Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-02-09
For the REPUBLIcA
A TOUR WEST.

MEssRs. EDITORS In our last
interview we parted at Topeka,
Kansas. Should judge that this
, city contains about seven thou
sand inhabitants, although the
, citizens here claim higher num-
, ber. 1t is situated on each side
of the Kansas river. South To-
peka is the largest portion of the
city, and contains a number of
very fine hotels, commercial
buildings and private residences.
Among the hotels, the Tefft
House and the Capitol House
stand prominent. The Teft
House contains 10S rooms and
preparations are being made to
greatly enlarge the building.
There are number of hotels but
little inferior. The fare at a first
class hotel is three dollars a day.
At a second-class hotel it is two
dollars a day. The capitol of the
State is situated in South Topeka.
One wing of the capitol building
is already completed and is su
perb structure. 1t is built of
magnesia-limesto which, when
first taken from the quarry is so
soft that it can be cut with hand
saw without injury to the saw.
But a short time of exposure to
the atmosphere renders it ex-
tremely hard. 1t is susceptible
of an extremely fine polish and
resembles fine quality Of mar
BILE. The basement wall Is four
feet thick, and is built of through
stones about four feet square.
The building occupies a COM
manding position, and may be
seen at a distance of ten miles.
The Legislature is in session, and
a Presbyterian minister is among
themembers. The clergy of the
city actas chaplain in turn, to open
the daily sessions of the Legisla-
ture, at three dollars a service.
ALI the clergy oficiate except the
Catholic priest, who declines on
conscientious scruples about re
ceiving the three dollars. 1t is
said that he has no hesitancy in
receiving five dollars for
pardoning a mans sins. The re-
ligious denominations are here
very fully represented. The
Presbyterians have large con-
gregation, and is rapidly increas-
ing under the pastorate of Rev.
McCabe, an efficient, eloquent
and laborious minister. The
Episcopalians, Baptists, Metho-
dists, Congregationalists and Lu
therans are all well represented,
both in regard to churches and
ministers. As to ministers there
is decided superabundance at |
this point. At the Presbyterian
church there were four Presby-I
terian ministers present at the
services on one Sabbath, and on
another Sabbath that l attended |
quarterly meeting at a Methodist
church, there were present eight |
ordained ministers. 4
Dry goods and groceries are
but little higher here than in
Ohio. Good calicos can be |
bought for fifteen cents per yard |
and white sugar for fifteen cents
per pound. -
The common school system in
Kansas is similar to that in Ohio,
except that women vote on school
matters. In regard to education,
Topeka has many facilities. In
addition to well arranged union
school, it is supplied with various
colleges and seminaries. There
is a seminary under the auspices
of the Episcopalians, of high rep
utation; designed exclusively for
the education of young ladies.
North Topeka is of more recent
growth than South Topeka, and is
situated on the north side of the
Kansas river, and is connected
with the southern portion of the
city by a substantial iron bridge.
1t has the advantage of having
the railroad and depot on its own
side of the river, and is destined
soon to be the most business part
ofthe city. The portion of the city
near the railroad and station will |
undoubtedly be devoted to COM
mercial transactions; while on
the north, to the distance of half
mile from the station would be
delightful locations for public
buildings and private residences.
Nearly every man in and around
Topeka has a title. He is either
| a Reverend, Doctor, a Deacon,
a General, a Colonel, Major, a
Captain, an Esquire, or something
else. Esl 10 r
The climate of this country will
undoubtedly be most salubrious.
There is good circulation of air,
and there are no stagnant pools
or marshes to produce malaria,
the effects of which are so severe
ly experienced in some portions
of Ohio and Indiana. There is a
little disposition to ague at this
time, arising from the decom-
position of the freshly broken sod.
After the breaking process is COM
pleted, this country will undoubt-
edly possess one of the most heal
thy climates on this continent.
Even now it is visited by great
numbers of invalids in search of
health, and in some instances
with very favorable results. II
Prairie grass grows spontane-
ously and in great abundance;
makes excellent grazing and
good qualitysof hay. In this re-
spect it is thought by the settlers
L. L l