davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

In seven years no country could do much in
the line of standard fruit, but the results Of the
past two years, ii an earnest Of what may be
expected, rivalry Of California in fruits as
well as wheat will follow. Such trees as have
attained to q bearing age have surprised their
owners in the yield, size and quality. The
EAGLE, last summer, published facts coming
within our own knowledge, that drew outin-
credulous letters from old fruit growers.
Pears that weighed from Is to 1sA ounces
each, from fveycar-old trees, and seeding
peaches that measured eleven inches around
and weighed nine ounces each, were raised
in Sedgwick county the past summer. As
pcach-producing country it eclipses all known
localities. hedisplays Of apples, plums, ETC.,
at our county fair last fall was matter of as
tonishment. The yicissitudes of climate that
render friit-growing so precarious in nearly
~. the west, do not apply here. All of the
choicest varieties Of grapes grow and perfect
without stint. So abundant and regular is
the yield that in u few years more, If not con-
yerted into wine. that luscious fruit will be
drug on the market. The peculiarities of our
soil and climate seem exactly adapted to all
kinds of fruits the production Of which is
wonderful. Such small fruits as strawberries,
blackberries, raspbcrries, etc., attain an enor-
nous development. All kinds of fruit trees
grow very rapidly and are healthy.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

wheat, reaps and binds the same, plants and
plows his corn, mows and rakes his hay, all
with machinery upon which he rides, often
shaded with canvass, and then threshes with
steam. Our level smooth prairies without
stone or stump afford splendid field for the
employment Of all the improved farm ma
chnery and the farmers of this valley have
not been slow to avail themselves of their
benefit. Thus farming is loosing much Of its
drudgery and becoming much more intel
lectual pursuit than it still is in the east, to
say nothing of our fathers aud grandfathers.
The trade in this line, of consequence, has
reached vest proportions. Necessarily, to
meet demand made by so broad field, cap
ital second in amount to that of no other
trade has been invested in the business Of
supplying farm machinery: and. being in the
very center OF the demand, Wichita has three
or four of the heaviest agricultural houses to
be found in the West. the aggregate annual
trade of which would hardly be credited by
the people of eastern hills. holiows. rocks
and stumps. An idea of the trade may be
had from the mere mention of the size Of the
sales-roon,s of two or three of these estab-
lishments in Wichita. J. X. VanZandt, Of
the firE, Of Smith Il Kcafing. occupies a sales
room fifty feet front by 100 feet deep. The
entire space II occupied by machinery in its
'.knock-dowk' or factory bulks. SO also Of
the Houck Btothers machinery store which is
50Xlso feet ground floor. not To mention their
immense hardware establishment further up
the street. Second only 10 these establish
men;s are the firms of 4. J. Cook 4 Co., ia.
W aliacc. w. y. Russell and r. G. Smvthe &
Sons
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

Our town i. located on the Arkansas river,
about thirteen miles southeast of Wichita. on
the stage route to Winfild. and being cnnsid-
cradle distance from any other trading point
quite an extensive territory is represented.
The facilities for running machinery are ex-
celenf, the river bed just north Of town Is
composed Of rock affording good fo1nda-
ton for water-power. and the stream OF wa
ter Is Of sufficient soinme to run an immense
amoun; Of machinery. These advantages
can and viii be utilized in n short time. Con-
siderable timber grows on the bottoms of the
Arkansas rIyer and Spying creek, a sfre2m of
water einptying into the Arkansas river just
north Of town. from the northeast, affording
8 sufficient amount Of fuel to supply the sur
rounding country. The waters of this sicin-
ify are pure and good. Fruit is one OF the
important productions Of this part of Kansas;
in fact. failure in crop OF this kind il sell
dom known. Among the finest orchard. in
this vicinity are those belonging 10 Mr.. John
Hufbauer. Mr. f. 5. Carton and Mr- Noon
These parties have been eulfiyafiHg early and
late fruits Of fine quality. Every farm uB-
der cultivation Is supplied with an orchard.
and. As the country grows older a considers-
bic surplus OF fruit viii undoubtedly BE- pro-
duced.
The following are some of the business men
Of our place:
Or: II. C. Tucker. postmaster. physician
and druggist: John Hufbaucr. farmer; A.
Ninnieh, dry goods ana grcrrries: Frank
Triekey. groceries: H. Mianieh- grain desi-
er: DR.. Harper, praefieing phy stefan and sur-
gean, Rev. Thompson. pastor Of the Jrited
Presbyterian Church: Jack Fields. hotel AID
feed stable: David Hswkins- confectionery
store. Charles ACsrniick. shoemaker: Llayd.
Hsrry Durham. wagonraaker
and carpenter. Gr. Gray. carpenter: Judge
Met;ey- justics, ef the peace.
II Psse IL w'.H represented in literary At.
lainrHsnts: preaching by different d>nosninz-
lions every sabbath. > Geurishing Sabbath
school IN operation. vocal and instrssmentzi
music being yrscsiced. La fact the piaee il
-9rzi 20 the eller settled towns Of The East i
The public school aar znszges are equal 20 /
Iny ether Slsss il tie Union. The county OF |
sedgwick xIoua, snspso{s ssss sse hundred /.
esehess- The school ter: = average shStSt /
ax 1oafAs ~ msu1- I
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

