The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-09-08

ture of great deal of money, the en-
ployment of numerous hands, and an i'm
mense amount of business generally,
must give an impetus to Kansas not en-
joyed by every new country; add to this
Salt Lake, New Mexico, California, Ore
gon, and Washington, and you have a
trade already established before thecoun-
try is settled.
+ Wells, wherever hayeseen them tried,
have proved successful, and the water
good at no great depth. Rock is every
where abundant, compensating in great
measure for the lack of timber~for fenc-
ing and building material. The popula-
tion is fine, hardy, and industrious one;
both men and women seem disposed to
take the hardships of new settlement
in the best humor, and to toll undermany
disadvantages with the hope of future
reward. This is life's sweetener at any
rate,
''No matter where we roam"
1t is mans bad or good fortune to be
contented with nothing, but to be ever
pursuing distant pleasure; and while a
squatter's home wants some of the COM
forts of higher civilization, to the poor,
yet high-minded occupant, it contains
many Joy; there is feeling of untram-
melled freedom and independence, an alb
sence of borrowed cares, knowledge of
how little can make life happy, that makes
to him and his that humble cabin and
rude field more charming than splendid
palace, while he is blessed with an easy
conscience, healthy constitution, and re-
freshing sleep, that the lordly possessor
of the latter sighs for in vain. Heal EN-
grant that the race OF squatters may new
er run out: they are the true type of an
honest man and when you take their
broad hand you feel that no treachery,
no evil-designing politeness turks behind
it. But above all, il ever the existence
of our Union hangs upon thread, from
the lonely log cabin of the West will
start up the men whose bold, patriotic
hearts aud stalwart arms shall crush dis
union at home aud hostility from abroad.
Grasshopper Falls must make a place
the country around it can't be beaten
anywhere-a mill is now in course of
erection, which must not only prove of
advantage 10 those now in its neighbor-
hood, but will also attract settlements. |
know not 70 what extent the timber may
be occupied presume, however, it IS
generally claimed-but | can say this,
that no man ever saw finer prairie, which
| know to be without all owner, and with
the alyanta 5es of Obtaining timber from
the mill, and within convenient dis
-taece the Missouri river, + weffier.
more farms are not made out in the prai-
rie; for my part | wouldn't give one farm
in the prairie for thousand in the tim
Der to live on. The former must be more
healthy country, having no ponds nor
marshes, therefore no miasma; you get,
on the prairie fine air, rich soil, high
rolling laal, AMI against the storms of
winter one can soon protect himself by
planting trees.
From Gra>shopper Falls, we came to a
store kept by a Mr. Thompson, on the
banks of the main creek aud a branch cali
cl Cedar. Here we bid farewellto roads
and struck Out into the open coun;ry-up
the dividing ridge between Cedar and
Wills .creek-crossins the latter some
| distance below its head, at the extremity
of settlements, thence up divide between
Wits and Elkhorn, across to Soldier
creek; saw great deal of timber on the
way, unclaimed. Our route would be a
good one for the sectionizing surveyors
to follow; they can cross Soldier creek
where we did, and follow the divide be-
tween it and the waters of Red Vermil-
lion, southwardly to their points of des-
tination. Those surveying east of Sol
dier creek, could leave our track before
reaching the creek, and pass around tie
heals of the branches OF Grasshopper,
which are very numerous, and calcula-
ted to cause much embarrassment unless
avoided by heading.
The country becomes more broken,
and the soil not SO uaiiormly of first rate
quality as east of the Grasshopper We
here found a most excellent spring OF
water, to part from which almost brought
forth tears: no one who has not tried it
can appreciate the gusto with which a
thirsty traveller upon high prairie, un-
der a hot broiling sun, plunges his bill
into cold clear spring; you may in
your homes of elevated temperature,
paint with fancy's brightest colors mint
juleps, brandy-smasileS, DC, DC, but
the picture is far below the reality of such
treat on such day. About an hour
at noon the sun seemed to have acquired
fresh supply of fuel, the back of my
hands, which | thou 5ht tanned to about
the consistency of leather, aud therefore
proof against everything save a knife,
were in short time burned into blisters.
This lasted, however, not very long
Kansas is ever blessed with fine breezes
they and the spring soon destroyed all
remembranceS of King Sol's fiery ap-
proaches, aud sent us on our way reloic-
ing.
And what view WAS that from the top
of high mound! Allaround the swell
| ing hills went rising and climbing one
upon another, till in the distance they
seemed to kiss the clouds. The hun
| dred branches of Red Vermillion aud Big
Blue, as far as the eye could reach, with
their narrow dark green fringes of timber
was seen creeping and winding among
the ridges-now hid BY Intervening bluffs
how bursts into view united with the
main stream, and disappearing together
in the hazy south. Bold, white masses
of rock dazzled the eve, which was again
relieved by bright green patches of grass
reaching down the abrupt wales between
the scattered hills; beneath lay strewn as
if hauled by some ancient Ajax, innum-
cradle fragments of rose-colored rocks of
all sizes, from a mere pebble TO a mass of
tons in weight; everywhere waved the
rich grass. aadall one grand solitude save
our little camp and a marching cayalcsde
of mounted Indian warriors moving slow
~ at our feet, their gaudy adorned dress
les and trappings flashing occasionally in
to view, and alone telling US who they