Union church, to seat 500 people
on the first floor, is in process of con-
-struction. 1t is to be built of the beau
tiful blue lime stone so abundant about
Arvonia, and will cost, when complet-
ed, about $4,000. Another church will
also soon be constructed. A. S. Sprague,
late of Olivet, Michigan, is completing
a $4,000 residence. Mr.. Owen Jones,
of Green Point, L. l., a gentleman with
a capital of a cool 100000, has located
at Arvonia, and is building fine resi-
dence on ten acre lot, adjoining the
town.
The town contains one dealer in hard
ware, stoves, tinware, and agricultural
implements; two dry goods stores one
furniture store; one saddlery and har-
ness shop one boot and shoe store; one
blacksmith shop; three hotels; one
meat market; two real estate agencies,
etc. No intoxicating liquor is allowed
to be sold in the town. Business lots
are 25x145-residence lots 50x140. Su-
burban lots of five and ten acres sur
round the town. These are selling at
from $25 to S35 per acre, and are being
rapidly taken. Lots in the village are
donated to those who build, and addi-
tional lots sold very cheap. Prof. j.
w. Barrows and two sons, of Olivet col
lege, Michigan, have located here and
will soon establish first-class academy.
We had the pleasure of meeting these
gentlemen, and believe them possessed
of the necessary intelligence and enter
prise to make this academy what the in
terests of a thriving, moral and intelli-
gent community demand it should be.
J. Mather Jones and j. A. Whitaker
are the principal owners of the town,
and have large tracts of land for sale of
their own and others, which they are
disposing of at very reasonable rates.
Both these gentlemen have the univer-
sal respect and confidence of the COM
munity.
The settlers about Arvonia are mostly
Welsh, and it is unnecessary to say they
are industrious and frugal, and that they
will make Arvonia go if there is any go
to it. The town was laid out only a
year ago last June, and already it has
accomplished wonders in growth and
development. No village of its size in
the West contains better society than
Arvonia. With j. Mather Jones and
family, the Messrs. Barrows, H. A. Ed
wards, Rev. Thos. W. Jones, T. E. Ir-
vine, ]. W. Rice and E. w. Burton, we
spent several pleasant hours. The peo-
pie at Arvonia are more than ordinari-
ly afable, intelligent and sociable. We
hope to have the pleasure of meeting
them again.
Arvonia q to be point on the rail-
road from Ottawa to this place. 1t will
at no distant day become an important
point.
During the month of July, 1870, the
gain of revenue tax on spirits and fer
mented liquors over the same revenue