Above Is given q table containing COM
plete figures of all the principal productions
Of Sedgwick county, the assessed value OF
property, and the population by townships,
as returned by the assessors to the County
Clerk in pursuance Of law, for 1878. The
compilation, being official, is valuable, be-
cause reliable, and interesting in that it mir
rors, the wonderful development of an eight
year old county, development probably un-
paralleied in the history of this or any other
State. 1t shows what energy. faith and en-
terprise, in spite of limited capital, can ac-
complish in a propitious climate on an ex-
ceptionably fine soil. II shows in county
OF 645, 100 acres of land, that III 2o5 have been
put under the plow in seven years, or over
onc-fourth of the entire area, or leaving out
the river beds and timber fully one-third.
The table speaks for itself, requiring no ex-
PLANTATION a: our hands, and we confidently
commend u comparison of by our eastern
friend with the returns of counties in the
older States that have been improved and
cultivated for hundred years.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
Hcw A. j. Co k Proposes 10 Do It.

To render The Great Arkansas navigable
either system Of dredging or the jottie sys-
TEN will have 10 he resorted to. The shadows
and bars. made up almost altogether of loose
moving sands. will have to be cut through by
n dredging machine and then kept open, or
a system Of wings. on the jettie plan. to run
the wafer into confined limits and thus force
il 10 do its own cutting. will have to be en-
ployed. Our fellow townsman, Mr.. A. J.
Cook, who has met with success as designer
Of devices. has worked out an idea for
dredging machine which he thinks would
thoroughly and rapidly perform the desired
work. He submitted TO our inspection
complete and yerfect draugh of the machine
to understand or comprehen which il must be
seen. As represented on paper il does not
scem that II could fail to work. Ii Is simple
and inexpensive and could he controlled by
two or three men. We win not attempt de-
scription of Mr.. Cooks invention. for with
out drawings such an undertaking would fail
but in a general way viii say that it is a light
draught. tiat-bottoned boat. CARRYING a sixty
horse power engine, and run by stern wheel.
The bow of the boat is as wide rs the midsh;p
which runs shaft shat is turned by the same
machinery that propels the boat. Attached
10 each end Of the above shaft are rotating
spades, made upon the principle of the hori-
zonfal screws used for moving grain in in the
bulk. The other ends of these revolving
spades are rt,ached together and set at such
an angle downwards US would be necessary
to produce the wanted depth of water. The
boat. under a head of steam, would move
along until the revolving spades came into
contact with a sand bar or shallow into which
they would bore, elevating the tand and
gravel and carrying i! off TO either side. and
so continue until such obstruction had been
cut out wide enough for the passage Of the
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
Tho Italy Of America.

The tide of immigration scents to reil
higher People are coming across the
ocean in large numbers. People, too,
are leaving good farms Ia the Western
states and coming To kaasas. where
they are sure ef increasing their wealth.
Many are coming for the climate. They
have heard os the .ltaly NJ America
and u theirs Is any place In America that
can be called such, II Is Kansas. TAX
ing the SEASONS as they eemc. there h.
not mere pleasing country in the
United States Topeka Bia,ie.
4 fact, and no mistake. Egypt was
AT one period of history the granary Of
the worid-the rirhesf country ON the
globe. Even there some parts were
better than others. as We learn ifem the
language ef Pksroah io Joseph: Tho
land Of Egypt is before thee. In the
best Of tise land make Thy father aud thy
brethren To dwell. In the land of CO.
shen let them dwell" To cmigramia We
say. in The language OF Fhareah. The
State OF kansas j. before thee. Ia the
best Of Kansas make thy dwelling. In
The Arkansas Valley. east of Wiehiia.
HE Goshen of Kansas, mase thy dwell
ng place-as near Arkansas City ~
possible. .--fFkuHsa CHy 5surcier.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

