The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-24

linaris. although containing more salt.
but not sufficiently saline to be un-
pleasant to the taste.
The sides of the spring are solid rock
with terraces which seem to have been
formed centuries ago by the bubbling
| over OF the water, leaving deposits Of
mineral On one side the spring is
easily accessible by the somewhat steep
approach On the opposite side are pre-
ctpitous pathways between huge bOuId-
ers- Surrounding the spring is an iron
fence Nature has done nearly every
thlng except TO put up this protection
around the spring. On one side the
water runs out in an underflow, form
ing a small basin, supplying the clear,
cold water. of whose wonderful prop
critics many stories are told The water
IS tonic and laxative. and has prop
critics invaluable for ailments of the
stomach.
The hotel is three-story stone struc-
ture with wide verandas on three sides.
Notwithstanding the high tempera ture
Of the day. the porches We're cool and
comfOrtable The hotel and spring are
In charge OF Hon. LATE Smith. formerly
of the Smith Center Pioneer, and well
known in Kansas. The owner of the
property is Mr.. MeWilIiams, of Buffalo.
N Y a wealthy official Of the Lacka-
wanna railroad Mr.. McWIIliarns has
invested $4,000 at Waconda, and is
willing TO put in that much more if he
can encourage local capital to join with
him TO further improve the properties.
There is a great opportunity here for
development of one OF the most pOpu-
lar resorts in the west. The spring is
some thirty feet above the surrounding
country and with It's inexhaustihle sup
ply of water affords easy facilities for
supplying a natatorium and plunge
baths.
Connected with the hotel now are
baths. but this part Of the Improvement
has not been as vet carried to the pros
posed extent Mr.. y. H. White, of
Beloit, is al present stopping at the
hotel He went there few weeks ago
with a bad case of catarrh Of the StOrn-
ach, and he is now apparently as we'll
as anyone. He says the drinking of
the water and the baths have brought
about a wonderful cure. Mr.. White is
a brother of the White who makes the
we'll known sewing machines and hi
cycles, but he is not dependent on this
relationship for being extensively
known in the community In his COM
pany the man who is acquainted with
him whispers to the stranger that
White has a beard as long as himself
Upon inspection It is noted that the
ends of his whiskers actually drop out
through his trousers at the tops OF his
shoes. They would drag on the ground
did he not keep the ends pulled up at
his throat Mr.. White has way Of
braiding his beard in two strands,
tucking them under his shirt at the
neck. Upon invitation he raised his
pantaloons at the ankles and readily
displayed the ends of his whislers. re-
marking incidentally that he had cut
during the last year.
The hotel at Waconda is well kept;
everything is specially neat and clean
About fifty guests can be easily and
well accommodated, and more than
double that number given meals sun
day afternoon there were fourteen bug
giles and carriages at the hitching posts;
people had driven from Cawker City,
BeIoit and the adjacent country In
the basement of the hotel are arrange
ments for preparing the water for ship
ment- A thousand bottles a day is the
capacity Of the house without addt-
tional help above the regular force. A
large trade has already been developed
The water is in demand in Kansas City
and elsewhere The bottles are sup
piled with beautiful labels containing
a brief reference to the waters un-
equaled properties, affording relief to
sufferers from sick headache, brain
fatigue, indigestion, rheumatism and
ailments requiring a laxative or ca
thartic-
The party was driven in carriages
to Downs, twelve miles away. This
drive was along the same highly cult-
waited and Well improved farms noted
further eastward. Everything along
the entire distance denoted thrift The
improvements were Of a permanent
character. many of the houses being Of
stone, some with roofs of slate There
were miles of well built wire fences of
four strands. with stone posts of re-
markable uniformity in appearance.
This stone has the quality of being
very easily formed soon after quarry
ing, turning hard upon exposure
At Downs the guests were Hospitality
treated by Colonel ]. H Upton, who
has run the Upton house ever since the
town was born One of the party guess
ed Colonel LiptOn'S age at DO he is -
years old His looks and actions indi-
cate man twenty years his junior he
has a photograph, recently taken, show
second. his Wife'S mother, over 80 years
old. being the first, and a great, great
grandchiId OF Mrs Liptons mother be-
ing an infant in arms
Mr.. J. H Smith of the Downs Times,
and his associate, Mr.. Crafts, were very
courteous to the party Mr.. Smith runs
q happy combination He is proprietor
of the only newspaper in Downs; the
postmaster of the only poStOf1ce, and
has one OF the finest offices of the
smaller towns of the state His build
ing is a handsome two story brick, de-
signed for a bank. but the newspaper
proving bigger than the bank, the bank
moved out No newspaper in the state
has a finer vault, or more secure
place for keeping books and returns
from subscriptions and advertising
than has Smith of the Downs Times
Upon entering the town the first thing
noticeab BILE was the neatneSS or the
yards and lawns about the comfortable
homes. The huge standpipe Of the wa
ter works had been visible miles away,
showing that the city was equipped
with modern water supply
The town was already in preparation
for the annual celebration of the birth
Of the place. On Friday, the 27tn, the
town will be twenty-one years old, and
the biggest celebration Of its existence
is expected The people Of the whole
northwestern part of the state go to
Downs to to attend these celebrations
The advance guard has already en-
canped in a grove adjoining the town.
Downs has 1 600 inha bitants, but she
will undertake to entertain $4,000 peo-
pie next Friday. Past experiences DEM