The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-30
THE INNocENTs ABROAD.
sMIrH County,, KANSAS, May "a, Y

SMITH COUNTY, KANSAS, May "a, 'IS. 4
EDTroR CHRONICLE -
Thinking a few items of our trip west
might be of interest to at least a portion
of the readers of the CHRoNIeLR,we have
concluded to give you a brief account of
our journey as far as we have gomez; will
give you a further account and descrip-l
lion of the county as we westward glide.
So far as the description of the country
through our own state is concerned, it is
not necessary to enter into details, as
most of your readers are familiar with it.
In south western Iowa, We find thcus-
and upon thousands bushels of corn go
ing to waste, by not being properly pro-
tected from the western storms they
do not crib their corn at oil, but put it on
the ground and there it stays until they
use or sell it, or until it Ss entirely spoil
ed. We hud very bad roads and weather
until latter we crossed the muddy Mis-
souri,, then the roads were good. There
has been but very little rain in this coun-
try this spring. After crossing the river
al Plattsmouth we ported company with
Two other teams from northern Tama,
who were seeking homes in northern Kan
sas, we taking u southwestern direc
ton for Weeping Water, where we met
our old friend Elk. County Treasurer,
Tleo. Schaetfcr; he is now employed as
chief clerk in a dry goods store. The
country between Piattsmouih ard Weep
ing Water is us fine u country us one
would wish to see. They have u very fine
quality of building stone at that point
which can be taken out of the quarries in
any shape desired and arc a very durable
stone. From Weeping Water, We 60 in
q south western direction for Lincoln,
Nebraska; this is a Very fine country.
The location of Lincoln is good. ard il is
a town that will become II fine city even
tually. EThcrc are some magnificent bull
dirgs there amongst which we might men
ton the Capitol, P~ost-ollice, Custom
House, and many others. On the north
side of the Custom House, there is an
Artesian Well that throws a stream of
salt water as large rs a mans arm. We
did NOT partake of it very freely, although
we tasted of it and found it to contain
cor siderable salt. The best country we
have found Tin our %estimation) is between
the two Blues. We have found the soil
very thin through this part Of the coun.
try, it being only twelve TO fifteen inches
thick. We have asked a great many per
sons if they have any hard pan in this
country. They say Nor but there is
what they call "Gum-bole"which is moth
ing more or less tlanshard pan. at least
that is what VIC would call it in Iowa.
The country between Crete and Red
Cloud is moro rolling but no timber until
We strike Elk Creek, where We find tim
Der all along the creek, and plenty Of it.
We came over twenty five miles of coun-
try in which we did not see a stick of
timber or one drop of water. The
sloughs or drives as they call them
here are perfectly dry. and we do not
need to be afraid of getting swamped in
the sloughs in this country; can drive
over them my where. As we near Red
Cloud the country becomes more rolling
and the land is composed of a great deal
of Magncsia, which makes it almost
worthless for agricultural purposes, but
would be a good country for raising stock
if water was more plenty. They have to
bore or dig from sixty to one hundred
feet for water. After arriving at Red
Cloud we find the noted Magnesia lime
stone. The people use it for building
purposes, but it win not stand wet weather
1t can be cut with an axe after it is taken
out Of the quarries as easily as you can
cut a piece of pine wood, but it becomes
harder after being exposed to the weather
for a while; they also use it for making
mortar; the take the stone and slack then,
with water, mix some sand with it and
do their mason work and plastering, and
they claim it stands The weather well.
The first Alkali we came across was on
the Republican River; we have seen none
in Kansas yet. After leaving Red Cloud we
Travelled nine miles south west and come
to The coy residence Of Mr. Phlllo Boards
ley formerly of Tama county near Toledo
where we will rest our selyes and team fol
a day or two and then resume our jour
ney in southwestern Kansas. The crops
in Nebraska do not look as well as they
do in Tama County. Were VIC a photo
grupher and bad afCamer(a) on, with vi
we might have taken some very enc
Slefeosconic Views Of the country end
things in general.
But our communication il already too
long, although we have not given as full
a description of the country as we would
like to have done aa aaLias
aag More anon. Bx.*xx
i Go 10 Hubert Bros for Pianos and Or
gans, the old reliable Wholesale and re
tail Music firm. Their instruments are
well known and all fully warranted to b
strictly frst-class. II WIN pay you tosses
them before purchasing; forthey sre NOV
selling iiryt.class Instruments Tor 1868 thaI
any firm II the Emitted States
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