The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-10-06
A TRIBUTE TO KANSAS.

"A handsome tribute to Kansas, from
the Massachusetts PLOtCnaG1s, showing
her growth and prosperity through the
quickening influence of her railroads,
and her wonderful agricultural products
and natural resources:
We warm towards Kansas whenever
we hear her name spoken. 1t strikes
cord that revives many intense memor-
les. It was on Kansas soil that the
great drama opened between freedom
and slavery, and there the victory was
early assured to the former. Becoming
State while the war for the Union
was in progress, it has marched on to
greatness with rapid strides. 1t is al
ready young giant emong Common
wealths. Mr.. Greeley places it at least
fourth in the list of States, after few
years shall have established the relative
position and prosperity of all. The
Kansas Pacific railroad was stroke of
unusual fortune for the State, insuring
its rapid and almost magical settlement.
1t took years to construct the Illinois
Central railroad north and south
through the state; it consumed but g
fraction of the time to run the Kansas
Pacific east and west through the whole
length of Kansas. When that enter
prise was completed, the farther end to
Denver being built at marvellous rate
of speed, the fortune of the State was
| established. Thence-forWard lateral
roads, north and south were matter of
course. Already the State is laced and
interlaced with railroads. Mr.. Greeley
pronounced the people railroad mad.
The counties subscribe generously with
bonds and construction goes forward
| at once. In five years the number of
miles of road increased from q couple
of hundred to twelve hundred.
Should the narrow gauge plan of rail-
way prevail there as it promises to do
In the South and Southwest, it will
greatly increase the building OF iron
roads. The system now in progress
| contemplates one at least through the
heart of every populous county. There
| are roads already south and southwest
from Leavenworth, Topeka and Law
renee. Others are building south and
southwest from both the latter places.
Coal abOunds everywhere, particularly
in the middle and eastern parts of the
State. The chief cities and towns are
Leavenworth, Lawrence, Topeka, En-
poria, Burlington, Ottawa, Fort Scott,
Eureka, and Junction City. A town
will start up out of the prairie in a
single year. Immigration is pouring
into the State at an unprecedented rate,
the estimate being an addition of from
one to two hundred thousand during
the current year. The larger body
comes from the Northwest, the Middle
States and the East. There is no such
combination of climate and soil on the
Continent as is to be found in eastern,
middle and southern Kansas. The
farmers Of New York, Pennsylvania,
Il Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and the entire
Northwest, are eagerly disposing OF
their homes and emigrating to the rich
er lands and the more inviting climate
of southern Kansas. The immense
droves of beef cattle from Texas are
driven through the State and pastured
! for time ON the fattening grass of the
J prairics OF southern Kansas.
For corn, wheat, and all the small
grains, for vegetables of every kind
and character, and especially for fruits
from the grape and peach to the apple
and pear, no State in the West can sue
cessfully compete with this giant Of
promise in production. 1t has carried
of the hrst prize for fruit at the Ameri
can Pathological Convention, and nc
wheat or corn, for quantity and quality
suTpasses that harvested on the ricf
plains of Kansas. She Yields with al
the profuse bounty of California. Blu
the glory OF this young commonwealth
is to be in her men. She is laying deeI
, the foundation for 3 moral and educat
I ed community, in her comprehensive
and thorough common school system
and institutions Of learning and ad
I vancement are springing up all owe
the more pOpulous parts of the State
r encouraged alike by public aid and in
. dividual support We do not see bu
the full prophecy OF the future of Kan
: sas will be speedily realized. She can
0 not help taking very high rank anon;
!. other States OF the Union, for her re
f are industrious, enterprising, highly in
= tulligent, and determined. She ha
J, made her own way among her sisters
? and is to-day recognized as the peer Q