Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-06-18
CoRREsPo PoNDENCE.
For the Gallipolis journal.
CHErENNE vALLEr. KANSAS,
june 9Th 1874

lines would not be uninteresting.
from former citizen of old Gailia, to
the large number ofintelligent persons
that read your valuable paper, / have
come to the conclusion to try and
write a few paragraphs in regard to
the numerous attractions of this
eountry, that / trust will be read
with interest.
will attempt to give yen a de-
seription of the country through
which passes that wonderful success.
the Western Railroad, the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe, and more es-
lpecially to give such information as
l can of the great Arkansas Valley,
through which passes that great rail
road of the West. Many of your
readers have not the faintest concep-
tion of the State of Kansas, and nota-
bly, so of the great southwestern
part of it.
The parallel of forty degrees north
latitude, which passes eastward
Through Columbus, Ohio, forms the
northern line of the State of Kansas.
1.-THE southern boundary line of Kan
sas is the parallel of thirty y-seyen de-
i gTees, which is the latitude of south
ern Kentucky and Virginia passing
4 through Norfolk in the latter State.
Kansas is. 2l0 miles wide and 430
miles long. Its afeais abodt 80 600
4 square miles, or 81, 500, 900 acres.
\ The numerous rivers of pure, clear,
healthy water, with their inHumera-
BILE tributaries, fed by never failing
springs, has given to Kansas its repu
tation of being the best aOatered of
the prairie States.
The reader will please accompany
me, in mind, while 1 describe the
country from Dodge City to Great
Bend. After leaving Dodge City, we
see but few settlements until we get
near Garfield, settlement of Buck
eyes. The outlook from the car win
dows is magnificent. What splendid
land for beautiful homes stretches
away ON either side of the iron track
over which we rush. To the south of
us flows the broad and beautiful Ar
kansas river, with focks of wild
fowl skimming along its smooth sur
face.
To the north of us can be seen i'm
mense herds of Texas cattle quietly
grazing, and the swift footed antelope
comes bounding by as if it was borne
on by some magic power! AS we
rush forward we come suddenly in
full view of several buffaloes; some
feeding, others reposing, and rumi-
mating among the rich herbage.
Alas! for the swift movements of
civilization, those animals, the buffa-
loe and antelope, will soon be things
Of the past.
Soon after departing from Larned,
we pass Pawnee Rock. The valley
widens as we rapidly descend, and
the position of the rich valley land
is magnificent and lovely. All along
the A. T. d S. F. Railroad have altern-
ate sections of land for twenty miles
on both sides of their track, which
they are selling at low rates to actual
settlers, and on eleven years time,
with seven per cent. interest, and a
reduction of twenty per cent. for i'm
provements. These lands are in
reach of any one to own in short
time, by diligence and economy
splendid farms and beautiful homes.
Away to the north of us, ten miles
distant, can be seen the trees that
line the banks of the Walnut River,
and in one great, but graceful curve,
the Arkansas and Walnut unite in
loving embrace, forming thousands
of acres of as beautiful and rich val
ley land as can be found any where
on the continent. 1t is grand and in
describable. A few moments to en-
Joy this beautiful scene, and we are
in full view of Great Bend; her beau
tIful Courthouse, costing $4,000, is
seen to great advantage, being situa-
ted on block of ground IN the cen
tire of the city. 1t gives to Great
Bend an air of age and firmness pos
sessed by but few towns on the from
tier. A large school building loca-
ted in another part of the city, cost
ing $4,000, assures US that the cause
Of education is not neglected. A
good bridge fifteen hundred feet in
length spans the Arkansas river at
Great Bend. This city is the county
seat of Barton county, and contains
population of 900, which daily in
creases at a rapid rate. Great Bend
takes its name from being situated
near the great bend of the Arkan-
sas river.
Barton county contains large tracts
of Government land yet untaken,
and the Railroad company have near
100000 acres of splendid land for
sale. The valley of the Walnut river
is wide, soil rich and productive, the
banks are fringed with native timber,
such as elm, cotton wood, ash, and
blackberry. The length of the Wal
nut is $50 miles, and it empties into
the Arkansas just below Great Bend.
1t is clear, beautiful stream, with
many fine water powers along its
banks.
Just north of the Walnut River
Valley, lays the Cheyenne Valley.
1t is natural curiosity. This valley
lays in a circle surrounded with
bluffs from rs to 100 feet in height;
it contains 10000 acres of fine land |
and several beautiful lakes, which |
contain innumerable fish and are COW
cred with wild fowls, such as wild |
geese, wild ducks, swans, &c. One
of these lakes is miles long and |
from to miles wide, it is from II
to Is feet deep and perfectly clear.
1t is called Clear Lake and is sup
posed to be spring, as it has no
stream of water finwinO info If nr /