The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-07-01
Up and Down the Great Valley.


yening between Wichita and the Indian Ter
rltory, has at last been realized. Last Friday
morning, aftsr our editorial guests had SAID
their goodbye. and were whirhng away TO
the north and west, we, in company win
Hon. John J. Ingalls,, turned our faces s0uth'
toward to the land OF the red man. n
three days journey lay before us. Stimulated
by the mornings gleriously exhilaratins
breezes, which pressed into undulating waves
the rolling ocean Of green that from the GEN.
ter at our fest spread away in every direction
TO mingle with the paier blue Of the distant
horizon, We thought to tell our readers OF all
the things we saw and felt. But inspiration,
however strongly 1t mag stir the inmost being,
does not always bring with it the powers Of
delineation. From attitudes, afforded by
each succeeding swell, deliciously charm
vision, until very despair OF ever telling it TO
our readers, extlnguished orr mornings re-
solve. Nature seldom repeats herself. No
country that we ever saw equals in beauty the
combined valleys OF the Arkansas and walnut,
which stretch southwark from the cities OF
Wichita and of Winfield, TO their perfect con-
fuenee at Arkansas City, on the line OF The
Indian Territory. Here nature has laid her
master hand, and with magic touch made real
the marvellous yagaries Of the ideal. VAR
would prove the effort of our feeble pen should
we attempt to describe this picturesque land,
with its linas of trees Of darker hue marking
the graceful winding OF its many streams, and
through whose broken yistas are caught
continuously pleasing glimpses Of golden fields
floating in emerald seas, like "apples Of gold
in pictures OF silver" In beholding these
scenes how vivid the realization that "man
made the town, God made the country and
he who has been walled around with brick,
goes forth TO worship at these shri mes. and to
find In such peaceful haunts-disturbed alone
by the jocund voice Of the happy farmer, sur
rounded by his centented herds and other
plenteous rewards of his industry-the noble
kinship that stir within him the hottest of as
pirations. For three days swept this piano.
rama along, convincing us thousand times
more than ever Of the great future awaiting
this valley, Of its coming wealth, power and
prosperity; and to our industrious, intelligent
people, to our growing towns and to the bsun-
tiful crops already in the sheaf, do we point
out the papable earnest, if not the rcali-
cation.
But TO the details of the trip, which we
must necessarily curtail and hurry over, on
account of very limited space. Our course
lay down the east side of the Arkansas, across
Chisholm, Gypsum and Dry creeks to Ell Paso.
From the hiohar oronnd soufh of Cbi,bai,,
that catches the impetuous waters of the main
river and sends them back through the valley,
soch a scene as presented itself can never be
forgotten, made up as it was, of boundess
green fiecked with streams and dotted all over
with fields Of dark waving corn and bright
wheat, rye, oats and barley, white unto har-
vest. After watering our horses, aud shaking
"Farmer Doolittls,'' DIR. Tucker, and A. Hout
Mimi oh by the hands, we turned west OF FL
Paso, and crossed the bridge, taking the road
that led 10 Belle Plaine. Sumner County,
where we arrived for dinner. Here is the
home OF Col. st. Clair, our State Senator, and
here we met Col. Fornsy, who occasionally
writes 10 the EAGLE. Both Of these gentle
men have fine farms. This village is most ap-
propriately named. 1t is a beautiful plain"
indeed, and as one casts his eyes over its many
rich and highly cultivated farms, now laugh
ing with harvests, the idea of "fatness' natu-
rally suggests itself TO the mind. A good din
ner at Mr.. Potter's, and we were off on the
Wellington road, across the Minnesota, or
Good River. The great size of this latter
stream took us by surprise. II is larger than
the Little Arkansas. and very fine stream
-Four o'clock found us at Wellington the
county seat of SUMNER which Is located on
the north bank of Slate Greek, about twelve
miles back from the Arkansas river. The
country around this busy town is more roll
ing. Wellington boasts several fine buildings,
among which we noticed particularly the new
courthouse and the bank. Capt. Folks was
not at home, but we took possession of the
Prsss Office all the same, where we made our.
selves at home among his books and ex-
changes. After supper we again hitched up,
and turned our faces toward oxford, which
lies on the Arkansas, twelve miles east Of the
county seat. Over road OF many gentle ups
and downs, our brisk team trotted cheerily
along. We let the lines drop carelessly across
cur knees, and did nothing but drink in with
our eyes, the immensely that lay upon each
hand. The darkening shadows of twilight
closed gently in; upon our left was fine home
and improvements, upon our right herd OF
cattle with tinkling bells, seeking their nights
rest, in the distance the twinkling lights of the
village of0xford, while away against the north
eastern sky, but dimly outlined, stood Mount
Nippawalla, the whole scene bringing vivid
ly to mind, Gray's immortal words:
Now fades the glinimering landscape on the sight
And all the air u solemn stiffness holds.
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day
The lowing herd winds slowly o er the lea
The plowman homeward plods his weary wav
And leaves the world to darkness and to me-
Rising from n refreshing nights rest we put
in an hour wandering around the delightfully."-
situated town OF Oxford, before breakfast. A
rain during the night followed by the sun ris.
ing bright above the tree tops, caused nature
to smile with an unwontcd attractiyeness.
Casting our eyes about, we discovered Senator
ingalls, upon the top of the large two-story
school building, standing unconscious of ev-
erythlng save the magic landscape spread out
before him. The breakfast-bell at the Lewis
House seemed to let him down, at least he was
soon at our side with "This is indeed the re-
alization of dreams-let us possess ourselves
OF Nippawala and here erect our taberna
cles." Oxford folks are an exceedingly pleas
ant. social and comfortable people, and theil
lines are cast in pleasant places.
onr course now lay down along the wes
bank Of the Arkansas river and Valley to Sail
Creek, where we arrived ut oclock, me citing
MIR. c. c. Stevens, the postmaster, who has
store, also severalm en. Here are the famou.
salt springs, and the appliances for solar eva2.
Grafton were noted with considerable interest
4essrs. Todd and Royal, OF this city, have al
interest in this new town, and In addition t.
their salt works, they are boring for coal which
they expect to reach in about fifty feet more, tn.
indications being all that could be desired
Twelve O'Clock found us crossing the Ions
bridge which spans the river south of the
town Of Arkansas City. Here the great valley
draws in to more narrow limits, confined BY
more precipitous and higher rolling prairies
whose SUBMITS are crowned with woodland
Hero the clear, sparkling waters OF the Wal
nut river are emptied into those OF the yellow
boiling sGds of the Great Rackensack.
Arkansas City possesses all the indication!
Of live business point. She controls the
trade of all that country, and considerable
from the Territory, south. Two banks, two
large hotels and several large mercantile cs
Establishments, grace her principal street. Two
very pretty churches with spires, and the fines
school building south OF Emporia hcightcn hcl
ether attractions. Z. NJ. Scott, with his 7rar
slisr successfully ''turns the tune'' wheneyel
necessary. His sanctum is a curiosity shoI
Of Indian relics, scalps, choice pictures and