The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-06-06
LEADvlHE LETTER.

of all?
We left lola for Colorado on the 2ad of April.
For the satisfaction of my friends kept men,
Orandum Of the towns through which we passed
and tho distances from one 10 another will
commence with Yates Center, twenty miles
west of lola. having q population of some
three hundred From Yates Center IL
Toronto is fifteen miles, Toronto being situated
on the verdigris river in Woodson county, has
about two hundred inhabitants From Toronto to
Eureka, the county seat Of Greenwood county
claiming population of one thousand, situated
on Fall River in beautiful valley, entirely sur
rounded by mounds From Eureka to Eldoraio,
the county seat of Butler county, is thirty miles
Eldorado is beautiful little town Of some fifteen
hundred Inhabitants, situated on beautiful
stream called Big Walnut. You will permit me
to say here that saw no place on my journey
from lola to Canon City that would "a leave
make my home as in Butler county, Kansas.
Near Eldorsdo the soil is rich but thinly settled
The people are clever, intelligent and wide awake
From Eldorado to witchits, the county seat OF
Sedgwick county, is thirty miles. We landed
at Wichita on the 9th Of April, drove to the
south side of the river and went into camp,
stopping here thirty-six hours to take look at
the town. Wichita is a town of some five thou
sand inhabitants, situated on the bank Of the
Arkansas river and appears to be great bust
ness center. There is a good bridge across the
river at Wichita. The banks of the river are
low and the town to a great extent surrounded
by swamps. No timber here but cottonwood
and the entire bottom q bed of sand We met
here number of our old Allen county acquain-
tances. viz Joe. Redfeld, ID. Il. Allen, Mr..
Mcfarland and sons, and ID. X. HOyey and fam
lily who are keeping . boarding house.
We bought some supplies here at very reason
able figures, and on the goth we started on our
course follow ing up the South bank of the river.
On the Both we had terrific storm Of wind, rain
and hail:but the most of US took refuge in house
close by. Mr. Editor, man dOu't know what
ii is to storm till he comes west
From Wichita to Hutchinson, q nice town of
eighteen hundred inhabitants is fifty miles. The
town, is substantially built, mostly of brick,
taxes high, country around low and Nat and a
continuous body of sand without timber, coal or
rock. This county being destitute of fuel they
use corn cobs and stalks, also weeds. The price
Of coal is from six to nine dollars per ton. From
HutchisOn to NickersOn, small railroad town
with great deal Of railroad business, miles
From Sickerson to Sterling, Rice county IS eight
miles. Sterling is quite substantial town OF
twelve hundred inhabitants. From Sterling to
twelve miles. We find here I'VE hun
'ired inhabitants. From Raymond to Eienwood,
q small town In Barton county of eight hundred
is eleven miles. From Elenwood
to Great Bend twenty-One miles. Great Bend is
4 nice, substantial town of fifteen hundred In
has good court house costin" SO,
DOO taxes six per cent. people wide-awake.
From Great Bend to Pawnee Rock eleven miles.
From Pawnee Rock to Larned nine miles. From
Larned to Garfield eleven miles. Larned is
the county seat OF Pawnee county, having twelve
hundred inhabitants. From Garfield to kinsley,
the county seat of Edwards county, fourteen
miles. From kinsley to Oferle nine miles.
From 0nerle to Spearvillc eight miles. From
Spearyille TO Dodge City sixteen miles. From
Dodge City there are a number of small
towns and few of some considerable import
ance. viz: Las AniInas, Pueblo, etc. Permit
lie to say, Mr.. Editor, rs regards the road in
general it is the best road ever saw. There are
great many other things could speak of that
might interest some but am already taking up
too much space In regard to game, however,
will say we killed no antelope but occasionally
rabbit prairie chicken ar prairie dog, aud We ate
everything we killed except snakes ami lizards.
We now come to speak directly of Canon CITY.
Il is a,lite little city situated mt the mouth of
, deep canyon between the Grearhorn and Pike's
Peak on ne Arkansas river and on the \. r \
) F. r. r., and one of the greatest forwarding
points for all this country A great amount of
freight il sent out from here Any one would
think from the number of people coming in TO
freight that half the teams colld rot he employed
but it seems there is freg,ting for all at starva
lion prices. The result is the most of the old
freighters have quit, while others have gone to
other parts The general opinion seems TO be
that times will be better soon. There is plenty
If money here but nothing to do but freIghting
and all man can possibly do is to clear expenses,
and great many can't do that while we have to
pay one dollar and forty cents per bu.el for corn
[orty dollars per ton for hay, two dollars per
hundred for potatoes Other things are not so
high: best -four, 81. 30; bacon, Scents: coffee, 25
cents pcr pounds; sugar, l2k cents The State
epitentiary is located here 1t is quite an insti-
luton, having over a hundred inmates. There
are also medical springs here: one soda spring,
very strong, one iron and one hot spring, all
close together, fixed up in good shape and free
10 the public They are pushing the railroad for
! nave mol "eeh up !" '.eaI.''e yet Inc
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