Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-08-23

A correspondent of the Missouri Republican,
who, after spending some time in Kansas, has
returned to the Missouri side of the bounda-
ry, writes thence as follows:
ST. JOSEPH, NO., Saturday, Aug. 5, 1854.
In my rides through the
Counties of Platte and Buchanan, notice
that the crops appear good, though suffering
evidently to some extent, from the effects of
the drouth. The farmers you know have the
privilege of grumbling (and they are not back
ward in exercising it, whatever the season
may be. Notwithstanding the drawback of
dry weather, the crops will be heavy. More
hemp by very large quantity, was sowed this
year in Platte County, than in any preceding
one, and l think the same may be said Of
Buchanan. In the Grand River country the
wells and springs have almost entirely dried
up, and the farmers are suffering most serious
inconvenience therefrom. So scarce is the
supply OF water, that the generally bospitable
inhabitants OF that region but grudgingly al
low the traveller to water his thirsty nag at
their doors. What pity this northwestern
region of our State were not better watered.
A detachment Of the Hannibal and ST. Joseph
Railroad Company employees, who have been
stationed at the =" Elk Knobs" having been
unable to do anything since the 1st of July,
owing to want of water, arrived here last eve
ming, looking as thirsty as possible.
As | wrote you before, nearly every man
here has located {" claim in Kansas. Some
have put up cabins, few tents, but the great
majority have merely made what they call
their mark, that is, have barked tree or two,
with their name and the date of their claim.
They then each pay fifty cents to person APP
pointed by themselves to register their claims
in book kept for the purpose, and the various
squatter associations i'll different neghbor-
hoods agree to allow no intruder to Jump a
claim thus registered.
Among the squatters around and about
Fort Leayenworth, principally citizens of
WESTERN there seems to be considerable eX-
element in regard to allowing persons from
the tree States to come in among them, and
some telo hare been trOtted through IN short or
der. let in II short time this will all have
subsidized, and each man be allowed his rights,
whatever they may be. The Polar Star brought
up, on her last trip, thirty emigrants from the
North, (sad to be the advance guard of the
Massachusetts Emigration Society,) whom she
landed at or i'll the neighborhood of Kansas,
and few ultras have gone into Mysteries on
the subject, yet, as general thing, it excited
but little public attention. Along the various
streams and timbered regions day after day
the squatters,o or rather those intending to SQUAT
may be seen galloping back and forth ON horse
back and mule-back land had almost said
ox-back) I" im-bunting" and looking the
most perfect pictures of Frontiersmen. The
country, wherever fit for settlement, will set
tie up rapidly, yet in one year from now but
few of those who are now in the Territory
will haye.' claims =" there. The claims along
the Missouri River have generally been taken
up by Missourians, who seem to be spectators,
or who, if actual settlers, will sell out at the
first offer. Up here they deny the joke told
on them, that they keep COW tied at the fer
ry, and that whenever strange emigrant
wishes to cross the river, they ask him what
kind of an animal it is, and if he says cow
they let him pass, but if "k-e-ow,', they
judge him Yankee and keep him out" 1
myself am more than half inclined to believe
the story.