The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-03


roads on earth. When within three
miles of Eldorado we came to deep
woods with heavy growth OF under
brush, but even this was most agree,
able change from barren hills and
rocky roads. 1t is very dry as there
has been no rain for two weeks, and
the country being sandy requires
more rain. Of all the country we
have passed and towns we have been
in. and crops we have seen, none OF
them can surpass the good old county
of Allen, and the city of lola, In
Kansas.
Ameng our first surprises after going
into camp at Eldorado was visit to
our camp by ID. B. ID. Shelter. Oh,
but we were glad to see some one from
lola. Shortly afterwards John
Knowlton, brother to our Charlie
Knowlton of Geneva, came to our
camp. and since then we have been
HIGHLY entertained by these two gen.
tIemen. On Friday evening In COM
pany with them and four or five other
gentlemen we went out to the city
lake to take q swim. The lake Is
situated at the foot of q hill, and is
very pretty place. 1t is about half q
mile In length and 400 feet wide. The
water ia clear and cold and furnishes
an excellent place for bathing and
boating in the summer and skating In
the winter. After leaving the lake
we went about half mile north OF the
CITY to q place known as "Ths Rock
of our friends.n This ie rock 30 feet
long and Is feet high and extends up
ward on the side Of steep bank and
looks as if it could be easily pushed
over. 1t gradually tapers up to
point and lie somewhat the shape of
large shield. 1t lie covered with
names of people from all over the
United States and the dates range as
far back as 1872. Near this famous
rock is another rock upon which are
plainly seen the print Of q turkeys
foot and that of flying squirrel. The
story goes that beneath this rock
there is q pot of gold, but In spite OF
the vigorous search that has been
made for it, no gold has been found,
though months have been spent In
digging for 1t.
On Friday morning q party of us
two spring wagon loads started out
to see the sights of the different
springs. The first place we visited
was the Iron Springs in the city park:
Here n beautiful stream of crystal
water runs constantly out of the earth
and is said to be sure cure for
diseases too numerous to mention. The
water tastes strongly of iron and is
cool and refreshing. Hundreds Of
people visit this spring every day,
and carry water away. We are told
that some miraculous cures have been
made by it. The town is full of all
kinds of cripples and invalids and
pretty girls-the latter come for
pleasure, and the former for health,
and there seems to be an abundance
of both.
The next spring visited was the
Alumni Spring, about half mile west
of town. The water is clear and cool
and tastes very strongly of Alumni,
and is said to be a specific for catarrh.
Of course we all drank some of the
water and snuffed some of it up our
noses to cure our catarrh, and we will
say that if it wont cure it ought to, as
it creates pains in ones head that are
almost uncomfortable for a short time.
But there is no doubt in the mind OF
the writer that it will cure-if it
doesn't kill.
The next place visited was the Nine
Wonders. Here is beautiful grove
of large trees Inside the grove is
built large pavilion that is used for
dancing principally and also for
other purposes. The Nine Wonders
is pit dug i'm the ground about 10 #.
deep, 60 feet long and 40 feet wide.
Inside of this pit and not to exceed
feet apart are eight living springs and
the water of each has different in
gradients and a different taste. These
are all run together in one pool i'm the
center of the DIT, thus making nine
springs, hence the name-Nine Won-
ders. A company once owned this
place and undertook to make boom
here. All the country near was laid
off into streets, fine hotel was built
and thousands of dollars were spent
in laying a roadbed for railroad and
making other improvements. But 1t
was q failure in the end, and the
building and everything there is
going to ruin.
We next made visit to the Drip
ping Rocky, one of natures greatest
freaks. A large rusty rock about Is
feet high and 100 feet long and shaped
like horse shoe that begins at the
top and slants i'm at the bottom is the
famous Dripping Rock. Water drips
from this immense rock constantly
and contains a good deal of iron as 1t
keeps the rock rusty all the time.
Near this rock is an old Indian bury
ing ground which we visited and each
of us cut a cane from trees growing
out of the grave of some warrior. The
country is very pretty around here
and an occasional log cabin breaks
the mOnotony.
Our next place of interest was the
Sulphur Springs, about two miles
west of the city. We found q pretty
little stream of water that contains al
most enough Sulphur to make 1t
burn, and it was not very pleasant to
the taste.
And now q few words about the city.
ElDorado is very pleasantly situated,
and has population of about 1000.
The people are very courteous and
and easy to get acquainted
with. They are proud of their county
and city, and they have right to be,
and take pleasure in showing the
people the sights that are to be seen.
And, dear readers of the REGISTER,
here we made a most startling dis
covery. While we were wondering
why the people here were so friendly |
and hOspitable we made numerous in. |
quiries as to the cause and found,
away over here in the hills of Mis- |
souri, county with Republican ma
jority of about 300 And we were told |
by an old citizen that along in '67
when he came to the county it wasn't |
safe for a man to acknowledge that he |
had been in the Union army. But |
even the Democrats over here are |