A TRIP TO 
^ansa£ | ^tnfeawial. 
By Dr. J. T. Scholl. 
Ozaukee Wis. 1876. 
Printed by John W. Scholl. 
May I. 1877. 
May 22, 1876, I left Ozaukee on the 12. 25 p. m. train 
for Milwaukee where I arrived at 2 15 p. vi. The fair 
was 1 dollar. 
At Milwaukee a very rough breeze was blowing from 
the lake so that I felt quite cold. A walk of 10 minut- 
es brought me to Edward Barber, Broker & Land agent, 
he bought an excursion ticket for me to Baxter Springs 
and back, for 24 dollars. The ticket ran for 35 days 
but in 5 days the route had to be completed as far as 
Baxter Springs, otherwise the ticket should be void. 
Barbar was very much in favor of me buying some 
of those Kansas coal-lands, an introductory letter was 
to take me to an agent at Fort Scott. At rhe depot 1 
took a lunch for 20 cents. 
Fifteen miles south of Milwaukee I saw some 
apple-trees in bloom and 40 miles south the trees were 
beginning to put forth their leaves. This was in striking 
contrast with Port Washington where the pear trees were 
hardly showing any buds, and not a leaf or blossom 
could be seen in the gardens. 
1 arrived in Chicago at the Union Depot corner of Ca- 
nal and Madison Streets at 7-30 p. m. At 9 2 
P- 31. the cars started on the Chicago and St. 
Louis road. At 9-45 p. vr. the cars started 
for Pittsburg and Forte Wayne. In order to 
have the passengers on the alert an official 
cried out, such a train was ready for such a place, 
about half an hour before starting time. 
My intention was to leave on the 12-30 tram in the 
night, but I was soon informed that the train would 
leave to morrow afternoon. This was a sore disappoint- 
ment to me, in the first place because I had been waiting 
so long, and secondly because 1 might have found out 
sooner by making proper inquiries and thirdly, because I 
was obliged to look out for a boarding house. 1 hap- 
pened in at the Skinner Hotel where 1 went right off to 
bed. Here I found the bed clothes not only skinny but 
intensely cold so that I could not sleep on account of 
the cold. The wind was blowing very high out doors. 
Max 23, I paid for my night's lodging and breakfast 
$1.50 and repaired to the Depot. From there I started 
to hunt up Mr. Christion, but the weather being 
quite chilly and windy I returned to the depot. At the 
depot I observed that every separate Bailway had its es- 
pecial box with name in bronze on the out side and con- 
taining maps & timetables for the use of the passengers. 
At 12-30 p. m. we started for the West. The limestone 
quarries at Joliet extended for many miles. At Blum- 
ington the weather had become nice and warm, and the 
place itself seemed very inviting, and so were several 
other large places further on in Ills. The country seemed 
to be very fertile and level somewhat like a large valley, 
that we were passing through. It may have been the vall- 
ey of an ancient river sweeping from the St. Lawrence 
& Lake Michegan down into the Gulf of Mexico. The 
bridge at Lousianna we passed over at night. It is an 
immence structure, say 1 mile in length and approached 
only by passing over lagoons. It was yet dark when we 3 
arrived at Mexico. Lexington Junction was the stopp- 
ing place for breakfast. 
May 24. 10 oclock brought us to Kansas City. While 
passing by the side of the Missouri River I took it to 
be about | of a mile in width, and the Missouri bottom 
about 20 miles in width, beyond this expanse the coun- 
try takes a different look and is more hilly, while the 
bottom land seemes to have been flooded with water at 
some time. Wheat and rye I found here in heads, 
roses in bloom, peaches as large as almonds, cherries as 
currents, and grapevines had shot up to the length of a 
yard. The Missouri bottom is rather wet in a goed 
many places, and some of the woods were waterwashed or 
water still standing in them. It was here I first saw 
the Sycamore tree with its shedding scarf skin, it looks 
like a poplar. The Illinois bottom seemes to be far 
more expansive. Kansas City, situated on the south side 
of the Missouri river, has a very uneven site, on hills. 
& hollows. Its streets are narrow. In the hollow of the 
Kaw and Missouri is the Railroad depot. The dust is 
here constantly on the wing. It was here while cross- 
ing over to Wyandotte that a lady from Texas told me 
of the yellow fever having taken off some 200 persons a 
yea: ago in the neighborhood of her sister's. Crossing 
the Kaw bridge on the horsecar I -was soon moving up 
the hill on which Wyandotte is situated. The place is 
quite airy and seemingly healthy. Ac about 11 oclock I 
came to the residence of my brother Philip, where I 
found doors and windows open. Wednesday and Thurs- 
day 24th & 25th I staid with my brother enjoy- 
ed myself very much. On Friday 10 o'clock I started 
for Baxter Springs. On the cars 1 met a family return- 
ing from California who had been staying there last 
winter for the good of the health of the young woman. 
Here they had been renting and boarding themselves. 
His discription of California was, 4 months rain, 6 4 
months dust, G inches deep, so that it is impossible to live 
on the other side of the road. The laud, he says, is 
about 50 dollars per acre. 
