The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-30
Kansas and Kansas City.
A MIDDLEBURY MANS IMPRESSIONS OF
THE STATE. ITS CITIES, FARMS
AND PEOPLE.

AND PEOPLE.
Mention has heretofore been made of
the fact that Hon. L. d. Eldredge is
taking an extended trip through the
West. We are permitted to make these
extracts from an interesting private let
ter written to his partner, Mr.. Slade, and
dated Kansas City, October II:
In compliance with your request will
give you some of my recent experiences
and impressions of Kansas and Kansas
City. | arrived here very late Saturday
night, or, according to standard time, at $3.50
o'clock Sunday morning From the city
directory l soon found the location of a
Methodist church whose pastor is an old
boyhood friend who came West 81 years
ago, and we had never met till, at the close
of his service, | presented him with my
card somewhat to his surprise. His audi
ence was composed of all that could find
seats, and his work is evidently to gather
into the church. But few months ago he
left a church of 800 members, with one of
the finest houses of worship west of the
Mississippi and a $4,000 salary, to build up
another large church in this Babel of the
West, and he is doing it. A Sunday
lunch and two hours of "reminiscences with
him consumed the time till he should have
been at the workhouse, two blocks distant
That Sabbath with its new experiences
gave me more enjoyment not unhallowed
than | often get, even in the white meeting
house. 1t is unlike New England to pass
through the streets Sunday and see all the
saloons and family supply shops open and
doing lively business. But even here one
finds earnest Christian men and women do
ing, apparently, more effective work than
many of the so-called Christian workers of
the East
But Monday came and things terrestrial
engaged my attention. AT the opening of
| SnppapHp1 n 10
Offices Of the Equitable Loan and Trust
company, which occupies rooms adjoining
those of the Kansas City Safe Deposit and
Savings bank. II. p. Stmson. of the class
of n Mddlebury college, is president of
the former and cashier of the latter. Their
land loan business has reached some $4,000
00u. The daily transactions of the savings
bank are from $4,000 to $4,000 and its Sc
cured resources are nearly 100000. 1t is
impossible for one who has never visited
the locality to have a Just conception OF The
immense business Of his city, into which
sixteen railroads center and already are
crowded for room; its immense packing
houses yying in size with those of Chicago;
its numerous and elegant business blocks
and banking houses, and, IN the older part
of the town, its elegant private residences
its fOur-hOrse omnibus lines; ITS street car
lines, both horse and cable, stretching for
miles, and Il population of over l2u,OOl. Oc-
And only IA few years ago this was an un-
slightly gulch at the confluence of the Mis-
souri, and Kansas rivers. What are the tu-
ture possibilities of this great carryiug-pace
of the West it is beyond my imagination TO
predict,
A Journey of 66 miles brought me to To-
peka. the capital Of the State, situate on
high ground and laid ont on Il grand scale.
The wings of the State-hOuSe are built and
occupied. The foundations of the main
building, which is to be an immense strIIc-
tllre, are laid y feet deep. In this city ia
Washburne college, which has 2oO students
There is now one large building and several
cottages. An elegant library building is in
process Of erection. Topeka has over 3d.
900 inhabitants and has in many respects
the advantages of cities of like rank in the
East and, no doubt, is destined to be IA rich
and aristocratic place, IA sort of political,
literary and social hub for this region.
After stay of "a hours in Topeka | again
boarded Union Pacific ear for the West
and extended my journey to Cawker City, Il
point some 260 miles from Kansas City,
where eight years ago butfalOes were killed
on what but few years ago were consid-
cred by land explorers the parched and I'M
productive lands of this grasshopper and
cycone-infested State. A little before mid
night my guides conducted me to the resi-
dence of another Ludlow boy, where tired
Natures sweet restOrer" soon took possess
sion of me. Here, on what | supposed were
the outskirts of civilization, | found when
daylight came that was "A guest in Il hand
some stone dwelling standing on IA beaut-
fully-shayen lawn,and furnished with Brus
sells carpets, piano, pictures, etc, the Gen.
tury and HdrperS for October, several pa
pers and a fine selection of books. When
summoned to breakfast TO find myself
in the presence of accomplished and well
educated ladies almost deprived me of
I,,t hat, hon
5000 eople, two church edihces, two hand
some school buildings, several stone bust
ness blocks, a stone free-lbrary building
and an elegant banking house. 1t is in
Mitchell county. The land in that and adj
joining counties is rolling, with deep soil.
Corn and wheat are the principal crops;
cattle. the largest source of income. Corn
is fed to the cattle and hogs thus giving to
the farmers sure source of income The
wheat crop in Kansas this season is below
the average, while the corn crop is immense
in acreage and growth, 100 bushels and up
wards to the acre being quite common. |
visited one farm eight miles beyond this
town. The owner very quietly said, in an
swer to my inquiry, that he had 1900 acres
fenced, APO acres in corn, 800 in wheat and
then had some $50 head of cattle and
% work horses and mules. His dwell
ing is a good stone farmhouse, with out
buildings of stone to shelter his teams and
young SUCK Nlslltu duOlntT ldlln Oh
some 1900 acres on which is a barn 100 feet
long with stone basement. On this were
$50 head of cattle in fine condition; loo head
nearly ready for market. The farm is man
aged by Mr. Woodbury.. late of Proctor,
Vt, and owned 10y him and others. Another
farmer said he had just sold 90 head for
$500
In this town is national bank Of 800 200
capital. Its cashier is Mr.. +, +. Parker, my
genial host, who came, four years ago, from
Ludlow. VT On the day of my stay the
transactions in his bank were over $1,000
its deposits are Sl42UOO; loans, SljO,OOO
The clerical force numbered five. One man
came 70 miles by private conveyance to
take mp IA little 5000 note; he had sold some
cattle. His farm contains 1000 acres. There
are, scattered all along from this point Ia
the eastern line of the State, farmers both
large and small; some with the comforts OF
IA better civilization and some apparently
without those comforts which industry and
favoring seasons will bring 10 them. l. Is,
| in my judgment, no longer IA doubtful ques-
ton whether Kansas. with an area of 4W
| by POO miles in extent, Is to be "A rich and
prosperous State lis rainfall increases as
/ civilization advances.