Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-16
EGHflSaS.

KANSAS.
| Correspondence Of tho Alexandria G:Zettc.
| UPpERVlILE, Va, July l4.-rho tourist to
Kansas, whether for pleasure, health or wealth,
or all, must necessarily look to the expense
acc 3unt, and as railway fares form large per.
cc1tago of tbis it behoovcs such to be judicious
10 these Investments. AS a safe rule for the
purchase of Through tickets" competing rail-
way cities sre the best points from which TO
obtain the lowest possible rates. For Instance,
by purchasing ticket from Washington, D.
G., to Harrisburg, Pa, and from this latter
point Through ticket" to Topeka, Kansas,
there is saving Of some $40 on first class rates,
aud frequently more. This fact is partly ao
counted for when it is known that two OF the
main liIcs Of railroads 10 Kansas have travel
ing agents in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Hi.
nois, New York, the New England, States, &C.,
who are continually arranging for excursions to
Kansas" and the 'emigration of colonies at
greatly reduced rates. And this, too, is ono CT
the reasons why there is such a tremendous
emigration to Kansas this year, and as result
Kansas railroads are rapidly dlsposing of their
government grants" From Kansas City,
Mo-, ION the eastern boundary lice cf Kansas
to Topeka, distance Of Ct miles, is tine roll
ing prairie, and presenting for the greater part
an inviting appearance. The two lines of rail.
roads are located one each upon tho north and
south side Of the Kansas river, and quite trc
uuentIy foe view is had CT the river bluffs,
such as The citizens of Lawrence City seem to
appreciate. Topeka, the capital OF the State,
has population Of about 5000. 1t is bcautl
fully located on the Kansas river with two
bridges connecting with North Topeka. at
present it has no system Of sewerage, the land
rolling and lying we'll enough for almost COM
pctc drainage. The cast wing only OF the
State capitol building is completed. The county
court house is model structure, and the city
building is 10 process OF construction. 1t is
well laid off, and the dwellings so construct.
ed and arranged with outdoor adornnents and
inside decorations that it presents the real APP
pearance of q combined country and city home.
Before directing the tourist to the best section
Of Kansas [ will make a few general statements
The eastern portion oil the State Is quite hcaV
ing for foreclosures. Onc law firm wished
to iorcclose to the amount in the aggregate Of
$3.50, 900, and many others quite az large
There is, Of course, depression in real estate
values, and many splendid bargains are, and
can be obtaiccd. Onc fine estate 4 section OF
land near AtchisoD) costing a few years ago
with buildings and improvements some $l2.OOO,
sold recently for 5000. The water is remark
ably pure and sweet, mostly a mild limestone
and cistcrn. The wells arc from 10 ~ feet IN
depth. Tue deeper ones b2lng used Tor ra,l,
road purposes with the assistance OF "~lnd
mills" which latter cost about Sl23 ior
al! horse power. 10 many places spring water
Is Obtained. In tho streams the water Is re-
mark ably clear, and Blue River, nrar, Manna'
tan, il regarded as exceedingly So ana one VI
the nroi,ie7t streams 10 the State. There are
: bat few ponds and no standing water, and
hcEc2 you never sec any green scum OF Its sur
face. a lake near Emporla Is said to have
therein several kinds Of fish, and doubtless has
for an ingress and Ggress OF Its waters an under
ground passage. All the water soam7 to be
running and pure, and the country does not IN
any respect, present dead level, but even the
bottom lands are gently sloping. The timber
is mainly on water courses, and none OF it very
! largo 10 growth. IL would thrive we'll on the
prairics, but the sweeping fires destroy it!
young growth now, as in previous years. Hay
grain, orchards, dwellings, &o, arc protected
: from fire by burning the grass around them a
sufficient width to prevent the oVer'lcarlng lap
OF the flame from touching. Two things ale
dreaded by the inhabitants lst. The heavy
storms, or tornadocs. 10 architecture this re-
:; oelves special attention, and 10 all the best
dwellings AID buildings iron rods, to secure tic
: roofing, are run down somc - or ID feet !no
tue wall or sides Of the building, and some i've
or SIX feet apart. When a storm is coming
the sureSt prccau'icn is to close doors and
windows to keen out the wind, Tor il orce inside
something must be lifted. Clothes pins are Of
cot much use, for stiff bgecz, that would need
them would also soon whip IL shrcds' any
garment or lioe1 that might be "pIaced Il
) dry" -. The thunder aud lightning. Tho
orc has a much heavier roar and rumbllng, aud
the other holds 10 vivid flashes its brish,nes:
apd light much longer than in the East. The
best Of prairie hay is obtained thus when tn;
, green grass gets about six inches high Tho
farmer burns the dried prairie grass to destroy
all the growing weeds, leaving the grass, which
! is of much quicker growth, to mature an IN
mixed seed-s No. l hay. The buildings arc
sod, or "dig outs" frame, brick aud stone, the
, latter Of limestone, and frequently Of the best
magnesium. The pressed.brick arc very Inferior
to Eastern pressed, barely deserving the name,
and hence paint is often called into reQuistlon.
!: PasteriDg on the exterior Of buildings is an
exception, the climate seems to affect such in o
few years, and it scales and falls off. Brick
fronts are frequently put to stono buildings.
but generally the latter is we'll pointed. Some
public buildings are as much as five stories, but
generally, AID almost altogether, buildings are
II aud . stories. But a peculiarly OF this
Statc-rather, l should say, decided blessing
is its delightful, pure, sweet Dalmy and in
vigoratiog atmosphere Labor loses much Of
its fatiguing clements and with every night
comes COOL braciug breezes, and a sweet re
fteshng, recupefaing sleep, giving rightDcss
to the eye and glow to the check. An iuhaa-
ton Of this rari6ed atmosphere would no doubt
benefit many an invalid Of the East, but pre-
caution is nee ,ssary 10 many cases, and 10 this
| will audo again. If there could be nothing
else to show forth tho State pride Of the Kan
SAP, he would fail not to speak with enthusiasm
of the churches, school houses, and the health
giving atmosphere of Kansas.
Gen. iIunfOn and the WasllingtOnians
I'll