Kansas weekly herald., 1855-04-06

cupylng laJSe Stdte ol the puuIlc Ittuu
throughout Iaa United States, we cannot
better occupy OUT columns than in giving q I
brief outline Of its geography eiland pro.
ductions.. The boundaries, as given 10 the
law organizing Kansas, are as follows: =, /
beginning at a point on the Western /
boundary Of Missouri, where the thirty |
seventh parallel of North latitude crosses |
the same thenee West on said parallelIe
the Eastern boundary Of New Mexico then |
North on said boundary to latitude thirty
eight; thence following said boundary
Westward to the East boundary of the ter
fitoryaof Utah, on the Summit oftheS Rocky |
Mountain; thence inofthward on said Sum- |
NIT to the fertieth parallel of latitude thence
East on said prallel to the Western boun-
dary of said State to the place Of beginning.
These limits give an extent Of about 210 |
miles from North to South, and about 65Qi
miles from Eastto to West, making an sredf
of I4G 600 square miles. The Missouririy-
er, for distance of $50 miles, including Its |
meanderings, forms the-N Northeaserh boun-
dary Of the Territory; that is, ,.comme encing
four or five miles above the mouth OF the
Big Nemaha and running with the Miss
ouri river, to point near CT perhaps at the
mouth of the Kansas. The Kansas from
the junction Of the Smoky Hill and Republic
an Forks, flows almost due East for 1So
miles, and divides the Territory for that
distance into two parts nearly equal. Al
most all the tributaries of the Kansas flow
into it from the Moth side, and theIrgener
| al course is from North and North west to
South and Southeast. These tributaries
are very numerous, the most important of
which are the Grasshopper, the Big Yer
million, Little VermiIhon, Big Blue, Little
Blue, the Republican and SoioInon,s s Forks.
Nine -tenths of the waters Of the Kansas are
reserved from its North side. The lands in
the vicinity of these streams and Their nu-
merous branches are well wooded with a
heavy growth of oak black walnut, hickory
and other valuable timber. The soil oi
both prarie and timber is miracle OF ffertllty,
being the rich dark mould known as muiat-
too land. The waters of these streams are
clear and pure, running over pebly beds, and
affording a constant and almost unlimited
water power.
In the extreme Northern part of the Ter
ritory there are some fine streams flowing
into the Missouri, among which are Inde-l
pendenee creek, Wolf river, and a portion
| from the South. These too, are well tim
bered, and have constant supplyot water
contributed by thousands OrsaTeseE failing
springs An easy access to the immense
bodies of timber on the Missouri, whI afford
tincalculable advantages in building uptowns
and cities. and opening farms IN the Terri-:
tory adjacent to that river. The soil OF the
entire Northern hall of the Territory fofone
hundred and fifty miles West from the Mis-
lsouri is of the very best quality, and as well
supplied with timber as any prairie country
of equal extent. For pure spring water II
will rival any portion OF the United States.
This is the region of country that for some
years past has excited the cupidity of the
irontierlnen, and more recently. that of the
California. Its fame has gone abroad through
every neighborhood In our broad land, ss
an almost fabulous paradise.
On the south side of the Kansas river,
the Waukareusa is the only tributary OF
note, the general course OF which is nearly
parallel with that stream. The dividing
ridge between the waters Of the Kansas and
the Arkansas is very near the former. The
Wakareusa is well llmbered and will afford
: some water power. Almost the whole of
t this region is drained by the minor trl6uta-
ries of the Arkansas and Usage. These are
small, remote from each other, destitute Oh
timber, and frequently dry. Immediately
below the mouth of the Kansas, the East
ern boundary line of, the territory leaves the
? Missouri river, and runs due South. In
, the angle formed by this line and the Kan.
sas, is the Shawnees' permanent reserya-
ton of 100000 acres, embracing all the
L i Il l..
up that stream. ThesOsagess Kansas. and
other Indian tribes also have large reserva-
/; tions in the Eastern portion Of the Terrific
! ry South of Kansas, which circumstance
: will retard for some time the settlement OF
that region. Along the North side of the
Kansas, the Wyandotes and Delawares
have a reservation ten miles wide and ex-
: tending forty miles up that stream. The
soil in the South half of the territory varies
( greatly in quality. A narrow strip land
r on the Kansas and Waukareusa is good
:. land well covered with timber, while those
= on the tributaries of Usage and Neosha are
: thin, grayelly, and badly timbefed. The
: country suitable forcultiyatio South of the
t Kansas extends about one huhdred miles
/ from the Eastern boundry, including the
| Shawnees reservation. -
: All these facts, in connection with the great
4 advantages the navigation of the Missouri,
= for nine months Of the year, Esill give to- the
l Northern half Of the territory, tviH throw
1.-The great center of It's business and popula-
ltion considerably North Of Kansas river
!, The great military road, used by the Gov
E lernnent for the transportation of supplies
!, Ito the posts a New Mexico, on the Arkan.
= sas. and Fort Riley on the Kansas, is o.
the North side of that sire am, and IS said By