The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-08-11
Original Correspondence.
Letter from Kansas.
WAxaausA. K. 4. july 80, 1866.

iowa. I promised 10 write TO numerous
friends who reside there, giving them q
description Of matters and things in this
Territory. There IS also list of friends
in Illinois and Indiana who are expecting
TO hear from me; and as it IS impossible
for me, under existing circumstances, to
write to even small portion of them.
and as / wish to do the best can towards
redeening my promise, / have thought
it advisable to address them through the
columns of your excellent paper; and by
sending them each copy, they viii OBJ
tain much more valuable information than
they could through a private letter, and
perhaps be induced to become, sub
seribers.
We Iowa for Kansas Territory on
the 18th of March. The first part of our
journey was very cold and unpleasant,
| the last part warm and dry. Ne were
one month on the road.
Our first impressions ON entering the
Territory were not very favorable. every
thing presenting a very parched and dry
appearance, provisions being scarce and
high, and if VIC believed the reports oi
some. every claim for many miles around
taken up. Bat those of our company
were fortunate enough to obtain claims
within one mile of the first place where
we camped in the Territory. We immedi-
iately commenced our Improvements, and
though the month of April was very far
advanced before our plows entered the
ground, yet We have corn eleven feet
high, and everything efse which We haze
planted is dom. remarkably well.
l. With regard to the soil, l would
say that | believe it 10 be of tie very
choicest kind. It's character is deep,
rich, black vegetable mould, In places
mixed with sand; it varies in depth from
s inches to 8 or 10 feet, probably aver
aging % to 80 inches. | think lis fer
tility and productiyeness cannot be ex-
celled. Susceptible of Immediate cult
yation, and peculiarly adapted to the
| speedy growth and maturity Of nearly.
if not all, our agricultural products, and
OF SO easy tillage, it presents inducements
rarely to be found The subsoil varies,
somelimesa redishc clay, sometimes black
ish, then a yellow or blue clay. Have
not heard of any lands i'll the Territory
that are subject to leachingr on account
of the subsoib, or any under strata.
2. Timber is usually found. upon the
! streams and water courses. Its character
is generally good, although it's in places
low and somewhat shrubby, which is oc,
easioned by the annual fires put into the
prairies, which has tendency to stunt
and Otherwise retard the growth of TIE
timber for years; but when the firing oi
the prairies is made the subject of legis-
latiye enactment, timber VIII spring up
all ever the country We shall have in
this way double the quantity of this re-
quisite IN ten years that We now have; and
in twenty years. four times The amount.
The varieties which predominant are oak,
black walnut, blackberry, hickory, ma-
pie, honey locust ard cottonwood. The
comparative amount of timber to tie
prairie is yet unknown, no survey of the
Territory being made up to this time
| think with economy, however, there is
sufficient.
5. Stone and stone coal ia found in
great abundance, and OF easy access,
which viii assist any portion of the Ter
ritory that may be destitute of timber, bv
afording building and fencing material
and fuel.
4. Water We have in abundance, both
rivers, creeks and springs. The Kansas
is noble stream, running almost through
our entire center; there are also innu-
merable tributaries thereto. And in Dig
ging wells, water is generally found in
from 1 5 to 50 feet.
S. The character of our inhabitants is
a happy admixture of intelligence. re-
fnement, cultivation, industry, enter
prise, open-heartedness and generosity
While. we arc thus constituted, no fears
can be entertained in relation to the rap
idisy of our growth, or the development
of our resources. Twelve months have
not elapsed since the Territory has been
opened to settlement and our population
cannot be far short of / 5,0oo. Churches,
church societies. and all the religious and
educational elements, exists among US to
a remarkable extent for Sc newly settled a
country. We have in the Territory eight
newspapers published, FIVE of which are
for free State.
g. Situated as we are between parallels
81 and 10 deg. of latitude, We are in tie
enjoyment of mild, salubrious, and con-
genial climate. 0ur.aIr is always pure,
healthful and bracing. Our winters, (as
we are informed by long residents on our
frontiers. are remarkably mild and short.
Z. Our distance froEa important points
in Missouri and Iowa, from my location,
are as follows: to Westport, 45 miles; to
70 Kansas, 50; to Parksille, So, to st.
Joseph, 30; TO Independence, about 55;
to the Iowa line probably leo miles, and
about 40 or 500 miles from ST. Louis.
Our prairie and most of the timber is
high, dry, undulating. and IN portions
even hilly. A rich, luxuriant growth OF
grass, for hay, pasturage, dc, covers the
prairie, and the eye never wearies and
the mind never tires IN gazing upon and
drinking IN the beauties and grandeur OF
the rich, lovely aud yariegated scenery.
To one who has the brain to think, the
heart TO feel, and the disposition to study,
the beauties of our country will afford a
rich repass.
With aelimate eongenial io health, soil
cheap. fertile and productive, air .bEaeing
and ipvigorating, water plentiful, cool
and refreshing. stone and fuel abundant,
country high, dry, ralling and beautiful.
we have fke incentiTes Co wealth, COM
mercial advantages and Developments, il
must and viii become . great Ssate.
But while / would cordially invite all
my friends seeking a home. 70 come I'M
rsedmsely to Kansas, yet would moi
hsse ron suppose that il IS fenced IN and
finished ready 10 your hands; or slsat
thereare no difficulties to encounter or
harlships 70 endure You must come
With strong hands aad stout hearts, de-
tesnained % liye for tlIa time being a Pio-
neer life. Come 10 plant yo,lr stslkss for