The Van Buren press., 1873-05-27
The Peregrinations Of Van Bureaits-
Sick and Tired Of Texas and Goes
to Missouri-Stsps at Nevada,
Vernon County, and Writes
to the Press.
NEVADA, Mo, May II, 1878.

II one believes one half he sees or hears
Of Texas, to be just as it looks, or he
hears 1T, it must be the second Eden
Adam was not content to live in the Gar
den of Eden in the perfect bliss that God
intended he should, and it would seem
that his degenerate posterity have inner
tied his perverse disposition, and objec'
tons to living in The garden spots of the
earth. l don't like Texas; care not tc
live there left the State, and rambleC
up into the State of Missouri. In Texas
in the morning, | put on my summer
clothing, before night put on my win
ter clothing and shivered while wrapet
in a overcoat Here the season is back
ward and cold, the trees just beginning
to leaf out, the flowers to bloom and the
grass to grow. And now while l sit a
my window writing, and the rain patter'
on the roof and against the paAes, l view
the change Of climate that l have exper
fenced in milder but colder and mere
backward climate.
made the journey, (Which was not {
sentimental one, from Sherman, Texas
to this peint in twenty four hours, all the
way on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
railroad There are few points on this
road that possess any interest or are o.
any importance, The road is the frs
from the North to enter Texas. Il
crosses the large rivers, Red and Arkan
sas, on splendid iron bridges Stopped
at Vinta, the crossing OF the NJ. Z. X X
for breakfast, and at Parsons, in the
State OF Kansas, for dinner. Parsons is
a lively little town out on the wide Kan
sas prairies Here l heard Of the mur.
derous acts of the Bender family, twelve
miles from town Much excitement still
existed, and determination that the of
tenders Should be brought to punishment.
And | opnc that should they be brought
back to that place any time soon, justice
would not be long in oyertaking them
At Fort Scott stopped a haf day
Found it the largest town | have visited
in my travels this spring 1t has grown
hugely since | visited it tour years ago.
Am of the opinion that the great fire did
no extensive damage to the architectural
beauty of the town. 1t was mostly the
old wooden part Of the town that was
burned. 1t will soon all be built up again
There is considerable activity in coal
mines. a monsiel elevator and Touring
mill being finished Some enterprising
citizens are putting mp a large foundry
and machine shop. where all kinds OF
machinery will be manufactured.
Nevada is twenty miles east Of Ft.
Scott, across the State line in Missouri
1t is newly built, neat town Of about
1900 Inhabitants, mestly from kentucky,
Illinois and the north part Of this State.
1t has one railroad, the NJ X Il L. 1t
is on high prairie hill, surrounded on
all sides by groves and strips Of timber.
which arc on lower lands than the town,
There is one bank, stone Touring mill,
a saw mill and three churches, All kinds
of trade is well represented The good
people are taxed with the support Of
fourteen or fifteen lawyers, while an
equal number Of physicians look after
their physical condition. This people
are given "to ways that are dark, y &c !,
if we should Judge from the number OF
secret societies The A. +. Il A. NJ
have two lodge, the Usage and Argyle,
a Chapter and Commandery. The | o
. F. have lodge and Encampment;
and lately the Knights Of Pythias have
found their way to this genial soil Nor
man }. Coleman Of st. Louis, lectured
here on the 18th Of the present month to
the "Grangers " There are some good
stone and brick buildings, both business
and resident, but the majority are frame,
very tastefullv built The streets are
strai ght and broad; the houses are built
back from the streets in large lots, and
mostly have yard and garden, dccorat-
ed with plants, shrubs and trees some
growth, with many peach and ap
pie trees intcrspcrsed.
The county of Vernon contains about
1900 inhabitants, and still the rich soil
OF unocupied prairies invites more farm.
ers As yet the farms have been mostly
opened on the skirts Of the timber landa
upon the streams. Some as fine prairie
and timber land can be found in this
county as in the State, and at prices with,
in the reach Of any working, economical
farmer. Greeks and streams of running
water are numerous in all parts OF the
county.
All kinds Of grain do well here. The
grasses, such as Blue, Timothy, Glover
and the wild prairie, grow luxurlantly
Fruit grows and natures as perfectly as
in any part of the United States Ana
now that there is direct communication
by rail with all the non.fruit raising
country living West and South of here, it
looks reasonable that this would be one
of the most profitable agricultural invest
msnts for farmers in this county
MARK.