Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-08-11
LETTER FROM THE WEST
NEosHA FALLS, X ANsAs. /
July 20. 1892. /

Letters" 10 the Northwest ualluS Iuen
from this place. II was my first visit
to the state, and l will remember how
strange everything looked to my un-
accustomed eyes, used to the timber
country of the Maumee Valley, all my
life.
The prairies seemed to me the most
beautiful sight ever beheld, while all
thought of monotony was put to flight
by viewing the dense forests along the
NeOsho river.
The prairies are beautiful yet and the
forests are still there, and last week as
| from the high ground mile east of
where now am, viewed the same val
ley stretched out before me, and looked
south and west over miles upon miles of
cultivated farms, for moment the old
glamour was over my eyes: Again l
felt the same thrill felt thirteen years
ago, when gazing at the same scene,
and the feeling was strong that no 9TH
er state or country could so fair a land
scape be found.
Yet the landscape was the same only
as whole; in detail nearly everything
was different. Cultivated fields were
seen in place of prairie, in many places.
Often where nothing but prairie was
growing now appeared vigorous ORCH
ards of thrifty forest trees. In one
direction where but one grove could be
seen, now a dozen may be counted.
Nor is this all; the people are changed
as we'll as the country. OF my old
neighbors, but one remains and am a
stranger in my old home. Eleven years
absence from ones home, with visits
few and far between make one easily
almost forgotten even if the neighbor-
hood itself remains the same, and this
truth is painfully apparent when ones
old neighbors have all moved out or
died. / have lived in several different
parts of the state and have made many
acouaintancesand friends since leaving
the farm, but can truthfully say that
l never enjoyed myself more, or had
better friends than when lived here.
One finds good people and kind friends
wherever he goes, and one of the ad"
vantages of my mode Of life is that
have had the privilege of becoming ac-
quainted with dozens and scores OF
good people, whom / never would
have met, had l remained in one place
all the time. The world is full ofgood
people, and tho who stay in one
place all their lives miss more than
they can well realize, in not having the
opportunity of knowing them. But
think have moralized long enough, sc
I'll write about something else.
Neosho Falls is one of the oldest
towns in the Neosho River Valley; il
has about seven hundred people, and
really is a beautiful village, but rs il
does not show off we'll from the main
street and railroads, its beauty is un.
known to the ordinary traveller. How.
ever if one goes off the business street
west into the residence portion, he will
find beautiful shaded streets, paved
with brown and yellow gravel, many
find residences set back among the
trees which now are as large as if they
were in their native forests, and people
who seem to enjoy their lovely sur.
rounding and are proud of their homes.
will venture to say that there is not
as beautiful town of its size in Kansas
as is the unpretending little village OF
Neosho Falls. Its situation on the
Neosho River, gives it variety of land
scape, while its fair grounds, over the
river, acknowledged to be one of the
most beautiful natural parks in the
state, furnished now for picnics, and
every thing else of that kind.
The river furnishes water power for
two mills, and could furnish power for
almost numberless manufactures were
they at hand. Sometimes the Neosho
like the Maumee, gets on rampage,
and makes things lively. Some seven
years ago, it was so high that it came
into the stores on the business street,
through which boats were rowed.
Such very high waiter only comes once
in twenty-seven years according to an
old Indian tradition.
For long time there was but one
railroad through the town, but within
the last few years, the "Santa Fe" has
built branch running from Colony on
the Southern Kansas division, to Yates
Center; when it will be built on further
and where it will go no one but those
at headquarters know.
A large roller mill was recently built
by Hon. D. w. Finney who was Gov
ernor of Kansas for two terms few
years ago. Mr., Finney has lived in
Neosha Falls for years, and is Thoroughly
identified with its interests as well as
with the interest of the state at large.
Few men who have engaged in public
life enjoy the reputation or has the
good will of all classes as does Gov.
Finney who is we'll and favorably
known, and who is popular with all
classes.
Col. Parsons, an old citizen of Neosho
Fall, has long owned mill just across
the river from that of Gov. Finney's.
He it was who put in the dam which
furnishes power for both of the mills,
l. 80 aL,,S l. so