davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

wheat, rye, corn, oats, sorghum, broom corn, millet and everything in the bottoms and on the uplands, and with age, better culture and more blowing, the crops improve wonderfully. It is 8 royal stock country, covered with buff falo grass, "blue stein" and other spe- cies of richest native herbage. It is 8 grand farming country, as good crops for good farmers rarely fail to attest. These lands are d0acn 10 the minimum now, and
 WILL DOUBLE IN VALUE
 the present season. They will keep on appreciating till they get we'll up toward land values for similar lands in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. The county presents an exceptionally rich field for investment and now is the time. Does the reader long to see western town on real western boom? Well, he may find it in
 NESS CITY,
 the bright young capital and chief town of this great county, as large as Rhode Island and as fair as an ori- ental garden. Ross Calhoun, the father of the town, "stuck his stakes" here, in the spring of 1879 and in- vited "the world and the rest of man. kind" to come and aid him in building
 A BEAUTIFUL CITY
 worthy of the county. When the Santa Fe cars came in February 1887, there were 250 souls and half dozen stores and some shops on the town site and to-day there are close to
 FIFTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE
 and they are among the brightest peo- pie ever encountered by this traveller. They have three ot the brightest newspapers on he"American Desert" ]" They have four solid and solvent banks, sound as bullion, several pretty churches, an elegant high school hous SC
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

kindly remembered for his good offices in behalf of city that bears in every part, the impress of his pub lie spirit.
 MT. G. H. Smith of the pioneer real estate firm of Smith < Brinton, is a New Yorker of quick perception, strong business sense, tireless energy, fine executive traits and marked pub lie spirit. He came to Ness City in the fall of '79, built the second house on the town site (the old sod Immi- grants Home) and with only his empty hands began the fight for for tune by settling new corners on the public lands. He has grown rich in business, residence and suburban property, lands and bank stocks, is man of dauntless bravery and ready self-command and one of the fore most of the Ness City boomers.
 General James Mccartney, late at- torney general of the state of Illinois, and lawyer of commanding ability, is native of north Ireland, of sterling Scotch ancestry, and is man of clear strong brain, warm heart, heroic sense and liberal worldly knowledge. General Mccartney came west last summer in search of a finer climate and located here in the practice of his profession. He is delighted with the city, country and people, is strong worker for Ness City, and believes in grand future for this region.
 D. E. McDowell, the editor of the Walnut Valley Sentinel, is native of Bluffton, Ind, was educated at the Valparaiso normal school, and up to a recent date was engaged in civil en- gineering. He came to Ness City in 1886, and in company with MT. Weisell, founded the Sentinel which he has made one of the best local journals ill Kansas. He is an able and versatile writer, capital political
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

and county, are among its ablest and most consistent advocates. Tn this connection I am pleased to give the readers of THE TRAvELER a group of portraits and some personal notes rep rescnting 8 few of the many staunch and stalwart workers of this live and advancing city, whom appropriately term
 NESS CITY BOOMERS.
 MT. Ross Calhoun, the founder of the town is a native of Iowa and was edu- cated at the Iowa state university, afterwards holding the position of assistant secretary of the state Grange. He came to Kansas in 1875 and three years later to Ness county. Tn 1879 he founded Ness City, opened the first general store and was commissioned the first post master, serving in this capacity for seven consecutive years. MT. Calhoun is president of the State Bank of Ness City, member of the city school board and the head of the we'll known mercantile house of Cal houn Brothers. He built and owns the elegant Calhoun House, has platted and sold several additions to the city, and still owns business and residence properties of great value. Mir. Calhoun is a. man of clear, well disciplined brain, generous heart, kindly impulse, boundless public spirit and great business sagacity and from capital of 500 in 1879, has come to be one of the wealthiest men in western Kansas. He has, in good measure too, the higher wealth of a brave, manly, magnanimous nature, has given away good sized fortune in aid of schools, churches, city im- provements, railways and all worthy enterprises and will be long and
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

