The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-07-02

Splendid Time Everywhere.
Receptions, FeastS, speeches, and speeI-
mems OF the Crops.
The VVOnderfaI Arkansas Val
ley In all it's Beauty.
Crops Abundant Everywhcrs-BIg Rain
on the Return Ride.
Taking up the account in another
column of the editorial excursion
to the end OF the A. T. S. &c +. Rail-
road, we may begin by saying that
a. the train left Emporia and rolled
on toward the west, praises of the
splendid Dinners given at the Wind
sor, Merchants, Sherman and Del
monico, were heard on all hands.
1t was the unanimous expression
that the dinner ct each and every
place was . perfect feast, and adj
mirAbly served. The funny man
OF the Detroit Press wept over the
receipt Of telegram from the Mer-
chants saying that the five gallons
of ice cream prepared for him had
been forgotten, bnt acknowledged
that he was too full of other things
to have disposed of It.
The large party wAs already be-
coming acquainted and sociabl e,
and the hearty welcomes It had met
both at Emporia and at prior sta
tions had "broken the Ice" and set
everybody talking with everybody
else, and the officers and agents of
the railroad were unremitting in
their endeaVers to make all parties
comfortable, and succeeded admira-
bly,. -
The country from Emporia to
Wichita IL SO well known by most
of our home readers that we need
not say more for their information
than that the crops were in splendid
condition and OF large area the en-
tire distance. Some wheat fields
were shocked, others were in pro-
cess of being cut, aud some un-
touched by the reaper, afiording op-
portunities to see them at every
stage of harvesting.
AT each railroad town advance
copies OF the paper published there,
descriptive of the county, were dis
tributed through the train, and no.
BILE specimens of the harvest
were exhibited. None could give
the palm to any lot, for all seemed to
vie for an award of superior merit.
At Wichita the whole population
seemed to haYe come down to the
depot, and there were vehicles
enough to give the entire party q
ride. The band strnck up a lively
tune. Mayor Harris welcomed the
excnrsionists in few hearty words
and said the programme was ride
into the country, supper, and ball.
Mr.. Lawrence, of the Ohio Farmer.
responded. Then the carriages and
wagons were filled and started for
the center of the city, escorted by a
hundred horsemen, and a thousand
people on foot. After q drive through
the suburbs and some miles into the
country, the visitors got back
to the Occidental and Douglas Av-
enue hotels, and partook of excel
lent suppers. The dining rooms OF
both were handsomely trimmed
with newly harvested wheat, rye,
and oats, and also with flowers,
leaves and boquets, and the bill of
fare was full and varied. The next
centers of attraction seemed to
be the Wichita Eagle Office, the
Beacon, and the ball room. The
latter was adorned on every side
with productions of the harvest
fields, both grain and vegetables,
and looked like a successful fair.
Dancing began about nine O'Clock,
aud by that hour dozens of the fair
est of Wichita ladies had arrived,
and frightened the crowded room
with their smiles. The dancers
were soon interrupted that speeches
might be heard from editors who
didn't have partners. Every speech
was a good one, and expressive OF
admiration for the state of Kansas
and thanks for the unvarying court
estes pro1ered to the excursionists.
The festive music then resumed
sway, and the light fantastic feet
had 1t their own way until late
hour.
AS the train was 10 start at q.
IN, the company furnished mattress
ses and blankets for the entire
train, aud all were thus provided
free with good sleeping accomoda-
tions.
The two powerful locomotives
worked together like a perfectly
trained and driven team, and took
the train along in the easiest man.
ner, and at u rapid rate. At Wichi-
ia Senator Ingalls, had left the party,
in order to visit Sumner county with
NJ. M. Murdoch, of the Eagle, and
Mayor Harris relieved the Wichits
delegation which had met the ex-
eursion at Emporia.
FROM NEWTON WEST.
At Newton the Arkansas valley
is fully stretched out" and from
thence the rest OF the scenery west
is very much the same in it's gener-
al characteristics. The track seem
ed laid in the center of boundless
level, verdurous plain, stretching
out in all directions as far as the
eye can see upon the ocean, and
with rarely q swell of ground OIL
even fringe of trees or a fence to
interrupt the expansive view. Great
surprise was expressed at the
fields not being fenced in any way,
and all soon came to understand
just how the herd law works. The
whole broad face OF this immense
valley, or rather plain, was dotted
with houses. and waving fields of