The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-08-04
TO THE GROVE.

EDITOR NEWS: Leaving Emporia on
Thursday morning last wendell my
way In = northwesterly direction across
the hills overlooking the city. The sun
shone brightly, and in the absence OF
the usual Kansas zephyr, his rays
seemed to be concentrated upon my head.
Notwithstanding the prosecutions OF sold
SOL" could but be delighted with the
landscape presented from my "exalted''
position. Before me was broad expanse
OF rolling prairie, dotted here and
there by a residence surrounded with
trees and alternating fields of yell
low whest or oats, and green corn. To
my right was the never failing Neosho,
skirted with trees Of various shades,
which could be seen for a distance of sew
eral miles. On my left, the Cottonwood
presented d similar appearance and on
either side were small streams entering
the larger from various directions. LeaV-
ing the hills cross the river st Ruggles'
ford; the Judge has good residence and
also large barn, granary, etc. His farm
is well adapted to stock-raising. On the
opposite bank s. 10y has q good farm,
comfortable house and q good orchard.
The valley land south Of Americas
Is wet In many places, but If properly
drained and cultivated can be made very
productive. The village is one of the
oldest towns in the NeoshO valley, but
Its location has prevented it from beeom-
ing = city. It was formerly a county
seat. bat Emporia being located between
the NeoshO and Cottonwood, soon bore
away these official laurels and became
the principal trading point for sOuthwes-
tern Kansas. Americas still lives, how
ever, and contains some of the best citi-
zens in Lyon county. j. d. Gibson is
well known as an old settler and reliable
business man. 1 found him hard at
work repairing his store rOom.
The cheese factory of Mr.. Anderson
Is one Of the fixtures OF Lyon county, and
as '-the proof Of the pudding is in chew
ing the bag" taste OF this cheese is a
sufficient guaran tee of its excellence.
Mr.. A. receives the milk from about three
hundred CO ws and makes from 400 to Doe
pounds per day. Before leaving the
vicinity OF Americas visited the apple
orchard of j. w. 10y, (Mr. 10y was in
the orchard) and saw, handled and tast-
ed some OF the finest fruit that 1 have
found in Kansas. Mr.. L. will have sew
eral hundred bushels, and a trip to his
place will convince any one that Kansas
deserves the reputation she has secured
as fruit growing country. From Amer
icus to the Grove the road passes through
that fine body Of land known as the Kaw
Reserve. Since the Indians removed to
the Territory the best land has been
claimed, and large proportion of it is
now under cultivation. 1 learned from
parties who bought land when it was in
the market few years ago, that many of
the present claimants are not able to buy
at any price, but are simply holding
claims for speculation, and several have
! already sold at from fifty to three hum
dred dollars; and yet lobbyists have been
In Washington during every session of
Congress since the land was appraised,
working for q reduction or reapprais-
ment, while the land has been in the
market only once, and that for a period
of about six weeks, scarcely giving time
for buyers to come from the east and
look it over. 1t is the opinion of many
Intelligent citizens, that a considerable
portion of the land would sell at the
| present valuation If It were put on the
market. A bill has passed Congress
authorizing the Secretary of the Interior
to have the land reapppraised or the pres.
ent appraisment reduced, not to exceed
forty per cent. The bill provides, how
ever, that the Indians consent must first
be obtained. Although this action pur-
ports to be in the interests Of poor men,
1t Is in reality a swim die upon the taXpay-
ers of the county. The settlers have five
years in which to pay for the land and as
no tax can be collected until patents are
issued Morris and Lyon counties will
have this dead weight several years
longer. The lands ought to be sold Ior
cash.
At Dunlap I met several old aquaintan.
ces, among whom were the Misses Web
sler and Miss Hood, who are frustrating
IN the country. They seem to enjoy farm
life ''hugely." MIR. Webster has fine
stock farm near Rock creek bridge, and
instead of having seattle on q thousand
hills" he has thousand sheep on a hill
Council Grove is the oldest town on the
Santa Fe road west Of Westport, Mo.
and although IL contains but about
t welve hundred Inhabitants, it hal
many substantial business houses anC
residences. Upon my arrival at the
Grove, 1 deposited myself with my ole
ii me friend, T. E. Newlin, Cashier of tn,
First National bank, who boards with thu
Misses MaXey, al the residence of G. NJ
SimcOck. 4 met many familiar faces dur
ing Saturday and Sunday, which recalled
the happy school days OF a few GEAR
ago. My stay was prolonged by the un
Ceasing rain on Monday, ana the mana
gers of the bank sustained their promis
to pay interest on time deposits. by feed
ing me sumptuously on edibles, which
by the way Miss Msxey knows just hov
to prepare.
should be glad to make special men
tion of the large dry goods and grocery
stores, the hotels, churches, schoo
houses, court house, &c, but space will
not permit. L must say, however, t.
parties going to the Grove, that if they
baVe few spare minutes, q visit to A.
w. Simcock g music store will abund
} antiy repay the trouble. Albert is on
of the finest musicians in Kansas, and a.
though under twenty years of age ha
composed several pieces of eXcellen
3 music. More anon. AVIS.
| S>
RAILROAD MEETING.
The MaraIs des Cygues Valley Wide