its growth is impelled by the rapid and substantial development of the country. Brave, confident, self-hope- ful and we'll trained
 YOUNG MEN ARE IN THE LEAD in every department of local life men whose mental, moral and physical stamina has suffered no loss from age, infirmity or failure, but whose hopes, aims, purposes and powers are equal to the needs of the day and occasion. My own views of this situation have the cordial endorsement of the
 REPRESENTATIVE MEN
 of the city, whose better knowledge of the town comes of experience in the best ways of local life.
 Mir. J. G. Arnold, the accomplished and popular vice. president of the Ness County Bank, and the county treas urer, whose official probity, sound sense and fine executive ability have brought him fortune, friends and honors, would not exchange it for any country of his knowledge.
 MT. N. c. Merrill, president of the Ness County Bank, and one of the most sagacious business men and financiers in the country, whose large personal and farm loan business gives weight to his usually conservative views, regards Ness county invest ments, whether in loans or title deeds, as safe as government bonds, and much more profitable.
 Borthwick Bros, the careful, con- servative and able proprietors of the Ness City Bank, whose opinions have the weight of authority in this coun- try, like the Ness County Bank off, cials, have their fortune invested here,
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

are loaning money for their friends and believe there are no better securi- ties than farm loans in this county.
 Miner Bros., of the Ness County Land and Loan Co.,, men of ripe judg- ment and large experience in real es- tate and farm loans, fully endorse the good opinions of the bankers quoted, and MT. c. l.. Rogers, the accom- plished cashier of the First National Bank, is quite as strong in his endorse ment of the country.
 Frank l.. Miller & Co.,, land and loan men of excellent character and large experience in farm loans, are strong in praise of this country as a basis of security for loans or invest ments.
 w. D. Napier x Co.,, who are among the most active real estate and loan men in the city, and have had large experience in Kansas, have high opinion of Ness county securities.
 Wetherbee < Morgan, whose Ness county holdings cover 5000 acres and whose large investments here, not less than their liberal experience in loans and knowledge of the country, give value to their opinions, believe Ness county securities are the best on the market, an opinion fully shared by Cashier Chas. E. Clarkson and his assistant, Roy Thompson, of the State Bank of Ness City, both gentlemen of rare business discrimination.
 Smith < Brinton, extensive real estate owners and dealers, and gentle men of ripe judgment and long expe- rience in this country, have great confidence in it's future, and Ross Cal houn, the sagacious and public spirited founder of the city, has the best reason for endorsing Ness county investments.
 Messrs. Burton & Black, of the Con- tinental Investment Company, and young gentlemen of acknowledged financiering ability, who loan a good deal of money on both personal and realty security, assure me that the
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14
hardens into the oleanest of pavements Close on the border of the city the

hardens into the oleanest of pavements. Close on the border of the city the
 BEAUTIFUL SUNSET LAKE
 great pool, fed by mighty hidden springs, whose sources are far off in the foothills, and whose clear waters are the glory of the town, furnishes a water supply which many city, cast in larger mould, might envy. And the good people of Ness are to have
 WATER WORKS
 supplied from this matchless fountain. They are to have them this summer, and hard after will come the electric light and other metropolitan improve ments that are "on the cards" First and of all will come
 THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY, the great system whose interminable lines reach eastward to the Missis- sippi, south to the gulf, northward to the Platte river and west to the noun tains and Pacific slope. The system that has given new life, new commer- cial and industrial impulse, competi- tion and commercial Independence to half the leading towns in Kansas, is coming to Ness City in the early sum- mer, with its Larned extension O., M. x A.), which will make connec- tions with the main line at Utica, in this county, and already running to Pueblo, Denver and the mountains. give this live, luminous and fast growing little city joy of it's own fortune, for the early coming of this greatest of southwestern railways will naturally bring the Rock Island and the Burlington, both of which are pointing this way. Ness City has a cordon of pretty parks now under de-
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

