Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-26
NEOSHA FALLS.
Reception of the Presidential
Party

.NEpoilA L hAsis't ihosf ''NHNNbibNA ~D'
This comparatively unimpOrtant place
was thronged to-day by a crowd Of not
less than $1,000 people, who had as
sembed here to attend the Fifth An
nual District Fair Of this locality, and to
welcome the President and General
Sherman, whose coming had been ex-
tcnsively advertised. Soon after ten
O'Clock the distinguished visitors disem-
barked from the train, and proceeded to
the fair grounds, mile distant, in car
riagcs. The President and General
Sherman were escorted by the Capital
Guards, Of Topeka, headed by the
band Of the Sixteenth L. :. Infantry.
and a company of boys less than
twelve years old, in the uniform
of Zouaves. The grounds were hand
sOmcly decorated and ornamented by
various productions of the state, artisti-
calIy and tastefully arranged. At the
o,,'-anra of sLo s--e"nIa arch
through which carriages passed, cro"toI
with great labor, expense and artstlcal
effect and was ornamented with the pro-
ducts OF farm. Hon. John X. Good in
a brief speech extended welcome TO
the President in behalf OF the FAIR Asso-
citation. The next that followed was an
address by Gov. st. John.
In the course OF his address Governor
st. John made the following illusions TO
the growth and prosperity OF Kansas:
In January, 1861, Kansas was adj
mitted as one of the States OF the Union,
with only a little over one hundred
thousand OF population. Four years
Of bloody and devastating war followed
her admission, and the eastern borders
OF the State were laid waste. During this
period the time and money OF our citi-
zens, and the lives Of many OF our
bravest and trucst men, were Loyalty
contributed TO aid the National Govern
ment in the preservation OF its life. Let
us briefly, for the information Of our
distinguished guests, as well as for our
selves, compare Kansas in 1865 with Kan
sas in 1879. We had then bnt l35, ,S07 Of
population. We have now population
Of 100000. The total assessed valuation
OF property then was only $50, l26,OOO.
Now, it is Sl44, ,930,279. We had but l30
miles OF railroad then, while now we
have over 1900. We had no permanent
school fund then; now We have 1920
$50 invested in intcrest-bearing securi-
ties, with sufficient school lands yet un-
sold to swell it oSl3,OO0,00 Ourannual
school fund in 1865 was but $4,000,
against Sl37 900 now. Our school
houses numbered but COB then, and
they number nearly 5000 now. We had
no State institutions then; we now have
an asvlum for the deaf and dumb, also
one for the blind, and two asylums for
the insane in successful operation, and
are paid for. We have State Univer,
slty, Normal School and and an Agri-
cultural College, institutions Of
which we have reason 10 be, and are,
proud. We have a penitentiary COM
plete in all its departments, and an APP
preparation TO provide reform school.
The east wing Of the State house is fin
ished, and the work on the west wing is
rapidly progressing. In 1855 we had
but 81 newspapers, now we have 275 IN
all, doing earnest and faithful work for
the State and its people. We then had
but - organized counties, now We have
- and four or five others with sufficient
populations for organization. 1865 found
US with but 273,9 ,903 acres Of land in cul-
tivation, while now We have 7,7G9, ,926.
We then produced but l9l, ,5l9 bushels
of wheat, against over $1,000, 900 BUSH
els in 1873, placing Kansas at the front
among the wheat growing States OF
the Union. While the product Of corn
amounted to 100000 bushels in 1865,
it amounted 10 about 80, 100000 in 1873,
and will probably reach l25,0O0,0OO in
1879 And, be il remembered, there are
vet A, 600, 900 acres OF land in the State
that has never been touched by the
plow on which many Thousands OF in
dustrious emigrants that are seeking
locations can make for themselves pleas
ant and profitable homes. Our
State debt is only Sl,0l5,375;
Of this S6O7, OPS is owned by
the permanent school fund, $500 by
the State University, sl3,700 by the
State Normal School. leaving only 1898,
go that is not controlled by the State
our bonds are at premium in the mar
kets Of the country; our obligations are
met with cash as promptly as they ma
! ture; we are creating no new debts, but
pay our way as We 90 and have si06, ,379
in the Treasury with which to do it.
The President responded, making, in
substance, his youngstown address.
At the close OF the speeches the
crowd gave three cheers for the Presi-
dent and three cheers for Gen. Sher-
man. At the close of the platform ex-
ercises Hon. George 4. Crawford, on
behalf OF the people, presented the
President with a splendid buckhornl
chair, which was beautifully upholstered
and made from the bones OF Kansas
cattle. A dinner was held on the
grounds and at 5 o'clock the company
regainsd the train and departed for En'
poris.