Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-03
Southern Kansas, Woodson County,
and it's Towns.

NEosHA FALLS, Kan, June 26, 1884.
1t seems like old times to be writing
from Neosha Falls, for my letters to the
NORTHWEST for near year and half
were dated at this place. The town has
made much improvement in the last three
years, but looks natural for all that.
Many very fine private residences have
been built; a fine brick block of three or
four business rooms including bank and
postoffice room was erected last sum-
mer, and good business house will be
built this summer. The Congregational
society have put up very neat, tasteful
church building which adds much to the
appearance of the place. But Neosho Falls
has not grown as have some of the other
towns in this and adjoining counties, for
it has failed so far in attaining to the
height of the ambition Of every Kansas
town, new railroad, and so while it has
one railroad and good water power, one
of the best in the State, it has not attracted
new settlers as have other places more
fortunate, which have gained the new rail-
ways. But it is very pleasant place for
all that, and much more pleasant for q
home, than many other towns which as
sumo city airs.
At the crossing of the Wichita and Miss
ouri Pacific railroads, is the little town OF
Piqua, named from Piqua, Ohio, which
though not more than two years old, has
already become shipping point of much
Importance, and the center of trade for all
the country round, taking great deal of
business away from Neosho Falls, lola.
Humbolt and Yates Centre. The amount
of business transacted is out of all propor-
tion to the size of the town, for it is the
center of a good farming country, and has
good outlets with the south, east and west.
Mr.. E. G. Read, senior partner of the firm
of Read & Hoover, general merchants, in
forms us that last season there was shipped
from Piqua at least 10000 bushels of corn,
900 tons of hay, eight or ten car loads of
hogs and sheep, and other produce in pro-
portion, which is doing pretty well for a
town ofa few more than one hundred peo-
pie. This firm ships about 1000 lbs of
butter per week, also about 800 dozen eggs.
1t must aforementioned when reading the
above figures, that Piqua is but six miles
from Neosho Falls, seven from lola and
ten from Humbolt, all of which places are
good shipping points.
The county seat of Woodson county,
Yates Centre, is having "boom" just
now. Private houses and business blocks
are going up all over the city, they have
Just finished fine school house, which,
like the one at Harper, though large
enough when it was begun, is too small
now. The Presbyterians ore Just com.
pleting beautiful church building. The
Baptists have just commenced one, and
The other denominations are we'll repre-
sented by good houses. Building mater
ials are plenty and cheap and an extensive
quarry Of the very best Of building stone
Being within half a mile of the town. Not
long ago paving stone six feet wide, six
inches thick and over ninety feet long was
pried up at one effort. 1t was sawed
INTO lengths and used for sidewalk.
To reach this part Of the country, take
he Southern Kansas road at Kansas City
or Emporia, Burlington, Chanute, lola,
Jherryvale or any intermediate points,
md connect with the smaller roads to any
,art Of the country. G. L. E.