The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-06-29
EDITORIAL EXCURSION.

/
1t was our good fortune to accompan!
the excursion on its "grand round" thi
year, and with the indulgence of on
readers, we will devote column or s,
to short and incomplete description
of the trip and incidents connected
Herewith. Those who may not feel in
terested can skip the article, and console
themselves with the thought, that, like
Christmas, it only comes once year.
The meeting of the association wal
held at Atchison, Tuesday, June 18th
1878, and the excursion started from
that place to Put-in-Bay "Wednesday
| afternoon.
At Atchison, as fast as the excursion
lists arrived, they were met at the depot
and escorted to the homes to which they
had been assigned. 1t was our good
fortune to be the guest of Mr.. and Mrs
d. Lukens, where we were most hospi.
tably received and made to feel entirely
at home. In fact it was to the kindly
courtesy of Mr.. Lukens and his estima.
BILE lady, we owe the most pleasant fea-
ture of our trip. If our brethren of the
press were all as well situated as the
writer, it partially accounts for the
friendly feeling displayed by the men,
bers of the press gang towards Atchison.
Tuesday afternoon an informal meet
ing was held, and in the evening pa
rade of the Knights of Pythias and the
fire department was gotten up for the
edification of the "rural ROSTERS" The
Knights, in their rich uniforms made a
fine display. The fire department not
being much behind. Altogether it was
a credit to the city, and ELECTED the
highest praise. In the evening the regu-
lar meeting of the association was held,
after which a grand ball was given at
the Otis House, for the purpose of
entertaining those who wished to par
ticipate in the dance.
Wednesday forenoon carriages were
placed at our disposal for a drive over
the city.
Atchison Is city of beautiful resi-
dences, mostly surrounded with shrub
berry and trees, so that upon gaining an
elevation and looking down upon the
city, its beauty was apparent to all. The
houses of the private citizens are finely
finished, while the churches are large
and beautiful structures. Here also is
the celebrated "Price Villa" costing
about $4,000, and being probably the
finest residence ever erected in Kansas.
1t broke up the builder and finally fell
into the hands of the Catholics, who use
it as a convent and school. The bust
ness part of the city is mostly upon
lowland ground, and is easy of access
from both river and railroads.
Eight railroads center here, and give
to Atchison The wealth of large por>
ton of Kansas, while her elevators, man
ufacturing industries and prosperous
commercial establishments build up and
retain trade of mammoth proportions
Among the principal industries of this
city stands first and foremost the foun-
dry and machine shops of John Seaton,
which of itself is magnificent monu-
ment to Atchison's pluck and business
energy.
The press of the State owe to Atchi-
son hearty thanks for their kind recep-
ton, for verify the latch-string hung
outward upon every door. A commit
tee was appointed to draft resolutions,
expressing the thanks of the editorial
party, but having mislaid them, We are
compelled to omit their publication.
There were two excursions. One over
the Central Branch railroad, going to
Concordia, accompanied by Gov. An
thony, and Maj. w. F. Downs, Super
intendent of the road and one to Put
in Bay, over the Hannibal and st. Joe
ard Wabash railroads to Toledo, from
which place short ride on the elegant
steamer "Waite" took us to the Island.
Leaving Atchison Wednesday evening
via the Hannibal and St. Joe and the
Toledo and Wabash railroads, we were
transported to Toledo-seven hundred
miles distant-arriying Thursday even
ing. Passing in that short space of
time over the sovereign soil of the states
of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana
and Ohio. Through Illinois and part
of Indiana, our ride was by daylight,
and thus We had a view of the famous
Wabash Valley. 1t was only railroad"
view, and, of course, S, far as seeing the
country is concerned, it did not amount
to much. The crops were backward
the season being fully two weeks behind
Southern Kansas. Corn in Western
Missouri is very nearly up to the stand
ard of that in this locality, but from the
Missouri line east, the gradual decrease
in the size of corn blades was noticea-
able. In Northern Ohio the corn was
hardly large enough to cultivate.
At Defiance, Ohio, the party was met
by a delegation from Toledo, consist
ing of Messrs. Perry Crabbs, e. A.
King, E. d. Draper and P. H. Bowling,
from the Produce Exchange; Gen.
Young and Il. S. Bunker, of the
AIorchant., and Man ca ctnrars, E.