The Oregonians, he says, are called webfoots by the 
Californiens, they have 8 months rain and slush, and 
the heavy fog falling every morning keeps their skins 
in a damp condition most all the time. The finest wheat 
in the world may be seen here. 
Regarding the climate of California, he thinks that of 
Kansas equally good and that he will not go there again 
for the sake of health. Uis residence was near Hillsdale, 
Kansas, where, he said, the chinchbugs were worse than 
the grasshoppers. -Another traveller had been living 
in California tor 17 years. He left it for the purpose of 
settling in Texas on a farm. The Chinese, he says, have 
overrun the country, working for 1 dollar a day and 
boarding themselves. 
-Another family I met that was going back to Cali- 
fornia, they had keen living in Butler County near 
Wichita on 1G0 acres of land which they bought for 800 
dollars and sold for 12 hundred dollars, they had been 
living their for one year, and made improvements 
more than four-hundred dollars would paid for. 
Before that, they had been living in California, the man 
working as a foreman on alarm. He thought the Kansas 
winds were too high for him and especially to suit his 
right side pleurisy, He had been living in St. Jose \ alley. 
St. Clara County. Farms contain generally from 1 to 
2 thousand acres, worth from 200 dollars to 15 dollars 
per (acre. Woodland 40 miles from Sacramento sells 
from 50 to 75 dollars per acre. Lands within f of a 
mile of St. Clara, sell for 400 dollars an acre. Farm 
hands are paid 2 to dollars a day for 3 months dur- 
ing harvest time, and 40 dollars per month the year 
round. Crops arc sure in California, strawberries are 
seen in the markets all the year round, excepting March. 5 
The rains commence in January and continue through 
the month of March. Two crops are sown in California, 
one before the rains set in and the other after they are 
over. 
-Before we came to Fort Scott we saw the coal oc 
casionally cropping out, and here and there a coal mine 
being worked. Arrived at Fort Scott we saw car loads 
of the coal. The place is quite an inviting one. The coun- 
try around and as far as Drywood including Pawnee is 
rocky, very little soil on the rocks and only good for 
grazing and coal mining. The coal is cropping out in 
the creeks and is from 4 to 6 feet under the surface. 
Most every man has his own coal mine. A farmer that 
came here 17 years ago is worth now 56 thousand 
dollars, he had leased his coalfields to parties -working 
them. Fort Scott is 88 Miles from Kansas City. The 
coal in seems 12 to 18 inches is cropping out north and 
•south Coal sells here from 7 to 12 cents 
a bushel. A farmer near Spring river who own- 
ed 15 hundred acres of land bought 2000 bushels of coal 
at the mines for 2 cents a bushel. At Drywood the rock 
is coming out, but no coal has been exhumed. Tiie 
country is quite wet though not flat. In Osage County 
the land is very good but most of it is taken up. The 
cattle law prescribes the watching of the cattle so that 
no fences are required. Girard is 124 miles & Cherokee 
135 miles from Kansas, City. The latter is rather a dirty 
place, but the lands around it may be very good. The 
farmers, located in the county and made their improve- 
ments in the hope of being able to buy the land here- 
after from the Government which proved not to be the 
case. The railroad company got in possession of it. 
Columbus is as large a town as Port Washington. 
Towards night we arrived at Baxter Springs, a place as 
large as Port Washington, apparently, but containing 
only 1,009 inhabitants. All the lands, situated on the 6 
Missouri River, Ft. Scott and Gulf R. R. are a level, 
slightly undulating prairie, with no woods excepting a 
small belt north of Ft. Scott where the coal mines first 
make their appearance and another belt south of 
Kansas City. The creeks also have generally 
little belts of woods. 
The houses are on the avarage 1 mile apart, and are 
.shanties as a rule. 3 or 4 hundred apple and peach trees 
are seen about the house & a drove of cattle of 25 or 50 
heads on the prairie. The first thing a farmer does when 
he has entered upon a piece of land is to build himself 
a shanty & plant a hedge uf the osage orange about the 
whole lands. The hedges after they are 1 or 2 years old 
are cut into and bent over, so as to prevent cattle irom 
passing through the poor places and to stimulate the 
roots to throw out new and abundant shoots to thicken 
the hedge. Hedges may be planted from one year seed- 
lings at 50 cents a rod. The arable ground is from 18 
inches to 2 feet, if the land deserves to be called good. 
Near the rock a coarse reddish clay is seen which gets 
gradually darker as the surface is approached. North 
of Ft. Scott very long stone fences make their appearance 
and also some fine orchards. These same fences are 
seen at Godfrey's made by piling up flat stones. At 
Baxter Springs the landlord told me that new potatoes 
had been for sale that day in Town and that wheat was 
nearly ripe in the fields. The place is indebted for 120 
thousand dollars, taxes 9 per cent, and bondholders 
have offered to take 5 cents on the dollar. The Normal 
schoolhouse is a magnificent structure for such a poor 
place, costing 40 thousand dollars and the City Hall is a 
similar structure. These structures were build by sell- 
ing city bonds, in the expectation that Kansas was to be 
the garden State, but their calculations were premature 
and now bankruptcy stares Kansas in the face. An old 
store opposite the Planter's house, where I remained 7 
over night, situated on a corner lot was sold for 75 dol- 
lars, which 5 years ago rented for 120 dollars a month. 
