The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-11-22
From the Evansville Qa.) Journal.
Kansas Correspondence.

| DoNhhhN VIII wv ~. .
AS the settlement Of this Territory
seems to be creating considerable excite
ment through the United States, and as
n few words in relation TO it may not
prove embarrassing to some Of your
readers, have concluded to drop you
few lines
/ started on a tour over large por.
ton of it last week. and made my start.
ing point near the Kansas river, 10 the
Delaware country. By far the host re-
gion in this territory lies on the Klnsas
river, but unfortunately it is all. or near.
| ly all, included in the Indian Reserve
both the timber and the land on the
Kansas are excellent, but as it does not
belong to Uncle Sam, it is hardly worth
while to speak ofit. Timber is no small
consideration in this country no better
soil can be found but nine-tenths of the
territory cannot be settled for the want
Of timber.
The first site for town that I visit.
ed was Leavehworth City, on the Mis-.
souri, river, one and a.half mile below
Fort Leavcrwortb. was there on tho
day of sale of city lots, and was very
much surprised at the very large prices
they brought lots 20 by l40 sold from
$50 to $3.50, but it wa generally sup.
posed that the shareholders were the
principal bidders. Leavenworth City
may make large place, but doubt it
much; 1t has no country to support it.
A vast plain extends for hundreds of
miles back of it. with q stream now and
then with perhaps dozen sticks of tim
Der. a country affording perhaps one
farm in 20 miles, is not calculated to
build up great many cities And it is
not the scarcity of timber alone that it
has to contend with, but it is the situa-
tion. 1t is not where nature intended it
should be-Fort Leavenworth is the
proper site; it is the most lovely stua.
| ton for town I ever saw, and as soon as
it is open for settlement, it will kill the
other Uncle Sam has very pretty
town there already. The Governor has
his seat of government at the Fort at
present. 1t is generally supposed that
the Fort will be sold as soon as the In.
dians arc removed. There are but three
house at Leavcnworth City, one occupied
by retail liquor merchant, another by
{, tavern, and the third as tho Office of
the Kansas Herald.
The next town in contemplation above
Fort Lcavenworth, is called Kickapoc.
1t is where the Kickapoo village now is,
aud is very pretty place, but has no ad.
vantages save its landing. All along the
river we find the country about the same,
the timber along the bottom is excellent
but further back it is all prairie The
prairics are generally rolling near the
river but farther back they are level
Eighteen miles above Weston, a town is
laid out called Atchison. The proprie-
tors are men Of wealth, but the place is
very poorly situated. 1t is altogether
too uneven for q town. There is con.
siderable excitement about it now, but |
think cold weather will kill it. Six
n town, and much better and prettier
than either Of the others. This place is
called Doniphan 1t is at the mouth of
Independence, very good mill stream.
The town is on large bend Of the river,
and extends farther back into the coun.
try than any other point on the Missouri
river. There is some very good timber
back Of it on Wolfe river, Independence,
and several other streams; the roads
leading to it are good, and the country
around it is already covered with pre-.
cmption huts The site for the town is
beautiful it is gradual slope from the
bluff and an excellent landing The
view both up and down the river is fine,
and taking all things into consideration,
think it is the prettiest place on the
river The sale of lots will come off
about the !st of November. l liked
the situation Doniphan so much, that l
took two shares in the city, and m 20.
ing to be one of the early settler, Of the
place. The sale of lots took place at
Atchison few weeks ago, and .hey lad
jolly time of it, Gen. Atchison was
there; he made a speech and had his
whiskey Eottle by him he took swig
of it occasionally, and when he went to
start for home, he couldn't bulge. am
told he rolled around tie sand bar finely
He told them in his speech that there
were two kind of rascals-Eorse thieves
were rascals. and abolitionists were
damned rascals
As to the slavery question, it is hard
to tell how it will 60 in Kansas. Let
the settlers alone vote and vote as they
please, it will undoubtedly be a free
State but if the citizens Of Weston,
St. Joe, and other plaoas on the river in
Missouri, 60 over ana vote as it is their
intention to do, it will be slave State.
believe a majority of the people are
for free State, but they are afraid to
express themselves A great many of
the settlers are ignorant farmers and
they are made to believe that the State
will be overrun with free negroes if it is
made free State.
1t is getting late, and must stop for
the present, am writing under great
many difficulties. did intend TO give
you description of upper Kansas and
Nebraska, but l must reserve that for
another letter. Mechanics will find this
good country to make money, and far
mers can get plenty Of Unclo Sans land
at five years credit. | wrote this out in
the cold, on a shin9le, SO you will have
to excuse it. Yours, &c,
| &. A.G.