The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-06

felt thanks for this cordial welcome we
have received. When the Commercial
club was invited by the Union Pacinc
to make the initial trip over the new
! road, it took us just about thirty min
uteS to get two hundred business men
romsse to make the trip and more
| than that number have kept their
promises. We could have brought the
enough.
We have looked upon your city,
seen your sturdy business men and
beautiful women and We want you to
| come and visit US at Topeka as soon as
you can.
We do not want you to come there
| and trade with our business people. We
ask you to buy of your home merchants
| everything that you can. But when you
| want something that you cannot get
| mere, We want you to come to Topeka
for 1t. We are saying this not only to
you but to everyone all over Kansas
We do not want anyone to get a thing
out of the state which can be purchased
in it. Our motto is Kansas first, last
and all the time
Topeka's Greeting.
Topeka sends a greeting to Onaga."
said Mayor Davis, and we are glad
again to extend to you the right hand of
/ fellowship. We have been friends for
years and we are glad now that this
road has been put in operation SO that
you can come and see US without much
trouble. This road will be a tie that
! should bind us closer in our friendship.
And while we want you to come and
see US right away and as often as you
/ can please do not make any engage
ments for 1911 We are going to hold a
| Kansas Senicentennial exposition in
/ town then and We want you all to be sure
and be there then. So be sure and do
not make any previous engagements for
that time
This magnificent reception you have
given US was really surprise and we
want to thank you for such a fine
demonstration of friendship
Replying to Mayor Davis, Mr.. Dunn
said that Onaga desired that Topeka
should have the Semicentennial celebra-
ton and that he hoped Topeka would
reciprocate and work for 0naga as the
place for the Kansas centennial celebra-
ton, some fifty years hence.
Norman Plass, president of Washburn
college, and Major Tom Anders II also
spoke Between the speeches selections
were .playeda by HIaTShalI,s band and
pleasing voice, sang for a solo SOrren-
tino's Mine. Still Mine She was ac-
eompanied on the organ by Mrs. J. w.
Bay1es. asazeG
Although there were about a hundred
more visitors to provide with food than
had been expected there was more than
enough of the good things for every
one. 1t would be easier to tell what one
did not have to eat than what was pro-
yided. there was such plethora OF
things. This spread was prepared by
the women of the town and they ard
their daughters served it in q dainty
fashion. One hardly had a chance to
take q bite before a platter of chicken,
ham, a half dozen other kinds of meat
and dishes of salad was passed to him.
And best of all. everything was cooked
and fixed mp, and what's more, tasted the
way mother used to make it" A local
orchestra furnished music while the
meals were being served.
Many of those who were served at the
first two tables and who did not care
TO listen to the speechnakIng, were
provided with carriages and driven
around the town to see the sights. And
it was sure a sorry crowd t1s& heard
the engine whistle for the return trip at
three o'clock Everyone would have
liked to pass the rest of the afternoon
around town and got better acquainted,
and there were some who expressed a
desire never to GO back home, but all
got abroard the train a few minutes at
ter three O'Clock and cheered long and
loud for Onaga and her citizens as the
train pulled out of town.
Those composing the committee on
arrangements for the festivities at
Onagas were: J. A. Kester, J. S. Myers,
w. Miller, w. Gurtler, A. Mcclellan,
Mrs. Wfg7. WATSON. ST, Mrs. ID. > Baker
and Mrs. e. +. Richardson. and on the
reception committee were: Mayor E F.
Richardson. J. ". Dunn. Harry Haga-
man, C ". Learner. c. A. Henrie, Miss
Anna O'Meara, Mrs. L. g. French and
Mrs. Chas. Day. But as stated every
person in town. in addition to those
named, acted as Individual reception
and entertainment committees.
Homeward Bound.
It was naturally expected that the
trip home would be without untoward
Incidents, but this was not the case
Those riding in the rear cars will re-
member q sight they saw for a long
while. This being the first real train
along the line of the road. all the
boys and girls owning ponies had
them out trying their speed, and none
Of them had hard work keeping up
with the train. A couple Of miles the
other side of Della girl came tear
ing across the fields on a wiry little
horse She ran him slam bang up
to the edge of a small pool of water
over which there was thin coating
of ice The pony bucked and the
girl few, landing in a bunch on the
ice and breaking through It num-
Der of hands went after the bell rope
to sion the train and lend assistance,
hlIt before it could be done the girl
had sprawled out of the pond and
was running swiftly after the pony
which was evidently making record
time for home.
A short way this SIDE OF lena the
train was unexpectedly stopped anc
permission was asked to bring an in
iured man 10 Topeka. This was
granted An improvised cot was fixed
up in the baggage car and the injured
man placed on it. He proved to be
Christian smith, 81 years old. who
lives at Adrian. four miles east of
Della On Saturday last while haul
ing a load Of corn to Della he fell
under the wagon and his left leg was
r
such that he needed hospital treat
nent and his friends were thinking
how they would move him TO Topeka
when they thought it possible that he
might be brought in on the special
train. On the arrival Of the train at