The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-12-27
In KANSAS.

We take the privilege of extracting the
following paragraphs from letter writ
ten by Rev. D. G. Tomlinson, who lately
visited Emporia, and published in the
Akron (O.) Beacon:
We have visited several enterprising
towns located in the Neosho and Solomon
valleys. There are no richer lands and
more energetic people, than in this very
district of Kansas. The Neogho valley
is we'll supplied with good timber, stone
and material for building purposes. The
Solomon is deficient in timber, but equal
ly favorable in other materials The
Neosho is stock-growing district, while
the Solomon is largely devoted to grain.
Some farmers this year harvested 40 and
As bushels per acre. Wheat at Beloit is
only worth so cents per bushel, and corn
1919 cents. For wheat-growing the Sol
mon valley cannot be excelled.
After taking general survey of these
valleys, ali things considered, we must
frankly confess that nothing can surpass
Emporia and NeOsho valley. Emporia
is city of 4,500-[Ought to have said g.
500-EDs. News. population and en-
braces nearly all the advantages of an
eastern city. 1t is now 81 years since the
town was located. Its schools and pub
lie buildings will compare well with
those of our own city. The State Nor
NAL school is located at this place, and
was burned but few days before our
arrival. 1t will be rebuilt without doubt
the coming season.
Lyon county embraces as many advan-
| tages as any county in the State. The
! timber, stone, lime and rich soil are all
that one could wish. The farmers are the
most independent class, for most of them
have fiocks of sheep and herds of cattle,
and it costs but little to grow them, as
they have free range over vast tracts of
unoccupied lands, and a good three or
four year old steer will sell for nearly the
same as in Ohio.
The cheapness of the lands should in
duce an increased emigration to this
county, but the tide of emigration sweeps
on beyond $50 miles, where lands are
held at much higher figures. Mr.. A. Nj.
Sommers, Land Commissioner of the
NJ, K. & T. r. R., at Emporia, will deal
Justly with any one who desires to pur-
chase vacant lands.
The mystery is, why do eastern emf
grants push on to the extreme borders of
the STAGE, where there is but little if any
timber, and scarcity of water and
much lighter soil, and pay as much for
lands as they would be required to pay
in eastern and middle Kansas. Here one
star West" but at the center of civiliZa-
ton.
The Neosho Valley is famous for corn
as well as cattle. In nine counties Dor
dering on this valley there were planted
last year 321 .533 acres of corn, and it
produced Is, 1908 bushels, an average
of 40 bushels to the acre. Farmers claim
that corn can be produced and sold for
1919 cents per bushel and pay all ex-
penses, but corn is now Nov. 11th) worth
at Emporia 90 cents. The chief business
of this valley is stock and corn, and all
concede that it is the most profitable
business of the State. The First National
Bank of Emporia has at this date $685.
S70.35 deposits, mostly belonging TO
farmers who are devoting themselves to
stock raising.
This is good climate, if we can cred
il the statement of those who came to the
state as invalids. 1t is sure cure for
catarrh. The gentleman with whom we
are stopping emigrated from Maine, and
was regarded as consumptive, but you
can find no one that is now more robust
The tide of emigration to Kansas is
| immense, for you see people living in
covered wagons, In tents and rude shan
ties. A builder at Emporia said if
new house was projected there would be
dozen applications for the same before
it was completed. This is the case in
all the representative towns and cities of
the state. The emigrant will find money
quite as needful here as in the East, but
| il is surprising what good frame house
can be purchased for 81 800.
The temperate and industrious classes
who make their homes in the state with
but little money invariably improve their
financial condition, and have no desire
i to return to their eastern home
The incorporate and shiftIess viii as
sure come to want in Kansas as In Ohio.
The chief quality that viii pave the way
to prosperity is industry, associated with
temperate habits. Our route was BY the
Wabash railway, from Toledo tn Ranni-
bal. There is no railroad in the west
| that makes better time and has more
gentlemanly conductors than this great
| fhoroughfare. From Hannibal, the NJ,
& & r railway safely lands us at juno
ton City. We can commend this route
70 all who may conclude to visit or emil
crate 70 Kansas