The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-07-17
Correspondence of the EAGLE.
SUMNER COUNTY.

adjoining the Indian territory, called
the Cherokee neutral lands. In topo.
graphy il is much like the south part
of Sedgwick and the west part Of Cow
ley counties. The soil is unsurpassed
in fertility by any county in the state,
and though timber l. scarce there is
plenty for immediate wants. and in
fifteen years hence there will be plenty
for all purposes. Many forest groves
are already sci ont. and others will be
each succeeding wear. Orchards look
finely, and the growth of trees is truly
remarkable.
All kind. of crops, suited to our lat
ltude. grow luxuriantly. and the crop
reports of the two wears of settlement
are all that can be desired Corn. oats
and vegetables produce immensely.
/ From experiments made in growing
! wheat, cotton, flax, hemp, castor beans,
! broom corn and pea auts il is found
J thai our soil and climate are well
I adapted 90 all, and perfectly suited 10
most of them. The present season
there are about 800 acres of cotton
growing and 100 acres Of castor beans.
Although only "A little over two years
have elapsed since the first settlement
was made, we now number over 1000
population. estimated on the last vote,
and our people are As refined and in
telIioent rs can be found i'm any rural
district in the east. and more energetic
Two thousand dollars have already
been expended in building district
school houses, and new ones are in pro-
cess of construction every month.
Regular church services are held in all
the principal towns and in many of the
issued 10 form a county Sabbath school
convention. which bids fair TO be
largely attended. Several farmers
clubs are in running order and doing
good work, and the Arkansas valley
agricultural society, with headquarters
ct Oxford. has been formed with cap
iial stock Of $4,000.
The county is bountifully watered
by the Arkansas. Nenncscah, Cowskin,
Slate, Shckaspa, Bluff, Fall, Shoe Fly
and other smaller streams.
Belle Plain, in the northeast part of
81 = faI a A
between the Arkansas and Nennescah,
in most fertile country, with extensive
valleys and rich uplands spread out on
either hand. Among its business men
are Mcssrs. Boncr, Hitchcock, Hamil
ton, Potter, Burcell, Forney and ID.
LockerIy & Co. The drug store of the
last named is model of taste and ele-
gancc, and SURPRISES any other similar
establishment in Southwestern Kansas.
The water is excellent, and plenty of
timber on the streams in close proxim-
ity. A fine truss bridge, built by the
township, spans the Nencnnescah lust
south of town, that gives a direct out
let to Oxford, Wellington and the
country south.
Oxford is located on a beautiful
plateau. overlooking the great Arkan-
sas valley, and is one Of the plcasantest
towns of the state. a $1,000 hotel has
been built, and the best bridge OH the
Arkansas spans the stream on one of
the main streets of the town. The
town company is composed of wide
awake, go-ahead. liberal men, and sub
stantial improvements are in progress.
The stores of Murphy & Carroll, o. f.
Kimball. T. T.. Clark, Peacock Il Cald-
woil, Stanton, Croft. Collins, Austin
and others compare well with those Of
Wichita and other '''~'- noted cities-
Wellington, the county seat, is stu
ated thirteen miles west of Oxford and
thirty south Of Wichita. A tri-weekly
mail connects il with the former place.
and daily coach with the latter. 1t
is the only city west of the Arkan-
sas river, and is growing rapidly. Its
main business men at present are
Messrs. Shcarman. Godfrey, Stipp Il
Co, Hopkins, Mann, Jordan, Gatliff 4
Pryer. Lummis a. Davidson, Riley.
Barnad & Bates. New men are con-
stantly coming and engaging in bust
ness.
Ia l,,.rxst in. ~ llS nf
Alton. South Haven and Remanto are
found G.. ii. Stone. J. Nj. Thomas, DR..
Burkett, Hunt & Hunt, +. Blair, Sain
& Glynn, Miestcr Il Co.. Col. Hunt,
Capt. Chenowcrth, f. A. Reiman and
others. A tri-weckly mail line is now
established from Arkansas City to
the last named town. Belle Plainc,
Wellington and Caldwell are on the
great Wichita and FIT. Sill route.
Austin. on Slate creek at the cross
ing of the Texas cattle trail, is a lively
trading point, especially in summer,
and London. on the Ncnnescah. on the
direct line between Wichita and Wei
lington. bids fair to become a town of
considerable Importance. The legal
profession is represented by Messrs.
Caldwell, Tucker, Bloodgct & Hcrrick,
Hackney, Abbott, Mcdonald, Fornev.
Knapp. Whsle, Dilar Il Showalter |
The Sumner county Press, published |
at Wellington by Messrs. Folks & Lud-
low. is one of the sprightliest sheets of
the state. has large circulation and
is well patronized. The publishers are
and increase the facili-
tics of the Office TO correspond with the
augmcnting demands of the
country.
The Belle Plainc Democrat. at Belle
Plainc. edited by Col. J. W. Forney,
is also well pa,ronizcd. is in full SYM
pathy with the progressive spirit of
The age and is well established and
Onr physicians are nearly all bank
rupt. or would be if they had no re-
source except their profession. The
medical calling is ably represented by
Nessrs. Wilson. Brande. Wood. Richie.
Ewell, but the country is too
reality for them to prosper in their
'hosen business.
The railroad prospects of Sumner
,ounty are most encouraging. When I