Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-01-01

of Baxter Springs, or OF Cherokee
county, with this city thrown in.
Perish the thought 1t is with
the live issues of today that the
writer is dealing, not with the filmy
past. That is the task that properly
belongs to the compiler of history.
NY work lies in the presentation OF
features and affairs, as they are, as
indicated by the head lines above,
and therein I shall confine myself
with such bare illusions to past
data and matter as are absolutely
necessary to qualify my report. l
have in mind the spirit of the fam
GUS charity sermon of the celebrat'
ed Dean Swift, delivered many de-
cades ago at Westminster Abbey
England, for the benefit of the poor
of London. He very appropriately
selected as his text, HE that giveth
10 the poor lendeth to the Lord,
after which, pausing for moment
he delivered as his sermon, "Breth-
rem, now if you are satisfied with
the collateral, down with the dust
Likewise l will present this town
and the outlying districts.
BAXTER SPRINGS.
1t lies in the eastern portion OF
Springvailey township, which is in
the southeastern portion of Chero-
kee county, which in itself is theex'
treme southeastern county in the
state. Six miles east would bring
one to the Missouri boundary and
one and a half miles south TO the
Indian Territory. From Kansas
City il lies 100 miles south. II sup
plies a wide area of valuable terri
tory. II is above the sea level about
1000 feet. The first settler was a
man named Baxter, hence the title.
Present population some !, $50 souls
During the war both the Union and
Confederate forces were quartered
herea bouts, and an imposing mon.
ument in the National Cemetery
westward from the city marks the
spot where lie buried brave force
of Federal soldiers who were mas
sacred by Quantrell's raiders.
In the spring of 70 the X. c, F. s.
& NJ. railroad was built through
here. Spring branch OF Spring
river flows through the city. This
10 a delightful natural location, on
a rising, rolling plateau, perfect
drainage, and commanding a beau
tiful scenic panorama all about.
MATERIAL ADVANTAGES.
There is here splendid water
mower, free to manufacturers. The
river has width of 400 feet add
a fall of 10 feet to the mile. A flne
$4,000 bridge spans the river, below
which 10 a $4,000 dam. At low
water mark there is COO TO 300 horse
power. Countless springs feed the
river. Throughout this district
under foot, are three heavy veins OF
coal of superior quality. Millions
of bushels are mined annually. Ad'
jacent, at Gal ma, Kansas, Joplin
and Webb City, NO., and other
points, are the great lead and zinc
deposits of the Kansas Missouri
district The topography of this
district is undulating or slightly
rolling. Good natural roads lead
out in all directions. This district
lies in the best portion of the great
corn belt. Here the grains. grasses,
vegetables, orchards, flowers and
animal life seem TO attain the high
est perfection. The range OF pro.
ducfiou is shown by the exports,
which are: Corn, oats, wheat, fiax
seed, sweet and Irish potatoes, gar
den truck, dairy products, country
produce, orchard products, 6ne road
and draft horses, mules, high grade
beef cattle, model hogs, sheep. coal,
-four and hardwood lumber. Spleen
did pastures and meadows Craze
the herds and flocks. Blue grass
grows quite ms we'll here as In
famed Bourbon county, Kentucky;
white clover aud red top also. The
native herbsge lie peculiarly nutri-
tious aud yields abundantly.
The climate is semi-tropicai and
the average Of health maintained 10
high. The summers are pleasant
and the winters mild. The well es-
,ablishrd virtues of its famous
springs, unequalied for the cure OF
eeveraI diseases, such as dyspep-
sia. rhcumatism, general debility,
ecxena and all skin diseases, andas
= general restorative agent, attract
hnndreds to visit here. Good views
there are on every hand. AT the
manual aoldiers' reunion an average
daily atteudance Of 10000 people
conRrcgnte here. The neighboring
sinies furnish large delegations.
Only . person who has resided
here some length of time can APP
nrtciaie fully ~ihe fine social fea-
nr.s and sdvaniages, iis several
.0Icffs, iis superior high graded