The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-02-07
SeUTrZEssv KANSAS.

Yes, William, and what winter, too.
seuTrzESS KANSAS.
Along the state Iine-Thc People,
Country and Things ia General.
CHEToPA, January 21lh.
FprroR TIMES Il find when | look on
the map that have been moving as well as
the world. Six weeks ago, | was perambu-
lating through the northern portion of the
state. little thinking that | should so soon
see the sunny south, or that portion OF IT
embraced in the lower part OF our state.
But here | am stuck fast in the mud.
MUD.
Why even the streets Of Kansas City are
no comparison to what it is down here.
crossed over TO this place from CGfieyville
YESTERDAY in company with Col. Collins, oil
Leavenworth. The ride was very pleas
ant one, especially as | had excellent COM
PAW, but it was marred by the fear OF dis
apr caring from this Terrestrial globe by the
way of mud holes. We stopped once and
inquiring of countryman II there was
better road than the one we were on, and
received as a reply that there was line
road there, only 1t was about four ieet un.
der ground, which was about the truth. Of
the fertility of the southern tier OF counties
there is no question. TIE soil is black
loan, and Judging from the way We went
down occasionally, is OF unlimited depth.
CoFFEYvILLE
is a genuine Kansas town, built before the
DAYS of right angles, full of enterprising
men and women, and in the midst OF one OF
the finest farming and stock growing Sec
tions in the whole west. Ii Is located IN
the "Verdigris" valley, stream OF consid-
cradle size, and a valley at this point about
five miles wide; off to the west and north
west. loom up in the distance the heavily
wooded bluffs that mark the boundary be-
tween the high prairie and the valley lands.
There is a distinctive feature about this
section that one notices the moment 1t Is
presented TO their view, and that Is, the
bluffs are not as abrupt as in the northern
part of the state but slope up
more gradually, and as a usual thing
they are better timbered. The valleys too,
are larger in proportion TO the size OF the
streams than farther north; there is 4 great
| er predominance of oak and other hard
woods than in the central portion OF the
state. 1t is not surprising then that Col
feyville. surrounded by such a country,
should be a live business point. The execra-
BILE condition OF the roads make it some
what dull now, but if they are not blessed
with any more of those refreshing showers
which have been of frequent occurrence OF
late, they-will soon.be in full running order.
There are a large number of heavy stock
men many Of whom | had the pleasure OF
a, shnrt thara
ated as they are, bordering on the lire OF
the Indian territory, the facilities for the
keeping of
LARGE HERDS OF CATTLE.
are unlimited. 1t may seem like very
large yarn when i say that L have seen
droves of a thousand head of cattle down
here that never ate pound Of anything
except what they picked from the prairie,
vet such is the case All these valleys are
clothed with heavy carpet OF grass, which,
although the top is dead, Is green and nu-
tritious at the root. During the shipping
season a great many cattle are shipped from
this point, mostly those owned bv parties
living here. That this country has before
it glorious and successful future, there is
not doubt, with soil that in depth and
fertility is equal to any in the world, with
climate almost semi-tropical, with
little or no winter, and where
such an almost unheard of thing as snow
storm does occur, it, like cloud before the
sun, vanishes almost before you know it is
there. With numerous streams, plenty OF
timber and coal, and direct communication
with the Eastern markets, there is no reason
why this may not become one of the wealth.
lest and most productive sections of the
great West.
Coff.ville has some heavy firms. of which
should like TO speak at length, but space
forbids. Suffice it TO say that they arefully
alive TO the needs of their, section, and are
solid on the money question, viz, green
backs. Mr.. Bugler, the gentlemanly pro-
prietor of the Eldrige House, assisted me
in many ways in acquiring information
relative to the town and country. Mr.. b. by
the way, has one of the largest and finest
hotels in the state. He is a good man and
thoroughly understands his business, is
genial and affable, and mis- house is kept in
tirst-class style
Tuesday morning as the rain had forgot
ten to fall during the night, i, in company
with Col. Collins, started for
oswEGO
the county seat distant about eight miles
The rain finding that We we're again on the
road began to fall again and kept it up
during the entire day and night; all the
streams were up and the country inunda-
ted. Mud holes that looked very innocent
when We came to drive into them, proved
bottomless, the horses founder.d and
jumped, the buggy lurched first to one side
then another. Sometimes We would both be
sisting on one side of the buggy, and once
or twice we found ourselves sitting outside
in the mud. Mr.. Editor, they say in this
country that Prof. Tice has been getting up
this universal baptism; be that as it may.
the old gentleman had better not show HIM
self down here, for am not sure but what
they would make him an angel, and send
him up TO headquarters to fix the thing up.
Well, we got to Oswego at last, making an
average of three miles an hour, and consid-
cred that excellent progress.
oswEGo
is the county seat of Labette county and
a very nice little town of about six hun
dred inhabitants, pleasantly situated in the
midst of a very fertile farming country,
having as an outlet the NJ. X. 4 T., also,
branch of the 81. Louis and San Francisco,
running from here into Missouri. Oswego
has number of heavy business houses but
on account of the mud they are no; having
near the trade they might be expected to
have. While here / visited the county Of
fcers and found them thorough gentlemen
throughout. Mr.. Howard, the county
clerk, is a very genial gentleman and a tip
top officer. Mr.. Reel, has the finest set OF
abstract books that / have seen for long
time he is a young man and thoroughly
respected by all who know him.
There is but one paper in Osweso now,
the other one has gone where the woodbine |
twineth. Ii has been numbered with the |
things OF the past. Mr. McGill of the Iade- |
pendent is editing good paper, and is a |
gentleman of good ability and common
sense. 4 very uncommon thing now DAYS |
BY the way. He was the first one who es-
poused the cause of the settlers in their l
great Hand fight. He has always firmly sup
ported ali measures for the benefit and ad- |
vantage of his section.
Yours, &c,
RAMBLER.
He seems 20 be chat Saaae Chandler
fist InuiS Rer-, blic,p OF