This place seems to have exhausted its vitality in the 
lirst shoot it sent forth. 
A good wheat country is said to be at Chetopa where 
the lead mines are. The Missouri, Ft. Scott and Gulf R. 
R. goes no further than this place. The company 
has been unable to obtain the concession of the Indians 
to pass through the Indian Territory. While I was ly- 
ing in bed I felt a desire to expand my chest vigor- 
ously. The air felt damp and chilly so that I was oblig- 
ed to cover up. In the morning I could not find my 
pocket book and still I could not imagine how anybody 
could have stolen the same, after hunting for quite a 
while I found it in the wrong pocket. At this place I 
did not feel at home and would not like to stop there an- 
other night, owing probably to the dilapidated appear- 
ance of the town, the Indians and Texas Rangers. It 
seemed out of the world to me there. 
Saturday May 27, I was glad to begin my return 
route. After breakfast I settled up with my landlord 
paving him $1.50 for lodging and 2 meals. For omni- 
bus fair 25 cents were demanded and paid. An intelli- 
gent traveler, a fishdealer told me that Lawrence, 
is a splendid place to live, in owing to the intelligence of 
the inhabitants,the colleges there & the absence or scarcity 
of saloons. He thought he would like to have a partner 
to invest $6,000 dollars in the wholesale fish business, he 
stated that a barrel of fish could be bought in Boston 
for 8 dollars and sold again in Kansas for 15 dollars, so 
that the money invested could almost be doubled. 
-At 3 or 4 p. m. I arrived ot Wyandotte again. The 
bishop had also arrived to officiate at the confirmation 
of the Children. I took up my lodging with Peter Con- 
nelly, a scotchman, who had been a banker some 
years ago in Kansas City, & his lady a rich Kentuckian. 8 
Prior to the panic of 1873 he build himself a nice 
house for about 9 thousand dollars, and not being able 
to meet all the expences, he loaned of the Northwestern 
Insurance Co. of Milwaukee S3,500. Not being able 
to pay the interest on the loan, the mortgage on the 
house and 1 acre lot surrounding, had been foreclosed 
by the company and was about to be sold. He had also 
bought 15 acres on the hill from an old Wyandotte In- 
dian for 1,000 dollars an acre, which a few months after 
he could have sold for $1,200 an acre but refused. At 
present it can not be sold for any price. His hopes 
however are still good that if Kansas gets up again, 
what she will as he says, then he will be able to dispose 
of his lands at a great profit, especially as the Kaw bot- 
tom will be a desirable place for the Railways to have 
their rolling stock. 
Peter Connelly attributed the panic to a money corner. 
The money of the nation being locked up and the ad- 
ministration at Washington refusing the issue of more 
Greenbacks, brought about a general stagnation. The 
failure of Jay Cook was the inauguration of the panic. 
The whole nation lost confidence in one another and the 
crash could not be averted. 
Now it is evident that abad condition of things must 
have existed prior to the failure of Jay Cook and the 
refusal of the issue of Greenbacks by the Government, 
otherwise the failure of one man could not have 
inaugurated such a disastrous result. The reason of it 
was, the country had run aheadof itself, it had built its 
schoolsand churches, towns & cities on credit, it had 
been manufacturing by machinery goods enough for 
10 years to come, thus there had to come a reaction. 
The disease of the finacial organism showed itself at 
first in the extremities, in Kansas especially, and the ex- 
tremities not sending aerated blood to the heart, the in- 
terior states and manufacturing centres, they also began 9 
to suffer, they could no longer dispose of their manu- 
facture and the stagnation at the heart increased the 
trouble in the extremities. Thus it was that Kansas 
was brought to the verge of bankruptcy. The farmers 
of the nation constitute an equal power to the manu- 
facturers of the nation, the two constitute hence the right 
and left heart of the nation, the one maintaining the 
other in its activity. 
As the right side of the heart produces fresh oxigen - 
ized blood in the lungs and the left side supplying the 
consumption of the organism, just so it was with the 
producing class,the farmers, they suffered least. It was only 
as trades and professions were removed from the produc- 
ing and useful class, that suffering took place. The spec- 
ulating trades and States had to suffer first, and so it 
was that Kansas came to grief because, she had expend- 
ed moneys for schools and railroads that brought no 
sure return. Every individual held lots and lands on- 
speculation, thinking to realize large profits. The frequent 
lot of the individual speculator we see here veri- 
fied in a whole State. A bankrupt State has its 
blood drawn away in the taxes it has to pay, sometimes 
amounting to 9 per cent, as is the case at Baxter 
Springs. 
A stranger settling into a State where such 
a condition of things exists, wdl assume the 
burdens thereof and be apt to become re- 
duced to the level ofthe others about him. Peter Connelly 
thought handling public funds, such as citv 
bonds etc. to be a profitable business in which he is en- 
gaged at present. 
