Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-03-10
Letter fr0m Kansas.
Scandal City, Republic Co.,

Kansas, Feb. 2Sth 1871.
EDITOR GAZETTE. AS a late Ci!i'
Zen of Cedar Falls Township, and
receiving many letters Of inquiry in
regard to this portion Of the country
feel constrained to write short
letter giving some Of the more inn
portaut features Of this portion Of the
country, viz: Northern Kansas. -
Northern Kansas is now too well,
and fnYorahly known. TO need any
description or communication. Oc-
curyinS as it does, the most central
position, with very mild and
healthy climate, and Il soil of unsur-
passed fertility. Kansas may we'll
challenge comparison with any state
OF the Union. North, South, East or
West. And of Kansas, the North
ern portion is the garden. The
country is we'll watered, 10y the Re-
| publican, solomon, Big and Little
/ Blue Rivers. aud their numerous
| tributaries, furnishing all the water
! necessary 10 make il n fine grazing
and stock growing country; and also
amply sufficient for all ueedful man
ufacturers. Good building stone
ahounds in all parts of the country,
furnishing good aud cheap materi-
al for building. Timber is more
abundant in his, than any other
portion Of the country west of the
! Missouri River. And Stone coal has
been found already in several loca!i
ties. Several railroads are already
under construction in Northern
! Kansas, and are being built with
great rapidity, while many others
are projected, and about being com.
menced and, indeed the geographic
cal position of Northern Kansas, and
| the necessity Of crossing it in vari-
Gus directions; i'm extending roads to
make connection with the Union Pa
citic, and Kansas Pacific Railroads,
" III IlNlNC ~ ~ pSs fii'i
closely knitted together with Rail-
roads, tEan any other portion of the
country. Republic county occupies
IA central position i'm Northern Kan
sas, aud is situated in the great val
ley Of the Republican River, unsur.
pissed in richness and fertility; and
is as healthy as any other portion OF
the country Scandal City is the
principal town in this county. 1t is
finely situated on the beautiful Re-
publican River, possessing all the
adN antages of many eastern towns
Schools and Churches, are rapidly
increasing, and the place is charac-
teriZed Ivy enterprise and public
spirit. The river is crossed ut this
point by means Of a Ferry, forming
a connecting link of one of the prin-
cipal thOrOughfaTcs Of the State, lead.
ing West. Scandal City is on the
line of route of the Kansas, Missouri
and Texas Railroad, and will within
two years, be in direct c0mmunica'
ton by rail with all parts of the
country, connecting al Junction City
with the Kansas Pacific, and other
railroads; aud also at Fort Kearuey
or near that point, with the Union
Pacific Railroad. There are some Oi
! lnnt9r -, iirn - Al OF on IA
ject to entry 10y homestead and IRE
emptiOn. in Republic county, only
by actual settlers. Those wishing
homesteads, should come soon as the
land is rapidly being taken, nearly
five hundred homestrads and pre-
empti"ns, having been taken during
the past year in Republic county,
The county is settled so far by citi-
zens from almost every State in the
Union. There is also a Swedish elc
ment here which is characterized by
industry and enterprise. Iowa and
Illinois are well represented; also
Western New York. We have Saw
Mills, FIGURING Mills, BIacksmithS
and Mechanics Of all occupations
nearly, and ! think | can say with
out successful contradiction that Re-
public county, offers greater induce
mcnts to the actual settler, than
any other portion of Kansas, or the
great West. Come and see the heau-
! tifui valley of the Republican, before
settling. 1t has good supply Of
wood, stone coal, and the finest mag
I uesian limestone; it also has most eX.
crlIent water, in many places oh.
rainCd at very little labor or cot
With a mild and healthy climate,
stock almost lives during the winter
without feed, excepting through
stormy weather, which seldom lasts
more than one or two days. The
country is admirably adapted to
stock growing in the valleys, and to
the Cerals on tie high rich rolling
prairics. Perhaps never in the SET
Element Of the country has there
been greater inducements offered to
the actual settlers than il now offer
ed here in this county. Houses
spring up as if by magic. Where
three months ago you could not see
sign of human habitation, to-day
you can count scores of houses. so
rapid is the settlement of the coun-
try.
Yours Respectfully,
WILLIAM n. KNOLL.