Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-11-03
ROCKVILLE FRANKLIN COUNTY INDIANA FRIDAY NOVEMBER

deep, rich, vegetable mold, dark when
wet, 40 the rich soil Of Miami and
Scioto valleys, up 10 the very tops of
the highest bluffs. We did not see
lod that was unit for civilizations, ex-
cept the beds Of the water-courses.-
The soil is not as deep as on some Mis-
sour bottom lands, aud has hence been
pcderyalued; bJ. it is rich and ample,
with sandy subsoil, which when mix
ed makes it quick and warm.
The climate is little more bleak
but with less ain than falls in South
ern Ohio. Indiana lllipois ald Poaa-
sylvania. The temperature at Fort
Riley and Fort Leavenworth. is the
same as here, but less variable. The
productions of Kansas are such as be-
long to The same parallel Of latitude.
tits peculiarly adopted to hemp grow
ing and all the cereals and fruits Of
Southern Ohio grow there in perfec-
ton. The timber is similar TO ours,
being composed Of white, black, and
red oak, sycamore, ash, elm, black
walnut, beech and the like. Wild
grapes, plums, strawberries, blackber-
ries, and raspberries, grow in the great
est abundance.
The wild animals in Eastern Kansas
are prairie wolves, wild cats, squirrels,
of all sorts, rabbits. pheasants, grouse,
quails, ducks, brant geese. In the
western portion are buffaloes by the
hundred thousand, elk, moose noun
tain goat, and grislybear. Fish aooand
in all the streams. a.....
The geological character of the
whole countryis carboniferous or mag
nesian limestone. In some places, it
approaches to chalk, so as to include
nodules Of flint. Lead, tin, iron AMI
copper have been found in it, and the
western potion will probably be ex-
tremely rich ! these. Without search,
we found two carbonates and two OK
idcs of iron, the former very rich. An
inexhaustible bed of gypsum has been
fourd fifty miles f.om TT. Riley. and
aid this will ultimately be used with
advantage to reclaim sandy Soils
Coal ard iron are both abundant in all
parts of Karsas, and this, with the
water powerfrom It's numerous streams,
must n AXE it great manufacturing
country, rivalling Pennsylvania itself
in its iron works. Coal tops ont in
many places, and though the veins are
thin, they doubtless thicken as they
de from the river, just as similar
formations do in Missouri.
Having thus sho yn the ability Kan
sas possesses for vast production, the
lecturer went on to show its advantage
for "a market. Ii was near a slave ter
ritory nich never manufactured. and
II was in the vicinity Of great military
stations, requiring large amounts Of
agricultural products. 1t was more
over on great lines Of travel. AtFt,
Riley, alone, $4,000 bushels of corn
were purchased for Government, last
year. This market would continue foi
many years.
From its central position, markets
will always be high for all Kansas
can produce. They are now as high as
here. The first part Of the lecture
was closed with description Of the
valley, the second level, and the high,
rolling prairies, and the varied and af'
fecting scenery so different from other
prairie views.
John Jolliffe, Esq, President Of the
Kansas League, came forward. and
stated the objects of the League to be
the spread ofreliable information. and
the induccment of emigration With
an eloquent statement Of the neces'
sity for action, he made an appeal fol
material aid.
Mr.. I b. Mason then gave, on the
organ; an imitation of an Indian wal
song, heard in Kansas. This attract
ed much attention. AT its conclu'
sion the audience and choir sang the
following: