Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-07-20

beat that let us hear from YOU.
we are to have what is called a Nor
NAL Institute in this town, to commence
some time this month, but l will let
you know all about this grand institu-
ton in my next.
The town of lola, situated one hun
dred and four miles south west from
Kansas City, on the L. L. & G. r. r.,
and about one-haif from the Neosho
river, is a place of curiosity TO the per-
son who has never been here there ex-
lists in this town well seven hundred
aud fifty feet deep; it was the intention
dig Tor coal, and in digging they
struck two or three veins of coal, but
not sufficient amount to pay very well,
aud digging on until they reached the
depth above named, when they struck
a vein of mineral water; the character
istic of the well is that it sends forth
enough gas to do the cooking, light the
hotel, heat the Registers office in win
ter, and still enough escapes to have
their yard Illuminated every nj ght; this
surely is one of the greatest wells that
| every heard OF in my life. They claim
that the water will cure all kinds of dis
eases; there is no doubt but that the
water will cure good many diseases,
but there are some cases that ii Will not
cure. have not drank much of the
water yet, but it tastes very much like
salt water when you first put it into
your mouth, but that taste subsidies di'
rectly after you have drank It, This is
the first well of the kind ever saw,
aud was q great curiosity the first time
| saw it it always is a curiosity to eve
rybody else that comes here, but we
will have to let the well go now aud
say something about the mercantile al
fairs of this State.
In this State the people take more in
terest in the mercantile affairs than IN
any country have been in yet. In the
town of Olanthe there is n.siS sore
that is not surpassed nearer ' "' ''''c" n
Philadelphia, aud in all the other differ
ent stores they have just as good stores
and equally well furnished; indeed some
of these stores are equally as good as
Wholesale houses in Baltimore. This
certainly shows the interest taken in
mercantile affairs.
The people of the east think that civ
ilization is chiefly confined TO their Dor
ders, for there is no other State in the
Union that can compete with Kansas so
tar as civilization is concerned, for our
high schools, our interest in mercantile,
aud our manner OF farming show that
the Ua,i far surpaSses the east, for on
| the farm here one man can do as much
as two back in Virginia. Then | will
ask the question, why are there so many
tramps running about over the country,
stealing and plundcring, when by com
ing TO Kansas with only ten cents he
can make living, for farm hands can
get fifteen dollars per month, and surely
tramp would not starve to death on
that, when he lives of Of nothing. |
will tell you why it is; 1t is because they
are TOO lazy and one other thing upon
this, why do not the people of the east,
who are too poor to buy land there,
come To Kansas, where they can buy
good land for four dollars per acre );
friends, DO not be afraid that Kansas is
not large enough, for it would hold half
million yet and then not be half so
crowded as you are in Virginia. Look
once at the facilities of this State-they
arc far ahead OF any eastern State, you
can live on just half rs much here as
YOU can in the east, which is also a
great item; YOU need rot come out here
with the expectation OF never seeing
any more pleasure, for | will warrant
that there Is more pleasure in western
village than III an eastern, but still you
hesitate whether to come west or not ;
YOU think it is too far from home. Now
TO explain this you will do me the favor
of reading my next letter, as propose
taking the route in details, telling when
we started, where we started, the differ
ert places reached at the end of each
day, aud the time we reached our Jour
ney S end But | do not believe this is
the cause; it is on the part of some want
OF energy to make the start; come now,
friends, think over these things, and |
think you will take Horace Greeley 5
advice and 90 vest.
We had quite fine celebration OF
the Fourth of July in this town. The
procession formed on the public square
at ten o'clock, and proceeded to the
grove about half mile distant, where
everything was prepared for nice time
and grand celebration of that great
event, which should occupy place in
the mind of every thinking American ;
the day was bright and clear. in the
forenoon tie speaking commenced
about eleven o'clock. lett the grounds
about twelve o'clock to partici pate in a
game of ball, and did not get 10 hear
the remaining speeches, but understood
that they were excellent There was
10 band present TO enliven the occasion
still more, but they had plenty OF good
singing. This shows how the people
Of Kansas spend the day on which the
United States were made tree and indie
pendent, but in the evening we had
quite a heavy shower, but after 1t was
dark We had fine display Of fireworks,
and also fine Ball in i leading hotel
in town. We understand that quite
number rar,ook in the ceremonies OF
the evening; with this the glorious
fourth ended, and every one seemed
well pleased at the days doings.
Mr. Editor, we have had your paper
in our family ever since | have been old
enough to remember, and / am always