The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-05-09
KANSAS LETTER.


Interests Of the West.
Correspondence GAINESVILLE, o., Times.l
LEAvESwoRTH, Kan, April %.
This energetic little city, the largest in
the State, was located June Is, 1854. Since
then it has had the marvellous growth char
acteristic of Western towns. In ten or
twelve years it had population of 10000.
A fter the locust scourge it suffered, as all
the West suffered, from the discouraged i'm
migration, but now a house for rent is very
scarce. Every place for human shelter is
taken up by The universal flow Of people
for the West. Business has greatly re-
vived, and Leavenworth has entered upon
another era of prosperity. It's bone and sim
ew is made of Eastern men, who
came West years ago ito grow up with
the country" Although Kansas was a slave
State, and located by Missouri people, the
East has taken possession of it and filled 1t
with Eastern enterprise. Ohio has its share.
Every here and there one runs against a
man from the old Buckeye State. and he is
glad to claim il as the land of his pater-
nifty. He at once claims acquaintance, and
tells, at least, how his grandfather's dog ran
through your grandfather's orchard. The
acquaintance is at once furnished with
many topics for conversation, and both Of
Won ready to consent TO anything the other
tells, especially in all that is said in praise
of old Ohio.
MANUFACTURERS AND MERCHANTS.
Almost every branch of mandatory, for
the production Of things necessary and Use
full in an agricultural district, is made here.
The Great Western Manufacturing Compa-
nv and the Great Western Stove Company
have a pay roll OF two hundred men, and
turn out an immense quantity of stoves, OF
almost all patterns, from base burners TO
the smallest wood stoves. Alternately Broth
ers have an extensive furniture establish
ment and carry on trade throughout wes-
tern Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska. and OtLer
western sections. There are 4 number of
wholesale grocery and dry goods
stores here. Notable among the latter is
the firm Of Weaver & Small, a new firm
doing an immense business. Their lines
reach out in every direction into Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska and the Indian Terri
tory. The most energetic and modern I'M
proyements are applied for facilitating
trade and business in general. One can
hardly make himself believe that he is in
a city of but few years old, for svery-
thing looks 30 home-like and thorough
going.
SURROUNDING COUNTRY.
Leavenworth is located in an amphi-
theatre of hills, which run from the Mis-
souri, river on the North at the site OF Fort
Iesyenworth, two miles and half distant
from the-city, to the river on the South on
what are known as the Muncie lands, the
reservation of the Muncie tribe of Indians.
and distant about two and half miles.
The western line of hills is prominent in
the early history of this country and emmi-
grafton TO California, Of which Pilot kob
is conspicuous. As stragetic military po-
sition, few places are held by natures de-
fences with SO much strength as Leaven-
worth. The numerous valleys put
ting in through thes buttressss are of sur
passing beauty and ,arieiy Of landscape.
From the tops of these ridges, which are
the boundary lines Of this great water
course, the Missouri river, bounding Its
first and second bottom lands, the vision Is
ravished by one of the most pleasing dis
plays of varied landscape conceivable in
nature. Sharp turns nowhere, but graceful
curves everywhere. The whole face of ma
ture seems clothed with the garments of
wealth and beatty. Verdure and bloom
meet the eye at every hand. Waving fields
of wheat even NOW in April, at every turn
contradict the evidence, and challenge your
faith, that this land few years ago was
the scene of the devastating locust, and
the land of need. For productiyenes
the soil seems to have unlimited resources
of fertility. 1t is black sandy loan, and
when We saw black We do not mean brown.
but black in the blacklist sense of the word.
Tie present prospects for crops of fruit and
wheat are most flattering. The scars made
in its fair fame it is growing over rapidly
and citizens and property owners have al
most forgotten former hardships, and are |
very reluctant about admitting al that was
said about them ~ facts Ii one could for |
get history and be covered BY the impress
sions the appearance Of this beautiful coun-
Try has and the promising prospect of this |
forward spring, Kansas is the place for a
home and the place for business