The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-08-19
AN ILLINOIS EDITORS VIEW.
MIR. j. Is. Simpson Writes About What he
Saw on a Recent Visit to lola and
Southeastern Kansas.

A few weeks ago as noted in the
REGISTER J. b. Simpson, editor of
the Bowen, Ill.,, Chronicle visited lola
In company with several other gentle
men. On his return home MIR.
Simpson was, of course, asked many
questions about about the wild and
woody west and to get out of answer
ing them all as easily as possible he
wrote the following and published it
In last weeks issue. The article lie
evidently written to correct some false
impressions of his readers aud pays q
handsome compliment to lola.
Last week, in company with A. Woods, OF
Ft. Scott. Kansas, aud J. P. Tarr of near Bowen,
we made a visit to Bourbon aud Allen counties,
Kansas. We landed at TT. Scott Wednesday
evening aud early Thursday morning took the
NJ. X. Il 7. train out to los, the great natural
gas town. Here we met d. W. Bostwick. a real
estate dealer, who was very courteous TO us,
driving with us over the county and city We
visited the smelter brick aud pottery works,
all of which are run by natural gas, Factories
of different kinds are opening up at lola on
account OF the cheapness Of natural gas as fuel.
Iron. lead and zinc are shipped there from
Joplin, Mo. and Pittsburg, Kansas, to be run
through the smelters, thus furnishing en-
ployment to Ave hundred men. II you could
visit smelter run by natural gas you would
saw you could see no reason for the lower
regions being hot. 1t was the hottest place we
ever felt aud hotter than any place we expect
to visit now or hereafter
1t was told us that the population Of lola
had doubled during the past twelve months,
1t had the most business.like appearance OF
any town we have visited In many years.
Buildings were seen In course of construction
in all parts of the place. 1t now contains about
four thousand people and is growing every
day. Every body seemed to be prospecting and
nancy appeared easy. The city has II beau
tiful park and some magnificent residences.
on Friday we drove out over a portion oil
Bourbon county, and about miles northeast
from Ft scott we ran across the hone of John
McPheters who removed from this vicinity
last spring. John is we'll pleased with all oil
his surroundings and has very good crops thi,
season. Mrs. McPheter's health has improved
greatly since going out there aud all the family
were we'll when we saw them. They have q
farm containing loo acres aud the soil is good
u
We saw many men who had removed from
Eastern states out there aud every one said
they were contented and doing we'll
Kansas farmers have Jared well the past
three years aud the country shows that pros
| perity has struck that section.
We also visited Nevada, no, city OF TO-
600 people in the southwestern part of the
state Here we met NJ, X. Kirk who preached
at the Denver, ILL.,, NJ. f. church many years
ago, aud he requested us to remember him Il
the older citizens of Handbook county.
When any body tells you that the people o.
southeastern Kansas are not prosperous yot
tell them they make a mistake Farmers
could not we'll ask to be better situated thar
they are out there at this time.
II you are preiudiced against the state Al
we were, all you have to do is 20 go out and thu
prejudice will all be knocked out Of you,