The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18

prise and appreciation to all who have a
good thing and wish to place its merits be-
fore good constituency. Advertise in the
WATCHMAN.
DIR. d. G. KEMP, G.. w Parmenter, Pro-
fessor ID. S. Blanpied, and W. II. Herrick
of Middlesex, all Of whom have invest
ments in Kearney, Neb., returned from
there last week, all very enthusiastic over
what they saw during their absence. To
WATcHMAN reporter, DIR. Kemp gave a
brief description of the trip which, It is be-
lieved, will be of general interest. The
party went TO Greenfield, Mass, under the
escort of w. Il. Hascall. Here they were
met by parties from Concord, Manchester,
and Laconia, n. H., Bristol, Conn., and
Boston, also by II. ID. Watson of Kearney,
who accompanied them to their destination
They arrived in Chicago while the strike was
on, and in Pullman car, which excited
much interest from the crowds and curl
osity as to how it was permitted to run
into Chicago. The reason for this was that
Mr.. Watson was sharp enough to go into
the city over road that was in the hands
of receiver, and controlled by government
officials. The party was not delayed in
Chicago, and, after doing that city for a day,
left over the Missouri Pacific, with a clerk
in one of the offices there for fireman. The
country from Omaha to Kearney is de-
scribed as delightful, with luxurious vegeta-
tion on every hand. The crops were in
X,
Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Kearney, called the Midway City" be-
cause 1t is almost exactly half way from
New York to San Francisco, is bustling
city of 1900 inhabitants, and rapidly grow
ing 1t has seven large school buildings,
all modern structures, the Longfellow
school building just completed costing
100000, city hall that cost $4,000, an
opera house with seating capacity of
200, and in the construction of which
$4,000 was expended. A cotton mill en-
ploying 400 hands, with 1900 spndles and
turning out 1900 yards per day, is in opera.
tion, and another is soon to be built. The
city is equipped with an electric railroad
and is lighted by electricity. The State In
dustrial School for boys is also located at
Kearney, and has $50 inmates. The electric
railroad, cotton mill and electric-light plant
are all run by water power, that is con.
ceded to be superior to any in the region
west of the Mississippi river. 1t is brought
in canal distance of sixteen miles. The
city has just appropriated 100000 and the
company S45,0 900 for the purpose of enlarg-
ing this canal. Kearney is located in an ex-
cellent agricultural region, as indeed is all
that section of country west of the Platte
river. 1t is at present connected with the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, is
on the main line of the Union Pacific, is
headquarters for the Kearney and Black
Hills road, and will soon be tapped by the
Missouri Pacific system, that is now only
twenty-six miles away. In this section
alfafa, grass resembling clover, is raised
on a large scale, and three crops in a season
are harvested All the members of the
party speak in unqualified praise of Mr..
Watson and what he has accomplished in
developing Kearney. He owns large prop
erty in the city, and has farm of 5000
acres outside, requiring drive of five
miles to cross it. Mr.. Watson's sole object
seems to be to build up Kearney and in this
he shows tireless energy. From Kearney
the Montpelier party went to Denver, then
to Georgetown and Idaho Springs, visited
the Silver Creek canyon and inspected the
mining districts of Colorado. Language
failed the late lamented Bishop Simpson to
describe the scenery of this region, and the
genial doctor made no attempt to do so.