Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-03-21
wEsTEBNI.ErrTER.

cnuId wish. Seated in my luxurious chair
waiting for the train 10 novel; was deeply
interested in reHding. when the occupant of
the chair ia front of nc turned and very
courteouEly inquired: Can yOn inform me.
sir. where the Thermometer stands to-day?"
Before looked up TO reply knew the voice,
and 30 was not at all surprised tn see Deputy
Sheriff W. A. Rowan, who was on his way 10
Colorado to see his brother Frank Neither
knew the other had left Napoleon, 40 the sur
prise was mutual.
We continued in company until we reached
Kansas City. VIII m he started at once for the
west, while | had TO 60 down in Woodson
county on business.
The weather was cold and disagreeable,
and snow lay some three or four inches deep
in most places. Take it all together it seemed
Quite different from last summer when the
mercury stood at l05 degrees in the shade
Leaving Yates Center l passed through
Wichita on my way to Hutchinson, where l
was to take the Santa Fe road. l had three
hours to spare, so spent the time in looking
around the city. Underfoot it was nothing
but mud; but one could see for all the mist,
fog and sloppy sidewalks, that the city was
full of splendid buildings. and that it had
taken wonderful growth within the last few
years.
One of the finest structures in Wichita, and
in the west as well, is the Young Mems
Christian Association building. 1t is of
stone, of massive architecture and of most
pleasing appearance. 1t ia not yet finished.
but is enclosed and under roof. 1t will cost
not less than $4,000 when completed.
Hutchinson was reached after 8 o'clock in
the evening, so little time could be had for
looking around the town; but it was evident,
even to one viewing it in the dark, that
Hutchinson had made most remarkable
growth in the last three years. l spent two
hours very pleasantly in the Sidlinger drug
store. talking with Sam, John and Ed. All
are doing we'll and are making money. -
The store is as fine as any in Napoleon and
is located in large room in what is known
as the Sidlinger block, having been built by
the doctor of the firm, with whom l had quite
long talk. He inquired after all his old
friends in Napoleon, and seemed not to have
lost his interest in his old home on the Mau-
NEE.
L left Hutchinson early in the morning for
the western nart of the State. Just as the
train started Mr.. Samuel Bigger came walk
ing through the car, and recognizing me, we
had a very pleasant talk until he got of at the
next town. He reports himself as prosper
ing in every way, and is we'll satisfied with
Kansas, as indeed, is almost everybody who
comes here to live and make a permanent
home.
My next stopping point was Garden City,
the location of the United States Land Office.
Garden City is very dull just now, as are
most of the towns in Kansas. It has been
built far ahead of the surrounding country
and now must wait for the country to catch
up. If all the money spent in now useless
brick and stone blocks had been expended in
the legitimate development of the country, it
would have been much better in every way.
The last three or four years especially, have
been years which will be known in the an
ais of Kansas as those of wild speculation in
'corner lots," while the farming lands have
been entirely neglected. Town property has
sold at fabulous prices and within a few days
has again and again changed hands at prices
still more fabulous. Men who owned farms
within from one to four miles of towns, be-
gan to dream of sudden wealth and straight
way laid out numberless additions" which
were sold at prices which made the honest
farmer independent, or would have done so,
if he could have controlled the universal
mania for speculation which seized on all
alike. #En
Suburban residences sprung up as if by
magic, and street car lines were built in many
placesin advance of the streets; that is, they
we're built in anticipation of the building Of
the houses to contain the people who we're to
ride to their places of business in said cars
| A friend of mine went to Wichita two years
=
| aera of speculation ever seen in this country.
He took a street car line and rode on it until
| it ended in the midst of cornfield, and rode
back ike the king of France with his twenty
thousand men.
l, myself, saw in West Wichita, fine three
and four story brick blocks which seemed
to be built in the open fields. Nor was Wichi-
ia alone in such foolishness, for right here in
Syracuse, small town of less than 800 in
hoh fpnfc lot, kox, e..
and fine three story hotel building erected
at cost of $12,000 is standing vacant. OF
| course some one had to lose when the reaction
| came, but, as rule, it was not the Kansans
who had to bear the loss. Just before the
price of real estate, many towns ran excur-
sions, and by a judicious system of advertis-
ing led the guiless eastern men to invest in
town property at a further advance. In short
| they unloaded on their eastern cousins. How
ever sharp and shrewd man may be in the
east, he has nobusiness dealing with Kan
| sas real estate man, for he will get left every
time.
think the area of speculation in town lots
here is about over. People are becoming
more cautious, and more sensible as we'll
and it is probable that the result will be that
when our towns take start again the growth
will be steady one, and the towns will be
solidly built. OF course some will be 80 fool.
ish as to get up a boom, and if so, then as nov
the natural consequences will follow, for re
action is equal to action, and in contrary
direction. Kansas has been passing through
a trial, compared with which the "grass hop
PERI season was light afflictiOn, for three
years of failure or partial failure of crops ha.
been much worse than to have the crops
eaten one year by the "hoppers." for it ha'
affected Kansas both at home and abroad; a
home by discouraging her people--or grea
many of them-and abroad by making east
ern capitalists afraid to invest their money il
loans.
My own opinion is that these hard time
will, in the end, prove benefit to the State
for those who come here now will be more ap
to stay and become permanent citizens ant
so will take an interest in the solid improve
ment of its condition. Spectators are bat
citizens for any country, and have done Kan
sas no real good. Syracuse is the county sea
of Hamilton county, and is well located OF
the Santa Fe railroad and on the Arkansa
river. The town is built ahead of the coun
try around it, so it is now very dull Som
very fine buildings have been erected, as fo
instance the Grand Opera Hotel, the hote
building mentioned above as unoccupied
and especially the school house, which is
beautiful stone structure of seven rooms, be
sides closets. cloak rooms, halls, librar
rooms, etc. 1t is as we'll finished schoc
house as ever saw.
!, North and south back from the river th
! country is very beautiful, but it does nc
show off as well as in the river valley. Ju:
,, south Of town and across the river are til
''sand hills" great masses of white sane
| seemingly drifted like snow-for they al
+ nothing but great drifts of Sandstone {
) them seventy-five to one hundred feet hig
/ and extending two or three hundred miles u
: and down the Arkansas-from near Hutchil