The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1872-06-07
THE EXCURSION TO WICHITA.

THE EXCURSION TO WICHITA.
The following article is from the pen
of L. Dwight Thacher, editor of the
Lawrence Daily Journal, one of the
oldest and ablest of Kansas editors,
who accompanied the late excursion to
this place, and who is president of the
association:
The convention met at o'clock on
Tuesday in Bancroft's hall, kindly ten
dered by Major Bancroft for the occa-
sion. In the absence of the president
and secretary, NJ. NJ. Murdoch was
elected chairman, and j. S. Wilson sec
rotary pro TEN.
The election of officers for the ensu-
ing year then took place, and resulted
as follows: President, I. Dwight
Thatcher, of the Lawrence journal vice
presidents, Albert Griffin. of the Man.
haitian Nationalist; d. w. Wilder, of
the Fort Scott Monitor, and W. d.
Walker, of the Emporia Ledger; sec
rotary, j. S. Wilson, of the Garrett
Pdiadealer; treasurer, W. f. Chal-
FAINT, of the Usage Chronicle; orator,
Is. Kalloch, of the Kansas Spirit
alternate, Geo. w. Martin. Of the
Junction Union; poet, Capt. j. W.
Steele, of the Topeka Commonwealth.
The place of next years meeting was
fixed at Atchison, on the third Tues
day of May.
| In the evening, the convention and a
large concourse of the people of the
| town listened to the annual address by
ID. w. Wilder, Esq. The production
| was just one hour and three minutes
long. 1t was delightfully."- written, all
| about newspapers, full of sharp, bright
and pleasant things, inspired by the
highest tone of moral sentiment, and
delivered in an admirable manner
Everybody was pleased with it, and
the society ordered a thousand copies
of it published at their expense.
The association having received
kind invitation from Col. T. j. Peter,
general manager of the A., T. & S. +.
Il. X, to take trip over that road as
far as Wichita and return TO Topeka,
and placing an extra train at their dis
posal, the invitation was accepted and
Wednesday was devoted to the excur-
sion. AT O'Clock of that morning.
the train rolled out in the midst of a
very heavy shower. The weather
soon cleared, however; the dust had
been thoroughly laid, the country in
every direction was deliciousIy fresh
and green, and the ride was delight
full one.
From Emporia to Florence. the road
runs up the fertile valley of the Cot
tonwOOd, one of the finest of the small
n V0lInyC IN hn tot
Newton, it passes over high ground.
yet smooth and looking as though it
would bear cultivation. Newton is a
rough, undesirable place, where ADAM
dOned women crowd the liquor
saloons in the day time, and where all
the vices of the extreme frontier flour |
ish like weeds in a rank soil. The |
main line of the road passes on west |
from Newton, striking the Arkansas at
Hutchinson, thirty miles distant. 1t
is not operated, however, except for |
construction purposes. The Wichita
line strikes off from Newton nearly
due south for twenty-six miles. The
most of the way it follows the valley of
the Little Arkansas. Wichita is sit
uated on the Arkansas, just below the
junction of the Arkansas and the Lit
tie Arkansas. The valley of these
streams are something magnificent,
stretching away from eight to twelve
miles wide in beautiful and fertile bot
tom lands, such as are rivaled by no
other valleys in the state. The lands
are said to be productive, and the APP
pearance of the corn and of the garden
vegetables cOrrObOrates the statement
The Arkansas at Wichita is as wide rs
the Kansas at Lawrence, but with a
less volume of water. The banks are
lower. Excepta slight fringe of cotton
wood along the streams, the country
is treeless. A herd law is vital for
this part of the country.
Wichita itself is smart, thriving
town, two years old. Its main bus
mess street looks as Massachusetts
street, Lawrence. did in 1857. A fine
and large three-story hotel has just
been erected by Mr.. William Greiffen-
stein, one Of her most prominent cit
liens. He and others are also erected
a fine block of stores, built of stone.
A wooden bridge across the Arkansas
is nearly completed, at the cost $27 900.
built by private enterprise. A good
public school is in operation. Two
weekly newspapers, the Vidette and
EAGLE, show the press is not sighted.
A vast tide Ofimmigration is pouring
into this part OF the state, and Wichita
is bound to be town of Importance
The United States land offices have
lately been removed to this place from
Augusta. The stories lately started to
the discrcdit Of the officers of this land
office are believed here by the best ci!i.
zens, so far as we could learn. to be ut
terly without foundations and part of an
intrigue to get the present incumbcnts
out, and other parties in their places.
The people of Wichita received the
very kindly, meeting us at
the depot with carriages and escorting
rs to all places of interest in the vicin-
ty. a fine dinner was was gotten up
1t the Empire House, by order of Col.
Peter. The proprietors, Messrs. Blood '
Lamb, had short notice of the affair,
but got us up an excellent dinner.
The mayor of the city was absent, but
N his absence, Mr.. J. Il. Mead made
neat little speech. welcoming us to the
,ity. Mr.. Thatcher replied in behalf
If the association, and further brief
speeches were made by ID. W. Wilder,
ESQ.,, NJ. NJ. Murdoch and others.
The return trip was made quickly !
md pleasantly. arriving at Emporia
lbout nine o'clock in the evening.
|