The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-07-06
NAvIoAr.so the corroswooD
Up Stream Five Mile. with Captain
Soden.
Formal DsdIeaslen Of the Good steams
sSe..-..e ss-..,,s

Formal Dedication Of the Coed steamei
.sForest oueen.'
| Tweniy-fauI years ago this summer
nc crusse-d Ibe Cottonwood sdry shod'
by ford which started in on this sids
just about where the Forest Queen. Mr.
Soden's new boat. has her landing. and
ended on the other side twenty or thirty
feet above. Little did we think
then we shonli live TO see the day when
We should ride over that same spot in {
veritable boat propelled by steam with
capacity TO carry forty passengers. Yet
this we did last Monday afternoon.
Ii had been announced that Mr.. Soden
had completed his boat. but there were
but few that thought it more than q
small affair that would carry half a
dozen people Last Monday We were one
of the favored among some thirty citi-
zens who were invited to take the ini:ia
tory or Ciedieafory trip on the new craft.
The party consisted of the following in
viied guests: Capt S. B. Warren and
sou, w w. Scott, Col. ]. NJ Steele, COL
II. c. Whitley, /. E. Lambert, Major c.
Hood, H. v. Bundrem, J. M Griffith,
Councilmen John Bay, J. B. Halleck,
Thomas ii. Lewis and j. w. Thatcher,
p. w. Montgomery, engineer of the San
IA Fe. G. W. Newman, Captain E P.
Bruner, L. L. Halleck, N. E. Weaver,
w. II. Bradley, of Illinois. r. e.
Reynolds. j. s. Watson, Jos. I'll. Hill,
A. w. Stubbs, T. J. Acheson, Captain L.
T.. Heritage and the writer. Captain
Soden, of course, had charge of the
steamer.
The Forest Queen left her landing
about S O'Clock p. N. and went up the
stream some five miles, where an ele-
CANT luncheon was partaken of "n the
hanks of the Cottonwood. Returning,
she arrived at her landing about z 80 p.
m. The ride was not only new sensa-
ton for the attendants, but most enjoy
able one. The scenery along the stream
is beautiful, the banks being lined with
deep foliage of trees and vines, and the
stream Overhung by the waving branches
of The magnificent old trees. The spirit
Of fun and hilarity reigned supreme on
the trip. and the Forest Queen was duly
dedicated by this first fOrmtl cruise of
the heretofore unnavigated stream.
The boat is 81 feet long and %
feet wide. Il has an upright engine,
called the General Grant," is covered |
with q substantial roof and around the |
sides and ends are seats for passengers. |
Seats are also arranged across the boat. |
The boat coat Mr.. Soden in the neigh
hood ni $500. Il is most substantially |
built, some 500 iron bolts being used /
in It's construction.
Perhaps the happiest man in all the
party was w. T. Soden, and he has
right to be happy. He has earned il.
Twenty years ago he built mill on
the bank of the river. It was an tx
pertinent in u measure. No man in the
has worked harder than he,
or pursued the object he had in view
with more steadfastnrss or greater de-
= rec of faith. He has dug success and
money out Of the situatiun inch by |
inch and dollar lay dollar, guided by his
own good Judgment. a quality which ha
possesses To All unusual degree. until 30
day he has the world by the heels and
eau afford Ia laugh. He has added L"
his few as:res of original site many other
acres, aud to his original. mill other
until he has perhaps the fin-
est mill property in the state. His sue
CESS having been achieved, he has,in his
done some good things for
the public. He has given us
a grove with grand trees and blue grass
in which TO hold our celebrations, pic
nicss and camp meetings. And now he
has added another cheap means of
pleasure for the public in the building
of the Forest Queen. and we have no
doubt but that pleasure parties on the Cot
will become at once one of our
popular amusements, and no one enjoys
them to greater extent than he who
has created the. means for their enjoy
ment At the close of the trip he was
for the ride on the river; as
were the Gilchrist bros for the use of
one OF their fine buses for the free trans
poriaiion 10 and from the boat.