When Baptist preacher, C.C. Hutchinson, alias United States Indian agent, set foot upon the land complimenting the Arkansas River, his intentions were limited to what eyes could see. The area known as the American Desert was poorly inhabited. Settlers were afraid of the vast expanse of plains and the unknown. C.C. decided he would take advantage of the land and made a deal with the Santa Fe Rail Road buying land at a mere fifteen dollars per acre which would later be established as a community cross-site of the Santa Fe Railway and the Arkansas River junction, known of course as Hutchinson. Roaming buffalo gave a contribution to the developing town as their bones were used to mark and lay out the developing surveyed town.

Kansas, a wild and unsettled state, was known for its stories of gun fights; drunken saloon bar fights, and shoot up the town cowboys. These stories emerged from Dodge City, Wichita, and Abilene. However, Hutchinson had a stranger reputation - Get drunk, lose your temper, and lose your land! That was the motto of early Hutchinson. Word spread that temperance was practiced and liquor was forbidden. Tip the bottle - saddle up and move on!

Hutchinson-Reno, Kansas has come along way since 1871

( www.hutchchamber.com ) . An oil boom, then the discovery of salt mines put Hutchinson on the map for the nation and the world trade. Besides being on the Santa Fe Trail, having salt mines under foot made the citizens of Hutchinson popular with traders. Seasoning with salt made life more palatable. Foods were preserved. Salt became a trader's commodity.

Traveling through Kansas in the 1870 one would require transportation in the form of a horse, donkey, or wagon's. This year many travelers will converge upon Hutchinson-Reno, Kansas in June to experience the thrill of the Great American RV Rally. The Good Sam Club, Coast to Coast, Camping World, Trailer Life and Motorhome Magazine, Woodall's Publications, and Motorhome American Club, are just some of the sponsors of this great event. In talking with the people at RV.net, they are expecting over 6,000 rigs to be registered in the rally. Now, knowing that the local RV campground has access for only 32 sites (Melody Acres Campground – 1-316-665-5048, 1009 E. Blanchard, Hutchinson), where do you put 6,000 RV's?

We are talking about the Great Plains aren't we? So put them anywhere! Hutchinson has room for them! The Great American RV Rally in Kansas will provide enough generated power to supply electric power for a small city and with 6,000 rigs - that is a small city! For those RV enthusiasts close by in the Kansas area, radio station KWBW-AM will begin giving parking updates around June 18. The rally begins June 21-24. Never been to an RV rally before? You can expect the fun and excitement of a great RV show plus the camaraderie of the inhabitants of the rigs themselves. Check at website www.rv.net for rally prices, times, and registration. My guess is you'll find in almost every RV a shaker full of salt – most probably Morton's or related. And that originates back to the roots of the salt mines where you will be visiting while in Hutchinson.