The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-04-25
s'The Dream OF Youth"

The writer OF the following extrava'
ganza is indeed loyal Salinaite. 1t is
published in q paper printed in the east
SALlNA, February Is, 1878.
FRIEND s.: Your esteemed favor
of the 18th inst, lies before me, and Its
contents have been persued with that
pleasure which is ever afforded to me by
word from you. Since your departure
from Salina last autumn, the town has
verify undergone marvellous transfer.
nation, SO that those who knew its
former aspect might readily fail to rec
ognize that of the present moment. An
extensive immigration of farmers and
other horny handed sons of toll from
Pennsylvania on the one hand, has been
moro than balanced on the other by the
influx of large amounts Of capital IN
the hands of few arrogant monopolists
and land spectators. There being
such an excess of ready money in the
Golfers and safes, 1t has sought invest.
ment; farms and timber. Land have been
sold for fabulous sums, and many of
the old settlers, fortunate enough to
have conveyed clear titles with their
land, have been rendered Independently
rich. But with that noble love of soun-
try and fondness for the locality which
nurtured them emotions highly cbarac-
teristic of the Kansan) they have not
become too proud TO remain in the land
which had known their poverty and
restitution, for now their acquired
wealth and aff1uence have rendered them
the main pillars of that country's sup
port. They have, in some cases, retired
quietly from active life as landed gentry
of untold, yea, unimagined riches; but
IN most instances they have, perhaps,
more worthily invested their money in
town. In this way scores of spacious
warehouses have been erected and
around their wide portals, the cheerful
shouts ofdraymen, the neighing of work
horses, and the merry laughs of boys
and apprentices trundling their heavy
laden trucks and eel.barrows pro-
duce a subdued hum, which is at once
an evidence of strength and the latent
possibilities of man and beast, whilst 1t
indicates forcibly to the philosophical
mind that some worthy, steady occupa-
ton is the happiest state Of horse and
man. Whilst the busy sounds of life
proceed from the mercantile quarters,
the echo from the carpenters hammer
reverberates against the outlying cliffs
and through the deep gorges, the cry OF
the brick layer is heard far and wide as
he shrieks with musical intonation-
"mortar!" but the happiest sound of
all is the song of the painter as he sits
on his scaffold, at some dizzy elevation,
and little dreams $50 powerful is the
force of habit that his life hangs, as
it were, by mere cobweb. These
cheerful visions of busy workmen are
not wanting in results the completion
Of one block of four story brick buildings
is the signal for beginning another one,
until now the massive rows of solid edi-
fees, present q startling indication Of
the very highest civilization and comfort.
For long time it was debated 10 the
city council whether We should have
Macadamixed roads or Nicholson pace
msnts, and the most eminent engineers
prepared reports upon tho subject but
it was finally decided that Belgian blocks
would furnish tho most suitable and en-
during monument to our good judgment
in the matter of pavements.
Trusting that this imperfect little pic
ture may break as new light through
the dense clouds Of your mental horizon,
| remain, etc., etc. JAS.