The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-04-07

and the untaught. During the year
1898, he repaired to the country west of
Missouri to examine its adaptation to the
purposes of the Indians, and returned
with the prospect. 'The coun-
try" he said in a pamphlet published
soon after. ''is generally high, healthy,
rich, its extent adequate to the purposes
under consideration, and the climate de-
sirable." When the policy of removal
became fixed, Mr.. Mccoy was employed
as surveyor and confidential agent by
Gen. Cass, then Secretary of War, and
his descriptions of the region west of
Missouri and Arkansas. comprised in let
ters dated january 81, 1881, and Febru-
airy 1, 1889, are most faithful, minute,
and discriminating. They amply deserve
republication. s.
0mitting Mr.. McCoy's interesting
sketches of the country near the junction
of the Neosho with the Arkansas, let us
ascend the former stream nearly to the
point where it crosses the southern boun-
dary of Kansas, before citing his testi-
mony. Immediately adjacent to the
southwest corner of Missouri, and east
of the Neosho, is the tract assigned to
the Ohio Seneeas, the band of Indians
whose former reservation was in Seneca
county; directly north of them is dis
triet allotted to the Senceas and Shaw
nees, formerly of Logan county, Ohio,
while a band of Quapaws adioin the
southern boundary of Kansas. Mr.. Nc
Coy describes the Seneca tract first
named, viz 81 900 acres on the most
eastern bend of the Neosho, as "particu-
larly good" Neosho river, "runs across
the western end of 1t, and Elk river, a
bold, perpetual stream, about thirty-five
yards wide, runs through it from east to
west. The tract is diversified with wood
land and prairie, having an abundance
of wood and frss-fa;e prairie, and well
supplied with perpetual springs" The
tract now occupied by the Senecas and
Shawnees. and the Quapaws-40 miles
by Sis traversed by the Neosho, and
is described in similar terms, except that,
west of the river, there is an excess of
prairie. Unfortunately, however, this
lovely region is not within Kansas Ter
ritory, and although the Indian title has
been extinguished by recent treaties with
the Senecas, and Seheeas and Shawnees,
yet it will hardly be the destination of
emigrants for the present. Still let its
great natural advantages be remembered,
for railroad is in course of construction
from st. Louis southwestwardly through
the State of Missouri to its southwest
corner near the east bend of the Neosho,
in aid of which Congress has granted
1 200, 900 acres in alternate sections along
the route through a rich mineral region
OF that fourishing State-a donation am
pie to bring the Neosho valley in easy
communication with the metropolis Of
the Upper Mississippi.
We are now at the southeast angle OF
Kansas, proceeding northwardly along
the left or east bauk of the Neosho to-
wards the Usage. Mr.. Mccoy observes
of this region: "Thc same kind of good
country, Of woodland and prairie, with
some large creeks continues northwardly
betweenlthe Usage lands-that is, lands
allotted TO the Usage Indians-and Mis-
souri,, for the distance of about twenty
five miles. The quantity of wood then
diminishes, and the quantity of prairie
increases, until we reach the Usage river.
Near Neosho, however, and on several
good creeks, is wood, and sufficient for
extensive settlements. The soil here is
invariably rich. Neosho runs along the
eastern end of the Usage lands, which
are fifty miles wide. Along this river
there is consequently good country, en-
bracing, in good degree, wood, water,
and soil. WestwardIy the soil is almost
invariably good. Wood exists on La
Bette creek-a tributary of the Neosho,
entirely within Kansas-sufficient for
fine settlements This creek runs almost
acrosstheir land from northwest to south
east |; nevertheless there is too much
prairie for the distance of about twenty
miles west of the woodlands of Neosho.
We then have reached the waters Of Verdi
girls, which, with numerous creeks suita-
bic for mills, and their branches, water
these lands for about thirty miles west
This country has wood sufficient on the
water courses, and on timbered, poor,
stony hills, for n fine settlement over il
generally ssaI
Twill not follow this description fur
ther west, but repeat Mr.. McCoy's
sketch of ga tract between the Usage
lands and thesc1oft the ShaWnees and
Kansas, on the Kansas river.'' It is
about 65 miles wide, extending west from
the State of Missouri. containing the
sources of Neosho and Usage rivers
about 100 to 40 miles west of the
States. ''.fhis is generally limestone
country" he remarks, possessing re-
narkably yrich soil. Wood is more scarce
than in the country further south. Here
it seldom occurs upon upiands, but is
J limited, almost wholly to low grounds,
consequently this country is only streak
ed with timber; it Is, however, sufficient
! for considerable population The pro-
portion of wood is greater upon the Usage
river than upon the Neoshe.'
As confirmation of this last remark,
the above newspaper descriptions of the
timber on the Usage may again bereferred
to; and In 1887, Mr.. Me Coy bore further
testimony, in very emphatic manner
to the eligibility of the Usage valley fol
settlement. AT that time, it was propos.
ed in Congress to organize an Indian
Territory, extending from the Red to the
Platte rivers, with local government
and a representation by Delegate il
Congress--the C whole scheme IN anticipa-
| ton of an Indian confederation, and. per
haps, of future Indian States. Mr. Ne.
/ Coy was instructed to ascertain the view:
ief the different tribes il, regard TO tht
measure, which he did with assiduity, anC
also to report reservation not exceed
ing ten miles square, suitable for the sea
of governments forz the Territory. Fol
| this purpose, he recommended ga trac
commencing where the southern bound
] ary of the lands of the Peorias and Kas
! kaskias crosses the Usage river; Themes