Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-03-05
For the Spectator

| AAA1ISAAAlv3 ACAdS, IoU. 1Otu, 10 II.
MEssRs. EDITORS: Perhaps it may not be un-
interesting to you, and your readers to hear some
account of this country from former resident
ofyour county. Commencing at St. Louis, left
on the Missouri Pacific r. R., which extends
| from St. Louis to Atchison. Kan: following it
up for 100 miles, I struck the future great
railroad of this country-the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas, which leaves the Missouri Pacific at
Sedalia and taking Southeasterly direction
thro' the beautiful prairies of Southwest Mis-
| souri, for Ito miles where it strikes Kansas and
from there on for about so miles to Parsons,
Kansas, in the course, when it turns and runs
nearly due south, but hereletme pause moment;
at Parsonsa little over year ago was not house
and now stands, one of the most promising
towns of the whole west with between 5000 and
1900 inhabitants and every prospect for be-
coming much larger. From Parsons the rail-
| road goes nearly due South for about 25 miles,
where it strikes the Cherokee division of the
Indian nation and continuing on in the same
direction for upwards of 80 miles, it strikes the
Arkansas river which is about miles north of
its present terminus making it in all 270 miles
in length Tor the main trunk line, besides some
l6O miles of feeders. When you look at this
and think that one year from the 1st day of last
July, the first rail was laid, it gives quite
contrast to the former slow progress of the old
V. Z. Il. h. At one time it was a race be-
tween this road and the Lawrence, Leaven-
worth u Gulf X. r, as to which would first
reach the Indian nation and thus obtain ad
vantage OF the law giving the right of way to
one railroad north and south, and one east and
west through the territory, and on some days
they accomplished what almost seems an i'm
possibility, laying four miles of track in one day.
Now they are taking their time more leisurely
and laying an average of half a mile day,
thus steadily and rapidly carrying it on towards
Galveston. At the terminus of the Railroad,
took stage over Ficklin's (of charlottesville
line to this point 18O miles; of which 100 is
through the Indian Nation. This country
needs only to be opened, and in few years, it
will far surpass any of the border states in
growth rich, will watered, and the portion
through which passed either well timbered or
an abundant supply of coal, and in many places
both: it possess every desirable qualification
for a rich and wealthy country This side of
Red river, you strike different soil rich
black loan to which there seems no bottom, and
which brings with ease two bales of cotton to
the acre. For the farmer, this country pre-
sents good opening, lands are cheap and rich
and every thing that he can raise brings good
price; for instance corn 81 per bushel in gold,
oats IS cents in gold, cotton Is to l6 cents in
gold, and his bacon can be sold for 123 hog
around in gold; to the merchant who can COM
mand means, IL also gives gO0d opening al
most anything, and at any price seems to sell
rapidly, and without any effort, but to the
young man who wants place as clerk, it pre-
sents almost as poor an opening as could be
found: men to work, and with money are all
they want here, for others they have no use.
Gold is the currency here, and greenbacks
myth, something that they look on with dis
trust almost equal to the ''old Confederate. -
They take the greenbacks tho at from 80 to
80 cents in the dollar in the stores, and it is
only among the negroes and lower classes, that
you cannot pass them. There is one thing tho
that almost does away with every inducement
that Texas can offer to me, and that is the lack
Of society; such thing as a polished and rein
ed lady being something that I don't believe
can be found in all north Texas! At least |
haven't met any so far will write you again
shortly and give you few more Texas items
ABSENTEE