The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-07-25
OVER THE K. p.
A R,ndom Ride Through the Fields
and Forests.
The Historic City as Seen on a Sun
dsy-A Hard, Refreshing
Rain.

much. Of the boosted CROPS OF Kansas and
fearing the reports all emana,ed from such
sources as "Joncs.s big stalk Of rye" Gull
Ell from 4 forty acre field, or Smiths big
stool OF wheat" raised especially for the
adornm. mt of the editorial room Of news
paper, or mayhap the Fifteen foot stalk Of
corn" containing ten full grown ears that
was fondly cared for by the "pet of the
family" | made..a flying tripover the Kansas
ciic last Sunday to sec for m, self how the
average yield appeared from a railroad
car. OF course only glance could be OBJ
tanned OF the various fields, but taking eve
rything as seen,
THE CROPS
are far ahead of anything known in the
history of prolific Kans.s. The corn was
although not as tall az Gulliver or a
young reporter would have recorded it
thrifty, and colored with that dark, rich
green, which betokens strength obtained
from good roll The yellow tasscls, as We
flew by the fields, told how nearly the crop
was 10 healthful maturity, and seemed to
his other work and be ready to take the
immense yield in
OUT OF THE WET
at an early day. Some Of it, it is true, did
not look as well as expected, but that the
cause was bad management and negligence,
was apparent, for such specimens had to
give way to give the weeds a chance.
THE WHEAT rIEIDS
although in many instances only represent
ed by stubble standing out from a green
second growth, gave evidence of having
yielded all that has been reported of them,
especially in the neighborhood of Tongsn-
oxie, where the short yellow straws deter
mined the financial direction Of the wind
in that locality.
TnK OATS CROP
20 far as observed il excellent and the
yield on we'll titled ground will he greater
than it ever has been before in the history
OF the st ate.
The forests along the line OF the road
traversed, were seen 10 all the beauty which
nature has given them power to express.
The trees, oak, hickory, maple, cottonwood,
box elder, walnut, and ash are laden with
foliage which over the thickly matted
grasses produces 4 shade most inviting, in
the present no, weather especially.
THE TRIP.
On arriving at the Lawrence depot | was
taken in charge by conductor "Andy" Bar
ker, of the X. T., and escorted into the his
tcric city. There We paid our respects to
the old Ludington house, where We partook
of most deli ghiiul and wholesome dinner,
after which we sough: out the popular liv-
cry man Pat Hamlin formerly Of Leaven-
WORTH and from him procured "a rig, for
drive" to University Hill.
THE HILL
itself is worthy of mention because it over
looks the city, and from its summit one can
zee anything in the way Of a landscape that
is desired, having a choice from a circle Of
twenty miles at any fractional point Of the
compass. On the top OF this hill, which ia
known in Kansas history a. the place where
earthworks were thrown up during the bor-
der troubles. is located the Lawrence Uni
verify. To say the building is imposing
would he inadequate. The site is COM
manding, and the structure all it was in
tended to be by the most enthusiastic of its
founders.
After seeing large portion Of the city,
We started home on time. Just before the
train started
A HEAVY RAIN
began to fall and continued for several min
utes, cooling the extremely hot air and
making everybody happy. We were fairly
on our way for home, when a second storm
"struck US" and the rain ieli in perfect tor
rents making the growing corn laugh with
joy and causing the heated
cattle that were grazing on
the hills 10 stop and, while drinking In the
cool draughts OF air. enjoy the pleasing SEN
sation Of having the storm-god supply them
with . natural bath. The high wind which
the storm drove sheets of va
ter into the baggage car of the train, suffi-
cient to cover the floor. Very often q vivid
flash OF lightning could be seen, showing
the dim outlines Of trees and fields through
the rain, and following it would be heard,
above the rattle and roar of the train, loud
claps of thunder, which lent grandeur to
the seine that vas awe-in piring.
The rain continued until Tong Inoxie
vas passed, when We eeemed to get ahead
Of the storm, and BY the time We reached
Fairmount We found the roads slightly
sprinkled. When We arrived at Leavsn.
worth ue found The roadS ., dusty ~ ever,
and people disinciined to.believe that we