The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-12-24
Some OF its Most Prominent In.
stitutiOns,
And q Few Word About Our.
selves.
LEAyEN WORTH lOGNTY.

Leayenworth is the richest and most
populous county in Kansas. 1t is settled
bv live and energetic people, reading
and thinking people, who keep abreast with
the spirit of the age, and while giving their
energies to the physical development OF the
country, do not neglect its moral and intel
lectual interests. Although far-westem
community, and comparatively on the out
skirts of civilization, statistics show that as
many newspapers and periodicals are taken
in Leavenworth county, in proportion to the
number OF inhabitants, as are taken IN Bos-
ton, while churches and school-houses
abound everywhere. There are in the county
mot including the city, ninety-four school
houses, which with their grounds and apar-
atus. cost three hundred and twenty thou
sand dollars, employ one hundred and sixty
eight teachers, and have upon their
rolls the names Of eight thousand seven hum
dred children. Now, when it is remembered
that the
PCPtLAllpN
of the county Exclusive of the city, does
not exceed twenty-five thousand persons, it
will be seen that We enjoy educational facil-
tiles such as are rarely surpassed in any
eastern community. We have no data at
hand. later than the United States census
of 1870, upon which 10 reckon the number
and value of the church buildings of the
county, and the steady and rapid growth OF
the county renders four-year-old census Of
no value whatever; but in each school dis
trict there is at least one church organiza-
ton, generally with a good and commodious
house of worship, while many Of the dis
tricts contain two or three churches each.
Thus it will be seen that the great objec-
tion which eastern people usually urge
against western communicated want OF
school-houses and churches no force
when applied to Leavenworth county, for
the settler will here meet educational and
religious facilities fully as good as those to
be found in many Of the older States.
THE CLIMATE.
Physically, Leavenworth county is one of
the finest sections of the United States. 1t
is almost the precise geographical center OF
the nation, being on the line of the 39th
degree of north latitude, and the 18th de-
gree Of longitude, west Of Washington; it is
the dividing line between the East and the
West, the North and the South; and the
products of its soil, Its animals and its birds,
include to a great extent those of all sec
tions of the country; the robin and the
nightingale sing from the same tree, while
wheat and cotton grow in the same field.
The climate is mild and pleasant; the sum-
mers are long enough to bring to perfection
nearly all the plants, fruits or grains raised
anywhere in the temperate zone, and while
during the winter, more or less snow falls,
it never remains upon the ground more
than two or three DAYS at the farthest, and
generally but few hours; the winters are
always "open," with bright, cheerful wealth
er, and generally mild enough to admit of
all kinds of outdoor work.
THE SOIL
The soil of Ieavenworth county is a
black sandy loan, remarkably rich and ex-
tending, on the bottom lands to a depth of
sometimes four feet. 1t has been estimated
that the coil on the creek bottoms in
Leavenworth county is strong enough to
produce good crops for fifty yean without
the use of fertilizers. Excellent building
stone is found in abundance, in all parts Of
the county; lime, of superior quality can
be made anywhere, and the entire county il
underlaid with rich deposit Of bituminous
coal
Sheep and cattle can be raised and cared
for with little labor, and increase rapidly;
though hut little attention has been paid to
these branches, they will take rank, in time,
among the most profitable seaples Of the
country.
~
The principal grains raised are corn,
wheat, oats, rye, and barley. The most con-
mon fruits are peacheA apples and pearE;
pluns cherries, aPsicots and quinces are
also raised in fair quantities blackberries
Strawberries, and all the various small
fruitA grow in the greatest abundance,
while gEapss Of every variety yield more
than the people can dispose q. Whs.ever
| the proper facilities shall Be afforded for
vine making. the grape crop VIII be one
the most peuetable IN The county, for the