The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-02-09
EMPoRIA, KANSAS.
A VISIT FROM Al. GREEN, OF THE
KANSAS CITY JOURNAL.
He Sees the Normal, whitley Opera
House, Hotel Coolidge. Water
Works
And l. sIightly aProeured :
Brief Review of the NvonderfuI Progress
OF the Queen CITY of Kansas.


Brief Review of the Wonderful Progress
OF the Queen City of Kansas.
CORES Pondenee of the Kansas City Journal
EMPoRIA, Kas., Jan. 3i.-This is a
beautiful little city and one of the most |
desirable for residence in Kansas 1t /
has grown very rapidly during the past |
year or two and is really assuming met |
ropolitan style.
It was the first in the state To intro |
duce the Holly water works, which have |
been in successful operation for year |
has broad, clean streets, lighted with gas,
compact business blocks almost exclu- |
siveIy of brick, handsome residences,
elegant churches, the finest hotel in
southern Kansas and the best opera
house in the state.
If it has not been already implied, it
may be truthfullY stated that this is also
one of the best points for business as
well as residence. 1t Is the natural GEN.
ter for the trade of several of the most
populous counties and is fast becoming
the
HUB OF RAILROADS
+ has more wealthy citizens who have
made their fortunes in the regular rou-
tine of business, and carries larger
banking capital, than any city in the
state. Ii has no rival on the east nearer
than Topeka, none north except juno
ton City, none soEth nearer than Bur
lington and none west except Wichita.
OF course, several smart towns inter
yene along some of these lines, but as
they have no competing railroads and
no natural advantages to compare with
Emporia, they cannot justly be claimed
as rivals. When man locates at En-
poria. he may rest assured that he has
got the best there is in Kansas, all things
being considered. There can be no
question that Emporia will always be
found among the first six towns of Kan
sas in point of population, and it is not
improbable that she may take even
higher rank than that. The place has
reached position where she attracts
capital, wealthy emigrants, railroad and
business enterprises, and her future Is
assured.
Emporia was founded in 1857,
and Is therefore one of the oldest
towns in the state, but, being on
the frontier and isolated from trans
| pOrtation routes, amounted to little more
| than village until the advent of the
railroads, about twelve years ago. The
merchandise that was distributed from
here was hauled from the Missouri riv-
er over proverbially bad loads, and the
surplus found no market except by the
same slow and expensive route. At one
time it was proposed to improve the Ne.
osho and Marias des Cygne rivers for
the purpose of navigation, and cargo
of flour was actually sent 10 Little Rock
by fiat boat down the former, but the
coming of the railroads solved the ques-
ton of transportation, and the rivers
were suffered TO SLOW unvexed to the
sea-"
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
and the Missouri Pacific inteTsect here
at right angles; the former has branch
line running south TO Howard City. An.
other branch is being built directly east
to the valley of the Marias des Cynges
and thence down that valley to Ottawa
to connect with the Kansas City, Law
renee and Southern, to furnish a short
line for through freights from the Mis-
souri, river to western and southwestern
Kansas. The old line from here to To
peka will probably always be considered
the main line, but as the steep grade can
be avoided, twenty-five miles saved in
distance, and the Kansas Valley branch
relieved of through traffic by this cut of
it appears to be a feasible scheme. All
the advantages of double track be
tween Kansas City and EmpOria will be
realized, and hitherto isolated sec
ton of fifty miles long one of the
richest valleys of the state supplied
with market facilities. Still another
scheme, now we'll under way, is to buIlC
line directly east from here to ST
Louis, furnishing the most direct Quite
tor the products of these valleys to thu
Mississippi river. 1t is manifestly i'm
proper TO predict the exact route tina
will be traversed, or the length of tim
before it will be completed, but it ma,
be stated as a fixed conclusiod that i
will be completed to Mound City, il
Linn county, within a year. That lin
will be as valuable as any she has to En-
| pOria, and by penetrating the largcs
coal fields in the west, will furnish cen
, trail and western Kansas with that mos
important desideratum, cheap fuel.
The limited space of newspaper al
ticle is too brief TO admit of suitabl
mention OF the many objects of interes
that arrest the eye of the visitor to En-
poria. The city is beautiful for situa
: tion," beautiful in the dimensions an
character of its streets, beautiful in tn
: distribution of its imposing publ
. buildings, beautiful in the air of refine
T ment that pervades people and town.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL
} is the most conspicuous of the publ
g buildings of Emporia. This institution
r was located here by an act of the legi'
: lature of 1868, and endowed with 49, 90
: acres of land. In 1865 its first sessio
{ commenced with eighteen students. TIL
t following year the number had increase
to $50, and stone building had bee
e erected at cost of $4,000.
increased to 225, and the build
: ing was found to be wholly il
e adequate to their wants. In 1872 tn
legislature appropriated $4,000 for
I building, which was completed the TO
lowing year at q cost of SOS, 900. 1t wa
= intended to accommodate 500. Unit
s 1876 the institution was supported b
:, the state. In 1873 the buildings wei
:, destroyed by fire. The next legislator
appropriated $25, 900 and the city $40
= 900 for a new building. and on the lit
n of May, 1880. the present beautiful
structure was completed on the site {
the burnt building.
1t contains laboratory, gymnasium
Il presidents room, janitor's resldenc
library and reading room, parlor, MI
? scum, large model school room, tW
large rooms for use of literary societie
eleven class rooms, an assembly rool
7, with accommodation for 600 peopl
?, and the usual complement of cloa
rooms, etc. 1t is supplied with waite
gas and steam, and has the most appro
ed system of lighting and ventilation
r, The endowment now yields an annu
n income of $4,000. Prof r. b. WelC
, is president and the present number
pupils is 600.
> HOTEL COOLIDGE.
d This is a large three story brio
l. structure of elegant design and finisl
, erected at a cost of $50, 600, and is su
= piled with gas, hot and cold bath wat,
T. throughout the building, electric bel
lie and ali the modern improvements. 1t
!: not only the pride of Emporia, but
credit to the state. tits owned by jOil
> stock company, and is under the alb
D, management of Z. K. Criley and Robe
l. Morrow, formerly of Lawrence.
!. WHITLEY OPERA HOUSE.
; This beautiful edifice, which w
T. opened to the public last night, is Il
$, realization of a long cherished desire
8 the people of Emporia for temple
q Thespis commensurate with the deman,
2 of their progressive city, and is in i
g elegant appointments worthy of the
A. refinement and ;e sthetic tastes.
s The scheme of building an Ope
house was undertaken year ago by
company of public spirited citizen
conspicuous among them being Col.
c. Whitley, Van R. Holmes, H.
Cross, L. Sevrcy and VIM. Martindal
IS The present edifice just completed is Il
result The dimensions are G5x95 fe
and fifty feet from curbstOne 10 corniC
j. The building is of brick, handsome
q ornamented with cut stone triI
IS mings and an appropriate al
suggestive roof. The interiS
is exceedingly well desig
q ed, good view of the stage being III