Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-07-10

beautiful COTTONWOOD Naliey, pass
ing Cottonwood and Cottonwood
Falls, following the vallef until
we reach Florence, small town
OF 900 inhabitants, l56 miles from
Atchison We next pass Peabody,
a nice little town of 600 inhabitants
who seem prosperous and happy,
and come TO Newton the county
seat Of Harvey county, the end OF
q division of the road, and where
the Wichita branch intersects. 1t
is a thriving little place of 800 or
900 inhabitants. Here we leave
the main stem OF the road. rake
the Wichita branch, and enter the
rich, beautiful and fertile valley OF
the Arkansas, and pass rapidly on
to.the live and growing town Of
Wichita, in southwestern Kansas.
We were received ut the depot by
the citizens Of the town en- mas e.
and the music of the Wichita band
gave us a welcome In sweet strains.
Carriages, buggies and other con4
veyances were in waiting, to take
US over the town before supper.
The citizens seemed to vie with
each other in extending a hearty
ard hospitaDle welcome TO the ex-
cursionists. We remained here
over night, and a grand ball at
tended by the youth, beauty and
intelligence OF the town, was given
il honor of our visit, Wichita,
the county seat of Sedgwick county
is the present terminus of the
Wichita branch of the A. Il. & S.
F. Railroad. Five years ago the
Usage Indian and the shaggy buff
falo roamed undisturbed over the
ground where Wichita now stands,
the footsteps Of the white man had
yet scarcely trod its "virgin soil,u
and the slumbers Of the dusky
warrior were not broken by the
shrek of the locomotive. Wichita,
yet in its swaddling clothes, as it
were, to-day is a thriving, push
ing, growing town of 5000 inhabi-
tants, surrounded by all the COM
forts, conveniences and pleasures
of any eastern town of its size. Its
rapid growth is a marvel of wond-
er. 1T is located at the confluence
OF th@littie with sas big Arkangas
rivers, in a most lovely fertile val
ley of that name. Less than one
year ago an army of hoppars passed
through this valley, destroying
and laying waste everything in
| the line of their journey. But the
plucky farmers were not dis
couraged, and went to work with
renewed energy, determined to
retrieve their losses, well knowing
that in all labor there is profit.n
That their faith was well founded,
is fully attested by the golden
fields of wheat and the broad acres
of waving corn scattered through
out the country. Wichita has
many fine large brick buildings.
Brick are laid in the wal at So per
] thousand. Land is selling INF this
county at from $3.50 to SO per acre.
according to distance from the
railroad and the improvements.
Wichita is filled with the hustle
and strife of active business. 1t
has been for several years The
headquarters of the Texas cattle
trade in Kansas. 1t is we'll sup
piled with churches and schools,
and has two fiourishing news
papers, the Wichita Eagle and the
Beacon, the former owned and run
by Murdoch 4 Brother, and the
latter managed by Milton Gable.
Wichita is certainly a live frontier
town, and its inhabitants are as
wholesouled and hospitable people
as can be found anywhere. 1t has
a bright future before it.
We left Wichita at al early hour
on the morning after onr arrival
and went back to main stem of the
road at Newton, and proceeded
westward, passing the towns OF
Halstead and Burton, and arrived
at Hutchinson for kfast, which
was furnished by the citizens of the
place. The repast was served in a
large hall, which was tastefully
decorated with every species of the
agricultural products of the coun-
ty. The breakfast was elegant and
sumptuous, and its enjoyment was
heightened by the smiling faces
and rosy cheeks ofthe Hutchinson
| girls, who gracefully served the
hungry excursionisis with hot cof-
fee. tea, rolls, meats. etc. After
breakfast, conveyances were In
waiting to take us over the town,
and we spent an hour sightseeing
Hutchinson Is 2lS miles from
Atchison. and where the railroad
first strikes the Arkansas river
This vigorous young city is one Of
the most remarkable illustrations
of the rapid development of the
Arkansas Valley. The first house
was erected In 1871. and 1t now
hnonka a r,nxnaaIn Ainan Of lZlN NTH q