The Greenville times., 1874-09-12
Letter iron Kansas.
MCMEEKIN HOUSE, I
Topeka, Kansas, Sep. 3, IA. !

MCMEEKIN HOUSE,,
Topeka, Kansas, Sep. 3, 74.S
70 the Editor Of the Greenville Times.
For the benefit of those that an
emigrating west, l herein
give statement of the country as
/ found it. 1 left Greenville, Au-
gust end on the steamer John
Kyle. Arrived at st. Louis, Mon
day 26th inst. Leaving there
Thursday night for Kansas City on
the Northern Line. This railroad
crossed the Missouri river at st.
Charles which is quite nice place
having 8 900 inhabitants with good
farming country around it. From
here to Warrenton, Montgomery,
Mexico and Moberly is a fine look
ing country, though very dry at
present, and crops rather poor.
Moberly has a fine location with a
population Of 1900, and is quite a
manufacturing town, with good
farming country. Brunswick is a
place with about I 600 inhabitants
with the Missouri river valley to
back It. This valley is very rich
| in Aoil, 1t has hundreds Of acres OF
corn, but the we: spring and dry
summer has cut it down to about
onc-half the amount Of grain that
It would produce in good season.
Kansas City has a population OF
about 5000 and is a great railroad
center. I noticed some of the hand
somest residences / ever saw any
where. but l also noticed whole
blocks OF i,Me looking business
houses unoccupied it has evidently
the appearance of having seen Its
best days. Few inland cities are
90 fayorably situated as this (the
city Of Topeka) for the development
Of commercial power. 1t Is situa'
| ted on both banks of the Kansas
river and is the county seat of Sha
! comb county and the capitol Of th'
State. It is surrounded by one o
,, the richest and most fertile coun
: ties in the west and its commerc
.. is supplied by q large and growing
!, trade. Her broad avenues an
= streets, and substantial brick busl
y ness houses and handsome subul
= ban residences, her flower gardens
= nursuries and vineyards are refine
y ments not generally looked for i
' the far west, and give her the al
y pearancc of q city of older growtI
70 From the State House, whic, is
= magnificent building you look Q
= q very beautiful landscape.
~ I think 1t destined to be u
* * principal city Of Kansas. The NJ
y chine Shops and Car Works of Il
40 Atchisom, Topeka and Santa !
% Railroad Company. The Xii
es Wrought Iron Bridge Manufacto
pr and Machine Shops Of the la
nc Valley Foundry, the pondero
~ Rolling Mill. The fine Linco
W Graded School Building are
" large and snowy buildings.
~ The grasshoppcrs have made 8
y havoc with everything IN the sha
:. of vegetation. The wheat, +,
~ ~ oats and barley were gathered
"a "a fore thoy came, but the corn is
nj nj eaten up. Not q leaf is standi
on the fruit trees. Tho Govern
..- has convened the, Legislature
do the 10Th instant, for the purpose
,on passing o stay law, and maxi
or. other provisions for the suilere
SO. | think, take it oil IN all, this !
.ho bad time for emigration to t
tn State. 1hcar there are many I
The chanics and laboring meh i'll
m. city who arc unable to obtain
ck- ployment.
ov- Tho gorgeous tints supposed
IDS belong exclusively to Autumn
to even now visible. Already
we'd pavemcnts md streets where II
rcy are growing arc strewn with lea
The and "tho melancholy days h
He come" Last night it turned
APP cold that had to wear an o.
and coat. AS the morning paper
hey presses itself: "Thc festive gr
Ison hopper last night sang q req,l
was to summer over a sweet po
neir vinc." Twill write you agaiI
nich l think of going further West
~" Respectfully yours,