Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-07-10
K A n s A 8.
EXCURSION OVER THE ARCH
ISON, topeka g. SANTA
FE RAILROAD.
THECoUNTRY, CROPs.sxc
A pleasant Trip to the Land Of the
50 Hoppers."

A pleasant Trip to the Land Of the
50 Hoppers."
Through Major j. III. Bristor, of
this place, Agent for the Road, we
received ain invitation from the of
ficprs of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Re Railroad Company, to
visit that part of Kansas and Col
orado. through which their road
passes. We have already given a
hasty sketch of the trip between
this place and Atchison, the point
from which the excursion proper
started We arrived at Atchison
at a late hour in the night, and
found a large number of the ex-
cursion party already on hand. AT
gu early hour on the morning of
June oath, the excursion train,
composed Of ten coaches, including
four Pullman sleeping cars, and
drawn by two locomotives, moved
out from the Atchison Depot, hay-
ing on board about 275 newspaper
men from the States Of Kentucky,
West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, III
inois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa,
Missouri, New Hampshire, and
Kansas.
The excursion was undoubtedly
the largest exclusive newspaper
party ever collected in this coun-
try. All the officers of the road.
except Mr.. Morse, Joined the ex-
cursion; also Gov'r. Osborne, Y. ..
Senator ingalls,, and other ofiiic-
ials and citizens of Kansas, joined
us at different points along the line,
swelling the number to 3O0 before
we reached Wichita.
ATcHIsoN was laid out in 1851
has now about | 500 inhabitants,
13 Churches, Railroads, and 20
1 Public Schools. Twenty-six miles
out from Atchison is Valley Falls,
containing 900 inhabitants; and
at this point the Narrow Guage
Kansas Central Railroad from Lea
wentworth TO Holton, crosses. Fiji
ty niles from Atchison, we come
to Topeka, the capital of the State,
where the road crosses the Kansas
river.
The population of Topeka Is
about $1,000. The city is hand
somely built up, and occupies a
commanding site, with broad and
we'll laid out streets, handsome
school-houses, churches, and pub
lie buildings. The shops and gem
eral offices of the A. i. d >. f.. IL.
r. Company are located here, and
a fine rolling mill is in successful
operation. !,
We next pass Carbondale, a coal
mining town of 800 inhabitants,
and come to Burlingame, on the
crossing of the Old Santa Re trail,
and 26 miles from Topeka.
Usage City, another coal mining
town, with a population of 1000,
and backed by fine farming
country is The next point at which
we stopped. From here we pass
ed on to Emporia, within eight
miles OF the centre of the State,
North and South, and near the
centre of population East and
West. 1t is a charming little
town of about 1000 population, and
the junction of The Missouri, Kan
sas and Texas Railroad. 1t Is To-
Gated in the heart of fine agricul-
tural and stock raising region, and
shows every evidence of thrift and
enterprise. Its business thorough
fare is graced with number OF
elegant and handsome business
houses. some of which make from
IS 900 to 800, 900 sales per annum.
The State Normal School, a hand
some and conveniently arranged
building, is located here. 1t con-
tains twenty-five rooms, and Will
accommodate 500 students. EN-
poria is in Lyon county, and was
located in February 1857, and con-
sidering its age is certainly mar
vel of growth and prosperity. The
excursion party dined at this point,
on invitation Of the citizens. and
were handsomely and sumptously
entertained. The prices of land in
this locality range as follows: Up
land 50 so 10 IS 90 per acre; second
bottom So to Sc; first bottom SIS to
s.; improved land $40 to $50, &C
cording to improvements, and city
property at about the same ratio.
The interests Of the town and
county are ably represented by the
Emb0ria Nesos, q large, handsome
thirty six column paper, edited
with judgment, tact and ability.
Peace and prosperity ever 60 with
the good and hospitable people OIL
Esnporia.
Leaving Emp0ria we enter the