Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-04-09
KANSAS LETTER.
HARPER, KANSAS, April 3, 1885.

Now, | want to say that though |
have lived in Kansas for period of
five years, / have yet to see an early
spring. When came West was re-
galed with stories ofshOrt, mild winters,
of early springs and long falls-and it
has always been long fall-away from
the truth-of sowing oats i'm February
and making garden in March, of having
fresh vegetables by April, and of stock
running out on the praries all winter;
but / grieve to say that all that is hum.
anywhere else, and we all know what
cold weather is too. Oats are not sown
in February, neither do early garden
vegetables grace our tables in March,
not much-unless they are imported
from warmer regions. Why in the
Sworld people will lie so about Kansas, is
more than can tell. The truth is en-
ough, but the average westcrner, not
content with that, must needs embel-
lish and add thereto, till nothing re-
mains but exaggeration and misrepre-
sentatiOn.
The growth of Kansas has been WON
derful, nothing like it has ever been
seen; especially has this been true of
this part of the State. Where a few
years ago was nothing but level
prairie, threaded here and there by
streams of water and inhabited by ante
lope, bison and wolves, now are seen
herds of cattle, prosperous farms and
an intelligent, industrious people,
Towns spring up like magic. Some day
two or three men will conclude to lay
out a town; they will organize town
company, go out on the open prarie,
stake off the lots, name the streets, put
up store, and perhaps blacksmith
shop and then the town is ready fol
people, nor do they delay in coming
First one family will go-build shell
of house or set up a tent, and thel
another seeing the improvement will
also stop his team and locate. Pretty
soon more will be attracted, and before
long wandering printer will set up {
kind of portable press and start a papeI
then as they have an editor to do thei
lying for them they all pitch in ant
try to beat him and so the town get OF
"boom," and once on that vehicle o
progress there is no telling where i
will stop, it may stop at seven hundred
and may at seven thousand inhabitants
/ forgot to state that by the time tn
town has three or four hundred people
some one will put up ten thousan'
dollar hotel, for the travel is so grea
out here that hotel keepers are fairl.
coming money. Hotels and boarding
houses abound on every hand and eat
ing houses are numerous. Now, yOl
may think have caught the western
disease, the mouth disease, but assur
you that that is the way towns ar
started here. Attica, about siXtcel
miles west of here, was started abou
eight months ago and now has eigh
hundred people, printing office, hotels
stores, &C., &c.
Harper is as lively as ever now tina
spring has opened. Building has com
menced with renewed vigor, and som
very fine blocks are going up. The eS
change bank has just moved into it
own building, one of the finest in tina
part of the State. We have two dali
papers, morning and evening, and thre
weeklies. More Improvements are cor
templated, better church buildings
, residences, business blocks, &c.
Anthony, the present county seat
but it won't be long-is pleasant tow
of some fifteen hundred people, larg
business blocks, two immense hotels
and many fine residences. 1t has ha
nothing to make it grow, and nothin
but the indomitable energy of its pee
! PIE HIS Illaue IL d tOWI. DuI nO" Il
is excitement there on account of TIL
St. Louis, TT. Scott and Wichita raj
road which is nearly built to the tow
they are at work on the depot ther'
} and then they all think the town wi
grow more rapidly tlan ever. Harpe
and Anthony are at the outs on th
county seat question. Last fall til
matter was voted on, Anthony not vo
ing because she claimed the electio
was illegal, and of course the majorit
:. ofvotes was in favor of Harper. Bl
E Anthony issued an injunction again:
the counting of the vote, and now til
matter is in the Supreme Court, an
the trial is set for next Tuesday. Harl
er is sure she has the best Of it, and s
! is Anthony. Harper hasa fine coul
9 house ready for the offices whenevt
| they come here; the court house h,
been built by the town without Oh
cent of cost to the people. The cou
, house at Anthony is poor affair, bl
T Of course thatwill have no influence
!, decidingI the case. However it turn
!. out Harper'is all right, for ifthe ecount