The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-06-30
FROM RICE COUNTY.
ATLANTA, Rice CO.. Kan,

June Goth, 1S7l.}
EDITOR EMPoRIA NEWS A short de.
scription of this county and its pros.
poets may not be found uninteresting tC
your readers, especially as there is al.
ready an almost constant tide of immi-
grafton pouring in here from Ohio, In
diana and Illinois, with large sprink-
ling from Eastern Kansas and as we
are soon to be placed in communication
with the outer world UiG Emporia, by
means of the A, L. s. S. f. Railroad.
The population of this county has al
ready reached the neighborhood of sew
en- or eight hundred, and scarcely day
passes in which there is not more or less
emigrants arriving in our new town of
Atlanta, looking for eligible locations
to settle. Steps have already been TAX
en- to effect an organization of the coun-
ty, and before many days elapse, the
commissioners will be appointed and
an election will be ordered for county
officers. Eight months ago there were
scarcely half dozen white men in the
county, and still vast numbers of buffa-
loes may be found over the whole OF
the south and western part of the coun-
ty. Buffalo meat is abundant, and can
be had for the killing. This is great
convenience for the new settlers, as it
makes large item in their living.
The soil is composed of light sandy
loan, very porous and easily worked.
An ordinary span of horses will break
the hardest sod we have. The soil is
from two to four feet deep, and coal
black. The surface is generally very
level, and all the water that falls soaks
into the ground without running of, so
that it is wonderfully adapted to with
stand drouth. In the dryest weather
by digging little below the surface the
earth is found to be moist. The creeks
in this vicinity come from springs in
the hOllows, and are but slightly affect
ed by rains, and many of them contain
water the year round. All kinds of
crops look extremely well and promise
large yield. Corn in Illinois never
looked better than the corn in Rice
county at present. There will be large
amount of winter wheat sown here this
fall, the ground for which is being al
ready broken for the purpose.
We have one of the most flourishing
towns in the whole west, of its size.
Two months ago there was not build
ing in town, and now we have popu-
lation of upwards of one hundred. AL
most the only drawback we experience
is in the way of communication, being
obliged to travel thirty miles to Els
worth to reach the railroad, but this
will soon be obviated by the building
of the A, L. & S. f. road, which is to
run directly through this place. Ground
is already selected for depot and shops,
and it is expected that the road will be
in running order to this point within
the next nine months. AS soon as the
road is completed to Newton, fifty miles
east of this place, we are to have daily
line of stages to that point when we
shall be no longer dependant upon the
Kansas Pacific railroad. One of the
principal causes which have operated
| for the advancement of the interests of
this town is the liberal policy adopted
by the town company. 1t has offered,
and is still offering lots free to all those
| who build upon them in order to en-
courage settlement, and it has furnish
ed lumber for building purposes to
many at actual cost. There is not a
reasonable doubt that this will be select
ed as the county seat of this county, and
with all these advantages property will
appreciate in value very rapidly.
| Gypsum has been found in large
quantities cropping out of the ground
within five or six miles of this town,
and within mile of where the railroad
must run; and, without doubt, when
the road is built, this will be found to
be vast mine of wealth. At present
it would cost large sum to establish
works for grinding and preparing it
for market, owing to the want of facili-
ties for communication but this will
soon be done away with, and this may
give employment to great numbers,
and make Rice county one of the rich
est and most pOpelOus counties in the
State. For agricultural purposes it can
not be beat, as is acknowledged by ali
who have visited it. Many who have
travelled over large parts of Kansas
seeking for homes have finally settled
here, and pronounce this ahead of any
thing they have seen.
i Some idea may be formed of the en-
terprising disposition of the inhabitants
from the arrangements which have been
made for the celebration of the 4th OF
July. a meeting was held few days
ago, and it was resolved to have re-
gular basket picnic short distance
from town, in fine grove, and to have
: buffalo barbecued whole. This Will
} be decided novelty in the way of bar.
becue, and it is attended to make the
other arrangements to correspond
Efforts will be made to gather together
: all the people in the county, to enable
} them to become acquainted; but il
would be necessary to have picnic
, every week to get acquainted with the
} newcomers, if it was to be kept up Oh
, such scale. ".