The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

Previous to the projection Of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe railroad the great Valley
OF the Arkansas and its numerous tributaries
meadow, three hundred miles long by one
hundred miles wide, uncutiyated and undis-
ttlroed save as its silence was broken By the
red and white hunters as they followed their
fleeting game. These and other adventurers
told wonderful stories of her rich soils. beau
tifui streams. and worlds Of verdure: Of
natural sites for future cities, and possibili-
ties Of dense populations and great wealth.
but the days of hardy pioneering could not be
revived and until like faith possessed the
men who raised the millions of money neces-
sary to build five hundred miles of splendid
railway and equip it with the best of modern
machinery, the great Arkansas Valley lay a
practical waste. The projection of the rail-
road was like the opening of the gates to a
fair, or the discovery of a rich gold field, be-
ing followed by a great rush Of peoples.
Fortunately for the valley, its settlers and its
future. the men who identified themselves
with that railway venture We're men who not
only looked 10 the future, but who entertained
proper estimate OF all present surroundings.
The magnificent endowment of Government
land offered by Congress to any company of
men who should construct the road would be
worth little unless the country proved to be
all that it seemed to promise, and from the
outstart the owners ndmanagers. while they
have demanded round freight rates. have Of
fered every encouragement to the settlement
Of the country. by coming to the peoples re-
lief when oyerlsken by calamity. by spending
large sums in testing soils. experimenting
with different varieties of crops. furnishing
seeds, transporting al low rates materials and
necessities, and selling their lands on terms |
that could be easily met by all. The result |
will be, in few wears. where one train passes |
over the road now a dozen will be found |
necessary,
The present management Of the road, un- |
der W. Il. Strong, is more popular than ever !
Colonel Strong is a western man Of large rail- |
road experience, possessing force of charac-
ed to the power OF a half dozen of his own To- |
comotiyes. He spares no pains to meet the |
wishes Of the people and the patrons of the |
road. All the officers under him, as also the |
directory, are in full accord with him.
Mr.. A. $. johnson, whose Office is at Tope-
ka. Kansas. has now. and has had for years.
the control of the almost unbounded body of
rich agricultural and grazing lands belonging |
to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad.
He is conscientious gentleman, and of the
of men who have purchased land |
rori him no word of complaint was ever
heard. His terms of sale is on eleven years
credit. with seven per cent. interest. The
first payment, at date Of purchase, is onc-tenth
Of the principal and seven per cent. interest
on the remainder. At the end of the first and
second years only The interest at seven per
cent. is paid: and the third year. and each
year thereafter, one-tcnth of the principal,
with seven per cent. on the balance. Mr..
Johnson has u siX-ycar credit scheme, with
twenty per cent. discount, and a two-year
.redit scheme with thirty per cent. discount,
md cash scheme with 33l per cent. dis
count. That is. quarter section of land
worth s. per acre. or $500 for 100 acres, can
DC bought on the cash system, for S533.33.
All persons who buy on long credit are al
owed 10 pay up at any time and get their
Iced, with liberal discount. There are still!
'airoad lands in Sedgwick county very choice
nd fine