Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-28
ALTON TOWNSHIP.
TO the Editor of the Eo0ks:

To the Editor Of the EoSis:
Your paper has from time to time con-
tanned reports from this township. but no
stage OF its past history can compare with
the state Of things now existing here. I'm
agine yourself standing on 4 long, low ridge
or divide, such rs only our beautiful prai-
ries Of the West can furnish to the eye Of
Natures admirers. Before you can be seen
the long stretch Of country gradually slop-
ing from your feet TO the river bank In the
distance. All this covered with green grass
,, and luurious vegetation. broken here and
there by little rivuIet coursiug through
and watering both corn and wheat fields,
lulIing the grasshopper and chinchbug to
sleep with its murmuring as Il flows gently
on to larger waters. Farms basking In the
sunshine, their houses almost hidden among
clusters Of bachelors buttons, and beneath
branches Of forget-me- not's, while before
their doors, almost everywhere, domestic
animals may be seen feeding at their leis-
ure, such as bantam chickens, jack rabbits
and wild ducks. All nature seems still.
To look upon such scene is to be enchant-
ed with it. But suddenly all Is changed,
the beauty OF the view is gone the wind
comes sweeping across the prairies; the
whole air seems filed with flying missiles,
making you dodge about In all direction to
avoid them, thinking every moment was
your last. In q moment all IL calm and Sc.
rene as before. Such was Alton township,
such it il since the great business storm
and boom struck it, only the calm has not
come yet.
Clear creek, the future emporium and
now chief literary metropolis, seems to be
the locality hardest struck. One can scarce.
ly travel the streets. which are mile apart,
without getting hit by flying organ, q
singing buggy, travelling book agent,
new house or part OF one. Two and half
miles west OF there, O man got struck with
his own wheat field, aud the disastrous re.
suit Is that it is going to make forty-fve
bushels to the acre. Self-binders and new
sulkey plows are being hailed down on al.
most every farm. Telephones smash In at
one window and out at another. The very
atmosphere seems laden with cheese, while
one or two young ladies got struck with
buggies and the tire LETT on their finger. |
Musicians and doctors had narrow escapes.
Surveyors and smiths make collisions. |
Portable cross road tunnels ami pike, that
escaped the recent foundations, aud whose
services could be had in the past for smile
and q nod from the fairest, or for money
from any other man. cannot be had now for !
love or money, and go aounderidg awkward |
ly past each other. Chaos and confusion Is |
the order Of the day, and what Is stranger |
still, young lady, late graduate and resi- |
dent of Wichita. had the courage to visit |
her family, who lives in the township, in |
the very face of II all. and what Is more, |
seems to enjoy it.
All the schools In the township are closed |
but one. Through the pluck Of its teacher
and the stability Of the board with which |
it is said to be fenced and love of the pa
irons, it is still in progress, but will stop As
soon as it can, IL the calm comes quick /
Crops look very fiattering, while land has
doubled in value since the storm.