Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-02-28
TO THE SOUTH AND BACK.
The Kansas Editors Trip Through
Texas and Louisiana.

The Kansas Editors Trip Through
Texas and Louisiana.
Given congenisl party Of % Kan
sas editors and their ladies', two Pull
man cars, accommodating railroads,
ten days Of time and New Orleans as
an objective point could anything
but happiness result2 Certainly
nothing else did result from the excur-
sion which started from Emporia Feb
9th. Col. A. G. Stacey, editor Of the
Parsons Independent, to whom was
due the credit for the arrangement
and management Of the pleasurable
outing, has had charge Of other excur-
slons but never did he plan more
attractive trip, and the hearty resolu-
tions Of appreciation adopted on the
return journey were all deserved.
Accompanying the party was Edwin
Adams, representing the M. K. y I.
railway, who exerted himself for the
guests comfort, while the Southern
Pacific SEM one Of its handsomest and
most accommodating passenger
agents, Mr.. E. D. Harrington, to ex-
tend the courtesies Of its line. From
both companies the party received the
best Of treatment and all saw the
country traversed under the most
favorable auspices possible. The
visit TO the southland was a revela-
ton to many and though record
breaking blizzard was an unlimited
camp-follower all received impress
sions Of southern life, progress and
industries which will be valuable in
many ways.
The average Kansas man looks with
no favor on the Indian Territory. He |
cannot reconcile himself to seeing
those fertile acres with the rich soil,
the abundant streams, the heavy |
rainfall and the ample timber supply |
given up to race which is supported
in idleness by the government, while
in western Kansas thousands OF lives
are being worn out in desperate and
vain attempt to secure u livelihood.
The same effort would make the set
tiers rich in the Indian lands. But
allotment is coming and already
through the 'squaw-man'-the white
who has married into an Indian fam
ily-and through various commercial
devices the whites are getting a foot
hold Mines are being worked and
the country developed, though slowly.
10 the traveller it is chiefly noted for
poor meals at high prices and long
monotonous reaches OF unused but
valuable land.
The southwark turning tide OF emf
grafton is having its effect on north
ern Texas. Here are locating the
settlers who have found 1t difficult to
secure a livelihood farther north, who
look fora more permanent prosperity,
On every hand are seen new roofs;
new houses and stores are being
erected in the towns, new farmhouses
in the country-all giving evidence Of
an Influx ofnew capital and an ad-
vancement in prosperity. One can
not discern that agriculture has been
particularly profitable, though crops
have been good during the past sea-
son. But cotton at d and 6 cents is
like 40 cent wheat, while the outlook
for better prices is so poor that SER
ious attempt is being made to induce
all cotton rasers to pledge themselves
to cut down the acreage one-third.
Otherwise there will be 4 cent cotton
and corresponding drug in the cot
ton-seed oil and meal market, already
glutted. The farm horses seem I'M
necessarily poor in flesh and the I'M
usually cold winter has had a bad
effect on stock generally.
The party's first stopping-place was
Lake Charles, La, headquarters of
the Watkins Land Co., and the south
ern terminus of the Watkins route
now being built north toward Kan
sas City. This place is the Tacoma
Of Louisiana. 1t is bustling, busy
town of 5000 with thirteen saw-mills
where the magnificent hard pine tim
Der of the pineries Of northern Louis
lana and Arkansas are transformed !
into lumber; rice mills; cotton mills;
etc. 1t has water outlet to the ]
Gulf % miles away and is certain to