Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-06-14
CONTINUED nom last week.l

kOOALAhuSu ALOAA 4dSb WCcAJ
South of here for distance of 10 or IL
miles are found what are called sand hills,
but yet it is not sand. When a horse
travels over it, on q well-worn road, you
can hear the claUter OF his hoofs as though
he were travelling over hard clay road.
People were for sometime afraid to locate
here lest they might come short in their
crops. But break was made and crops
were good, now all the government land
has been taken up, and all the crops on
this side lock as well as any 1 have seen.
On the north side'ths soil is between sand
and gravel, with more or less loan ac-
cording as it is bottom or upland. Just
east of town is the o. S. reservation where
Fort lara was formerly located, but it is
now abandoned and all the buildings have
been razed. West of here about 10 miles
is PawneO Rock, where, our military
heroes Of the plains have been and climbed
up and chizzled or scratched their names.
Are they not happy. The Grand Duke
Alexis, also, lam told, took off his hat
and boots, and put sand in his pockets
and scrambled up and carved his name
into the old rock, that he might go on his
way rejoicing.
Larned is the next place deserving no.
tice. 1t is thriving little village Of about
1900 inhabitants, full of business. think
Larned is town that will be more gener-
ally known in the near future. This is
where the U. 8. land Office is located.
About miles northwest from hera is Fort
LRrned, Q. S. military post, garrisoned
by Co. D Of the 18th q. S. A., commanded
by Major ]. 81. Smith, who, by the way, is
very prince of good fellows. He is very
highly spoken Of by all his command,
which speaks volumes in the ears of any
one who is, or has been a soldier. The
Major is an excellent shot, he has q very
nice range Of 2O0 600 and 1000 yards
which he calls s'Toad Moor 1 had the
pleasure Of a score with the Major. am
not going to tell you this time how came
out; however, he does not seoff at my eff
fort as have = very cordial invitation to
another score, as the Major says he enjoys
shooting with some one that can make him
mind his P's and QS,
I should certainly consider myself very
ungrateful i did not remember his most
estimsble lady, who, with her little daugh-
ter sat the post with the Major, as Insver
spent more pleasant afternoon than
spent at the post with the Major, his wife
and Miss Emma and Mr.. Henry R. Harris,
formerly of Ashtabula, who were also Vis-
iting at the post.
Almost all the Government land within
10 to 20 miles on either side of the R. R.
is taken up as far west as Dodge City, and
great deal is taken up as far IS so or 60
miles west of Dodge. The rapidity with
which land has been taken up along this
road Is simply amazing, and still they
come for more. Villages are springing up.
like mushrooms,
SParvllle is village Of 80 to 40 houses
and 6 or 2 stores has been built IN within
the short space of about 6 weeks. The
first OF last March there were but one
house and railroad water tank here. They
have not even waited for the railroad 70
build depot. q commodity which thev do
not yet enjoy. The excursions have not
been run to this place yet. 1t is one of
the advanced posts. They have as fine q
MOTEL building here as there is on this road
west OF Topeka. 1t will be completed and
ready Tor occupation in q very few days,
"nsh tae excursion will be run to this
point in place Of stopping at Kinsley,
about 30 miles east of here. The country
around this place is as fine As any 1 have
seen here. We are something over 1000 feet
above the level Of the ocean The soil is
somewhat heavier here than for some dis
tance east, there is not so much sand, it is
OF dark brown color and appears to be
very rich. I think il will be excellent for
wheat. Corn does not do so we'll here as
-, ~ 'ne southeastern part Of the State.
: nc ralnfal! does not come at the right
Tille = ot the season FOR this crop. However
would not pretend to say what it may do
IN lne Iuture when the country becomes
more settled up, when l think the rsinfall