The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1875-05-20
Correspondence of the News
Letter from Kansas.


SALINA, Kansas, May, 1875.
Mr.. BoARDMAN-Dear Sir: Being out here on
trip to ''the Far West" 1 thought would give
the readers of the News some account of what
have seen and learned since entered the State of
Kansas. propose to commence with Kansas City
in Missouri, the Eastern terminus of the K P. R.
R., and into which seven different railways con-
verge. 1t is city of about 900 inhabitants, to
which it has grown in the last ten years, from
population of 400. 1t is said to be the largest
beef-packing market in the United States, and the
great railroad center on the Missouri river The
general offices of the K. P. R. R Company are To-
Gated here, and also branch Office of the Land
Department. Daily through trains leave here for
Denver, Pueblo, Santa Fe, Salt Lake and San Fran
cisco. From this place we went to
the capital of the State, and county seat of Shawnee
county. 1t is situated on the Kansas river and K
P. R. R., near 20 miles west of Kansas City, Here
we met with our old friend 'fBil" March, formerly
of Hillsboro. He was attending the U. S. Court
now in session in this city. The State capital is
being built here one wing of which is already fin
ished. 1t contains the halls of the Senate and
House of Representatives, and when completed, it
will be one of the finest ediices in the West. The
population of Topeka is about 5000.
ST. MARY's
is 90 miles west of Kansas City and on the &. P.
R. r. This village contains 200 inhabitants. Here
are located two of the best schools, male and fe-
male, in the State in charge of the Jesuit Fathers
and Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The schoo! build
ings of brick, four stories high, and have been
erected within the last three years.
wAMEGo.
This is the point at which the unsold lands of the
railroad company begin. 1t is a thriving town of
100 inhabitants, 1O4 miles west of Kansas City,
and the market for rich and wel-settled district
of country. The R. R. Company have built a
round-house and repair shops here.
MANHATTAN
is lis miles west of Kansas City, the line of the
r. r. at the confluence of the Kansas City and Big
Blue rivers, both rivers being spanned near the
town by very fine free iron bridges 1t is the coun-
ty seat of Riley county and has a population of
| 1000. The rich and weIl-settled district in the
valleys of the Big Blue and its branches contributes
largely to the business and prosperity of the town.
The State Agricultural College is located at this
| place.
JUNCTION CITY,
the county seat of Davis county, is situated at the
confluence of the Smoky Hill and Republican riv-
ers which form the Kansas at this point 1t is 139
miles west of Kansas City, and has population of
about 1900. Here the K. P. has two railroad con-
nections, one with the Junction City and Fort
Kearney road, which runs northwest up the Repub-
lican river passing Wakefield, to Clay Center, in
Clay county, and the other with the Missouri, Kan
sas and Texas road south. We come next to
ABILENE,
the county seat of Dickinson county, 25 miles west
from Junction City and 1853 from Kansas City.
Wheat, oats and corn are largely grown here (when
the grasshoppers don't put in their appearancel
and shipped to Colorado.
SOLOMON CITY
is at the mouth of the Solomon river, has popula-
ton of 500 and is 1T2 miles west of Kansas City.
Solomon river is a large tributary of the Smoky
| Hill. One mile west of this town are the Conti-
mental Salt Works, where very fine quality of salt
| is manufactured.
where we write, in the bend of the Smoky Hill
river, 1s7 miles west of Kansas City, is flourish
1 luB lONu VI dDOuI IyOOO luudOisdutS II - llit
county seat of Saline county, and surrounded by an
unbroken area of level prairie and rich bottom
lands not surpassed in richness of soil in the
State, or perhaps in the United States. The Gov
ernment land office is situated here. The public
buildings are substantial and commodous stone
structures. The merchants are enterprising men
of extensive means and stocks, doing an incredi.
BILE amount of business. Some of them boast Of
sales of $500 per day the year round, upon aver
age.
There is no county in the State perhaps, that has
larger per cent. of excellent land in it, or that is
better watered than this. The principal streams
are the Smoky Hill, Solomon and Saline rivers, bu
there are a great many large creeks, such a:
the Gypsum, Mulberry, and Spring Creek, afford
ing an abundant supply of water. There are sever
Churches in town, some of which are very fine
| structures. Among them 1 shoIld not omit tC
mention the NJ. E. Church, q very line building fol
the strength of the society. The gentlemanly pas
tor is my old friend, the Rev. Ed Hill, formerly Of
Highland county, who seems to be very popular
among his flock. The School House is a credit tC
the place, being substantial brick building three
stories high and nearly equal in size to the Unior
School House in Hillsboro. This speaks well for
| LONH VI lcu years Olu. CuuTCues anu SCnOOiS at
to be found in every neighhorhood. There art
shipped from this point large quantities of grain
in ordinary seasons. There are several steam anC
water mills in the county.
THE CLIMATE
is said to be exceedingly healthful. The purity o
the atmosphere renders it especially beneficial Il
those suffering from pulmonary complaints. Their
/ LAM IF
and ague, the plague of almost all new countries
rarely occurs here. The gentle breezes that art
constantly waited across the prairies, should
think, would neutralize the heat of summer, anC
render the nights especially, pleasant and refresh
ing, so that man and beast, after the tolls of tn
day, can enjoy the repose of sleep, and rise in tn
morning prepared for the work before them.
TIMBER
is scarce, except along the water courses. Tn
principal varieties oak ash, elm, hickory, wal
nut and cottonwood. Tree culture is receiving
great deal of attention. Fruit culture is also re
ceiving attention, and all the varieties peculiar L
this latitude grow luxuriantly.
FENCING.
Hedges grow so rapidly that they make tn
cheapest and most durable fence that can be used
The Usage Orange can be planted by contract, AM
warranted, at 35 cents per rod. am told thSt IL
many cases it becomes, in three years, sufficien
barrier against trespass from cattle. The Railwa.
60. furnish these plants, free of charge, and pa
persons for setting out and cultivating the hedge
In my next may speak of the resources of Kansas
such as Water, Stone, Coal, Gypsum, Salt, &c.
Yours respectfully,
]. CADWALLADER.
Good Advice-Subscribe for thu