The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-09-01

EDITORS NEWS: Leaving Emporia on
tuesday morning last, I wendell my way
northWard across the Neosho and Allen
creek bridges, and thence In the direction
OF Reading. The first item of interest is
the large farm of w. j. Roberts, which
lies in the valley north Of Allen. "Jack'
has several hundred acres of fine bottom
land, and its general appearance indicates
that he knows how to manage it success
fully. VIM. Hollingsworth has an excel
lent farm joining Roberts on the east.
His neatly trimmed hedges, good orchard,
nice dwelling, and yard adorned with
eVergreens, are all evidences of thrift.
On the east again, Imbla Young has fine
farm OF about seventy acres, most of
which Is In cultivation. Mr.. Y. desires
TO move to Missouri, and will sell this
farm on reasonable terms. 1 should like
to mention in detail all the farms in this
neighborhood, but space will not permit,
and will only say that a more indus
trlous class OF people have not met in
the county.
My next halt was at the Badger creek
cheese factory, which is being quietly but
succe ssfullY managed by Ed. Langstaff.
He makes an average of about two hun
dred pounds per day.
After leaving the factory pass but one
farm on the road to Reading, a distance
OF five miles. The balance of the land,
am told, belongs to company Of specu-
lators who live in Pennsylvania. It is
covered with rich coat of prairie grass,
any part of which would make excellent
hay. The company offer the land very
cheap, and it would certainly be 3 more
profitable investment than the railroad
lands that are selling at from five to ten
dollars per acre on the plains two hun
dred miles west of here.
Reading, like many other Kan sas towns,
had its growth several years ago, and is
now rat her dun. 1t is situated at the
head of the Marais des Cygne river, and
Is surrounded by an excellent farming
country.
Mr.. Douglass owns fine farm Of over
three hundred acres joining the town site
on the north.
From Reading rode up Duck creek to
the large farm formerly owned by Mr..
Appleby, passing several good places on
the way. MIR. A. was one of the first
settlers on the creek, and the substantial
buildings, good orchard, hedges and
groves, are mementoes of his industry,
Hearing of the death of Mrs. Holmes. 1
crossed the prairie northward te the res
ldence of her son, II. +. Holmes, and
found the house surrounded by a host of
friends, who had gathered to pay the last
tribute OF respect to the dead. The fu-
neral sermon was preached by the Rev,
Mr.. DENLY, after which long procession
followed the remains to their last resting
place. Mrs. Holmes was universally es-
teemed as an excellent lady, and her loss
will be deeply felt throughout the neigh
borhood.
Going northwest I passed the farm of
Major Hicks, on the Lawrence road, and
many others which 1 cannot mention at
this time. Crossing 142 creek, near the
mouth of Hill creek, L rode up the latter
stream to the farm of Robert Best. who is
an old settler in Lyon county. Uncle |
Bob is jOVial man, and takes delight in
entertaining visitors and showing them
his farm and improvements. He lives in |
a secluded spot, his house being entiI ely |
surrounded by trees, and while the rest |
of us are exposed to the cold winds in |
winter he hardly knows what they are. |
The past summer he has erected q large |
barn. which, for convenience and COM
fort equals, if not excels, any building of |
the kind in the county; and to use his |
own expression, he can now feed all his |
horses in fifteen minutes. Mr.. Best has |
100 head of cattle, 80 head of horses. sew
eral hogs, fine Cashmere goats, peafowls,
turkeys, chickens, dogs, cats-in short,
everything to make man or maid happy.
This seems to be the Best stream in Kan
sas, for no less than half-dozen persons /
of that name live on its banks. Thanks |
to Richard Best, who so kindly entertain.
ed US over night. He also is large prop
erty owner, having two or three good |
farms and plenty OF horses and cattle.
found it difficult in this part Of the |
county to get subscribers, for the simple |
reason that almost every one is taking
THE NEWS. A. w. s.
SMOKE lanes Smith5S TnoDarioI o;-or.