Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-06-12
SOUTHERN KANSAS.
"A Trip by Rail Tn. h.ough the Best
Part of the State.

w Gil ueIo All eOul6 CuOuSduu ullltS
from Napoleon, further west than ever 1
was before. On the 5th 1 started from
Lawrence on the Kansas Southern road,
for trip through eastern Kansas. 1t was
a beautiful evening, and as we steamed
through the richest part of Douglas coun-
ty and saw the orchards full of fruit and
the vinyards and nursuries along the hill
sides, it seemed to me that nowhere could
be found scene more beautiful or more
suggestive of peace, plenty and comfort.
Baldwin City, the seat of Baker University,
was soon left behind, and about seven
o'clock we reached Ottawa, the capital of
Franklin county, where there was a long
six hours wait before us. The city of Ot-
tawa is one of the finest towns in eastern
Kansas. 1t is we'll built, having good
churches, a fine school building, good
stores &c. Iknow it has fine park, for l
explored it at midnight. 1t was beauti-
full moonlight night and could not resist
the temptation to take moonlight walk.
happened to find the park, and it looked
so inviting entered and spent nearly an
hour in exploration. The park is we'll
timbered and admirably fitted up with
buildings, rustic seats, a race course, &c.
If Napoleon had such park it would be a
fine place for fair ground.
At last the train came, and 1 tried to
sleep the rest of the night. The Kansas
Southern road, formerly known as the
Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Kan
sas railroad, is one of the finest in the west.
1t has been pushing westward until now
it has reached Harper, point SO6 miles
from Kansas City, and really the entire
length of the State east aud west. They
have been obliged to put on another train
for passenger tlaffic. I took that train as
it was through one, and found that il
was crowded all the time. 1t would seem
that there was enough travel to warrant
another train even so soon. The road
passes through the richest portions Of
Kansas, through such counties as Kergler,
Franklin, Anderson, Allen, Montgomery,
Cowley, &C., and through such towns as
Ottawa, Garrett, lola, Cherry Vale, Win
field, Wellington, Independence and fin
ally last but not least Harper. The above
are the principal towns, but many other
lesser ones of no small Importance to the
surrounding country are scattered along
the route. lola is town of some twenty
five hundred people, and is we'll built,
well situated town. They are just about
to build very nice new school house at a
cost of over $4,000. Independence is one
of the best towns of southwestern Kansas,
and is rapidly growing in Importance.
Cherry Vale has about ten thousand
people, and is, as are all Kansas towns,
growing in influence and people. 1t has
good churches, good business blocks, good
papers and a good school and school. house.
Winfield is said to be the best built town
Of its size in the State. 1t is finely built
of native building stone which is found in
inexhaustable quantities in the vicinity
1t has very fine business blocks, and every.
thing else to make it a good point. But
the largest and most important city Of
southern Kansas is Wellington, a place Of
over five thousand people, with street
railways, water works, gas, churches
newspapers, fine business blocks, new
school house, &C. 1t too is rapidly ow.
ing and expects to become one of the best
towns in the State. AS the train sped
along through the fairest country the sur
shines upon, could not help contrasting
the scenery with that of Ohio and Indiana
and wondered why people would stay
there amid the swamps, stumps, fever
and ague, and all the many disadvantage,
they have to labor under, when such
beautiful rich country as this was to bt
seen extending far as the eve would reacl
on either side of the railroad, it all looked
like garden. Splendid wheat, oats, rye
corn &C., were growing all along the line