The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
THE VERDICT OF INTELLIGENT OBSER-
WALTON.
DEDUCTION OF DIsINTERESTED AND ExPE.-,
ENoED TRAVELLERS.
The Happy Valley" as Viewed by Three Hun
drad Eastern Editors.

I o1cuCtH 6AlbvAos
| Last June TIE Atchison, Topeka & Santa Re
railroad company invited about three hun
dred editors of the Central states to visit the
Arkansas valley. The visit was Immediately
upon the heels OF calamity, from which the
| state had suffered, at least III reputation. The
party spent one night in the city OF Wichita,
| where they were entertained i'll formal re-
ception. In the weeks following we produc-
ell thirty or forty columns of extracts of the
written opinions from the papers of our hon
orable visitors. For the benefit of those lately
come among us, and for the instruction of our
eastern friends, we would like 10 copy entire
these many and finely written articles. We
give only sentence each from 4 few OF the
most important papers, but enough to show
in what estimation the magnificent valley was
held by intelligent and disntcresied writers.
These Introductory remarks are made that
the reader may understand and more clearly
appreciate the statements of 40 many different
writers:
From the st. Louis Globe D emocratl
We passed field after field of wheat stand
Ing from four 10 six feet high. and all white
for harvest; rye six feet high and oats shot
into heads, all covering The ground so thicky
that IL seemed rs if another stalk could not
| find standing room and notwithstanding the
late heavy rains not L single head was bowed
| down This is most remarkable fact, and
results from the same peculiarly of the soil
| or climate. We examined scores of fields OF
| this character. The weather was everything
that could be desired: for although the tenn
| perature was 100 iii the shade yet the cooling
| breeze which always blows from the south at
| this season, tempers the atmosphere and rem
| ders the climate inyigorating and heathfu
| Those whom we saw busy at work were as
| coo, comfortable and active they could have
| been in 4 Pennsylvania atmosphere, with the
| temperature at seventy five degrees Thu. is
speciality of this climate, and however hot
| the days may be the nights are always cool.
| The country east of Wichita for many miles
is composed OF gentle rolls, lying one after
another at intervals OF about two miles, div T.
ed by meandcring streams and creeks Lat
never go dry.
From the Detroit (Mch,) Daily Post
The Arkansas river valley, the eastern part
| of which fairly rivals the Cottonwood in the
! richness Of its soil and abundance of its crops.
The largest town on the road in this valley is
Wichita. The city is the natural center Of
large agricultural region. In its own counJy
Of Sc6gwick and the four adjoining count es
OF Butler, Cowley. Sumner and Harvey, the
wheat crop of this year is estimated at 3,000,-
600 bushels, and the merchants of Wichi
have sold 40 reaperS to harvest the sam
Not Only wheat, but corn, oats, rye, and
fact all the grains grow abundantly In the.
counties, and the feeding of cattle and the
raisIn. OF sheep are profitable. The Arkan-
sas bottom varies from four to twenty-five
in width. and the valleys Of its principal trib-
utaries from two to liv. miles.
From the ST. JosephtMo Daily Morning Herald.
All day we rode through a most beautfu'
country, the broad Arkansas river lazil
winding on our left AMI sparkling in the jan.
sun like band of silver. The fields for
hundred miles were yellow with wheat, barley,
rye and oats. The ride through this remark
able valley was the most thoroughly enjoyable
one We ever undertook. Cattle, horses and
sheep feeding the entire year on the nutr- |
tious grasses which grow here, and we passed
immense herds of broa.! horns driven up from |
Texas, and growing UP with the country. |
We passed through several very fine villages |
and some bustlng cities. At every station |
the good people greeted us heartily.
From the Warrensburg (Mo.) Standard.
For the last 100 miles we have passed over
the most beautiful country the eye ever be-
held. Wheat is now being harvested and ex-
ceeds anything We ever conceived, both as to
quality and quantity. Corn Is in abundance
and waist high. Every variety of vegetable
is produced, and exbted an astonishing
growth The golden wheat fields were sight
to behold. No fences o5structed the vision.
The corn averaged from four to nine feet in
height. Flax measure three feet oats about
tho same rye six feet and every thing in pro-
portion. Ascending a hill we looked np,n
this striking scene, stretching mile upon ,.lilc
in every direction, as far rs the eye, aided by
field glasses, could reach. 1t was n sight
worth going along Journey to see.
From the st. Lonis Times.
At every station they brought forth samples
of their various productions. which indeed
were OF superior quality. One year ago the
were devastating all they had,
and they were obliged to appeal to us for aid
and now when their beautiful prairies are
floating in seas OF wealth they cannot refrain
from extending a welcome hand in renem-
brance of limited relief sent them.
From the Springfield (ohol Daily Republican, |
Wichita is one of the most attractive places
In the state. A few miles back of the city !
some parties are boring for coal to supply fuel
for extensive salt works already in operation,
and capable OF turning out many thousand
bushels Of salt weekly. The roads over which
We rode were firm, tree from dust and made !
he p!eisantest OF drives. The climate SEEM
I'd to be very healthy, the air being dry and
temperature medium. There is always cool
draft, and at night al slept with the wind {
blowing full upon them, without fear OF con-
sequences. Water for drinking and culinary
purposes is abundant and good.
From the Washington Qowa) Press. +
Indeed the first days ride simply amazed t
Is al. 1t is the finest looking country we 9
.ver beheld. There is no miasma; no one c
hakes off his hide with chis; nights cold and {
~ day cool winds. At this p0iRt we found 8
he EAGLE nine column paper, the hand '
omest weekly we ever layed eyes on, issued ,
rom model office, having cylinder and the /
,est job presses. II