Sunday May 28, I staid at Connelly's. This was confir- 
mation-day at Philip's church. I tried to get into church 
but I found it so warm inside that I repaired to the 
schoolroom, where there, was a nice ventilation, what 
there was not in church. 10 
I examined the lungs of M and left her a pre- 
scription of soda phosphites, It seems she had had in- 
flamation of the lungs some years ago which had left 
her with a consumptive tendency. Peter C I left 
a prescription for catarrh. Father M was also a sub- 
ject for consumption and one or two of the S were 
also affected with the same disease. Thus we see that 
Kansai people are subjected to consumption as well as 
people in other parts of the world. When we consider the 
dust blowing in the cities especially at Wyandotte then 
we will not wonder at that. 
Owing to the large praries the whole State is pretty 
windy and this windiness is generally complained of. 
The wind seems to have no bad influence when blow- 
ing through doors and windows, my brother has them 
always open, and I experienced no bad effects from the 
drafts. 
-Monday May the 29th I repaired to my brother's 
again who took me to Armstrong where I bought a 
ticket for Topeka. The road passed generally by the 
side of the Kaw river, a magnificent stream. Once in a 
while a fine field of wheat of a tew hundred acres 
could be seen. The land on this road is all woodland. 
North Topeka presented a charming sight to 
me and I thought I would like to live in that place. 
Streets were large and clean, fine houses and shrubs, 
trees and flowers in abundance. Arrived at the Depot 
of North Topeka we were carried over the Kaw in an om- 
bus, ready to take us to any part of the city. The 
bridge over the Kaw is about a mile in length. We 
were passing up the Kansas Avenue one of the main 
Streets, rising slightly from 1st to 5 street when we came 
to the Topeka house kept by Konrad Kreipe and Dur- 
and, at 7th Street we came to the Tefft house. Here I 
look up my lodging. After having got my dinner I 
smarted under the direction of Kreipe to look up my lots, 11 
I started in the direction of Washburn College, but on 
making enquiries I was directed back to the Seminary 
of the Sisters of Betliseda. Before I could get there 
I got so warm, especially the back of my head, that I. 
could not have endured it if I could have had no shade. 
At 4 to 5 p. m. the Themometer was 85 degrees in the 
shade. Not a person was to be seen out of doors except- 
ing one nigger and a few boys, everything was quiet & 
people seemed to be asleep. I called in at a house near 
the Seminary and an old man in his night gown open- 
ed the door tor me, he took me into the garden & showed 
me some cherries nearly ripe, the potato bug weed which 
he says the bugs prefer to the patato vine, he could 
not find. After cooling off a little I proceeded and did 
not have much difficulty in finding my lots. They are 
situated on the east side of Poke Street facing the West 
and the Seminary grounds which inclose 20 acres or 4 
blocks, and are an exact counterpart to the Capital 
grounds,-2 streets east. The lots are quite level probab- 
ly inclining slightly to the West. Right below and to 
the North and East of my lots a little creek is com- 
mencing running past Kreipe's residence towards the 
Kaw. On the south side of my lots stands a small 
house in which people were living at rent. 
Topeka is most beautifully located. Near the Capital 
building is the highest point aud from this point the 
location slopes slightly, just plenty for drainage and none 
too much, northerly towards the creek. Right back of 
ray lots is Taylor street, more like an alley; then come 
2 line streets which bring us to the capital grounds. 
On the east side of the groundsis Jackson street and 
the next is Kansas Avenue. The grounds are situat- 
ed between 8th & 10th streets. Returning I called at a 
store and bought some oranges which hardly quenched 
my thirst, from time to time I was obliged to sit down 
in the shade. A laborer ye""' in q.-.r -n 12 
to the whereabouts of Rev. Father Defoury. I had no 
trouble in finding the fat, congenial old gentleman, he 
received me cordially and invited me to come to Topeka, 
assuring me of a splendid practice since there was but 1 
German physician in the place & who was of no account. 
His church did not have a steeple and its exterior look- 
ed rather poor, there were some sisters in an adjoining 
building. This being the only Catholic church in the 
place and catholicity seemed to be at an ebb. 
After leaving father Defoury I repaired to my hotel 
where I went to bed rather early. On my ride from 
Kansas City I had been very much troubled with 
neuralgia, which left me that evening. I felt quite dry 
and a nigger brought me up a pitcher of ice ■water, of 
which I drank quite freely. The niggars were not al- 
ways attentive to the bells being rung, they would ne- 
glect to answer. 
Tuesday May the 30th I settled up at the Tefft house 
after breakfast, paying $2,50 and took my satchel to the 
Topeka house. Mr. Kreipe visited -with me the Capitol 
buildings. The east wing being nearly completed, though 
workmen were still engaged at its completion. Six col- 
lossal 6 ft. diam. pillars were carrying the roof. The 
offices, bureau of agriculture and library were in the 
basement. The Senate chamber and House of represen- 
tatives were on the first floor. These houses presented a 
grand sight on the whole, probably 20 feet high, they 
were ornamented with fine paintings among which were 
the presidents of the U. S. Everything was got up in a 
most magnificent style. At Durand' Kreipe's the the- 
mometer stood at 102; in the shade 85. I felt very dry, so 
3 glasses of beer were consumed & a small dinner because 
1 could get no coffee. At 2 p. m. I left Topeka for Em- 
poria. Fare 3.50 
We passed over the Atchison and Santa Fe road. 
