The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-02-05
From the Dodgcville Wis Chronicle.
Southwestern Kansas.

As YOU rember, ! left Dodgeville on
Monday, Nov. Sd. with my family for
the new regions lately opened for set
Element on the Arkansas river. Staying
over night al Darlington, I bought
through tickets for S32.l0 each. and
left there on the next train, and thence
on through Warren, Mendoza and
many other towns and villages in the
beautiful state of Illinois. till we
reached Quincy about noon of Wcdnes-
dav. Our train crossed the Mis,issip-
nj river here Oh "a splendid bridge, and
then we sped along over the Hannibal
aud St Joe. railrod. across the state of
Missouri, reaching North Atchison
about 10 y. IN. the same night. We
were transferred, with some thirty or
forty others. 10 the inside and outside
of a tremendous bus. which was driv-
en- onto the deck of a steam ferry boat,
and so we were carried over the river
to Atchison, Kansas. Leaving it at
about > p. IN. we sped along rapidly
through Topeka, Emporia, and towns
oflesscr note. reaching Wichita at noon
ofThursday. just about iorty-six hours
after leaving Darlington.
Here we remained. and probably
shall remain for som, time TO come, as
we find work enough in our line TO
keep us busy, and so shall write con-
corning things rs we find them since
comm" here.
First-Climatc. Promising that the
winter has been unusually mild with
YOU. may say it has been extremely
pleasant here, generally with few
short spells of cold wcath her. and snow
flnrrics tmi New Years and the
following day were as mild as May,
aud the whole winter. so far. has been
more pleasant than last October was
in Southern Wisconsin. People tell
US that il is milder than il was last
year. and. OF course, we believe them.
One thing j. certain. that. while the
ice crop was all harvested here by this
time last year, there has been none at
ali gathered yet, that have heard of,
while the walls of a new brick store,
two stories high, are just being fin
ished. having been commenced in De
cc,nber: and the masons are laying the
foundation for another one now.
Second-Crops. All kinds of grain
is raised in this valley that is
raised nj home. but more corn in
proportion 10 the rest than with YOU.
They Lave shipped from this station a
number of cars loaded with castor oil
beans. raised near this town this last
season. and some eighteen or twenty
bales of cotton. raised and baled in Sum
ner county, just south of this. Sweet
potatoes and other vegetables flourish
here. while fruit will be plentiful by
and by, as orchards shall come Into
bearing Peaches did not come up to
expectations last wear, but the buds
are swelling. even now. with n rich
promise for this season. am told that
am excellent quality oftobacco has been
raised in small quantities near here,
ahd that hemp and flax will do SPLEEN
didly.
Third-Society. In this city there are
four Protestant and one Roman Cath
Ollie societies organized. of which the
Mcthodists, Baptists and Catholics
possess churches, while the Presbyte-
rians and Episcopalians are At present
without. There is an excellent school
with five teachers and principal. and
the county is being very rapidly sup
piled with schools. school houses and
teachers. these neccssaries of American
life. find two grades of people here;
one lust as refined, solid, subtantial
and moral Is can be found anywhere,
and the other. the rough. rowdy ele
ment, which is always To be found on
the outer edge of civilization; but The
former class is rapidly increasing, and
the other a. rapidly decreasing.
The Methodist church numbers over
$50 members: the Presbyicrians over
100: aud the Baptists perhaps 30, and
lao a. fpi
paliaas. which, in i'm a new town of
less than four wears growth and 5000
people. is doing well. and shows that
there is strong religious element in the
population. A lecture and library as
ISOLATION is on foot. and the Arkansas
valley institute. for the instruction of
scholars III advanced branches, is also
claiming public attention.
Fourth Land. The soil is dark and
rich. with sandy tracts near the rivers.
Government land can be homesteaded
from twelve to twenty miles north
west from here. but this city Is within
the limits OF the Usage trust lands.
which must be pre-empted. settled on
and paid for at Sl.25 per acre, AT the
end of the year. improvements can he
bought very often, and now II a good
time to buy. for many cannot raise
money TO prove up their claims. and
will sell cheap rather than lose all
their labor. Money i being loaned on
land here at from one and a half to four
per cent. per month: aud because ma
nv cannot or will not borrow al these
rates, and others are Already 10 jump
their claims. they prefer TO sell for lit
tie and try again. Poor men have hard
work 10 get started, but men of means
make things turn So as 10 rapidly in
crease their resources.
If any of your readers desire further
information concerning this desirable
country. or intend coming here. and
wish to open communication with me
concerning it, a letter of inquiry ain
closing stamp, will receive careful at
tout;on II. j. WALKER.