The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-01
GOSSIP OFTHE TRANSMITS
Stories of Kansas Prosperity and
Railroad Activity.

kansas looks better to me than Il
ever did," said William Eason, fruit
dealer of Pasadena. Cal, who passed
through Topeka Friday on his way home
from a visit to Iowa Mr.. Eason was
In Kansas years ago before he went to
the Pacific coast. the farmers are
taking their waste land and utilizing
everything When I was here before,
along the fence rows there was on every
farm a wide space of land which was
oVergrown with weeds and brush; but l
notice now that the farmers are COM
ing to realize what it means to use
every foot of the ground and are clear
ing up these places.
"Immizration to the Pacific coast is
something immense" he went on. Il
have been there a good many years, and
! notice that 1t is getting heavier each
season. Many Of the people whom the
railroads in times past have carried out
there as tourists are now going in and
taking up permanent homes. In that
country the man who owns a plot of
ten acres of ground is as well to do as
Kansas man who has half section.
To my mind. 1t seems that the best in
ducements to man going to California
are offered in the fruit business. OF
course there are number of lines which
people can take up prOfltably: and as
the rule the man who goes there from
the east continues in the business which:
he followed before going there. Poultry
raising is particularly remunerative. ]
know o. an old gentleman there who l.
from flock of 700 or 500 chickens counts
on getting in net profits one dollar from
each fowl"
H D. Hunter. superintendent of the
Central Kansas division of the Missouri
Pacific with headquarters at Osawatomie,
was in Topeka Friday evening. having ar
rived in the city on regular tour of in
spection over the X. \. and D. branch of
the road. Superintendent Hunter reports
conditions as being excellent along his
division. His territory extends from Kan
sas City to Hoisington, from Topeka TO
Fort Scott and from Osawatomie to COT
feyville.
I'VE are having our share of the bust
ness" said Superintendent Hunter. 1--WE
handle grain, lumber and coal mainly
right now from 40 to so cars being our run
of extra coal business from the Fort Scott
and Rich Hill districts daily. Most Of
that comes up to Lomax and is run from
there over the Colorado main line to
points west. 1 should say that we are
handling over my territory about 2,00C
cars a day and the tonnage within the
last few months has increased fifty per
cent. All over my division the farmers
have raised good crops this year. Down
on the west end in a small territory near
Hoisington there was a slight shortage of
the wheat, but it was not very great, and
we are now moving not only wheat but
corn.
THE Missouri Pacific is making a lot OF
important improvements in this part OF
the country. On the line between Osa-
watomie and Coffeyville, we are at work
now with four steam shovels cutting down
hills and putting the track in such shape
that by the time we get through it vii
be practically a level track between those
two points. The company, too, is getting
some fine new motive power. An order
Is being filed by the Brooks locomotive
works for 4 new ten-wheel engines OF
modern type. Fifteen of these have beer
delivered already, but thy are being put
in service only on the Kansas City-St
Louis main line"