The German traveling Agent of that road remarked to 13 
me the splendid lands on that road. A traveler calls 
Emporia a dead place. Osage City, with 1,000 inhabi- 
tants is one of the principal places, in this neighbor- 
hood productive coal-mines exist. We arrived at Empor- 
ia, a place of 22 hundred inhabitants at 5-30 p. m. It 
has 2 principal Streets, Commercial and Mechanics 
Street. Houses very much -spread like Topeka. The 
normal school building has no teachers, the State could 
not provide for them. After supper I saw Sommers the 
land agent. Many of the lands had already been taken 
up as marked on his map, poor lands would sell at 2 
dollars per acre and rich land at five dollars an acre, 
lands containing water and where soil would be about 
2 feet deep were called good. All the lands are underly- 
ing with coal. Sommers wanted to send a man with me 
with a light waggon to examine the lands free of charge. 
E. E. Brent is the clerk at Chas. Sommer's. At Hanni- 
bal the Land agent is: J. H. Fairbanks, 101 Clark Street. 
In the evening I drank some iced lemonade and some 
wine. 
The beer I drank at Topeka semed to disagree with me. 
I was told that a mile from Emporia a fine resi- 
dence on a lot ten-acre could be bought cheep since 
the owner Harvy Bancroft had left the place and gone 
east. 5 acres of fruittrees belonged to the premises. 
-May 31 Wednesday. At Emporia I perceived a bad 
smell in the streets owing to the flatness of the location, 
puddles of stagnant water were standing in front of the 
houses. The land Agent fo?' the Achison, Topeka and 
Santa Fe Road resided at 143 Commercial St. His name 
is H. E. Norton & Co. For My lodging and 2 meals I 
paid 81,50 and for my Ticket to Kansas City 86,35. 
-A traveler, Mr. N. Bush of Greenlake Wis. informed 
me that a farmer brought his grain into Emporia for 
sale that day and that he realized 47| cents for a bushel 
of wheat, for 30 bushels. The farmer lived 20 miles 14 
from Emporia and the wheat was to bo shipped to St. 
Louis. Corn was selling at 24 cents per bushel am] oats 
at 20 cents. 
-A traveler going to California from Butler County 
informed me that Goverment lands were selling at $1,25 
per acre and when paid right off a patent was issued 
by the Government and after living on the land 6 months 
the deed would be issued. Farm hands were paid 16 
dollars a month for 7 months of the year. In winter 
they were out of demand. His farm 40 miles from 
Wichita, 160 acres, with a running stream, shed & shan- 
ty on it, he sold for 12 hundred dollars. 
-Mr. Booth of Wis. a woolen mill man thinks Pea- 
body is going to be a great place and its surrounding 
country beating the Neosba Valley, the soil being most 
fertile, and a general stir going on. A water power of 
6,000 horsepower on the Arkansas was a great natural 
advantage. The Peabody library being a free institution. 
In Johnson county lands sell at 25 to 50 dollars an acre, 
the lands having wood and being of the. most fertile 
kind. The real Estate Agent at Peabody being Mr. Sals- 
burry. 
-A traveler from Colorada showed specimens of 
stone with arborscences which he said represented trees 
and shrubs photographed upon the stone by lightning; 
he showed also a fossil jaw from a bear, and various 
petrified woods, etc. He had seen the garden of the gods 
etc. 
-The wheat raised in Kansas is generally winter 
wheat. Near De Soto corn is one foot high. Grapes 
were planted in the field near Emporia, new shoots 3 
or 4 feet high were seen. From Lawrence to Kansas 
City extends a strip woodland. Woods are the same as in 
Wisconsin with the addition of sycamore. 
-Rivers seem to determine the value of cities, not 
only by supplying the city with power, with water and 15 
with an outlet for refuse, but also by their confining and 
directing power of intercommunication, Of course a river 
requires to be of a certain size and lenghth, not less 
than the Kaw. The size of a river may be approximate- 
ly calculated by its length on the map. 12 miles in 
length will give about as much water as Saukcreek car- 
ries and so on for every 12 miles. The Kaw river is 
about 500 feet wide. About 3 p. m. I arrived at my 
Bev. brother's again. 
-Since I am in Kansas I experience a great desire to 
drink all the time, three oranges will hardly quench my 
thirst, there seems to be a general direction outward 
from the skin, which may partly be due to the eleva- 
tion of Kansas, to its warm climate and its constant 
breezes. The renal secretion is alarmingly scanty, & may 
be retained without inconveniance for six hours. 
The blowing of a breeze upon the skin is not at all dis- 
agreeable. Ever since last Sunday the weather has been 
exceedingly warm as much so that I should not like to 
have to stand it any warmer. 
