The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-11

Over the ssGolden Belt' to Saline County.
Maj. J. K. Hudson, who recently Wis
tied this county, makes the following
observations, interesting to our readers !:
At Salina, We were met by the hospiti-
BILE carryail belonging 20 the Hon. Thos.
II. Cavanaugh, Secretary Of State, and
premium Hereford cattle breeder, and
were driven to his ranch, six miles east,
through the dusk of one of the balmiest,
midsummer evenings that ever shaded
prairie. The breeze that waited to us
the odor Of bountiful harvests, told
also Of good times coming, when debt
and mortgage for the husbandman, and
cold and hunger for his children shall be
known no more in Kansas. Those
white faced cattle are models of beauty,
ana Tom tells US they are models in
every way, quick growers, easy to fat
ten, and gentle in disposition. At the
hospitable home of Mr.. Cavanaugb, we
were entertained during our visit, and
are under many obligations for COURT
sizes extended by himself and lady. This
stock farm is destined to be one of the
useful institutions of which Kansas will
be proud. A magnificent view of that
and positions Of several other counties,
can be had from the top of Iron Mound,
one of those peculiar abrupt elevations
common IN that region this one is half
Q mile high and covered with q stone
that is impregnated with iron. The
panorama that stretches out towards
every point Of the compass, is beautiful
beyond description, and We believe can.
not DO surpassed IN the State. Three
rlvers, the Kansas, the Saline, and the
Smoky Hill, with their skirting timber,
can be seen, and the intervening
stretches of space are mosaic of golden
grain, flower decked prairie, corn, and
the rich brown Of the upturned sod. 1t
is hard acknowledgment for those
who live in the eastern part of the State
to make, but it is too true to be ignored,
that the orchards are more numerous,
and the farms closer together than with
Us, and the hundreds Of dollars that even
q small farmer must put into fences, IN
the eastern counties, he can there put in
to house and barn and stock.
The evening Of tho 18th, we rode FIVE
miles further east where we could over
look the Gypsum valley, which seems to
be the pride of that neighborhood, and
spent the evening with the Gypsum VAL
ley Farmers Club, at tho residence OF
VIM. Pettes, ESQ., an honored member
of that community and valued CORES
pondent of the Farmer. This is suppos.
cd to be the Oldest farmers organization
in the State, which is now in . flourish.
ing condition, having been organized
more than five years since, if We remem-
Der correctly. And we can testify that
it shows no signs OF disintegration yet,
on the contrary, the members all seem
alive to their own, each others and the
Clubs best interests. They meet month
ly alternately at the residences of the
different members and by the way, it
strikes us that this will be found to Sc.
cure and to retain the interest of the
members much better than weekly or
meetings at school house;
that is rather . dreary place for q go
ciai gathering and too frequent meetings
lose their charm.
Members came many miles from every
and . number of visitors from
the city of Salina, ten miles away, and
all talked about it as # it was joyously
anticipated event. The club was called
to order by the President, Mr.. Post, the
business of the evening was disposed of,
and your humble servant was cordially
invited to be present and address q bas-
ket meeting Of the Club, to be held in
August, for which courtesy the Club
will please accept his grateful acknowl-
edgmeuts. Tho first literary exercise,
was an essay by Mrs. Manchester, and
was an effort that would be creditable
10 any college lyceum. Next was an
essay by Mr.. McQuary, one Of the model
farmers Of Gypsum valley, and one
whose delightful homo and hospitsble
family We shall long remember. His
subject was ten perance, and his thoughts
were remarkable for good sense and
sound logic. DR.. Van Eaton edited the
paper that evening, and certainly provid-
ID treat of ~itty and entertaining lit
srature. Usually they spend some time
in debate upon subject relating to az
but that was dispensed with,
On the conclusion of the paper,
The club adjourned for supper
hat is always brought along
except the coffee and sugar,
Tor the purchase OF those articles
3 collection Of one dollar is made at each
meeting, and among from IS to $50 men,
bers that it is not . very severe tax.
Tho young people seemed to enjoy it
quite 90 much as the older ones, and VIC
we're told never failed to attend. We
we're surprised TO find it so late when
We said goodnight to the charming
,ostoss and started on our homeward
irive. Just at midnight We crossed the
I'D Santa Fe trail, now deserted and in
many places obliterated by everything
arms, but still suggestive Of the tide
hat knows no turning. Of the many
ragedies and romsnces that have trans
bred along its path, few will be known
o the busy people who are soon to bury
t from sight forever.
v-a