The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-03-28
ALIrrLE TRIP TO THE SOUTHWEST.
HOW Things Lesk to . NoyIee--Stsek
Farns-NO Lying aboaf
Anything.

piece of ground. 1t taxes up q
great deal of out doors, and lie well
ventilated ffty-two weeks in each
year. Its little grass plats would
cut up into several billions of east
ern pasture lots, while its immense
forests are so planned that no one
can get lost in them more than .
couple of minutes. And its mighty
rivulets are queer things. q They
perform feats In squirming around
up and down hill, tying knots, con-
tracing to a few inchesand yelling
ont to thousand feet, that would as
toniSh the original old boa which 40
meanly swindIed your first grand
mother in the apple trade. Yoa
probably never heard that story.
Its . good one, and the affair took
place in Kansas. But twill keep
for your educational department.
I discovered these facts about
Kansas by riding in DIR. Angell's
buggy from Emporia to Wichita, via
the regular wagon road through the
southwestern part of Lyon, south
eastern corner of Chase, and west
ern side of Butler, counties, to
Eldorado, thence to Towards, Au-
gusta, and up and down the White
water, west to Wichita, and home
on the A. T. & 8. r. railroad. A
trip that will give to open eyes and
ears g pretty good idea of South
western Kansas.
The poorest agricultural parts OF
the counties named are seen along
this route to Eldorado. From Ba-
ker's ford on the Cottonwood to
Chelsea on the Walnut, the country
Is emphstically and gloriousiy adap-
ted TO stock breeding and raising
crops all along its numerous creeks
and their numerous branches, and
to nothing else under the broad
heavens. The uplands begin neal
the streams, are very high, and viii
always furnish an unlimited amount
of pasturage. trust these vast
uplands are owned by eastern spec,
ulators, who will pay their annua
crops of taxes until the land be
comes suitable for corn and pota
toes.
II is said that Emporia can b.
plainly seen from Jacobs mound
on q clear day. After long tramp
from the ever-shifting road to thu
top of the mound, found it was
not a clear day.
Al noon we lunched ravenouslJ
on Bloody creek, eighteen milel
from Emporia. Franks" pail O
corn had been lost from the rear o
the buggy, but snug shanty which
q plucky settler had put over tn,
ashes of his recently burned house
supplied horse dinner. Near III
. fleet of prairie schooners, bound
for the Medicine Lodge country
was anchored for mess. Their mas
tiers were old voyagers of the plains
firmly resolved not to stay whittier
they were going, ifa grain of "alka'
Ii" was found there. Another long
stretch of uninhabited upland led to
the South Fork of the Cottonwood
This is largo stream, heavily tim.
bered. Magnificent stock farms
line its banks. We ford near two
of the finest, owned by couple Of
Irish bachelors, who settled there
very poor many years ago, but have
now many cattle and greenbacks.
The Catholic priest who recently
located at Emporia, has probably
made their acquaintance.
The road goes long way up the
west side of this fork. The east
side bluffs press near the stream, and
are very high. At intervals huge
stones stand upright, reared by the
Indians az guide posts for them
selves and the buffsloes. The pale
face does not understand more than
this Of their mysterious import.
Thirty-three miles from Emporia
the Walnut Valley railroad survey
passes through the fine 400 acre farm
of Mr.. Croker, leading citizen OF
Chase county. His residence is
beautifully situated In a wooded
nook formed by a branch of the
river. Mrs. Croker is q daughter
of Lewis Gray, of Emporia. The
mention OF his name secured Us q
cordial welcome and pleasant even.
ing. Whenever we get near Mr..
Crocker's house again, we won't
"stop there" bat will keep right on
to the house. Fa IS 9eE
Starting Thursday morning with
a rejuYenated horse, we kept on mp
hill along the river. Two miles
brought ms to Mercer Springs IA
stream of clear water gushing from
the rocky hillside just as evoked
by Moses rod, while he was hunt
ing a claim in Kansas. Mavbe you
haven't heard that story, either. No
matter. The real name is Moses,
Spring, just as the hill before spo-
ken of is Jacobs Mound. Though.
why Jacob should have lseeu fool
ing around in Kansas three or fonr
thousand years ago, to raise that
mound, is q pretty hard conun.
drum.
Another hours ride traces the
Sauth Fork tn ita head. and MA