Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-30
KANSAS City.


KANSAS CITY.
Last fall, or near the first of Octob er
your correspondent, in company with two
friends from Rutland, made flying trip
| from Kansas City to the Indian Nation.
From notes taken at the time we condense
the following:
At $50 a. IN. we left the Union Depot
in one of the many fine cars which runs
upon the Missouri River & Fl Scott Rail
road. The first town we come to is Shaw
nee-rendered memorable by its camp
meetings, which are held here annually
nine miles from Kansas City. The next
station is Lenexa, a small village embrac-
| ing some ten or fifteen houses. The sur
rounding country presents splendid
prosect for farmers. Both to the north
and south of Lenexa, large fields of castor
beans can be seen as the train glides
swiftly by These fields present most
magnificent appearance at this time of
the year with their deep, dark green
leaves, and the plants ranging from three
to six feet in height. The view from
Kansas City to Olathe reminded us of the
fine scenery on our own Rutland Rail-
road.
Olathe, twenty-one miles from Kansas
City, is one of the largest towns on the
line of the road. The city lays to west of
| tho traok TynDtla rtoa sc r-ro,,nI
Quite number of imposing brick edifces
can be discerned from the car windows.
We noticed that large fair ground was
being completed, preparatory to theh old
ing of the annual County Johnson) Fair.
The Leavenworth, Lawrence and Calves
ton Railroad interseots the Ft. Scott road
at this point,-its passenger train leaving
twenty minutes behind ours.
Ocheltree, the next station south of
o lathe, boasts of fifteen or twenty build
ings, some of which are very fine. On the
left of the road we could not help but ad-
mire the residence of Mr.. William Scott,
as it lay embcsomed among the peach and
apple trees, presenting an appearance of
thrift and neatness rarely found outside
of our popular cities. The scenery from
Olathe to Ocheltree is most superb-the
land rolling away in undulating swells as
far as the eye can see.
Springhill, next station, has from TWEEN
ty to thirty houses. A few buildings
also, are in process of erection. Two
churches and a school house are discern
able from the car window-a good index
of prosperity; while the liberty pole on
the common shows that the Fourth of
July spirit still exists among them.
Hillsdale comes next, with some thirty
buildings 1t is situated on rising ground,
with rolling land reaching hack long
distance on either hand. The scenery
between Hillsdale and Paola reminds us
of that from Cuttingsville to the Summit
on the Rutland Railroad, leaving out our
(yours) heavy grade. A short distance
south of Hillsdale, in the spring of 1870,
water spout caused considerable des-
tructiou, both to the railroad company
and private Individuals A sad accident
occurred at the time, involving loss of
life. One of the employees of the COM
pany started for the station, NEARLY one
half mile), having gone about half way it
began to sprinkle. He thought of turn
ing back, but, unfortunately, kept on. It
still continued to rain, and be started
home. A sad scene awaited him. His
house was swept away, and his two chill
dren drowned. The large railroad bridge
was swept away, and the track destroyed
for a considerable distance.
Paola presents an appearance of growth
and enterprise. 1t lays, chiefly, about
one fourth of mile east of the road. A
number of fine public and private build
ings are plainly disernable. The Paolians
are anxiously waiting for the new rail-
road which is being built from Sedalia.
Just before we reach Paolia we pass a
few rock-outs, curious sight in this region.
Between Paola and Fontana, many well
improved farms are seen, upon which are
apple, peach, and other fruit trees, in
abundance.
Fontana, eleven miles south of Paola,
is fast growing town. Numerous build
ings were going up rapidly. The Gazette,
live Republican newspaper, is published
here. A new and spacious grist-mill is
almost completed, and which is said to be
the largest in the State of Kansas No
building lots are open to speculators but
fine sight will be given to any person
who will erect q respectable house upon
the same II Fontans adheres to this
programme she must, eventually, prove a.
desirable dwelling place.
La Cygne is another enterprising town.
The up and down trains pass each other
at this point. From fifteen to twenty
minutes are given for dinner. At the
La Cygne House good square meal can
| be procured for a reasonable sum. just
before reaching La Cygne we passed one
of the principal rock-cuts on the road.
| AT Barnard we found about dozen
houses, also fine station house, (which,
by-the-by, is not any way extraordinary,
for all the stations on the route are mod
els of neatness). One store we noticed
labelled RESTORE" meant. evidently,
R. r. Store, but the painter, being out of
full stops and spaces, made it read as
above. A good story is told of one Of the
inhabitants of the town but we will not
repeat it for fear of spelling the joke.
We did not pay five dollars for it
Pleasanton, like most of the new towns
in the West, is somewhat scattered. The
chief portion of it lies to the west of the
~silroad, although on the east side are
. ~ fine residences and stores. The
ma County Press, live newspaper, Is
Linn 4 lA-e >.a.. E.;dau Rafuaosa