organizer, a level-headed, candid, manly man, warm, steadfast friend, an influential Democrat and a grand worker for Ness City and country, where he is personally popular and influential.
 Charles E. Clarkson, the we'll known cashier and manager of the State Bank of Ness City, is another of the young men of mark here. He Is native of Gaiesburg, Ill.,, was edu- cated at Knox college and i'll 1880 came to Kansas and took a clerkship in the State Bank of Kansas at Sab- etha, where he was soon advanced to the position of cashier and manager. MT. Clarkson came in 1886 and with friend and assistant cashier, Mir. Ray Thompson, organized the State Bank of Ness City. MT. Clarkson is born financier; is one of the ablest bank managers in western Kansas and has made signal success of the State Bank of which himself and MT. Thompson are the controlling shareholders. His close personal relations with many of the leading banks and bankers of Kansas, thorough training, clear views of finance and successful man. agement, have given the State Bank an enviable position in financial and business circles. MT. Clarkson is the financial member of the city school board, man of admirable sense and high character, ,an influential worker for Ness City and a confident believer in a prosperous future for this country.
 Geo. l.. Burton, of the law firm of Burton & Black, and president of the
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

velOpment, but it is central to western Kansas and more locally central to & rich farm region reaching thirty miles west to Dighton, thirty miles south to Jetmore, forty miles north to Wa keeny and thirty miles east to Walnut City-a country large and rich enough to sustain city of 10000 people, and it is as certain to become
 A RAILWAY CENTRE
 of magnitude as the sun ia to shine and the rains fall. The most fortun- ate location in the west of the state {; the unity, bravery and the splendid working gifts of the Board of Trade the two great trunk lines already crossing the county; the one at Ness City and the other little northward, but reaching out with it strongest lateral line to take in the city, are among the influences that are to make this essentially strong and attracting town, railway centre of command ing importance. Few towns in Kan sas have more to offer the investor or settler than Ness City. The remark able growth of last year was but an earnest of tke changes to come. It matters little what particular the new conner desires to enter, he will ind it rich enough in opportunity tor the best ability and ambition.
 FORTUNES WERE MADE
 here last year by investors, and other fortunes will be made the present year. Everything in the way of realty values and business, both in city and country, has
 A STRONG UPWARD TENDENCY. The newness and natural wealth of the country admits of and insures i'm definite growth. The development of the country means new growth for the town. A speculative boom is in no wise necessity to Ness City, for
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

If the readers of TIE TRAVELLER would see the model county and most prosperous town in western Kansas, they are hereby invited to come to
 NESS COUNTY.
 It is 300 miles west of Kansas City, and 100 miles east of Colorado, mid way between Nebraska and the Indian territory, in the heart of the old but- falo range and the beautiful Walnut valley. It is too, the central and rep resentative county of western Kansas; has an area of 1,080 square miles, with out an acre of waste land, and with 9 mean elevation of 2,500 feet above the tides; rich black alluvial soils, a wealth of wild grasses; score of clear streams, hundreds of clear cold springs; i; it's inexhaustible quarries of superb white and cream colored magnetism limestones it's beautifu native groves, broad, rich valleys, far reaching table, lands and graceful, billowy prairies, may safely be called
 THE BANNER COUNTY
 of western Kansas, an honor recently SOHiCl ACu upOl IL Oy IIlC oOuIh " CoC Kansas Exposition for the finest gen. eral display of county products. It has the latitude of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky, mild, genial cli- mate with delightful breezy summer days followed by cool, restful nights, and with it's clear, rare, radiant atmos- phere and bright skies, is one of the most healthful and enjoyable regions have found between Gotham and the Golden Gate. Ness is
 NEW COUNTY,
 having been organized as late as 1880, but its newness, natural wealth of soil and grasses and availability to men of moderate means, make it just now 8 rich field for the investor and settler. It is something more, however, than a beautiful wilderness, for it has
 EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE,
 65 miles of railway, 64 public schools, half dozen wide-awake newspapers, five banks, dozen churches, l6,000 cattle, $500 horses
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

