The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-04-14
TOPEKA, Kansas, April 1st, 1877.
ARBOR DAY.

"A Village tnenty .frs Miles tong-T Topeka
Churches, etc.
Topeka, Kansas, April 1st, 1877.
ARBoR DAY.
Yesterday was "arbor day" in Topeka.
Arbor day signifies day set apart by pro,
clamation of the mayor of the city for the
voluntary planting of trees to serve as shade
trees for the future denizens of the town.
The people are expected, or rather invited
by the aforesaid proclamation, to turn out
en- masse on the day named and plant trees
in the capital square, church and school
house grounds, and other public places;
each man purchasing and planting ont one
or more trees of whatever variety his fancy
or taste dictates.
Last Spring this was novel enterprise,
and large turnout and extensive tree
planting was the result. Yesterday was
not so successful. Probably fifty trees were
stuck in the ground by public spirited ind-
vduals. The bar association making the
most imposing demonstration, as the mem
bers marched to the capitol grounds in the
afternoon, with flag unfured, excepting
step to the music of the Union,' us rendered
by fife and drum, assisted by brass horn
or two, from whose brazen Threats issued
strains that might we'll rival the wall de
stroying notes which smote Jericho.
In this new, treeless country, it requires
some exercise of public spirit to lay the
f,un1D for fnt do
not take root so readily here as in your
moist atmosphere and porous soil "down
by the sounding sea- and when they are
coaxed into growing, they have a scraggy
and cramped appearance, quite unlike the
thrifty, long limbed, swaying monarch of
the forest you are so accustomed to seeing.
Had Topeka the empowering groves that
line some of the principal streets of Elk
ton, it would be a city of rare beauty and
attraction. But it will doubtless boast of
such Injuries in time. The place is COM
paratively young yet, having been almost
wholly built up since the war. AS have
remarked in a former letter, it covers
FOUR MILES SQUARE,
built principally in groups, with broad,
straight streets-hard, smooth and solid as
floor, eleven months in the year for |
| presume all told wouldn't constitute four
weeks, in the annual round of damp, muddy
weather., which need no paving. These
wide avenues in the center and most thickly
settled parts of the city are bordered by
/ hoard side walks The streets rnpninu
south from Kansas river, embracing an
area of mile in length by half mile i'll
width, are thus comfortably equipped with
these wooden conveniences for pedestrians
Bricks are scarce and high here, and not
used for paving and very little as building
material. Walls of business blocks are
generally constructed of stone, with an
outside facing of brick.
NORTH TOPEKA
is separated from the main city by the
kaw, or Kansas river, a third or half a
mile in width and has a population about
equal to that Of Elkton.
The weather here the past Winter was
VERY ENJOYABLE,
with very little rain or snow. The most
snow we had, came with the equinoctial
storm, after the middle of March. About
six inches fell, but like March SHOWS in
general, it disappeared in a day, vanishing
beneath the warm rays of a cloudless sun,
causing very little mud, and no fog or rain,
as would have been inevitable with you.
4 Il
recently, and the grass is beginning to
spring up green; but vegetation does not
respond here so readily to the breath of
Spring as in your climate.
Although we have large per cent of
clear skies aud genial Sunshine, We have
also an intolerable experience of
sToNG WINDS
not zephyIs, but real hat lfters In the
Winter, these winds blow principally from
the north west; an eager, nippng air, all
know, comes-flom that point. In the east
the wind is gagged a good deal by the ris-
ing and going down of the sun, but in this
country Bolus pays no regard to Sol what
ever. He blows up at any and all hours
morning, noon, or night, managing the
upper elements apparently without the
slightest respect to rules or regulations, or
the least concern as to the comfort of spir-
its or mortals. We have possibly ten times
as much wind here as you have, measured
by its velocity and constancy. In warm
weather, the breeze is almost invariably
from tho Snuth hlnwinu Staa1y nails I
may as well term it, for it is too stiff to &C
cord with Eastern notions of breeze. This
is very refreshing in warm weather, en-
abing one to "sleep at night like top"
Catarrh or colds in the head are very
prevalent here, induced by frequent changes
of temperature, on account of the constant
rising and falling, blowing and counter
blowing-to use a dubious expression-of
the winds; but they are seldom dangerous
or followed by vital consequences as in
your climate. The ground and atmosphere
are dry here, and damp feet, the parent of
so many deadly maladies are almost I'm
known. | have not had an over-shoe on
this Winter, nor a damp foot. But am
spinning this letter too long for your col
umns, without diversifying my subject.
Your readers will want to know something
about
LIFE IN TOPEKA AND KANSAS.
4 fellow was shot and killed here last
week. He conducted little evening paper
which had bad reputation. 1t wormed |
out every social scandal and followed a
well organized system of black mailing
Among its game was one rough and gam.
bier, who came in for attention. and the |
end of long feud was shooting affair |
and the death of Swayze, the editor, who
was hard case, according 10 every body's |
say. Six men compose coronerss jury
here and they pronounced him dead. That |
fifth wheel to the judicial coach, a grand |
jury, has no existence here. The culprit |