Kansas weekly herald., 1854-10-06
From the Parkville Luminary
HeSSe9S Point.
Kan. Ter, Sept. Is, 1854.

l5-s r. 4AolIs> I'LL, OCPts Aot AOCH'-
MEssRs. ED1roRs:-Acquain have
often requested me to give, in the Lunsina-
ry, description of that part of Kansas Ter
ritory which has been selected as my fu-
ture home and although I have hitherto
written but little for the Press, with your
permission I viii comply with the request
which has been made -. ,..., ..-
I have located on the north bank of Kan
sas River, about 10 miles by its course
from the Missouri, and the point OF bluff is
known to some by the name of Vesser's
Point. 1t is about II miles above the low
er. crossing of the Grasshopper, and about
or 6 miles below the mouth of Soldier
Creek. The Point is near the halfway
ground between the lower or east line of the
Potawatto mics reserve, and the upper OF
west line of the Delaware reserve, and be-
tween the boundaries of those tribes, north
Of the Kansas, there will be some 20 miles
of land which may be Immediately settled,
except strip a mile wide along the river,
which is Half breed Kaw land. This strip
is now principally owned by Frenchmen
who are anxious to live In the society of the
whites, and enjoy the privileges of Amer
lean citizenship. - z'A
On the south side of Kansas River, right
opposite the above-named 20 mile strip
settlers are rapidly occupying the country
that being the land lately purchased from
the Shawnees the strip on the north Of
the river, beyond the Half-breeds, is the
only land belonging to Government, from
the Missouri to the western Pottawattamie
line near the Big Blue and the point on
wv +o,,t ,,;fol,oI only, bJ,,A
on the north bank, out of Indian reserves
from the mouth of Kansas to Big Blue.
The land here subject to settlement is
beautifully interspersed with timber and
prairie-there being more timber than is
common in the country so high up, which is
accounted for by the number of tributaries
flowing into Kansas inthis neighbor-hood
the woods mainly sllirting the streams
The 20 miles to which have specially al
luded, will include portion Of this timbel
on the Grasshopper-the tirnbers on the
Muddy, creek Of considerable size-the
| tinlbers on Camp branch, that flows into the
Kansas near this place-the tinbers of In
dian Creek, and the timbers for sevcra
miles up Soldier Creek, besides the mair
tirnbers on the Kansas. have not cx
plored the south side of the river opposite
here, but am told that it is nearly similar
to this, but scantier in timber. The soil il
this region varies from very rich to poor
The bottom lands, whether tinbered O.
prairie, are generally very rich-on th'
high prairie there is frequently rich soil
and the bluffs and ridges near the streams
are of very superior quality. The tiInbe
on the bluffs and ridges is principally a spe
cies of prairie-oak OF what is called black
jack; while that on the richer lands con
sists principally of bllrr-oak, white hickory
walnut, honey locust, red elm, and in
some places linn and white elm. The sol
has tendency to be sandy more or less al
over the country. e So
There are already number of claim
made in this neighborhood, by laying foun
dations, building cabins. &C., while some
have moved on to their claims with thei
families and have no doubt that, if tht
Delaware treaty had been different in it
provisions. the country would be immedi
ately filled up. There are many claim
made here, which when properly improvee
will make most beautiful farms.
These few outlines of the country mus
suffice for the present; when have NOR
leisure will say something further IN re
lation tothe advantages of Kansas.
Yours respectfully,
- zE-o1. q JAMES SKUYKENDALL.