Year: 1878

The Country and the HeOpie-NeO.


desha - beautiful t.andscape-


Roads and siufs.


EDITOR TINES Il have heard or read
that, Whom the Lord Ioveth he chas-
teneth." | do not remember whether this
is from the Bible or Shakespeare, but ii it is
true he must have powerful ..hankerin"
after this part OF the globe, Tor there never .
was country which could claim such
stretch OF partiality.


Every one in Southern Kansas is await
ing the advent of second Noah and his |
Ark. The roads throughout the whole |
Southern part of the state are almost i'm
passable; the oldest settlers say they never
saw such winter. 1t rains nearly every
day. i came across from


CHERRYvALE TO LoSGToS,
by the way OF Neodesha, the other day,
taking two days TO make the trip in. The
roads were cut down to the depth OF about
fourteen inches, and fences had been thrown
down where the bottom had entirely fallen
out, in order that teams might get through.
| believe if there is one thing more thap
L
sas farmer, it is 10 work the highways and
render them in measure passable. They
act as thoug h they were in no wav interest
ed in the keeping up Of the public roads.
The present weather is giving them a lesson.
On account of the bad weather thev can't
get their produce TO market, but mus, wait
the..pleasure of the weather, the Consequences
of which will be that when the road. do be-
N H.. 4,
into the market, all at once and take much
less than they might have obtained at difI.
erent times during the winter There is one
piece OF bottom road close along side the
Nerdigris river, just as you enter Neod, sha
from the east, that is disgrace to the peo-
pie living near it. The river affords the
most ample drainage, yet our buggy went
into the mud to the axle for nearly two
miles. am glad to state that through the
energy OF the people OF Neodesha. a move
yate expense. The road from Cherryvalc
| to NeOdesha passes through


A MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY,


well watered and well timbered. 1t is more
broken than the central part of the state.
In many places the road led over high
bluffs displaying a magnificent landscape,
relieved here and there by dark belt of
woodland or range OF high mounds mark
ing the near proximity OF some one OF the
many streams that water this section. In
pleasant contrast 10 the brown of the prairie
and the dark color of the belts of timber is
the bright grain OF the many fields OF
| WINTER GRAIN,


mostly wheat never saw As fine a pros
| fpr w no
green as in April. There is yer, large
breadth of winter wheat in this section. and
unless some accident befalls it before next
July, Southern Kansas will harvest the
largest crop of wheat ever known. The
Improvements throughout the counties of
Montgomery and Elk are Of higher order
They have no herd law, and consequent
ly


| THE FARMS


are well fenced. In many places they have
fine large Usage orange hedges that will
turn stock completely. This is doing well
for a country that has only been settled
about eight years. All through this section
are large, comfortable farm houses, with
many barns that would do credit to any of
| the eastern states. Th country is pre-em-
inently stock growing section. The al IN
dance of water and the large range through
the bluff and upland give ample opportuni-
| ty of the raising OF large herds Of cattle
There is as fine land along the bottoms for
the production of corn and other grain as
any in the state. There is also a larger
amount Of timber here than in many other
| sections OF the state, giving an added ad-
vantage in the way of protection against the
| cold winter winds. Those who are in the bus-
ness and claim TO know, say that they can
realize from fifty to sixty cents per bushel
on their corn when fed to stock, a much
larger price than it now commands, and it
| can be realized at much less expense.
| That this will ultimately make


THE FINEST STOCK GROWING SECTION


of the State have no doubt, as it has ever
natural advantage, climate, water, an
range. The climate isvery mild, there being
scarcely any cold weather. The present win
ter has been an exceptional one on account
of the continued Wet weather, but the tenn
perature compares favorably with the gem
irral average. Our ride, aside from the
mud, was very pleasant. The view in many
places was very fine, but one is apt to forget
all about the beauties of nature when stuck
in mud hole and both lifting on the bug
gy and using all his surplus breath in iorci-
bic prayers for the future salvation of the
miserable devils to whose shiftlessness we
were indebted for our trouble. Mr.. Editor,
perhaps You may think this rather strong
| language, but change the tables, Jump out
into the mud up to -, we'll, YOUR coat
tail, and you will readily excuse me.
About three o'clock, on a pleasant after
noon, / arrived in


NEODEsHA,


one OF the live enterprising towns of Wilson
county, containing a population of about
| 800. 1t has splendid location, being situ-
ated within a half mile of the Nerdigris
river, and about an equal distance from the
| Fall river beautiful stream that empties
into the Nerdieris short distance below
the town. Its natural facilities are of the
finest, and when the mud embargo is off,
they have splendid trade. For the size of
| the town, it has hiss a solid basis, founded
on the wealth OF magnificent country and
the enterprise of the citizens. l was sur
prised to find here, at distance of eighteen
miles from the railroad, fine large foun-
dry and machine shop. Messrs. Nichols
Barues & Doane, the proprietors, conducted
me through the their buildings, and must
say that they have one Of the finest manu-
featuring establishments in the state. All
| their machinery is new and of the finest
quality. They are doing a good business,
which they hope to increase. The town
can also boast OF fine Touring and saw
mill. Saw-milis are quite abundant down
in this section, as the timber in the valleys
is composed of oak, ash. black walnut and
hickory, and of good size. l saw as fine
timber on the Verdigris bottoms as | have
seen for long time. And then, too, they
Use the body of the corn stalk for fencing.
when sawed up into boards


RANEuER