Thursday June 1st. The weather at Wyandotte is to 
day comparitively cool. There is no such venous dilata- 
tion to day, as I have been subjected to since last Sun- 
day. This morning my brother Philip took me to 
the Depot and at 10 A. m. I started again for Chicago. 
Sister Alexia promised to write to me. 
-Error. The popular adage says: "To err is human."' 
An error may be me made when the understanding is 
under depressing influence, when it does not act or be 
watchful or when the action has become reckless. 
2, An error may be comitted in a matter we are not 
very well posted in. 
3, Taking for granted what ought to have been pro- 
perly investigated. 
4, By passing that by what seems incongruous, or 
explaining it away. 5, In being too sparing asking for information from 
those that ought to know or those that might know. 
6, By supposing a state of things in agreement with 
our demands, which need not necessarily exist. The 
following rules should always be observed: Ascertain 
conditions exactly & leave nothing at all to supposition. 
A seeming incongruity should be an admonition that 
there might be something wrong, requiring vigilant 
examination. Things in this world are not all directed 
by reason but sometimes by the desire of display or get 
up for the purpose of drawing attention. 
16 
- My Expences to Kansas and back to Chicago were 
as follow: 
May 22, Fare to Milwaukee $ 1.00 
Excursion ticket to Baxter Springs & return. .24.00 
May 23, Bed & breakfast, at the Skinner house. .1.50 
May 27, Lodging at Baxter Springs 1.50 
May 29, Fare from Armstrong to Topeka 2.80 
May 30, Board and bed at the Tefft house 2.50 
Fair to Emporia 3.50 
May 31, Board & lodge at Emporia 1.50 
Fair to Kansas City 6.35 
44.G5 ' 
For food, omnibus and fare, etc. 6.60 
Amounts to & 51.25 
Remarks. In traveling we must examine what con- 
nection one road, makes with another, and especially 
keep an eye on the Sundays when most of the trains 
don't run, so that there will be no laying over at an 
objectionable place. 17 
Trip to tlie Centennial 
Friday evening, June 2nd I arrived in Chicago. Ten 
cents took, me to R. Ch. on the horsecars. June 3rd I 
started for Washington Citv. Fair $ 14.00, Sleeping 
hearth *2,50. At Valparaisa I had supper at a cost of 
75 cents. Sunday miming I paid for breakfast 75 
cent'. By noon we had arrived at Pittsburg. Here 
we had to lay over till night; for luncheon I paid 45 
cents. The sewers at Pittsburgh were rather disagree- 
able, & the depot was poorly provided for the accommoda- 
tion of passengers. Here I met a man who told me 
abo he beautiful climate of C .'many, of the good- 
ness of its people and of the prospects for profitable in- 
vestments. He had been in America for three months, 
and was now returning, being quite dissatisfied with the 
country and the sharp dealings ol its people. In the 
night we । assed the Alleghanies, the weather was quite 
cool. At Harrisburgh we switched oft" for Washington. 
When we came to Baltimore the weather was quite cool 
and open windows proved most disagreeable. Monday at 
10 o'clock we arrived at Washington City, for breakfast I 
paid 40 cents and then 1 started to find Mr. Schulteis. 
Walking made me feel quite warm and flushed, about 11 
oclock I found myself comfortably at rest at the house 
of Mr. H. J. Schulteis, No 809 "I" St. N. W. 
June 6th, Mr. Schulteis took me to see theArmy medical 
Museum. The Surgeon in Charge was Dr. Parker and 
the clerk was John C. Fill. Here we were at liberty to 
examine any specimen of the collection. The specimen 
room is probably 40 by 80 feet, containing 4 rows of cas- 
es. The specimens were exceedingly clean and suspend- 
ed from the stopper. Here could be seen regarding 
Lung diseases: Melanotic deposits in the lungs. The de- 
posits appeared as if pieces of dark sponge as large as 18 
walnuts bad been stuck into the lungs; very nice. In 
pigmentous infiltration of the lungs, they appeared as if 
stained with ink. Cancers of the lungs were as large as 
a 25 cent silver piece of a gray and dense appearance. 
Tubercles of the lungs were of a dispersed form. Many 
cases of caseous inflamation and vomicae, croupous and 
diphtheritic membranes were displayed, also oedema of 
the glottis and ulceration of the trachea. 
Regarding Heart diseases, there were: Fibrinous de- 
posits upon the mitral valves, insufficiency of the aortic 
valves, ulceration of the same, deposits of lymph upon 
the outside of the pericardium, adherent pericardium 
cal carious deposits into the aortic and mitral valves. 
Aneurism of the arch of the aorta, and of the abdominal 
aorta. The former accompanied with rupture into the 
pericardium. 
Regarding Brain diseases, there were: Aetheromatous 
degeneration of the arteries of the brain, tumours of the 
brain, apopletic clots in any part of the brain, 
tumours causing epilepsy, dilation of lateral ventricles 
and abscess of the brain. Tumour of the cerebellum. 
Regarding diseases of the stomach there were: Cancers 
of the cardiac and pyloric orifices, perforating & slough- 
ing ulcers of the large intestines. 
