The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-07-20
TOPEKA LETTER.
The Church Encamp,nent General
Howard.
Preparations for the Fair and soldiers
ReuaIon.

4 The Church E1cSmp1nent - Genera
Howard.
Preparations for the Fair and Soldiers
ReunIOn.
Correspondence of THE NEWS.
TOPEKA, July 18th.
Topeka has among its guests thi
week many distinguished Christian
gentlemen who are here in attendance
on the Sunday school assembly anC
church encampment of Kansas anG
Missouri, conspicuous among whom
is the famous soldier and hero of thu
army of the Tennessee, General o. o
Howard, commander of the department
of West Point, and the United State
military academy. A serenade and re
eeption Was rendered the general at thu
Windsor hotel last Monday evening by
the posts of the "Grand Army of thu
Republic" and the citizens. 1t was ont
of the most pleasant little impromptr
affairs that l have ever witnessed, and
was particularly enjoyed by the dis
tinguished recipient. The church en-
campment is we'll attended, and will
continue through the week.
A new evening paper made its initia
appearances on Monday evening
called the Herald" by Messrs. Greg
DRY s. butcher late of the Capital
and State Journal respectively
Whether it will be a success is an
other question. The gentlemen with
all the benefit of example of previous at
tempts in this direction before them
have evinced a temeriiy that is COM
meudable at least.
| POLITICS
have been remarkably quiet since the
congressional convention, and only Oc-
casionaIly break out in the corridors of
the hotels among little groups who meet
| from different portions of the state and
attempt to exchange notes on the situa-
ton. The next two weeks, however,
will materially change the status of af-
fairs on this subject, when the primaries
are held in the various counties to elect
delegates to the conventions that will
in turn determine who shall represent
the people at the great convention to be
held here on the 9th of August, TO nomi-
nate full state ticket. That conven-
ton, though it will not probably bring
with il such an immense lobby rs the
recent one, will be equally as exciting.
| The fight will of course, as is we'll
known, concentrate on the governshIp,
bat no one can rightfully predicate of
results
IMMIGRATION
into the state is rapidly increasing, and
more lands are being sold by the several
railroads than in three years before.
There are prospects of quite an exodus
from the extreme north, Minnesota and
Oak ota, this season, by large numbers of
people who are tired of the prOtracted
winters of that country and who seek
more genial climate. Kansas has again
drawn towards her the admiration
of the world in consequence of her im-
mense wheat and oat harvest just COM
pleted, and her wonderful prospective
corn crop, the two important cereals in
which she leads all the agricultural
states of the union to-day.
THE RECENT RAINS
over the state has placed the corn crop
still further towards the expected two
hundred millions of bushels that should
be gathered from her fields of this cereal
this year.
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE
here, which is perfect little gem, will
be completed by the last of August and
will open at the commencement of the
fair with the best selections of English
opera under the auspices of the
EMMA ABBOTT TROUPE,
| conceded TO be the best on the stage in
this country. Miss Abbott Is a western
gIrl, who studied with the best artists
of Europe, and is endowed with a pure
soprano voice which is remarkably sweet
| in the high notes and middle register.
This lady will appear at each perform
ance, and of course assumes the title
role in each opera. Entries in ali de-
partments of
| THE GREAT STATE FAIR
are crowding in upon the committee,
and the assurance can now be made that
it will be the grandest exposition of the
great and varied resources of our state
that has ever been offered to the people
of the country.
THE AGRICULTURAL. DISPLAYS
by oranges and counties will be distinct,
and 10 each is accorded distinct and
separate premiums, ia the former in
stance aggregating seven hundred and
| fifty dollars. and in the latter six hun
| bred. The show of cattle and sheep
will be the finest seen at any fair, as
herds are already entered from Maine,
Illinois and Missouri.
THE RACES
| will show time below 25, as some of
the best horses with records below that
time have made application to be en-
tered The premiums for live stock are
ten thousand dollars. and in the other
departments aggregate thirty thousand,
making total of forty Thousand dollars,
formidable amount and unprecedented
in the history of western state fairs.
There will be an abundance of excel
| lent music on the occasion, as
sEvENrY-FIvE BANDS
will be present and participate
| in competitive trials for gold
medal and six hundred dollars
in cash prizes. The aggregation
| of these bands at the time indicated
4 what is known as the "band union" Of
Kansas, and they have heen drilling
and practicing all the season in antic,
| ipaiion of the event.
AuspiciOus among all attractions OF
fair week will be the annual muster
and
REVIEW OF THE MILITIA
of the state, uniformed and equipped
and the great reunion of veterans. The
latter will exceed in its proportions any
thing of like character that has occurr-
ed since the war There will be
THIRTY-FIvE OR FORTY THOUSAND
old soldiers in line, and the review Of
this stupeadous column of troops will
be sight never to be forgotten. Tents
and rations will be furnished the old
soldiers and their families, and theil
camp established in a large field conve
nient to The fair grounds and city. Tit
ration viii be the exact counterpart o
of the regular army ration of to-day ant
will cost the veteran and family les
than twenty cents per day per head
. Everything will be furnished here bn
blankets, and these the old soldier
should bring with them. There will b
J reviews, dress parades, guard mounts
and ali the details Of camp life. aad i
. cannot help being en- imposing and
. Interesting sight. One day at she fai
win be devoted TO the veterans; and OF