Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-18
KANzAs TERRIroRY. Dec. l2

hANzAs TERRITORY, Dec. IL, 1904.
We got to Kanzas on Oct. Is, and sent out
a Committee to explore, the rest of our COM
pany agreeing to stay in Kanzas until they
should return and make report. There were
about forty of us altogether, from all parts of
the Union. When the Committee returned,
they recommended two places. Some of our
party went to one place, and some to the
other.
We have settled in beautiful country, in
the south part of the territory, in what is
called the Pottawattamie country. We are
on the head waters of the Usage river, direct
ly between the Pottawattamio Creek and the
Marydesinge. They meet at this point and
form the Usage. The prairie is about a mile
wide for five miles above the forks,a with
stripe of heavy bottom timber on each side,
so that it conveniently divides into farms, CIV
ing to each settler prairie, timber, and water.
The soil is rich black loan, underlaid with
light clay and limestone. We have sand,
gravel, sandstone suitable for grindstones, the
best of clay for bricks, water as clear as crys-
tai, and plenty of it. Our timber consists of
black walnut, white walnut pig walnut,
burr oak, post oak blackberry, mulberry, &C.,
&c. We have all the business men and men
of capital in our party. We call our settle
ment Osawattamie. We have a gentleman
with us from Rochester, n. Y, who has COM
menced erecting steam saw and grist mill
on large scale, and he is going to open a
large store here next spring. We are now
fifty miles from any Post-Off or trading
place, but we have within ourselves all the ell
ements Of prosperous village, we lave capi-
tai, energy, strong arms and willing hearts
we shall make our mark in the early settlement
of Kanzas. 1t is one of the most beautiful
countries l ever saw The climate is all that
could be desired; we have had only one day
since we came here in winch we found it disa-
greeable to work out doors, and this is the 18th
day of December Think of that, We poor
shivering ones in the land of 'Wooden Nut
megs." We have grass now, green as ever, in
our timber lands. l have brought two yoke of
oxen and a large covered wagon for SlS2. The
cattle now are as fat and plump as ever, we
do not feed them at all. In one week, after
my arrival here, with little assistance, had
a log cabin ready, when returned to Kanzas
and brought on my family, we have been here
now over five weeks My wife likes our new
life g1eat deal better than she supposed she
would, she is a great deal healthier looking,
and so are all the children, than when we left
home. | feel confident that this is the best
move have ever made, think l see before
me glorious independence and | feel that
any one with limited means, and an ambition
to be anything above an understrapper, can
not fail to better his condition by coming out
here.
We want all the friends of freedom to come
on with their free speech and free labor their
industry will be better rewarded than in any
other section of the land. We have some set
tiers here from Iowa, and other Western
States, who say that this country has had ad-
yantages over any other, and that the people
ought to know it. Some of the squatters could
be bought out in the spring, for, from $50 to
$500, with good timber, water, &c. We have
Bituminous Coal, within two miles of US, and,
we think this part OF the country will soon be
thickly settled, having coal and stone in album
dance, people will still be induced to settle
upon our beautiful rolling prairies. We have
no stagnant water whatever, the land is all
gently rolling, with small IA, ines at every lit
tie distance, leading to the greens and rivers.
The banks of our streams are high. From
five to ten miles apart, we have some hills
from two to five hundred feet in height, and
frequently there are springs of water ON their
tops and sides. This variety gives beauti'
full appearance to the country.
WIN, CHESTNUT