The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-10-11

the best Stock markets 10 DE Iouno anywnere'
or II the prices offered there should not be salts
factory, competing railroads offer low rates OF
freight to Chicago or elsewhere.
Many want information as to renting farms.
Such opportunities are not numerous and when
found the price asked is from $500 TO $500 per
acre, and still fewer chances to rent for share
Of the crops. The fact is, the men whon own
farms in Kansas want to occupy them as rule,
hence there few to rent, and prices asked, al
though very high, are easily obtained.
1t would seem as though men who had money
to spare could make Il good thing for themselves
and also benefit others by buying lands, breaking
a part and erecting small houses for renters thus
supplying what apparently is decided demand
| | made particular inquiry as to the darkies,
which were thought to have spread over the
state like an immense thunder cloud, but could
not find them. Like the milk sickness" in the
carly history of Illinois, it was never found, but
"over in the next county they had it badw
| The number who actually went to Kansas, they
say, did not exceed 200, though have heard
much higher figure named, Many of these hang
about the cities and the balance are so ditluscd
throughout the state as not to be in anybody's
ANY great extent While I was in Kansas, Con-
way, the great negro cxoduser, had an interview
with Gov. st. John on the subject of still fur
ther increase of "cullud pussons" in that state
The Governors reply, while perhaps not strictly
verbatim, may be summed up in this:
"Ah, yes, Mister-ah! Conway, this-ah, ne
gro immigration is undoubtedly a good thing-a
very good thing, indeed-but, all, perhaps you
might as well send them-to some other state
hercaftern
| In every town in Kansas one is sure to see a
school house, and these are usually cookbook
ing, well-buit buildings of brick or stone 1t
would almost seem as though the way they start
ed towns was to erect Il shool house and then lay
out the village or city! The schools are said to
be excellent and are the pride and boast of the
citizens everywhere. At each place where
stopped the people were quite certain that their
school was by all odds the best in the state and
their county by far the mostdesirablc! That the
schools are good I have not the slightest doubt,
and if the next generation Of Kansas arc not
among the best educated in the United States
and crime and pauperism in that state at the
minimum, shall be decidedly mistaken.
| I have purposcly avoided all description OF
towns or particular localities, but at lola found
well Of sach peculiar character as to deserve
a brief notice.
| In 1878, r. w. Acers Il Son began to drill for
coal, instead Of finding which, at depth OF about
900 feet, the drill seemed to sink into cavern
and Immediately there began vigorous flow OF
water and oGoress gas with force that was al
most irrisistible. After short time and the es-
cape of an immense volume of gas and water, the
flow was suieted down and the drilling was re-
sumed until depth Of 736 feet had been reached
without finding coal in paying quantities.
| 1t was, however, ascertained that the water
was very valuable, the analysis showing over
100 grains Of solid matter to the gallon and that
the gas escaping amounted to about 10, GOO cubic
feet per day.
| This gas ia now only used for heating purposes
at "the WE'LL" but next year the proprietors In
tend to prepare it for Illuminating purposes for
use on their own premises and also in the city.
The water has already acquired an excellent
reputation and am of the opinion will prove
highly serviceable in many cases, especially in
certain classes of chronic diseases
| While at the lola well, Judge Acers told me
that he could usually predict a storm from the
manifestations of the water and gas in the well.
Remembering its great depth, l expressed my
surprise that it's action should be in any way inu-
snced by meteorological conditions, but he insist.
ed that he was not mistaken, and calling my at
tention to Its then violent spasmodc action, SAID
he felt sure severe storm was then approaching.
Since my return l have received letter from
the Judge reminding me of the conversation and
stating that storm Of unusual severity, as pre-
dicted By the ,uel actually occurred within the nert
two days! Here is an interesting nut for scien-
fists to crack.
Messrs. Acers IL Son have built neat hotel of
moderate size, also several cottages for the use
of families; have planted park and made other
improvements to add to the natural attractive
ness of the place. Their house is certainly the
most homelike of any that | have ever visited
anywhere and one that was very reluctant to
leave.
This letter is much longer than intended to
make it, possibly too long to be read and yet I
have but briefly touched upon the several topics,
aiming to answer in print the Wany queries pro.
pounded to me since my return and which seemed
to be of general interest.
That Eastern Kansas is absolutely booming
and that there is now high degrees of prosperity
think will not admit Of doubt and think 1t
equally certain that neither the citizens of that
state nor of this have, as a rule, any adequate
conception Of the immense improvements that
will be seen there within the next five or ten
years. ii.
The County Court.
prepared for last week.
fnpI
allowed at claimants cost, will presented and
deiiDus potestdtum issued.