The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-04-11
ALlFFLE TRIP TO THE SOUTHWEST.
From the Whitewater to the Arkansas.
A Very Hurried Glance at Towns and
Country.


gusta, down the east bank of the
Whitewater, shows quite number
of splendid bottom farms, but the
higher ground is not equal to that
between Towanda and Hdorado,
though it seems all claimed. The
high and stony ridge some two
miles south of TOwanda has a
natural pass near the river, which
lets the Kansas and Nebraska road
through very easy. If it wasn't for
this the grading to get over or
through the ridge would be expen-
sive. After climbing over this ridge
the road is good again, and we pass
lively grist and saw mill on a
spring branch, and a series of good
farms which are being rapidly i'm
proved. The upland shows quite as
much stone as can be used. At in
teryals springs have made very
pretty miniature lakes in the grassy
fields. They look pure and fresh
and seem not to have found a way
to reach the river. In the hot sum-
mer the cattle must luxuriate in
them. just think how happy cattle
would be standing up to their backs
in the cool water, nipping the juicy
grass on the edge, and smiling tran
gully at-the disappointed flies.
Finally Augusta appears. 1t
stands literally at the junction of
two streams"-the Walnut and
Whitewater, and is built on a tongue
of land which runs down into the
natural bottom of the junction.
This tongue narrows rapidly, and
the business part of the town occu-
pies it 10 the extent of q single
long street, as far as its extreme
point. The town, therefore, looks
pretty well "strung out" and the
residence portion reaches back to
the wider part of the site. A fine
large school house is the most prom
inent building. 1t is evidently a
town which does q good business,
and every branch of trade appears
well represented. Although the
wind was cold and The street very
dusty, there were plenty of wagons
in town and things looked lively.
We stopped but few moments, but
those were enough to show that
while-its town site is not equal to
that of some rivals, its geographical
location is very superior, and it
Will not only have the Kansas aud
Nebraska road, but any other road
that passes through Butler county.
1t proposes to reopen the county
seat tussle this season, and may sue
coed if Towanda does not happen
to step in as a natural compromise
candidate between all the contend
ing places. Augusta real estate has
largely advanced since last summer.
and is going up steadily.
Back again to Towanda, with the
everlasting breeze finally at our
backs, where it may blow all it de-
sires. We find its residents talking
about a newspaper, and jolly be-
cause the railroad engineers have
started to drive their grade stake s.
Chipping of some magnesia stone,
and with another gaze ut the beauti-
full surroundings of this beautiful
place, we ford the clear Whitewater
and start west for Wichita. About
two miles from the river the last
stone disappears, and from there to
the Arkansas at least, not a stone
big enough to throw at a bird can
be found. The soil is even richer
on the west than on the east side.
The land is all taken and n good
part of every claim broken. Some
of the houses are poor enough,
many are roomy and well built.
Most Of them have wells. a large
part of the settlers are from Illinois
and came here with money enough
to make themselves comfortable.
Six or eight miles from the river
the soil is literal counterpart of
the Illinois bottoms, only not so
''mucky" II IS the richest of black
sand. This land was evidently the
bottom, not many ages since, of an
immense lake, which has subsidized
into tho rivers which now appear
upon the map. The Arkansas river
subirrigratcs it, for while that great
volume of water often leaves its
channel dry, You may dig anywhere
on this great stretch of sand and
find water at II to 16 feet depth in
plenty. Yet we are even ten miles
from that river. The only histor-
ical building en- route is "Payne's
Ranch,' barn-like structure in a
hollow, where water can generally
be had. 1t is deserted now, and its
once formidable occupsnt is trans
formed into a lobbyist at Topeka,
and ranks as an influential citizen
in Sedgw;ck county.
AT last timber comes in view
again. II IS the Little Arkansas,
but it takes many miles to get near
unto it. We drive along the old
"Wichita trail" where the ruts for