The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-24
Correspondents.


\ A1DAEoB A1B6ALD W = nEEDO& ~ eoO
leave of your readers on last week just q
we arrived at Rock Greek. At the mill
seat mentioned we found wster sufficient
even during this driest of seasons, {.
drive large vater-wheei, though Their
is not fall enough to allow of any exten
siye mechanic operations. A saw, ant
perhaps grist mill, is all that can be de
pended upon at this place; and as ther,
is considerable timber in the vicinity,
saw-mill would be quite desideratum
The crossing is about six miles from tn,
mouth of the creek. The banks furthel
down the stream were so steep and rug
ged as to prevent all attempts at crossing
We had expected TO find aparty Of friends
in this vicinity, but learning that they
had located on the bank of the Kansas
almost six or eight miles distant, we turn
ed our attention thither There were bu
few distractions to our descent, and W,
diligently made our way down TOWARD
the river, perhaps receiving an impetus
from the fact that we hoped to find pro
visions and aresting place for few hours
We soon came in sight of what proved t.
be the site for city, { for every location
on the river must, of necessity, be city,,
but as yet We found but few indications
of what the future may do for this place
One family only on the ground, and O
this only the females at home, accon1mo-
dated under piece of canvas, spread in
the form of a tent. At the time they
were not only unprepared to minister tc
our comfort, but unable to secure theil
own. We inquired after the proprietor:
of the city, and found that it would be
necessary for us to follow the course o.
the river up two miles before we could
see those important personages. This
proved to be rather difficult undertak.
ing for our wagon, and one which it did
not succeed in accomplishing. After
winding around among theravines, which
were here frequent, and very abrupt, fol
hours, the wagoners were glad to find a
fine spring at the head of one of the IA
vines, and proceeded without further
ceremony to attack what we had still on
hand. While the wagon was busy in its
windings, four of the party on foot pro-
ceeded to find their way to the mansion
of the sole owners. After much fatigue,
and not little vexation-winding our
way through the timbered bottom, and
climbing the perpendicular banks-we
came suddenly upon house in the form
of pyramid, constructed of logs and
hay, the temporary residence of two or
three families, who had left homes OF
comfort for pioneer life in this new Ter
ritory. From their representations we
found that there was quite liberal sup
ply of timber-at least for present pur-
poses. The soil still seemed fertile,
though not so desirable in character as
much of that through which we had
passed. 1t did not appear to possess the
same inexhaustible richness and, iudg-
ing from the banks of the ravines, we
should think that it would be much more
liable to wash, as there was not that deep
subsoil of clay.
After learning enough to satisfy us
that this would not probably be our
choice, we left-conducted by one of our
party in quest of the remainder of our
party and after considerable search, we
came upon them in time to join in the
important exercise of eating dinner, or
what we called by that name. This ac-
complished, and the dishes washed and
put away in true housekeeper style, we
again started toward the west. 1t was
our design to reach, if possible, the Big
Blue before night set in but so much
time had been absorbed at Rock Creek,
that it was late in the afternoon before
we were prepared to proceed. From the
last crossing we found the country to
assume more broken and rugged ap-
pearance, and from this very fact much
less desirable for agricultural purposes.
The highest points of the ridges are, how
ever, adapted for pasturage and the
parts of Kansas west of the Big Blue is
destined to sustain an almost infinite num-
Der of cattle. We crossed numerous
heads of rayines, furnishing us almost ali
endless variety of scenery-beautiftll to
the eye, but not well calculated to secure
rapid drive, which was one object al
least with us, under the circumstances
After ride of about FIVE miles we came
upon soil of character entirely differ
ent from any that l had seen IN the Ter
ritory. We had noticed that, for some
miles back, the sandy nature of the sol
was more clearly marked; but we were
not prepared to find ourselves surrounded
by nothing but sand yet such was the
case. The face of the country possessed
the same rolling character, yet hill and
valley were alike one bed of sand; and ]
was inclined to look for the small pines
which are found in the East on a similar
soil. Soon after entering upon these sand
drifts, we came upon species of scrut
oak, of small size, and of little conse
quence except for fuel. 1t was estimated
that there were hundreds if not thous.
ands of acres covered with this kind o
growth. The timber could be of little
value; but the land was not of a char
acter to be valuable without it. One
thing that was particularly remarked,
was the growth of rich grass found ever
on this sandy soil. The sand appeared
loose, and yet where it had not been dis
turbed by travel or otherwise, it seemed
tolerably covered with q very nutritious
kind of grass. This belt of sand contin.
ued for about Eve miles, and then it grad
ually disappeared, and the soil assumed
the same character which it possessed be-
fore. 1t continued, however, TO grow
more and more broken and hilly; but a:
the night was upon us, we found it neces
sary to suspend our observation, and pay
particular attention to looking out the
road, as we were liable at any moment t.
lose our way. Of course our progres.
was slow and it was long after dark be.
fore we arrived at the comfortable ..hotel'
of q Mr.. Dyer. To add to our diseom
fort, brisk wind sprung up suddenly
covering us with dust, filing our eyes
mouth, and ears with the same agreeable
| material. This wind brought with it {
sudden fall of the temperature, which
caused US to draw closely around rs ths