New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-21
Especial Correspondence of the Republican
THE ARKANSAS VALLEY.

Evidences of PrOgress-Character OF tho
People-Abundance of Water. Fuel and
Building Observation-Disclosures, Etc.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
Twenty years ago Charles Sumner in an
eloquent speech delivered in the United
States Senate, presented the following
graphic picture of the geographical ad-
vantages of Kansas:
Take down your map. sir and you will
find that Kansas, more than any other re-
gion, occupies the middle spot of North
America, equally distant from the Atlantic
on the East, and the Pacific on the West,
from the frozen waters of HudsOns bay on
the North, and the tepid Gulf Stream on
the South, constituting the precise terri
torial center of the whole vast continent
To such advantages of situation on the very
highway between two oceans are added q
soil of unsurpassed richness, and fasclnat
ing undulating beauty OF surface with
health-giving climate, calculated to MUIR.
ture q powerful and generous people, worthy
to be q central pivot of American institu.
tons.
Last year Vice Preside Mt Wilson said:
The valley of the Arkansas river offers
everything that mankind can ask OF ma
ture.
About five years ago the construction of
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway
was commenced at Atchson, Kansas, and
Kansas City, Missouri, and about the first
of last March it was completed to Pueblo,
Colorado, a distance of over 600 miles, fol-
lowing the Arkansas valley more than 400
miles.
During this time over 100000 acres of
government land have been taken as home
steads, pre-emptions and timber claims,
and mere than 100000 acres Of railroad
lands have been sold almost entirely to
actual settlers, and towns like Newton of
$500 and Wichita with $500, Hutchinson of
5000, Great Bend with 1900, Larned of 1000,
and many smaller ones of from 100 to 600
inhabitants, with attractive business houses,
mills, superior schoolhouses, churches and
newspapers have been built.
Pawnee county, of which Larned is the
capital, three years ago was not inhabited.
1t has now population of about 5000. In
other counties the population has increased
rapidly, and the population of this great
valley is now about &c, 600, west of EmpOria
During these five years about 300 school
houses have been built, some of which cost
$1,000, but generally costing from $500 to
$500 each, and during the same time about
seventy churches have been built, repre-
senting all denominations of Christians.
The number of Sabbath schools now con-
ductt is about lbs, and there are about
twenty weekly newspapers published here.
TO the thoughtful, these statements will in
dictate the character of the people of the
Arkansas valley.
The healthfulness of this region is re.
mar kable, and at this time there are very
few sick. The growing crops are very
promising, and in some localities the wheat
harvest will begin within few days. Wa
ter, fuel and building material are plenti-
full, the climate is delightful. winters mild
and short, and government land free, and
railway land from s. to s. per acre. Alto
gether l should say that the Arkansas
valley is q very good place for farmers and
stock raisers, and every other class to go
to, except physicians, and class found in
all countries who look upon labor as de-
grading.
To go there, get your ticket through on
the New York Central, Lake Shore, Toledo,
Wabash and Western, Hannibal and St.
Joseph. and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
railways, as this is the only line running
through Pullman palace cars, with all the
latest improvements in equipments.
EXAMINER.
Larned, Kansas, June IA, 1876.