The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-10-03
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 5, 1873
TRIP TO KANSAS.

In trip to Anderson county, Kansas,
of q weeks duration, on a visit to rela-
tiyes. we made some observations there
and on the route. Stepping on Kansas
soil at LeavenwOrth, our first impress
pressions of the State were very favora-
BILE. LeavenwOrth is the metropolis OF
Kansas-claims something like thirty
thousand inhabitants-is regularly laid
out, has a number of fine, large bust
ness houses, and its citizens giving evil
dence of thrift and enterprise. Mr.. n.
B. Smith, the gentlemanly and efficient
agent of the Kansas City. St. Joseph
and Council Bluffs Railroad at Leaven-
worth, rendered us under obligations for
his kind assistance at a time when the
p~erplexities of a delayed trunk had well
nigh driven us distracted. We heartily
speak a good word for Mr.. Smith, and
are firmly convinced that the railroad
could not have a better representative
than the one they have. From this
point the Leavenworth, Lawrence and
Galveston road was traverSed some
eighty miles, to Garnett, the county
seat of Anderson county. The country
on this route has evidently been settled
some time, as the well cultivated fields
and the fine farm-houses testified. The
gently undulating prairies. affording
Just enough slope tor good natural drain
age; the frequent creeks and ~rivulets,
always skirted with timber, which is
sufficient in quantity to provide ample
building timber aud fuel for years to
come, surprised US amazingly; for We
had been taught that Kansas was a des-
ert, without timber or water, and that
land was cheap there because it was in
trinsically worth nothing. Garrett we
found to be a brisk. growing town of
some 1900 population, having been set
tied some ten or fifteen years ago. 4
fresh impetus has been given its growth
by the speedy prospect of an east and
west railroad through the town-the
Paola, Garnet aid Fall River-which
will make that an excellent point of
shipment for a large additional range
of country. The soil in this vicinity is
notwithstanding the black heavy
soil of Illinois; and. indeed, the crops
there, we learn, will be much better than
they promise in that vicinity, although
the drouth was as severe there as here.
Corn and potatoes, while far from an
average crop. will produce sufficient for
the farmers to "both sell and keep" At
Garnet we met Mr.. w. r. Spooner.
who has just taken the helm of the
Plaindealer with a vim that merits sue
cess. which, judging from the liberal and
wide-awake community in which he has
pitched his tent, will be bountifully
awarded him. Mr.. Spooner's father We
were also glad to meet-''TOm" Spoon
er. whose lame was very familiar in
political circles of Southern Ohio some
fifteen or twenty years ago. He looks
hearty, and will enjoy a number of
years vet on this green earth.
On Friday morning we started or our
return, and. owing to trains being be-
hind time. did not arrive at Savannah
till Saturday morning at 10 O'Clock. In
deed. every train we took passage on,
from the time we left Savannah till our
return, was either behind time on start
ing or got behind before arriving at our
destination. 1t is not a pleasant thing
to be forced to wait twenty-five hours
nj various depots while travelling one
hundred and fifty miles and return. and
railroads would consult their wi as
well as the public interest by Obviating
y~exatious trouble of this kind.