Gallstones of the size of a large marble were seen, also 
half ounces of stones as large as a small marble, some 
of which had been passed by stool. 
Kidney diseases. Kidneys with distraction of secre- 
tory portion, Calculi imbedded in the kidneys as large 
as a walnut, dilatation of the ureters to the size of my 
middle finger in stricture of the urethra accompanied 
by dilatation of the kidneys, & Calculi of the bladder of 
all sizes could be seen. 
Ruptured uterus, and monsters. 19 
In the afternoon we visited the Capitol building, a 
wonderful structure. Senator Birchard graced us with 
a short interview. 
Wednesday June 7th, we visited the Botanical Gardens. 
Here could be seen almost any tropical shrub you might 
wish to see, the cinchoua tree, the banana palm loaded 
with fruit, the fern tree etc. Next we 
visited the Smithsonian Institute. Here ores, 
birds, minerals, Indian relics, extinct animals, etc. of 
every description could be seen. Here I saw the sacri- 
ficial colar cut out of stone. 
Thursday, June 8th, we visited the Corcoran Art gal- 
lery. A great number of statues and paintings were 
exhibited here. 
Mr. Moser from St. Clair took us into the Treasury, 
where women and men were counting money at a rapid 
rate. Mr. P. M. Monnet, a frenchman showed us through 
the Signal Service Office he presented me with a book for 
1874, showing the labors of the office. We also saw Mrs. 
Lynde. 
Friday 9th, we went into the Patent Office. The mo- 
dels were so numerous that it would take a year or more 
to examine them. My weight was 150 lbs., Mary's 129. 
Saturday, June 10th. The day being quite warm, so 
that I had a moist skin all the time. Judge Lynde fromMil- 
waukee presented me with the SuigicalHistory of the War 
In the afternoon we had a thunder shower. In the evening 
we visited the President's Garden to listed to the music. 
Sunday June 11th. The weather being quite warm, 1 
almost fell asleep in church. It seems as if people are 
very much inclined to sleep here in the warm weather, 
especially during the heat of the day, it seems to be here 
the same as in Topeka, and in the afternoon I took a 
nap on the lounge. In the afternoon we went to father 
Alig's church to Vespers. 
Monday June 12th. I visited the Museum another 20 
time. Next I bought a ticket to Philadelphia for 84.50. In 
the evening we attended the strawberry festival at lather 
Alig's school house. 
Tuesday June 13th, I presented little Albert with a 
.prayer book. In the evening I started for 
Baltimore where I arrived in time for supper 
I stopped at the Howard house. That evening I visited 
Dr. Pape in Eutaw Street. A confidence man had led 
me astray for a while. 
June 14th. The weather at Baltimore is damp and 
cold compared to that at Washington. At about 10 o'- 
clock I arrived at Philadelphia. I took the omnibus to 
the Grand Exposition hotel, which was called free but 
for which I had to pay 25 cents. On the cars I had 
purchased from the lodging house agency a ticket for 
one day's board and lodging for 250. After having tak- 
en a luncheon I repaired to the Exposition buildings. 
They presented a most magnificent sight. Fifty cents 
took me in upon the grounds. Ascending one of the tow- 
ers of the main building on an elevator I had a bird's- 
eye view of the place, next I stepped on the steam cars & 
made the rounds among the buildings, which lamiliariz- 
ed me with the location, after that I placed my name on 
record in the Wisconsin State building. Next I repair- 
,ed to the Maine building. Here my attention was par- 
ticularly arrested by a collection of diamonds of different 
hues, some as large as hickery nuts. Their luminosity 
was peculiarly striking. A Diamond necklace worth 50 
thousand dollars, broaches for 82,500 were very nice. The 
mineral collections and ores from Chili, from the Argen- 
tine Republic, from Canada, California and Sweden were 
quite interesting. An examination of them showed 
that there were a great many gold, silver, and tinbeaiing 
orcs, that no one would suppose to contain any thing 
valuable. The large octohedrous of tin of a purple color 
were very nice. The malachite was a splendid marble 21 
like stone. The artifici d marbles could not be beaten 
by nature. 
Wednesday June 14. Alter breakfast I left the Grand 
Ex; nion hotel and deposited ray satchel at the Cen- 
ter n paying 25 c. for safekeeping. I continued my ex- 
ami ' ns in the Main building. The splints made of 
he' ' and plaster of Paris seemed to me very good. 
Shu. i.JI of Boston exhibited a nice case of surgical, in- 
str *:ents. Another case exhibited Crook's machines, 
sh wing the motive power of light, radiometers of 
different constructions. Instruments to demonstrate the 
laws of accoustics, the sirene etc. were shown. 
Instruments of every imaginable use could be seen. 
Aft r being tired looking about, I hunted up the Kieff- 
er Brothers who received me very friendly. Lawrence 
invited me to make my stay at his house as long as I 
should be in Piladelphia and this offer I accepted. 
