The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-03-23
From the Chicago Times.
One Of the Finest Countries on the
Globe Where Men Of Moderate
Means Can Find Homes.

| The most notable means OF stlmulat-
ling emigration and of building up the
agricultural and mineral resources of q
country, is the construction of lines OF
railroad through that country. Such
has been the wonderful progress of the
railroad system of America within the
last twenty years that to-day the west
ern States may be said to have no from
| tier. The construction of railroads
has done more to advance civilization
aud to subdue the stubborn wilds OF
the United States than all others influ-
ences combined. The shrek CT the
locomotive and the busy hum of trade
is now heard, where but few years
since the only sounds that broke the
primeval stiffness were the shout of the
.ruel savage and the sharp crack Of the
bold huntsmap's rifle.
Fertile valleys that but a few years
since were only visited by herds of
buffalo, and the swift-footed coyote
now resound with the noise of busy
villages, and-*he peaceful voice of a
happy and contented people. All this
| has been accomplished by the laying of
! railroad tracks and the rush of thun-
dering trains, loaded with emigrants,
civilization. Prominent among the
important western lines Of railroad
which have been constructed within
the past few years is the Atchison, To-
peka Il Santa Fe, extending from Kan
lsas City and Atchison OH the Missouri
friver, and Topeka, the capital of Kan
sas, to Pueblo in Southern Colorado,
and embracing an aggregate of I'll
miles of the finest track in the United
States.
AT Topeka, the Kansas City and Atch
ison branches unite, and the main line
extends onward to its destination by
way Of Emperia and the the Cotton
wood and Arkansas valleys, to its des-
tination. There is included in this vast
stretch of track a branch road from
Newton to Wichita. q distance of TWEEN
ty-seven miles. The route traverscd
by this road is one of the most pictur-
esque and beautiful in the country, Ii
passes for 433 miles through the fertile
Arkansas Valley, constantly in sight of
the river, making it the most pleasant
and attractive route to the mountains,
presenting to the eve, at every point,
new and interesting objects for con-
temptation, admiration, and study.
From Kansas City the road follows the
valley of the Kansas river on the south
bank, to Topeka, distance of sixty
six miles. From Atchison the road
traverses a beautiful rolling country,
via Valley Falls, to Topeka, a distance
of fifty miles. This country is pleas
ing to the eye, the climate is admirable
and the possibilities for the future can
not be too highly estimated.
From Topeka to EmpOria the road
passes through prairie country, un-
dulating and fertile, opening up,in this
region, immense coal mines, which now
supply a greater portion or the State
with excellent fuel for domestic and
manufacturing purposes, and which
are destined in the future to boa source
of inestimable wealth and incalculable
benefit to the State. From Emporia
west to Peabody the road follows the
valley of the Cottonwood, and from
Newton to Pueblo the beautiful ard
productive valley Of the Arkansas,
which is said to be the finest grain and
stock-growing region in America. This
is a distance of 432 miles from the
point of departure. The entire line
of road has been built regardless of
expense, and is in better condition
to-day than many eastern roads of more
fame and greater pretenslon.
This magnificent railroad scheme W as
projected by combination of private
capitalists, and has been entirely con-
structed since 1870. 1t is emphatically
private enterprise, being owned and
controlled by private individuals, aud
hvyo
ton. 1t is equipped with the best roll
ing stock, and passenger trains are sup
piled with every modern improvement
West of Newton the line is almost en-
tirely free from grades and curves.
The completion of the line to Pueblo
shortens the distance to all points in
Southern Colorado, New Mexico, Ari-
IONA, and the celebrated San Juan min.
ing country more than 14S miles, and
saves fully twenty-four hours in point
of time.
Tourists seeking recreation and
pleasure can find nowhere in America
more beautiful natural scenery, more |
wild and rugged stretches. or more
objects of interest and instruction
than along the line of this route |
stretching from Kansas City to Pu-
eblo.
The writer of this article speaks from
personal observation after having pass
ed over the entire length of track of |
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail-
road Company.
The Arkansas Valley is admitted to |
be the most attractive body of country
open to settlement. and its advantages
of climate, in addition to its fertility,
healthfulness, and beauty of surface
add materially to its attractiveness.
There is very general desire on the
part of those looking for new homes to
get away from extremes of cold or
than anywhere else on this
lies the temperate line be-
tween extremes. In latitude SO north,
the latitude of Central Kentucky aud
Virginia, it is far enough south for
and the successful production
of all the cereals, fruits, and vegeta-
bles of the temperate zone. while the
high aud rising altitude-near 900
feet above the level of the sea at New
ton, where the road first enters the
great Valley, and rising at the rate of
seven feet to the mile going west-de-
Iightfully tempers the climate, and Sc
cures that valuable requisite, health,
Of all others the most important. Its
climate has been likened to that of It.
lily, but it far surpasses Italy in the
purity of it's air, its bright sunshine,
and its healthfulness.
1t is striking feature of the great
Valley that it lays just midway across
he continent, equally distant from the
Atlantic on the east and the Pacific on
he west; from the frozen north and
he heated unhealthy airs of the south,
md within its fertile bounds lies the
GOLDEN mean of the continent of North
America. Those who are looking for
lew homes should carefully mark all
hese points-the most delightful eli /:
nate, the richest soil, the cheapest
and, the most beautiful contour of
surface, and the most inviting country
N the whole, in the whole west, is to {
,e found in the Arkansas Valley in
Kansas, and it only re- {
luires visit to that country to Con-
inca anyone of the truthfulness ofthis
Farms lie ready-made to the settlers !
land. 1t is only necessary to mark
nut the land, put up house to live in, {
nd start the pillow to work-no trees /,
o clear off, no stones to gather, no Q
loughs or swamps to drain.
The sod can be readily turned over +
With good span of horses or yoke $
f cattle, and fair crop of corn and
many kinds of vegetables can be raised
he first season. In the fall, with
God narrowing, the land is ready to
ut in wheat, and instances are nu- ]
nerous where the first wheat crop has
fnr Tia land for hreak inr nre-