and mules, eight railway stations, 1 200 miles of everlasting stone- post and wire fence, and has laid we'll and wisely the firm foundations of bright and progressive civilization. The people are cosmopolitan, intelligent, progress sive and hospitable, and express in the genuine western fashion boundless en- terprise and public spirit. The cen- tral location, remarkable agricultural and pastoral possibilities, trunk rail- way lines, rapid farm development, still more rapid growth of the towns and high character of the people of this model new county considered, there are
 NO CHEAPER LANDS IN THE WEST than right here in Ness county, nor any more desirable. Smooth bottom farms, rich as the Mohawk valley, with clear running water and often with 8 grove or belt of native timber, fair buildings and cultivated fields may be had tor $10 to $15 per acre. I'm proved upland prairie farms fairly we'll improved with sod or stone buildings, cultivated fields, fences and groves, and soils that would open the eyes of farmers in the older states, are selling from $7 to $l0 per acre. Homesteads, pre-emption and timber claims of l6O acres, not yet deeded, but often under considerable improvement, are selling, by relinquishment, for $500, $500 and $500. according to location. School lands may be had on small payment and long credit at low rates of inter- est for $4, $5 and $6, and this in a county without blemish, where the average farm or claim would make a premium farm anywhere in Ohio, New York or Pennsylvania. Nor is there the slightest doubt about
 A GRAND AGRICULTURAL FUTURE
 for this country. The county is new, but they grow full round crops of
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14
1.-THE SHOWING OF THE PINES. ."
BY THOMAS WENTWORTH mGGNsoN.

Softer than silence. stiller than still air, Float down from high pine boughs the slen
 der leaves. The forest floor it's annual boon receives That comes like owfall, tIreless, tranquil,
 fair. Gently they glide, gently they clothe the bare old rocks with grace. Their fall a mantle
 weaves Of paler yellow than autumnal sheaves Or those strange blossoms the witch hazels
 wear. Athwart long aisles the sunbeams pierce their
 way;
 High up, the crows are gathering for the
 night;
 The delicate needles fill the air; the jay Takes through their golden mist his radiant
 flight;
 They fall and fall, till at November's close The snow flakes drop as lightly-snows on
 snows. -Scribner'S Mdgdzine.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

cream tinted magnetism limestones here in vast beds, finely stratifed in layers, like the fairest of fiagstones, and fashion them with chisel, saw, plane and graver, as one may fashion the cleanest of woods. And what chaste and elegant finish and impressiveness they give to we'll designed buildings 1 Such business blocks and homes and school houses as one may see in this radiant young city. And what
 AN INSPIRING LOCATION
 too, on the crown of the great prairie,
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

Continental Investment Company, is one of the strong, rising young men of this city, and an active and influen- tial worker for its advancement. He is New Yorker, with honors from
 Yale University and the Columbia Law School. icentiate of the Su- preme and Federal courts of New
 York, and was formerly a member of the faculty of the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. MT. Bur ton came to Ness City in the summer
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

believes in grand future for the city and county.
 I am pleased to quote the good opin- ions of MT. George c. Brownell, a lawyer of marked ability and fine judgment, who has recently adopted Ness City as his permanent home. MT. Brownell, who is attorney for the
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

giving matchless and magnificent views of the sweetest of pastoral and valley landscapes. The ravines give
 perfect drainage all ways outwards from the busy business center and the warm dry gravel of the subsoils
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

debt-paying temper of the people of this country is admirable.
 General James Mccartney, late at- torney- general of Illinois and now 8 resident of this city, has great admir- ration for the country and people, and
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14
WESTERN KANSAS.
BEAUTIFUL WALNUT VALLEY.

