The Kansas herald of freedom., 1854-10-21
Letter from Kansas.

.
try, enquiring about Kansas. Although
wishing TO impart all the information in
nv power, vet were to devote all my
time to letter writing, one half at leas.
would 90 unanswered. A few put me
under personal obligations, so that / am
at least obliged to write tothem. Others
whose letters may be unanswered, viii
from this learn the reason why. One
wants to know IF the lands here are sub
jeet to pre-emption % another. ''if we get
them for nothing, or have to pay twenty
FIVE cents an acre, the cost of the survey g
&c--things that are known all over the
States weeks before We can possibly know
them here, as We are fifty miles in an In
dian country, and the same distance from
Westport, Missouri, our nearest post Office.
Another wants to know "What kind of
winters We have here, and what kind of
summers ?"-forgetting that am just
from Ohio, and have not resided in Kan
sas yet three weeks. Another wants to
know IF we have the ague here, and if so,
whether as bad as in Illinois pa place I
never set foot upon-snd so on ad infaiit-
um. But hundreds of questions are asked !;
and so far as / possibly can, l wish to
give one general answer. The lands pur-
chased of the Indians embrace nearly IF
teen millions of acres; of this, all except
about eight hundred acres belonging TO
the Weas, south of the Kansas river, and
iowas north of said river, are subject to
pre-emption. As to the Homestead biil
We know nothing of it here, whether pass
ed or not, or whether it would apply to
the Kansas lands or not. | think the
Shawnee lands, south of the Kansas river,
will be first settled; they appear to be set
thing fastest between the Kansas and Wa
karusa rivers, on the California road.
To reach here, person coming by the
Missouri river should land at Kansas, cross
the Shawnee Reserve, thirty miles, to Wa
karnsa ferry, and you come to the prom.
ised land. As to holding claims here, j
refer the reader to the Constitution of the
mutual Settlers Association, which, of
course. you will publish. These laws viii
be respected, and justice administered here
as peaceably as in the States. Claims are,
however, frequently sold by settlers.
think this Territory is we'll watered;
springs exist in abundance; prairie could
not be richer; timber may be scarce in
places, vet limestone and coal exist in
abundance. Our timber consists princi-
pally of walnut, oak, cottonwood, blue
ash, DC Soil ofali kinds, from clay loam
to rich, sandy soil; good clay, for brick or
pOtter's ware, can be found. | am at least
five hundred feet above the Kansas river,
and only three miles from it, on the richest
of soil. A pleasant breeze greets us from
the southwest; to inhale draught of it
is almost equal to a drink of water. /
am satisfied that the country must be
healthy, much more so than in Ohio
Possibly some may have the ague, along
the river, or other streams on the low lands.
think no difficulty would be experienced
in securing location for a 'colony ofany
size" where water, timber, and stone exist
sufficient for all purposes; yet to secure
place now, emigrants would have to go far
ther west The Kansas river is nearly as
large rs the Missouri. Steamboats, have
been up one hundred and seventy-fiye
miles, to Fort Riley, and think with
small boats it may run that high the year
round. There are good water privileges
in the Territory Horses, oxen, cows, ana
in fact, all kinds of stock are high-cows
from $25 to $40; oxen, from $75 to 800
per yoke; good horses, from 500 to
$3.50 per head All kinds of furniture
high-at least one third higher than in
Ohio Bacon 81 cents per lb. Flour,
So, so per 100 lbs. Store goods shade
higher than in Ohio speak of the Kan
sas market in Missouri.
Notwithstanding the threats and brow
beating of the Missourians, the greatest
proportion of the settlers here are North
ern people-nine-tenth of the balance
honest Southerners, who are coming, as
they say, to get rid of slavery. | was
much mistaken in the character of the
Missourians A few fanatics, who were
resolved to extend slavery at all hazards,
seem for the time being to give tone to
the whole people; but better acquaint-
ance eonYinces me that majority of the
people condemned the violent resolutions
passed at Westport and other places. But
the die is cast. Westport viii be another
alton. Blood is in her heart. Hundreds
will shun her; and Kansas, only four miles
further, will reap the fruits of her treason.
"Do you apprehend any serious difficult
les with slaseholders?" Z" is frequently asked.
| answer, no. although they have boasted
and threatened much, get they ere not
fools, and well know the shedding of
Northera blood, to sustain slavery here,
would raise storm that would end only
with slavery itself Northern men need
not fear; all they have to dol to be true
to themselves, and not coward like, knuckle
to the demands of these shareholders, and
paddock their lips, and wait till the prop
er time to meet this question" Noas is
the proper time-now Is the time that
the shareholders are moving heaven and
earth to establish slavery here; and now is
the time, Iike-men, We should meet them,
and not like towards, cry, "Hush. be quiet,
don't agitate the question ao~; wait till
We are stronger"
One explanation is necessary here. In
speaking Of missions, in my last, | did
not make the proper distinction. My re-
marks were true as TO Johnson's mission;
but since, have become acquainted with
DR.. Still, true man, who also has mis-
sion here.
One word to newspapers which copy
my articles. Do not put words into my
mouth which / never utter. Copy exact
from the Era, or not at all. Much injustice
was done me In a former article by por-
ton of the eastern press. Besides, those
who copy my savings viii do me "a
vor by complying with the -courtesies
of the press
One word to emigrants. Those who |
have money can do well here. Lands
Il II 4