Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-04-02
Letter from an oxford Man in
k0uxus

Letter from an OXFORD Van b
Kansas.
Mr.. Ednor:-The following letter
written TO Your Bethel correspondent, is
from the pen ol Dea. Israel Adams, for
merly a resident OF this town. but for the
past nine months residing near Man
haitian. Kansas. MFR. Adams says:
II think you requested me to write
what thought Of Kansas. think it is
q fine country-not one that ilows with
milk and honey. but one that flows with
wheat, corn. rye. eats. and all kinds OF
fruit in abundance Such bountiful crops
as were raised here last season cannot he
expected every year. | think the crops
are no more likely TO prove n failure hero
than in Maine. Last summer. while
Maine was suffering Tor rain We had oil
abundance. The land is what is called
rolling prairie. The scenery is really
splendid. There are many bluffs Of lime
stone which afford ample material Tor
building and road fencing. Their form is
perfect, their tops level. and there are
three terraces on the sides evidently
formed by the action oil water in past
ages. The country is well watered. and
is adapted 10 stock raising, which is be
coming great business here. Timber
is scarce though the banks of rivers and
creeks are covered with wood and timber
growing more plenty by tho fire being
kept out. Most of The timber used Tor
building. is brought from Chicago and
sells for about $50 por thousand.
Manhattan is situated at the confluence
of the Kansas and Blue rivers. Two
bridges were completed across these
rivers last spring, within one half mile
of the city, costing in The aggregate
amount $4,000. A railroad, having It's
terminus at Manhattan,is 10 be COM
menced in the spring; It's c0uise will be
up the Blue river and northerly to con-
meet with Chicago. Two miles from
iowa is Rock Ford on the Blue river. A
stone dam is built across the river. and
on it u large -four mill. which is doing an
extensive business The water. power is
equal TO that OF Lewiston. The State
Agricultural College is located here. 1t
is hourishing institution, and we'll en-
dowcd. There is n large farm belonging
TO the College. on which the students can
wak portion of the time for pay. They
cultivate almost everything of value that
will grow in this climate. The average
yield OF wheat on tho farm last season,
was forty.three bushels TO the acre. A
Farmers Institute is hold annually at the
College in the month OF January, and
continued one week
Although out OF season. want TO tell
you something about the Agricultural
Fair held in Manhattan last September.
| think never saw so much system and
order on like occasion, and best OF all,
not a person WAS seen intoxicated during
the three days. although an immense
crowd was in attendance. A building
was erected, called Floral Hall. 1t was
in the form OF Greek cross, with en-
frances east. west, moth and south.
There was great display of fruit and
vegetables. One man exhibited ioIiy-
seven varieties OF apples raised on his
farm. Fruits oil all kinds grow much
larger than at the east. Sweet potatoes
Weighing eight pounds were on exhibi.
ton. The ladies' department was splen.
did. The display of cattle was large and
fine. Inever saw such splendid animals
before. One Devon bull was on exhibi-
ton, for which the owner paid $l700, and
bull calf, weighing eight hundred
pounds, just imported from Illinois, for
which the owner paid 5000 No pains is
spared to improve the breeds of stock.
No better horses can be produced than
were exhibited-their average weight be-
ing about 1900 pounds.
The winter has been very cold-the
coolest. ten degrees below zero, though
it seemed as cold as twenty in Maine.
There are five religious denominations
in Manhattan: Methodist, Congregation
alist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Baptist,
oil selfsupporting and prospecting.
Better society cannot be found in any
New England town. The people ares
mostly from New England, which ex.
plains the whole. The farmers here are
hard workers. and have less leisure time
than they do in your section, being al.
ways in hurry.