The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-01-03
FROM THE NOKTIsWE EST.
" hat .sGimes'' Correspondent
Thinks of the valleys OF the ke-
publican and Solomon.

Years ago, before I. While man had be-
come 50 plenty, | passed up through the
section OF country towards which my steps
were turned, consequently the journey had
a double interest to me. | would be able
to compare the past with the present; to
note the changes, ii there had been any; to
see with my own eyes whether the predIc-
ton that | made years ago had been iui-
filled. Years ago, it was but yesterday
as they count years, but the great change
that has taken place here within the past
four years has given an entirely different
aspect To the whole country. 1t was cool,
frosty morning when ! left Concordia and
started up the river. \ sharp wind from
the northwest suggessed the prOpriety Of
keeping my nose a. much out Of range OF
these gentle Kansas zephyrs as possible.
Nv first stopping point was to be Scandia,
distant about twenty-five miles and up the
valley. IL was cold, but this did not pre-
vent nv getting good view OF the country.
On each side of the road when five years ago
the prairies was unbroken, were line stone
farm houses. OFF under the shelter Of some
protecting bluff could ste great drOves OF
cattle AZ they lay basking in the sun. Great
cranaries filled with golden corn were ev-
erywhere in sight. | passed great caravans
on their way to market with grain. Not
the caravans OF the African desert, but Of
the
GREAT AMERICAN.
Nature must have been in one Of her
m,,st benign moods when she created this
country, Tor surely none can surpass and
| few equal it, Away of on both -i'ies OF us,
stretches in wavey nudulations, and SEEM
incly without limit, this great sea Of land,
a sea, which, if it does not bear the flags OF
| ALI nations. will, in the near future, bear
the food OF many. When the country was
| first settled, sucn luxuries a. lumber and
| shingles were unknown; but the genius OF
the trappers and the hunters who first
| pushed their way into the wIlds OF the Ear
| West had devised cheap substitute for
| these. The man who came here hrst fol-
lowed their example la the construction Oi
an abode. \ convenient hillside was about
| all that was required. \ couple of day.
work with tine shovel and pick would exca-
| yate hole large enough for all their wants;
/ a few pol.s and some brush from the rIyeI
completed the structure. When finished II
was called by the very appropriate name OF
| "dugout-"
There are many Of these
| OLD RELICS
still left. In many places | saw fine stone
and frame houses in course Of erection, the
builders having made enough out in "Grass
homer Kansas" to afford the expense Of q
TIRE. or four thousand-dollar resid. nee. A,
we drove through this beautiful and
\ topulous country, We found it hard TO shaks
off the idea that we were not on the praries o
| Illinois. The great farmhouse, with theil
ho-pitable and inviting look /; thecorn-crib
Overlooking with the seasons crop; Ion,
stretches Of stubble ground, showing wher'
there a ad been small grain here and Their
a large herd Of cattle, which, at this date
had not been led anything but what the,
could pick on the praries. All this seeme'
30 ike the "Prarie State" that | often for
got where | was Al distance OF three o.
four miles apart were small streams run
ming down into the river. Upon inquiry,
found that these were spring brooks, am
had their source on the high Prsrie, thu
afiording plenty OF water.
| ABOUT NOON,
II reached Scandal, a little hamlst-th
HEADQUARTERS Of a colony from Sweden.
large proportion Of the settlers in this sec
tion are sweeds who came here from thei
ice-clad mountains, to get homes for them
selves and their chill rem
They have succeeded in their purp0s<
/ and for their pluck and energy the
. deserve grea, credit When the drout
, and grasshopPer- came they did not leav
, their claims, but stuck by the countr,
Steady and industrious, they have com
out OF the fight victorious To-day the
have tine farms, fine stock good Ga.s an
uubounded confidence in the COUNT. Msu
Of them expended their all 70 gel .sre; no