The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-05-21
Letter from Kansas.
TorEKA, KANSAS, MAJ 1ath. is,

TOPEKA, KANSAS, MAY 18th, 1879.
Mr.. Editor-It may be of interest to some
of your readers to hear from this part of
the world. Topeka is improving moro rap
idly and better class of buildings are
being put up, than in former years, no man
need be idle that wants to work at good
pay Among other improvements the
Washburn College building to cost $780,
600, is to be put up this summer, also $1O,-
| 600, to be spent on the Capitol grounds in
addition to what has been laid out to make
them lovely. The Presbyterians are build
ing q church to cost $4,000. On commun-
ion day 90 joined the church, and "a Joined
| the Methodist at their last communion. So
you we have a church going community
here. Immigration continues and more
are coming than any former spring. The
sound of the hammer and saw is not only
heard in our towns, but also over our beau
tiful praries continually. We see the
white covered wagons in all directions
hunting houses in the rich valleys of the
Kaw,on the Arkanses river, through which
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe r. r.,
is rapidly making, and along the line and
in advance, towns spring up like magic.
Huchison the first point beyond Newton,
the present termination of the road is al
fall the buffalo and Kiote held peaceful
possession. Every quarter section for
many miles has a settler on it, and see by
recent reports that still farther up the
river on the Big Bend there is a town start
ed with 40 houses. Fort Zana will be the
next point Fortunate is the man who
gets land near any of these points, in such
a lovely and fertile country. Uncle Sam
has from 80 to 100 acres to give to any one
who will come and occupy it, but will not
build him house and plant his corn.
There is the trouble, they must work here
as well as elsewhere, if they would thrive.
Three large herds of Texas cattle reached
Caldwell yesterday, the first brought from
Texas this season. A gentleman just
from Texas, says there are at least 750,-
600, on the trail between this and Red
river Crossing, all looking fine. The drive
this season promises to be quite as large as
last year. We will have another r. r.,
finished to this place next week, that gives
us another direct connection with Chicago,
and it has been much needed as the Union
Pacific imposed on us in freight Also in
the next month we will have another con-
nection south.
This country is destined to be quite q
cheese and butter country. There is one
factory at Americus, that turns out 1000
lbs, of cheese per day. The country is new,
with many smaller factories. Butter is
made and packed in stone jars to ship and
it keeps well. John p. Thompson and
family are living al Huchison. His son
Albannes Thomson had his store burned at
Park city last fall, every thing almost was
burned The building being two story
wood, and strong wind blowing, it burned
very rapidly. Crops promise we'll Fruit
will be abundant, we expect TO buy peach
es at 20 cents a bushel this summer we
bought them at so cent last summer; we
have been having very heavy rains, wash
ing out culverts and stopping trains for n
few days. Yours Respectfully.
j. b. THOMPSON