CHARACTERISTIC SCENES N TIE ARKANSAS
body of true valley land TO be found in the
United States. The rivers and creeks are
fringcd with timber, enhancing the beauty Of
the landscape. The other than valley land is
ofundnlating or slightly rolling prairie. The
county is but indiffcrcnty supplied with
stone. Gypsum. or Plaster of Paris, UNDER
lies nearly the entire surface Of the county.
water, In abundance. can be obtained any.
where. at slight expense, OF the purcst and
healthiest quality. The natural pasturage Ia
rich, and there is no end to it. This county,
in fact this entire portion of the State, is u
perfect paradise for all grazing animals. Rich
lands abound upon every hand. No more
beautiful country, no richer soil. no more sa-
lubrious climate can be found on this or any
other continent Here we have genial,
healthful medium, blending the rigorous
tonic Of the northern cold with the soft zeph-
yrs and warm sunshine of the south.
Here we have no mountainous lands and no
dismal. sickly swamps. Our landscape views
in spring and summer are surprisingly beau
tiful. The soil is n dark. rich vegetable mold,
varying in depth from II foot to five feet mixed
with just enough sand TO render iis working
with plow or cultvstor. at almost any time
and nearly all seasons, easy, producing all the
grains, vegetables and fruits of the temperate
zone, and forcing the growth Of all kinds OF
trees in wonderful manner.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
Exempt from Execution.

4 homestead 10 The extent of one
hundred and sixty acres Of farming
land, or of one arre within the is,uils ~
an incorporated town or city. corrupted
~ "A residence by the fasnii, sf the t,s a.
er. togefher witb all The improvements
Oh the ~s;ue. sheiI he exempted from
forced sale under any process Of Iaw.
and slsall not be aI.enisied without the
joint epDsept Of husband and wife.
when The rriation~hip esist. bnt no
property shall be exempt from sale or
iszes, or for the payment or obligations
eon'sneted for the purchase of said
premises. ear for the erection of improve
menis fiisrson. The provisions of the
foregoing shail not apply fs ans process
cf Is~ obtained by virtue of fen given
By the eonseaf of both husband and
wifi.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

persons not being able to obtain seats. The
programme of the evening consisted Of in
strumental and vocal music, an Grafton on the
nature of the evenings ceremonies, by VI.
Mahan. an essay 1.-The History of the Lodge -
by Miss Carrie Moon, recitation by Byron
Yaplc, cllarade by Miss Carrie and Hettie
Moon, Miss Barnard, Messrs. Cole Woodcock
and Chamberlain.
Old Santa Claus. in the pcrson Of Jim Hell
lar. then appeared on the stage to greet his
friends and distribute the presents on the
tree. All the performances were well exc
cuted.
The III Paso Cemetery Association grounds
are ready for intersnent. Price Of lots rang
ing from five to fifteen dollars. The ceme-
terry is loeased on rising piece Of ground
about half mile southeast Of town. The as
sociationt intend beautifyiny by planting
trees and other ways that may add to its ap-
pearance. Yours respectfully.
Mr.. A. Garret, a farmer living not far from
town. is complaining of dogs killing his sheep
having lost in the neigbborhood of dozen.
Mr., Chamberlain Is, at present writing.
very i'll.
~ DERr GINOg
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

Sedgwick county is undcrlaii with vast
deposit Of gypsum. or what is known in CON-
mon as Plaster Of Paris. The vein. or bed. is
hundreds of feet thick in places. for truth.
inexhausiihle. Commanding no attention
now. the time will come when its value will
be beyond computation as fertilizer, for
however rich land ma, naturally be. eortin-
ued cultivation. through series Of Years. viii
exhaust lis resources and render fertilizers
necessary. In these gypsum beds we have a
neyer-failing supply. Ii is unsurpassed in
quality. We have in our cabinet squares Of
this gypsum resembling heavy French plate
glass. . half inch thick. and as clear IS crys-
tai. When broken in pieces and ground in
mill IL becomes the land plaster Of commerce.
for which there IS large market in Eastern
Stu.as
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
The Businkss Non Of Wichita.

