The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-31

Our chief object being to set forth a
truthful statement of matters and things
as they exist-mixing the bitter with the
sweet stating obstacles as well as ad-
vantages we shall cheerfuliy leave it
with the sagacious reader to determine
whether there are sufficient inducements
for him to emigra.e to Kansas. Allow
US, first, to present in succinct and con-
else manner what we think are the adj
yantages possessed by this Territory !;
and then We will cheerfully submit all
the difficulties, impediments, and draw
backs to its settlement, of which we are
aware.
First, then, We viii begin with the
soil. as being of primary Importance
In the eastern portion of Kansas we have
a rich and inviting soil, consisting of
rolling prairie, bottom and timber land !;
the prairie greatly predominating, yield
ing an exuberant growth of grass, indi-
catiye of great fertility One hundred
and sixty acres of this land, taken as a
body, as rich as any in the world, lies at
the option of any person who chooses to
make it his home, at 81 % per acre,
with something like two years or more
for pay day, in all probability, during
which time the purchase money can be
made from the land itself by making I'M
mediate Improvements.
Many of you, no doubt, are working
lands in Ohio on shares, at an expense of
one half of your labor, or on rental of
from S5 to $40 per acre. What, then,
would be the result of the same amount
of labor bestowed upon lands in Kansas
for two years only? Let us see. Leav-
ing out the fencing for the present, of
which we shall speak hereafter, we will
set down the breaking of twenty acres of
prairie at three dollars per acre. This
planted with corn costs nothing but the
planting, as it is not customary to tend
corn on sod ground. Sod crops may,
however, in an unusually dry season, be
an entire failure but they generally pro-
duce from ten to twenty bushels to
the -acre-say twelve for an average
At fifty cents per bushel-and we think
it will not soon be less-it would leave a
balance the first year of three dollars per
acre for planting and harvesting, alter
deducting the breaking.
The second year the land will be in
conditionto bring good crops-from thirty
to sixty bushels per acre-say forty for a
safe estimate. Twenty acres, at forty
bushels per acre, would be eight hundred
bushels, which, at fifty cents, would be
$500. Half of this S40O win pay for a
quarter section; which half, were you
working land on shares, would go to the
landlord. One more crop will remuner-
ate you for your fencing, &c. Thus, in
three years, you have farm improved
and paid for out of what you would pay
for the rent of lands of the same quality.
Here, then, we can see one great funda-
mental inducement for all those who have
no farms, but desire them, and are will
ling to work them, to come to Kansas.
BUTT may be objected, that our esti-
mate of the price of grain is too high land
this leads us to the consideration of the
prospects of the markets for some years to
come; and permit us to say that we can
see nothing but what is cheering aud
promising. For five years at least the
emigration that will be continually pour
ing into our State will make a lively
home market for all that the older settlers
can supply; and as soon as the eastern
portion of Kansas can afford surplus,
there will be aconstantly increasing outlet
IN the new States that are destined to
grow up west OF us on or near the route
of the great Pacific railroad, and Kansas
must be the larder in the prosecution of
that great work and whenever the work
is completed, the West will be to us what
the East now is to the Middle States in
the matter of markets. We have no rea-
son to fear a repletion, or that the tiller
of the soil will not be generously reward
ed for his efforts. We are fully confident
that the prices of farm products can new
er reeede here, unless it be from some
high rates caused by unusual scarcity, as
at the present time. -
We have spoken thus confidently of
our farming facilities. We desire to
speak freely of its obstacles and the first
which will occur to you on coming into
the Territory, { but one which diminishes
in magnitude the longer we are here, is
the apparent scarcity of timber. That
there is not timber sufficient to fence the
prairies is most certain; while we believe
that there is for all building purposes
This. at first, viii appear to many as an
insurmountable objection /; but let us not
be frightened toosoon. That we can be
well supplied with building material is
clearly established, and fattering pros
poets Of ample ceal fields relieve US of all
apprehension on the score of fuel.
Then there remains the fence question
only to be seriously considered. We
shallnot be required to ofeneeagainst hogs;
which will reduce the expense more than
one half. A post and rail fence sufficient
to turn cattle we believe can be construct
ed as cheap upon our prairies as an ordi-
nary hog fence is made In Ohio. A tenn
porary fence formed of prairie sods, IA
ced with ditch, can be easily made to
protect the farm until a hedge can be
grown, which must eventually come into
general use throughallthe western States.
But what will be the resultof this fencing
difficulty? Inconvenience at first, bat in
the end good durable lifelong hedges,
which viii be an ornament and sure pro-
lection to the farm, instead of the rickety,
falling, and insecure worm fences, that
require half the winter in repairing, and
a good portion of the summer In hunting
hog holes. Thus stands the fence ques-
ton, which has deferred more people
from coming to Kansas than any other
cause.
The next thing we shall call your at
tention to Is the climate. Ofthis we can
not speak from experience, for the period
OF tuii year. as none of US came here pre-
vious to May last; but what we have seen,
and what We can learn from eldresidents,
We will communicate. Our rains fall