Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-07-23
REUNION TALK.

Springer
The only institution we have to
day that can recommend and ad
vertise us to the world is the Inter
State Soldiers Reunion. 1t has
done more for publishing Baxter
Springs to the world than all Other
forces combined. Since this state
ment cannot be questioned, 1t IL
not duty merely for old soldiers
but for every citizen in our com
munity to ask himself and herself
what can do for the success oil
our next reunion?
We have been called selfish
community; whether justly or un'
Justly this charge is placed at our
door; il is in our power and II Ia
our duty to remove such an impress
sion for the future welfare of Bax-
ter Springs. The change In our
grounds will be great help In that
line, hence let us welcome the
change.
Some of our people complain and
say that the new grounds are too
far from the city; such statement
only shows our ignorance of the
world. The new grounds are with
in one mile of the center of Baxter
Springs and after this year we have
good reasons to believe they will
be within half a mile of q switch
that will run to the old McAboy
place-a great improvement over
previous years. Many of our peo-
pie have been in Kansas City; will
you name one of her principle
parks within three times that dis.
lance, or name any town or city
where there 10 park of any size
and note nearer the center than our
new reunion groundsl 1t cannot
be found. Then, the superiority OF
those grounds over all others will
more than compensate for the diff.
ference In distance to say nothing
of the sand and dust that ruined all
enjoyment last year. We are GER
tain those who come this year will
go home and report truth which
will increase the number year by
year.
Also, as a community, we lack a
place for our home picnics at a
proper distance. Pine Bluff and
the Promenade are too far. Both
are interesting places, but not to be
compared with the new grounds.
Since the white mans fence has
gone into the territory ii has
spoiled all enjoyment of a drive to
these to places. Our Sunday
schools and our public schools will
ever find a delightful place at the
new grounds and Our citizens will
be pleased to drive out there with
family or distant friends who will
call upon us.
When our last boom was on there
was much talk about a public park;
here is something that will take it's
place in all future years, and no
other drive can ever equal II. Our
citizens should not only appreciate
the value of the work the Associa-
ton has assured, but should do all
in their power to help the vast un-
dertaking because 1t 10 for the pub
lie good. No enterprise has ever
been suggested since the birth of
Baxter Springs that Is fraught with
so much interest to the city at large
as the present stupendous under
taking. The purchase of one hum
dred acres with plenty of shade and
no sand, the hundreds of dollars
that are now being paid out to
dress and prepare the grounds for
: the present season. and the thous-
ands of dollars that II will require
in the future to lay out the grounds
and grade them, to build suitable
auditorium and prepare for future
use is a work to be applauded.
Then the war this year has deprived
the Association of the state and
government tents, which IL has
used before, rendering il necessary
TO rent tents of the factories which
will cost hundreds of dollars extra,
an expense which they have never
been called to meet before. This
great undertaking and responsible
ity is for Baxter Springs! How
gladly Galena or Joplin would to-
day give us ten thousand dollars II
we would vote the Interstate Sol
diere Reunion to either place, and
10 Il possible we have citizens that
can say they have no interest in
our reunionsf The present war will
increase the demands of this reun-
ion-the old soldiers will become
less, but the new soldiers and the
sons of veterans are on the in
crease. Shall Baxter Springs, which
has the geographical location, the
best grounds in the state, and q
history of years behind her, prove
unworthy of the possibilities that
are now spread out before us? The
present war forced upon the Amer
lean people by the voice of human
ity has removed all the discordant
elements that Ia the past have sep
arated the people and now concord
and harmony reigns. Our people
never before had such good rea-
sons for aiding the reunion as al
present -
Miss Matte Patton 10 visiting In
Galena this week.
work ON Sam Binns' big hay