The Banner County and Booming City
 of the Plains.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15
"cribbed, Cabinod aud Confined. =,

What enemy OF a race, dependent for stem-
ina and stability upon the health of its
women, invented and oTdain al our evening
dresses!" The long pointed bodice-what
there is Of lifts like kid glove: a wreath
of roses fast on the left shoulder. droops low
below the bust until il finds safe Judgment on
the protuberant right hip. Folds Of tullo
meeting the garland, in ''surplicon style far
below the breast bone, are confined on the
right shoulder by bow of ribbon. Sleeves
there are none, unless the obsolet= articles arc
indicated by the bow on. one shoulder and
the flowers on ths other The N-shaped ex-
posure of the chest is corrobor2ted at the
back by a vacancy between the shoulder
blades, which hes the spinal column as visi-
bic center. Long gloves strain in paroxvs-
NAL modesty 20 reach the ribbon knots and
roses and fail by four inches of tender flesh.
1t is winter, and underveSt Of mer;no or
sanitary flannel was stripped from shoulders.
chest and arms before the wesrer ''dresseds
for the ball She is padded and pinioned,
and her skirts are tied painfully hack over
steel ribs that outbear satin and tulle train
In this rig-'crikbed, cabined and confined"
she is TO enjoy invigorating exercise, the
poetry or motion, in room heated by fur.
mace, gas and crowd Of steaninE human
bodies; the modicUm of air for which her
stays leave room in her lungs will be hreatbei
nTty times over before her turn comes
Philadelphia Times.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15
TraYers and the ENGLISH Orator

IL is due to Mr.. William L. Travers that
this country still retains the palm for oratory
and volubility of speech. A few years ago q
Wanting and loquacious Britisher had ap-
peared i'll our midst to dispute the claim of
the national cup in oratory, as Rowell had
done for the belt in pedestrianism. IL was in
the yachting season, and the voluble cham
pion was invited to accompany party, Of
which Mr. Travers was the leading spirit,
down the bay, in Mr.. Travers yacht. TEa
orator had talked nearly everybody within
earsnot of his voice almost deaf When the
party arrived at the dinner table, it vas
hoped that he would cease for short time,
but when every other topic seemed exhaust :
ed, as well as the patience of his listeners, he
started off with renewed huency on the sub
ject of oysters, which constituted the dish
ten at table.
ut is now debatabe point among scien-
fists, he said, las 70 whether or not the oyster
has brains"
Travers, who up to this time had endured
the infection of his verbose guest with the
calmneSs Of Job, said: 81 th--th-ink the
oyster must have b-b-rains, because it
knows enough when TO shut up"
By this satiric stroke the English orator
was dumfounded and almost paraly zed his
3uent tongue ceased 70 wag with its usual
volubility, aud when requested to name his
time for the international contest, be begged
to be excused until cured Of his cold He
took the next steamer for Liverpool, and has
not been heard Of since Thus Mr Travers'
incisive remark about the mental attributes
of the oyster thoroughly squashed him and
saved the oratorical honor of otr country
Chicago Herald.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15

The sayings OF little folks are very much
the vogue just now, and well they may be,
for there are no brighter sayings than those
of children, and certainly none more genuine
or void of afrec1ation, and the more appar-
emily remarkable the reputed say ing the
more certain the reader may be that it is
genuine, for no grown person could possibly
invent things half SO good as those which
come spontaneously out of the mouths Of
children. Little Hans, the diminutiye Ison
of very large and portly German, lost his
sister and playmate. The angels came and
took her away" said his weeping mother
Hans was very thoughtful and still At last
he said: Mamma, If papa was TO die the
angels couldn't tarry him, tould they2 bod
would have to tome hisSelf Boston Herald.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15
Festivals Of tho Aiaskans.

The festivals-which, as we have said, are
numerous-are often held in sort of COM
mon hall called the kashga, which is built Of
the same pattern Us the semi-sJIbteTanean
winter houses, but is often as large as sixty
feet square and twenty or thirty feet high.
This kashga also serves for various other
purposes. IL is used for the public bath; for
the deliberations of the council of elders in
communal questions; for the preparation of
skins and the manufacture Of sleds; for the
reception OF visitors, and for the sleeping
place of males who have no huts of their
own. The festivals consist of singing and
dancing of primitive character, and then
gorging with fish and blubber, with the adj
ditional luxury of melted reindeer fat, when
it can be procured. All the food both fish
and flesh, goes through some process Of cook
ing before being eaten, although the higher"
it is the more it is appreciated.-Chamb
,JOurnal