The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-05-26
FLORENCE.

The traveller will find no finer valley
in Kansas than that of the Cottonwood.
From the point were the river forms a
junction with the Neosho all the way
up to its source, it presents wide,
fertile and beautiful bottom, such as
is rarely found in any country. What
is remarkable, in one sense, about the
Cottonwood valley, is that it does not
become narrower as we travel toward
the fountain head of the stream, but
retains about the same breadth until it
reaches Marion Center, so miles from
its mouth; at this point it begins to
widen, infringing more and more upon
the adjacent highlands, until at last it
takes in the whole country for miles
ard miles in each direction. Florence,
situated at the mouth of Doyle creek, is
blessed with very liberal share of the
fine bottom lands of this valley.
The uplands to the west are very
similar in character to those of this
county, while to the east they are more
nearly allied to those of Chase county,
although hardly so broken and stony.
Florence is a fair exemplification of
western enterprise and confidence.
Six months ago scarcely dreamed of 7;
three months ago hardly thought of;
one month ago just beginning an ex-
istence; fortnight ago mere child in
swaddling clothes; to-day a young
giant with sineWy arms, brawny
muscles and vigorous growth. Ithas
nearly hundred buildings. Nearly
all kinds of business are well repre-
scented. Like Arkansas City, it is what
might be called an Emporia town.
Every other mans face is familiar to a
citizen of the county seat of Lyon.
c. +. Pierce & Co, among the larg-
est lumber dealers in the State, have a
branch yard, perhaps we should say
their main yard, at this point. They
think it dull if they do not sell two OIL
three thousand dollars worth of lumber
in day. McMillen &c Cochran and
John Wilhelm represent the grocery
and provision business; Bancroft
McCarter the dry goods. T. P. Alex
ander and o. p. Bowman & Co., hard
ware and tinware P. Aller, prince
of good fellows, stands smilingly be
hind the counter prepared to hand ovel
currency for good paper at a reasonable
discount. j. s. Weir is offered mort
contracts to erect buildings than HI
can fulfil. Larkin accommodates near
ly q hundred boarders and dodgers, in
room about 2Ox3O, one story. Craw
ford, Steele s. Co. tell annimating tale
of the wonderful future of Florence
: and persuade any sensible man that h
is a fool if he dosen't buy half dozel
corner lots or section of land in clos
proximity to town.
All the above mentioned were at on
time citizens of Emporia; some are still
residents here, but have started brancl
businesses there. Florence has goo,
printing Office and a well conductet
. newspaper. 1t has two good hotels, o
the principal of which j. A. Pike
proprietor. Captain Pike has his hand
full TO find accommodation for the man.
who are crowding in upon him. II
sets good table and is attentive to til
wants of his guests.
No better stone can be found in tn
State than abound in inexhaustibl
the town. Water, pure and cold, ma.
be found at depth of not over thirt.
feet anywhere on the townsite. Flor
ence is too far away from the center O
the county and from the center of tn
best lands in the county to have yer,
good prospect of ever becoming tn
county seat. Nevertheless, it will IN
donbtedly be one of the leading point
west of Emporia for some time t,
come. We wish it much prosperity.
MARION CENTER.
s'The finest country God ever made
and that we have ever seen, lies north
south and west of Marion Center. w
never before saw any country that sur
passed Lyon county; but to be candid
we think that referred to above does
West of Marion Center lie thousand
and thousands of acres of the most ricl
and arabic land, whose surface is a
smooth and unbroken as the blue canop!
above, when not a cloud is TO be seen
These lands are abundantly waierei
with beautiful ripping streams. French
creek, South Cottonwood, Muddy creel
and Clear creek flow into the Cotton
wood at or near Marion Center. Rap
idly is this fine country developing, anC
still more rapidly will it develop. Th'
J settlers cabins dot the country in ever!
direction; but homestead lands ar
still plenty, and lands capable of beins
decided are still cheap, so that the coun
try. the lands being SO desirable, viii
be rapidly improved. Messrs- Case
Billings, the gentlemanly real estat,
agents, have charge of these lands, and
can give any desired information con
corning them. Marion Center, tn,
county seat, is very nearly in the cen
ter of the county. 1t is a neat littlt
place, and looks as though it kept it
face washed. For morality and TEN
perance it enjoys the same enviable re
putation that Emporia enjoys. Not :
saloon in the town, nor will one be al
lowed to exist. A temperance organi
zation, numbering, we understand
nearly one hundred members, is il
good working order; and so strong il
public sentiment against any sort of Ii
cense for strong drink that the whisky
element is completely held in check
The citizens think they will have, at Al
early day, railroad running in south
westerly course from Junction City
through this point toward Wichita, and
on through Sumner county to the
southwestern boundary of the State
When this read shall BE ssmplstsd t.