The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-27
vaughsy's Trip to Kansas.

Kansas Land and immigration Co., the agency
of this county and Grundy for the sale of rail
road lands of the Central Branch Of the L. i
Railroad, in Marshall county, Kansas; ant
since that time have circulated maps, pam
) phlcts and other information regarding the
; lands, location &c, but | had determined tc
see for myself So on Dec. Sth accompanied
by Mr., ODowd, OConnell, Cosgrove and
Coleman, | started for. the Eldorado of the
West And Us most every one who visits
Kansas says something IN regard thereto, al.
low me, If not trespassing on your space, TO
stand up and speak my piece; and what tell
H. regard thereto will he done without extra
pant or color, as guide for future immi.
grants. So here goes.
My transit through the portion Of this state
and Iowa being at night, ! can say nothing
except to say the track of the G. r. |. & p r.
II. Is Il splendid road, from the most magnlfi
cent sleep had in the Pullman Palace Car
snoozed az comfortably as would in the Pal.
mcr or Grand Pacific, until "A sablc.colored
American citizen called Us ap two stations
before coming to Cameron, Missouri, where
we were to breakfast, and where gongs and
bells were in quick motion on the arrival of
the train. A very fine large hotel stood a lit
tie way from the track, with fence gong
thereto to guide you thither. But small one
stood closer by, and some one remarked, "Of
all evils choose the least" which | suppose
~. tb. up,ul hot al In, ,h,,
went, where we made good rcpast on
Missouri beef steak buckwhcat cakes and
other trimmings, Having got through, we
again took our seats in cars and rolled along
if for nothing else, for its Democracy But
| will say tor the portion of Missouri through
which we passed that it is a fine farming
countrywide prairie, neither too rolling or
fiat but just between; soil rich and good, ~
their large, fine fields Of winter wheat denoted,
and thrifty cornslalks with timber sufficient;
and well settled, their towns and villages look
ing neat and tlourshing. But on we sped I'M
til we came to the muddy stream, the great
Missouri river, which is spanncd by splen-
did iron bridge, the connecting link between
Missouri and Kansas at the ilourlshing city of
Atchson, which could not fail to put any per
son from here in mind of Chicago from the
hum and tumult Of It's business, with steam
boat communication from there to st. Louis.
Here we changed cars and got ON the central
branch of the U. p. r. X. Now | was fairly
In Kansas The land from the river through
AtchisOn county was somewhat broken. heavy
rolling prairie, but still excellent land. In the
next county, Jackson, we struck some beauti-
full countrywide, gentle, rolling prairie; soil
rich and fertile; large, extensive fields of win
tor wheat, looking superb, with good towns
and villages, having fine churches and schools,
and every indication Of prosperous business
The next county, Nemah, was just about the
same Next county IL Marshall, our destlna
ton. Arriving at Frankfort in the evening
just IN time for supper, where we did justice
to u good one.
After supper thought ! would go gu: and
investigate the town little knowing that next
would have TO go out on the pra,rle
w tuV iuito va TIC W, we'll, L TItIlk-
fort live town, business tlourshng, a fine
school with principal and two assistants, a
graded school, MAYOR, town council, and all
the necessaries for u hrst-class town, a weekly
newspapcr,-the Greenback HeadltgM, with
the editor Of which had Il long discourse,
and tried to persuade him of the awk ardness
Dt his politics for these times. He said he
used to be republican, but that party got so
corrupt he could no longer train with them.
Then | suggested that if he wanted to have
IN easy conscience as an American citizen to
lrop into the democratic party-,hc party of
he people-and he would always be happy
Thereupon he shrugged his shoulders and this
being my first trip to Kansas, and fearing he
night take me for politician, did not probe
lim further, but left the dose gave HIM 10
axe effect wended my way towards the
lotel, when saw sign Billiard Hail." and
m entering found u wcllregulated saloon, pre-,
ided over by happy.looking Teuton. His
,cer came from St Joe, Missouri and was
,ood. There are three saloons In Frankfort
The population is 1000. On getting tn the no.
ell, Messrs. O'Connell and Cosgrovc had re.
urned from the prairie. They had been out
hree days in advanceof O'Dowd, Coleman and
myself They were we'll pleased with the
Ountry, and had selected farms. pronouncing
he soil all that could be desired
Next morning found all hsnd, on deck.
)'Dowd, being an old pioneer in the county le
nd as he said he knew every corner section, |
We elected him driver and guide, and straight, a
way sent for livery team, and behind q pair C
# prancing steeds O'Dswd, Coleman and my. t
elf took our "posish." Out north from Frank
ort there is splendid country with occasion. n
'lly, what they call in that country, draw" n
he ground sloping greatly on both sides, max.
ng hollow, but which can all be cultivated L