The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-06-21
"ron, our Kansas Correspondents
FosT RrbFY, Kansas Territory
May =, 1855. \


FRIEND ScHoCH As much as uas
been said about the Territory OF Kansas,
being one of the finest portions oil uncle
Sop,'s domiuions, | am inclined to the
contrary. The soil is equal, | have no
doubt, to any in the U, S. but as little or
rain falls after July until the next April
or May following, ] am therefore led to
believe that it will never bc an extensive
farming district There arc thousands Of
acres Of land without one single stick OF
timber thereon. The buildings, therefore,
must be built of stone, of which there is
an abundance, Of beautiful white lime
stone, in the Territory.
Many people have been greatly dcceiv-
ed, i'm regard to the chances i'll Kansas,
for making money. Laborers have come
here, some 10 return Immediately, and
others to obtain work for few days, at
one dollar per day, and then leave for the
States, damning the Territory and those
who misrcprcscntcd it. I have no doubt
that three fourths Of those who cmigratcl
to this Territory have left for the States
and greater portion of those remaining,
do not intend to make Kansas their fu-
ture home.
In regard to the quantity of land, which
will be fit or can be cultivated, l do not
think, amounts to more than one fourth
of the whole; not because the soil is not
good or that it is rough, but chiefly for
want of timber and rain. The timber is
chiefly along the rivers and in the ravines;
that along the river is chiefly cottonwood,
a wood which cannot be split to answer
any porpose, except it be for fire wood,
and it is very difficult to saw it. It grows
along the banks of the streams and never
is seen on any other land. That in the
ravinos, or a good portion of that which
grows on the low land, near the rivers, is
burr-oak, white-oak, ash, black walnut
and little cedar.
A great deal of lumber used, or that
which is to be used, for building in Paw
nee, is brought from St. Louis, distance
of about six hundred miles; but we arc
likely to see things changed in this re-
spect, for the better, as a steam saw-mill
is now being built, in the erection ofwhich
considerable progress has been made.
Pawnce is situated one mile from Fort
Riley, on the south side Of the'Kansas riv-
er, about two miles below the junction Of
the Republican and Smoky Hill Forks
1t has high and dry banks, and not sub
jcct to overflow. The landing is equally
as good as any on the Missouri River.
All along the north side of the town is
fno and beautiful bluff, which overlooks
the town and the Kanas valley, up and
down, for some three or four miles. This
bluff is composed chiefly Of white lime
stone, the finest kind OF building stone.-,
Thit stone, when, first quarried, is soft anu
very easily dressed. The buildings Of
the Fort are constructed Of this kind of
material, and they appear very beautiful |
Some timber, Of very good quality, is
in the immediate ncighborhood, but the
military reserve covers The most valuable !
portion Of it. Chctolale, Montgomery,
Saline and Reeder, towns west of this
place, arc being settled Chetolalo being
.he only one which is laid out; all situated
IN the Smoky Hill Forks.
There is not single town on the Re-
oublican, and no settlement at all. There
re few claims staked out and cabins
re about to be erected, but in all do not
xeeed six.
Very little work is going on OF any kind
n Pawnee' One of our party has left
or the States, and some three or four in
end to leave in a few days.
The Legislature is to meet in this place
lbout the first of July next.