The business men Of Wichita are men Of
business. That simple declaration embodies
al there is to the marked success Of the place.
Business foresight dictated her location and
after business judgment and enterprise Sc
cured. held and controlled the interests that
built up and maintained her supremacy.
ssOld business was the motto adopted by the
very first settlers, and was inscribed upon her
banner and there il still floats. Capacity TO
transact business in business way has been
the only requirement for success to which
every new conner has been subjected, and
those unable to stand the test have simply
moved on.
1t has been considered ''the thing in max
ing up annual reviews to classify the differ
ent branches of trade and then ''write up"
individual firms until every intelligent reader
became surfcited and disguised with the col
unns upcn columns of dreary, wishy-washy
aiobberines Of the paid pcnny-a-liner. We
shah not d. that. Upon another page is Civ
en = complete classified directory of the busi-
ness Of the town, together with the county, |
district and city officers. With a single ex-
ccption or two. which were overlooked but |
which have been put in in other places since,
our directory is complete mirror. To give |
every business deserving il, and every man |
worthy Of il separate notices, would fill up |
every column of this paper, destroying its |
principal value as source Of information Of
the town and county. That our people will
endorse our Judgment in this particular we
are satisfied.
In enterprise, in liberality. in earnest busi-
ness qualifications an in fact in all that mod
ern experience has decided as being essentials
10 success, we confidcntially put, collectively
and individually, the business men-the mer-
chants, manufacturers, professional men,
etc,-of Wichita against those of
any town or city in the land The superior
stocks goods carried. their adaptablity TO the
trade, their manner Of display in magnificent
szles rooms attracts buyers for "A hundred
miles In spite of intervening towns by the
dozen. In word, We are proud of Wichita's
business men with whom we expect TO work
hand in hand until our city shall be second to
no other in the State. as she is to-day the first
Of the great valley.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

ALLEY AND MENNONITE cIIyRCH AND sEfrLI9ES
Kansas the days OF chiiis and fever dng-out
rouRhs. and revoiy~rs have passed away they be-
sonxsto generation our oldest inhasitAnt has al
most forgo'tsn. Seven years ago this country
OF the ''Osage Valley .fthe Arkansas" !" was y
desert Wild. and this city OF a ichitt single
dus-ese To-day for my miles west ot u.s. the
counery u deme<lv seeseea ~ sa Industrious in
Iriiaoses - seseaey slaas of mes ~ Any farming
ia,iss u Aqss seaie, wssS .srs1si ss2see
schoess sd a9easetisl ssssn q daafss I've ch6rs3S-
~ a~d sesea WueoAtppsnG eeaosUnnetuaas Daanes.
Gus arst -cisss hotels, one eNae1aw aeuR oD.oooe
several dry -go."ls stores uavivIl!es Ia he west
groceries. hardware. SC !; xc without number
three sal'stapt tiai banks; 1oosing mills one cost
ing Nv 4.5, 90, with other Hnusacturies, eleva-
tors. &c &c. improved graded streets: an
excellent municipal government, con sist,ug OF
Mayor aud eight Counciimen. In fact have
every convenience aud comfort OF witch Hns
Western city mas be proa Z. Industry, economy
and perseverance, here the ceI tain stepping
stones tp comfort. afliaeoce. and position. Each
mans d.sttny IS completely In his own hand
Indoience. extrnyagaDce, and iptpx ieatiou are a.
ce tain here a. elsewhere - bring MIN 10 want
with the commended quail ties sad a few hundred
dollars hrppy home may speedily b. secured
surrounded by all the comforts aud many of the
iuxnrses Of life.
Emigration seems To Of the imp ri ant
political questions of th- honr Inasmach ms IL
helps 10 relieve the Esst OF It's sGpe eraIundant
labnring population. - is The good prov yidence oi
this western paradise of read y-ntadr fafB-
where the iaborer will be .wardsi with dur
Ing abundance rs The tfui's Of bis Industry
G. wooDaAx.
Wichita. Kansas. Sept 25. 10
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
Truthful A.severaticas

No other State in the Union can show as
large an average value of products to the in
habitant. Kansas has to-day for each one Of
her citizens. more bushels of wheat. corn.
rye. barley. oats and other cereals, more
horses, cattle. sheep and swine, more fruit,
more school houses and churches, and more
substantial wealth thar any other State in the
Union. Kansas is growing and developing
in population. in manufacturing industries,
in agricultural productions. in stock, in rail-
road mileage, In forest area. in the number
and substantial character Of her homes. her
business houses, her churches and her school
houses more rapidly than any other State in
the Union. And through all this wonderful
growth and development there is whole
sos.se exhilarating State pride tha; will never
let Kansas lag in the rear.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

Seeing !. believing We don't
know how big q stery our readers will
believe, but please clear away Your
doubts, for We cannot tell the half.
From Topeka, for nearly one hundred
miles, our roa;- fay through the reiiing
Prnirie. Net the sucker iowlansi. II iliis
nois, but the green, xrnreiiii mud fertile
prairie. II looks unlike new country,
The farms are divided into fiels!-. like
Ohio, and neatbess aud newnes re ap-
parent about the homes. What
shail We say Of wheat snd corpy Find
the best field pf either YOU can in tho
Ohlp or Mnskingun Valleys. and you
have only an average Of these.
The ride home Wa grand. Wsisaseicd
all night with car indsws up aud
sleeping near them. No one took cold.
The air was cool aud dry, The trip wa.
like sleeping IN a hammock. famed by
fairies. 49, Nfrteffa (U) Eeyizfsr.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
Tho Destiny Of K.ns...

