The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-03-02
prosresr q settiementin in Kansas.

Riley, January gath, which we find IN the
Easton Star, says:
Emigration is gradually finding its was
mp here. Hyou remember, ! stuck the
first stake on Clark's creek, near the Kaw
village, in November Now, five or six
houses are built there and some twenty
claims made MeDowelI's creek is still
unoccupied. Both are beautiful streams
with rich bottoms along their banks
Things are progressing hereabout as y usual. SUI
We are decidedly an industrious commun-
ity. Every man is engagedin doing some
thing, either cutting logs, cord wood, quar-
rying stone, etc., preparatory to building
All the soldiers are at work putting up
ice, which is about three inches thick
The trustees Of Pawneeare building astone
warehouse, 35 by 60 feet, and the leyee is
rapidly progressing. Shares in the town
have risen to $500 for ten lots, or $3O
lot, and very few for sale at that. A pub
lie sale of lots stillheld blythe trustees, and
not great many in number, is to take
place on the 18th of May next.
Two wesks ago. Judge Lecompte, Mr..
Woodson, Mr.. Donaldson, Mr. Haldeman,
Wilson, Harris and myself, made an ex-
cursion up the smoky hill fork Of the Kan
sas river. We.took with us a few guns,
pistols, one tent, ham, a little Bourbon
but forgot the onions. We camped out
three nights; went first to the mouth Of
Chapmaf's creek, and found the finest and
most prepossessing country Ihave yet seen
| in the Territory. The timber is plenty
and broad bottoms. Here is laid out the
town of Montgomery, distant about twen-
1ty-fve miles from Fort Riley. All-along
the Smoky Hill timber is more plenty than
Lit is below, with bottoms from one to four
miles wide, rich and fertile.
From here we followed the river for TWEEN
ty miles more, until we reached Solomon's
Fork, and found all the way excellent bot
toms. Several small branches emptying
into the branch of Solcmon's Fork, and
as below, small belts of timber along the
branch s. These lands look very much
like the Pottowattomic bottoms, and make
many squatter's heart ache TO look upon,
especially as they cannot settle,upon them
they being portion of the Government
reservation. / stood upon thebanks Of the
smoky hill, Just above the mouth of Sole
mons Fork, and run my eye along its
winding course southwest, distance about
seven miles, and my eyes never saw n more
beautiful rcgoin. The soil is rich, lays
high, and continues SO to the mouth Of the
grand Saline, where the town of Reeder
is laid out. Here is the head Of navigation.
| like the lands up there better than any !
+ saw along the valley of the Kansas. 1he
Indians are not troublesome. Indeed, VIC
saw neiilier Indian nor white man on oui
! Journey, but plenty of game. We had on
1he whole very pleasant tour, Those o.
the party who were not accustomed &c
sleeping in the woods seemed to look upon
il as quite treas, although those who had
made such trips before, did not think il
quite so rich. Two of our party had beer
to Oregon.
"I want you to know that | am not writ
ing for the public. Cutting saw-logs ant
cord-wood ill-befts a man for any thing
bat good appetite, and that we all en-
A joy;", >. o..
River, January, 7th," which appeaIed il
: the Boston sOay@Gl contains tho following
: The climate here is beautiful. ! hay,
: seen but three days so cold as to be In
comfortable working without coat. No
!, vember l2,h, We had about two inches c
a snow, which was something extra, I'll
!, water on the north side of the Kansas riy
:, er is most excellent There is some stag
u nant water on the south side, but it is gen
I. erally very good. There is a very glet
., scarcity OF good timber through the eoul
" " try, in many places not sufficient for farm
y inp purposes. What there is, is along Oh
'S banks of rivers and creeks. In the vale
;, of "Big Blue" are several excellent mi
III siles, and thousands Of beautiful FARMS
10 Here, however, is plenty of limestone f'
4, L. farming purposes. This part of the coul
% try is very hilly, and will eventually b
come greet stock taising section. A tow
site has been laid off here, and settlers al
coming from nearly every State in the u
ID ion; about fifty are here now. The tow
We is on the "Blue River" about five mill
O. from its mouth, and the same distance fro
"A the Kansas river, and about l25 miles fro
~ Fort Riley. Various tables of rowing /
n dians are scattered about us, but they a
mt generally peaceable.
OF Several murders haye been committC
e.; on the plains the past summer and it
,,o expected that "Uncle Sam" is intending
,'1 settle with them in the spring, as sever
lei military companies have already been {
: a dered Fortes father west. Provisions
of all kinds are very dear here at this tin
Potatoes and butter we do not get at all
:, Wages are pretty fair. Any kind ola N
u chanic will make money here anotl
yss spring,
Oh "Game is abundant have seen eie
az deer in one herd. Turkeys and squirr
'h- are also plenty; quails and prairie hens {
'sC' abundant Tie river is filled with {
10 weighing from one to one hundred poun
be alto portion Of one caught in the Ki
ev- sas, which weighed seventy-six pounds.
ms There is no ice in the river at this pli
use now, We have a bridge across the b
ND river 800 feet long, built by governme
Or The military road from Fort Leayenwol
,ts og to Fort Riley passes here.
fou t. tLo oLo,,o o,,.aots four tou,nc