The Press., 1885-05-07
Topeka. Kansa, April 2zth, 1885.

Topeka, kansa, April gun, lSoo.
 Thinking that some of your readers might be interested in any information concerning this part of the country, beg leave to g1ve my first impressions of Tope- ka people. s ss q.
 The population of Topeka is estimated at about 30,0O0. It seems as though half of this number were negroes, and ill fact, besides living on most of the streets, these ''culled fokes' really monopolize a consid- erable section of the city, to which has been given the soubriquet of Tennessee town. You find these negroes everywhere; :; on the corners, in the shops, stores and hotels, loafng at home, or shufiing aim lessly about the streets. It must be said, however, that many of them are hard workers and are laying by good deal of money. Scores of them can be seen Sun days, attendant at church, dressed in the latest styles and sitting with as mnch quiet dignity as their white neighbors. And on all days they are, as whole, good natured, quiet, and seemingly contented.
 There are not many Irish out here, com pared with their number i'll eastern cities. The white population of Topeka is made up, for the most part, of Eastern people, with only moderate sprinkling of the foreign element. The most Western look ing class that of the cowboys. You can always tell these by their slouched hats, belts, high top boots, and general air of irecklessness. How many bowie-knives and reyolvers, according to the eastern idea, are concealed III the. cowboys boots, is simply matter of speculation, but cer- tainly none are visible.
 The question of prohibition is, of course, one of the great issues here, and possibly some of the Stafford people think that ii means no more iu Topeka than 1t ever has in Connecticut towns But this is not so 1 have no figures to advance, but do know that ramble through the city any day will reveal less of drunkenness than may be seen III the same length of time in Stafford Public liquor saloons in this city are almost entirely unknown, and, while liquor is sold on the sly, those who imbibe too freely are carefully kept ont of sight. Even the drug store accounts are always held inspected by the officers, and the slightest: attempt ofstIle sproprietors to evade the full red enlelts of the law, is deemed sufficient ground for the withdraw al of the liquor permits, and for whatever other penalty inc gravity of the evasion may justify. Women can walk any of the streets, here, day or night. with no fear of UT TuIkhCA luSultS.ft lb IS bIuo 1lldb fuOs Olll- cers have no such clement to deal with as infest manufacturing towns like Stafford, but they display more energy i'll suppress ing lawlessness than perhaps Stafford peo- pie expect of their officers.
 Topeka, you are aware, is a acomparatiye- ly new city. It is strange, but men who have lived here five years, call themselves "old settlers, and "old residents" was talking with man the other day who said that he passed through here just 29 years ago, and on the present site of the city there was only one house. The richest man, at present, in the city, was drawn here by yoke of oxen, his whole proper ty. This and this adventure may serve as an illustration of most of those emigrants who succeeded him. They all came poor, and by good judgement and hand work, aided by the natural advantages of the place, have made this the leading city of the state More than that, these same decide the business character ef the city to-day. Pretension counts for but little. Poverty is no hindrance to mans en-
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