Kansas l. destined 10 become the
greatest agricultural state ia il.e Union.
Airesds she ceeaEie@ sg enviabse posi-
iioa IN The b-i Of e1rn and wkest pro-
dteipg States: aud the ilDfasnss ,H.ns;-
grafton wbIes, ba- been steadily poaS-
ing IN sil The ysar win a<sis, In The pro-
dnef.en sf siiii isrgrr crops 81 these re-
rezis next year. Ds9 people 30 not
rsaIlxs how many eyes are turned CO.
wsrds Kansas Throughout The lsasi
there are men fsoss esrrs voesiies in
iife watching ihe ys.gfrs. ~ She state
IN all fbs different industries ~ ~fish
her people sre eBsssed. We ought To
yrallxe sad rs5niss IA the-s fssss, and
bend every eaerzy % snais oar zjvr vns
Young evsnasoss sslfh the pride ~ sh~
Satien. Haahaffrs IsJysf5salssf.
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
Native snd Cui.ivasss 9rassss

With the assistance Of Dr. II. Il. y. Green
lee the EAGLE contributed fwenfy-threr va
riefies Of native grasses 70 the Centennial ex-
hibi;;on 2. Philadeiphia. in is-5. Many of
these grasses were beautiful. others Essgnia-
cent. Some Of the varieties measured cieyes
feet high and several from four 30 eight feet.
Some years the blne--tsln Of the high prairie
grows 20 tall and !uxnrian' shs; the tops can
be tied over the top of buggy. snd Hsss' Oh
horse back can be seen but short S.stsnss-
Tame zrssses, for ;be most part promise
largely. Tisaafhy has been raised in reeg-
wick county fh< heads OF whisa measured
from nine 10 eleven inches in ieuzth- Rcd
clever, IniI.es. Hungarian and alfalfa =il grow
very rank. Ksntacsy blue grass. jane grass
srd English lawn grass ia from fair to good
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

Sedgwick county was named in honor Of
Major General John Sedgwiek. who was
Killed May Q, 1854. 4; the battle OF spottsylva-
MIA, Virginia. II is situated in southern
Central Kansas, within thirty miles Of the In
dian Territory. 1t contains an area Of 645. 40
acres OF land, fifty per cent. Of which vast
acreage is bottom. or true valley land, and is,
IN fact, the 'Valiey County, Of the West.
Three fine rivers course through her bounda-
ries, together with several smaller streams Of
living water. The Great Arkansas. the Lit
tie Arkansas and the Ninnestah t1ndian for
good rivers, are swim, clear streame. with
grave'y or sandy beds. free OF mud and falling
about nine feet to the mile. The valleys of
these streams uniting form the largest single
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09
HOW WE FARM WITH MACHINERY.
WlCHITA's GREAT IMPLEMENT ESTABLISH.
uENT6

The progressive spirit and the superior in
telligence of the farmers of Sedgwick county,
as class, is alluded to in an article elsewhere.
OF course such class of men are up with the
times in the utilization Of all appliances that
obyiates physical labor, or that contributes to
an aggrandizement Of general results. Farm
machinery in Kansas is almost universal. The
labor is principally done by horsepower while
the farmer rides at much Of his work. He
breaks his sod, stirs his fallow, drills his
The Wichita city eagle., 1879-01-09

for range. aud bath roou,. and forye
both het and sosd water throughout the
house. This win be. when cousplrfesl,
one OF the handsomest houses IN west
ern Kansas. The purpose OF Mr.. Uhi b
10 make this stock farm. and every
preparation Is being made to this end.
lie will break up the next season / .2O0
acres, 20 acres for corn, aud 90 acres
for wheat On which clover and timo<ay
win be sewn. He win sow during the
spring and summer .0tO bushels Of blue
grass seed en- prairie, to he tramplrd i'm
by cattle. During next year he win pat
out 10000 forest trees, = majority Of
them evergrcrns. and large number Of
fruit trees. During thc aext season the
farm will be stocked with neat cattle,
native COWS and choiec Durham bulls.
The residence is located I'm high hlufr
which overiooks the country fct nsany
miles. Mr.. uh Is y thoroughly practf-
cad man, and fully understands the bus
iness he has engaged is, and We can ex-
pert from him good report.