Thursday June 15. An hour's ride on the cars brought 
me to the grounds, this time I faced for the machinery 
building. Here I saw the great Krupp's cannon, the 
Corliss engine, nail making machines, printing presses, 
looms of all kinds. The government building was very 
interesting. Large, maps were hanging on the walls, 
showing the value of the lands, the quantity of cereals 
produced, etc. The plaster model of Colorado, 
showing topography and geological formations was 
beautiful. Cases were filled with stuffed birds, dried in- 
sects, plants, seeds etc. The envelope machine attracted 
particular attention. Indian relics, th mound builders 
and ll.eir idols were seen here. Ores and minerals, mo- 
dels of fishes, stuffed seels, & sections, the jaw of a whale, 
instruments for the Signal Service, torpedo warfare, etc. 
were exhibited. 
Friday June 16, I visited the Agricultural building. 
Here I saw the large skeleton of the Megatherium, 
of tire Iguan^don and of the Pterodactyl us imbedded in 22 
rock. Turtles and aquatic plants in profusion. In the 
Horticultural Hall I saw many of the plants I had seen 
at the botanic gardens at Washington. Here I saw an 
orchestra played by electricity, over paper slotted notes. 
The lemon and orange trees full of fruit presented a 
most delicious sight. 
Saturday June 17. The Art gallery is a splendid 
structure&presents to view most anything got up in sculp- 
ture. Any of the ancient Gods could here be inspected. 
The paintings,many of which were the size of life,were on 
any imaginable subject. The queen's pictures were 
beautiful. In the Annexa, there were as many pictures 
and statues to be seen as in the Art gallery. The Photo- 
graphic hall contained life-size photographs, some of 
them colored, also porcelain pictuies, photographs of the 
different Indian tribes, etc. 
Sunday June 18, 1 went with Kieffer into the country 
to his father in law. Here 1 saw the figtree in a bearing 
condition. The grapes were as large as peas. 
Monday June 19, I took Maggie Kieffer with me to 
the Centennial. At theTiouse of Public Comfort I bought 
her some views and other trinkets, here we also had our 
dinner. At the Kansas State Building, Maggie was de- 
lighted with the rattlesnakes, the stuffed animals, and 
deer. Here were exhibited the Fort Scott coal, lead ores 
from Chetopa,corn 10 feet high, one year old shoots of the 
osage orange 8 feet high & a collection of splendid cereals. 
At the Woman's Pavillion,were some splendid pictures 
woven in silk. Women were seen at the looms weaving 
silks, cottons, carpets and anything whatever. The Shoe 
and Leather building exhibited leather in all its varie- 
ties. Shoes of every style and ornamentation. 
On our way home we went to see the Zoological Gar- 
dens. The ostrich about 4 feet high with a neck about 
3 feet long, was quite interesting. The prairy dog village, 
the beaver, deer, iamma, sec-lion condor, monkeys and 23 
three large giraffs were quite interesting. 
Tuesday, June 20th, I left Mr. Kieffer's place, 
called at the furniture store of the K. brothers 831 N. 
Second Str., repaired to the Depot bought a 
ticket to Chicago for $11, 75 & about 11 o'clock, I was 
on my way home. When night came on, I felt quite 
cold, especially at Pittsburgh. 
Wednesday June 21st. The weather was quite chilly 
the dust on these cars was sometimes stifling, probably 
due to the car being near the front. The passenger 
opposite me was bound to have the window open which 
made us feel very cold. Indiana and Ohio looked 
very much like Wisconsin. West of Fort Wayne is a 
great swamp. 50 miles from Chicago the Country is prai- 
rie and looks the same as in Kansas. Arrived Chicago I 
soon found my way to Christian's. 
Thursday June 22nd, I bought some clothes. 
For a coat 1 paid 20 dollars, for pants $7.75, vest 
$ 4.50, shirt $ 1.25, Suspenders. 25 cents, Panama hat 
$4,00 
In the evening I found Stephan O'Brien who went 
with me to A. B. Jewrett on State and 31st. Sts. That 
night I made my way over to Christian's again, but 
had some trouble in getting there. Instead of looking 
for a purple light car, a driver told me to look for a blue 
light. 
Friday, June 23rd. In the afternoon I took my satchel 
up to Jewett's and remained there that night. 
Saturday June 24, I started again for Ozaukee, at 
noon I took my dinner at Me Carthy's in Milwaukee. 
Uis boy carried my satchel. Weather quite hot. In the 
afternoon I arrived home. 24 
Expeiices connected with the trip. 
June 3, Fair to Washington ....... 8 14 00 
Sleeping berth 2.50 
June 12, Fare to Philadelphia 4.50 
June 13, Lodging at Baltimore 1.50 
Ticket from lodging house Agency 2.50 
June 14, Catalogue , 1.50 
Sundry times for Entrance to the grounds... .1.50 
June 16, Entrance 1.00 
Lunch 1.00 
June 18, Entrance 1.00 
Lunch 1.00 
Medals 1.00 
June 19, Fare to Chicago 11.75 
Lunch etc 1.50 
June 23rd, Fare to Port Washington 1.00 
$ 47.25 
For eatables, carfare 4 sumb'ics. 23.30 
Amounts to 8 7J.35