Indiana American., 1855-03-02

EEThe following letter from r r

NJ Inc ioiio"ing letter ffom j. IL.
Mcclure, Esq, to his father, will be
read with interest.-ED:
WEsr PoRr, Mo-, Feb. 7, 1855.
DEAR FATHER,-* = Since /
came here the most of my time has
been spent in the Territory. have
made two trips to Fort Riley by diff
tSrent routes = have explored the
country for some distance up Smoky
Hill, and Republican Forks, and have
probably been en- ground never before
desecratsd by the feet Of white men,
and made two or three short expedi-
tions to other portions of the Terrific
ries. If all my travels in Kansas
were put together, it would reach a |
distance of at least twelve hundred
miles; so you see that I have become
somewhat of a tourist as well as pio
neer, and you will believe me when |
say that l am pretty well acquainted
with the Territory, her resources, pop
ulation, etc., etc.
A mans first impression of Kansas
is unfavorable. Before he leaves
home, his mind is inflated with glow
ing stories of her soil, her beautiful
prairies, her large rivers and all the
embellishments that are resorted to
by letter-writers to induce emigration.
He comes here expecting that Nature
has done everything, and all that is
required of him is to quietly reap
the fruit. This delusion is only re-
moved after he has left the saloon Of
the steamboat, and is required TO buy
an axe. and provide himself with
scanty supply of rough provisions and
such other unfit as is necessary for
squatter. Nor is he encouraged by
the appearance either of the improve
ments or the faces which he meets on
his way. The houses he passes are
of the rudest and most unsightly ap-
pearance, scarcely (hc cogitates) fit
for stables. The men and women are
different species from those he left
at home-poorly dressed, mostly un-
educated, blunt and laconic in their
address. Before he started his imag-
ination was influenced by the reports
of large, growing cities and towns
such, for instance, as Lawrence, Doug
las, Tecumseh, and Pawnee. He
desperately makes an effort once more
to get within the pale Of civilization
by reaching one Of those cities; but
alasl the poor fellows hopes are ali
dissipated; instead of the welcome
sight Of the towns he left at home, he
finds two or three 10-by-l2 log huts,
one OF two clapboard houses, and the
balance tents made of every variety
Of material, from cotton to prairie
grass. At,this point, if he is a timid
man, he makes preparations to re-em-
igrate, as many a poor devil has-but
if he has the requisite courage to face
the stern realities Of pioneer life, he
abandons all his previous formed no
tions, and commences reasoning on a
sounder and surer basis. Here is soil
richer than he ever before has. seen;
he can select it to suit his own caprice
all woods or all prairie, or divide it
into part timber and part prairie. The
finest quality Of stone for building and
all agricultural purposes is within his
reach, wherever he may 60. The
whole Territory .abounds-.with rivers,
creeks, and excellent springs; in fact
he finds that nature has more than
done her part, andfall that's required
of him is to pull off his coat and do
his. This polite invitation is extended
to all-preachers, doctors, lawyers,
etc. There is but one profession that
pays, and that is the profession Of
squatter. He may curse the letter
writer's, (as he generally does, then
curse himself for being so Internal a
| fool as to leave his quiet, easy home,
in the midst Of educated and intelli-
gent citizens, to come to this wild.
uncultivated desert, (as he terms it, J
but it all'does no good; the aspect OF
the country remains the same; houses
don't go up; corn and potatoes Won't
grow; nor with oil his Iimprecations
can he bring down a single tree
There is but one Of two alternatives,
either to build q cabin and SQUAT, OF
to adopt the easier method of turning
about and going home in disgust
Such men will be met with from all
places where there has been an emf.
grafton; and if you ask them for a
description of the country, il will be
mournful story of bad soil, bad
health, bad timber, bad stone, and
bad water, all Of which they honestly
conceive to be true.
The soil in Kansas is good, where
ever have been. The color varies
from deep brown to deep black
As you ascend the river it becomes
slightly intermixcd with sand-not SC
much so as the bottoms on White
Water. 1t is of mellow, loamy
character, and is said to be peculiarly
adadted TO corn. Col. Montgomery,
last year, raised garden of every va
riety of vegetables Mt Fort Rily, and
Notwithstanding the unfavorable dry
ness Of the season. everything grew
to the greatest perfection. The tim
, ber, though not so abundant as one
would desire, is still sufficient, if used
with economy, to supply every de-
r mand. The different species general
found here, arc as follows: White ant
Black Oak, Black Walnut, Hickory
/ blackberry, Sycamore, Cottonwood
and Gum. You will seldom find any
other variety of timber not included
} in this list; have never ye tmeI
with a Sugar or Beech tree. The
country is well watered-better thar
any | have ever yet been through
The stone is all you could desire; Il il
not found scattered over the face o.
the country, as in Indiana: you may
, travel over tho prairie oil day, and
( unless you 80 to the bluffs or streams
never see single stone. Nature ha:
wisely provided for them depository
80 as not TO interfere with the farmer
I shall not enter into n minute detail