The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-03
Correspondence.
From lie Cras5erd, Pa, Dessoeraf.
Letter from Kanszs.


nicate to you, and tomany others through
the medium of the Democrat, the impress
sions nay mind might receive concerning
this Territory in as truthful and plain .
manner as my judgment and experience
would direct. Two causes have conspir-
ed to prevent the fnliliment of this prom
ise before the present time first, The
want of proper information touching the
character Of the soil. climate, and pro-
ductions Of the Territory, together with
the settlements, pursuits, politics, DC, of
the people; and, second, the want of
leisure and the difficulty of obtaining ma
terials wherewith to indite ones thoughts.
wish to premise this. and all other ar
tieles that ] may furnish you upon Kan
sas Territory, with the following an
nouneement that / shall speak of Kan
sas as see it and comprehend it, per-
mitting myself " to exienuate naught and
naught set down in malice, but "plain
unyarnished tale relate, /" and, from the
data may from time to time furnish, let
each and all determine for themselves
whether or not Kansas presents sufficient
inducements for them to make their homes
among US. Concerning myself have
only to say, that while | would upon no
consideration urge any person to come
to Kansas, yet were ] in Pennsylvania,
and had the same knowledge of Kansas
that now have, would not remain in
Pennsylvania twenty-four hours.
left Meadyille on the morning of Mon
day, Oct. 30th, and arrived in Kansas at
noon on Tuesday, Nov. Z, thus making
the trip from your place to the Territory
In little over one week and had not
Intentionally stopped over one day in
Cleveland, and another in Chicago, by
loss of train, l would have arrived in
Kansas in less than one week from the
time of starting. This speed. however,
can only be attained in travelling by those
who viii understand how to travel. As,
for example. the Conneautville company.
under the direction of Mr. Albright, left
on the Friday previous to my departure,
and arrived IN Kansas two days after my
arrival. All persons from your section
of the country had better take the route
BY Cleveland, Chicago, and st. Louis. as
they viii find it quite as cheap as any
other route, and much more expeditions.
After nay arrival in Kansas City. / re-
manned around for few days in that
place and the neighboring town of West
| port, learning what I could by conversa-
ton of the Territory, and preparing for a
departure into the interior in order to look
for myself. Those "few days" were the
darkest days / have seen since my de-
parture from the East. The rain fell in
torrents upon one day-the nextit showed
to the depth of three or four inches, and
the next was singing eold-truly "cold
comfort for one who had left the fair
and fertile lands of the old Keystone in
search of a warmer sun and more con-
genial climate.
In the midst of such weather as I have
Just described the Conneautville, Pa, del
egation arrived. From some misunder
standing between the agents of the COM
pany and its members, there was much
i'll feeling manifested; in consequence of
which, coupled with the bad weather and
the sinister croakings of Missourians,
wishing to discourage everything in the
shape Of emigration from the free States,
they were the most sorry and disconso-
late set of beings man would wish to
behold. While speaking of the Conneaut-
vile company, it might be proper to re-
mark, that in due time after their arrival
at Kansas City, they took up their line
of march for the Usage and Sugar creek
portion ofthe Territory, which lies about
eighty to one hundred miles s. w. oi
Kansas City. Here, like the Israelites Of
the Scriptures, their eyes beheld the
promised land, and in the exuberanee o!
their feeling, initiated the great philoso-
pher on the successful solution of the
problem, called theirsettlement Eureka. .
The intention was good, the actwas fail
ure; for, if the philosopher had forgotten
the solution of his problem as soon as oui
Pennsylvania friends have forsaken theiI
Eureka, the world would have been little
benefited by his discovery. The Con-
neautyille company is completely broken
up; some are at this place-Iawrence--
some at .he new city Of Topeka, twenty
fve miles above this on the Kansas river
some at Kansas, Westport, Parkyille,
and other points in Missouri, and others
have returned to their homes in the old
keystone State. The great drawback tc
the Conneautville company was, that they
relied too much upon the capacity and en-.
ergy of their agents, and not enough up
on themselves. ] am also fearful thai
many came to the Territory lily advised
of the hardships they would have to en-
counter, and less prepared to encounter
them. It is not fancy sketch when
say that many leave the comforts of theil
old homes in the East and come TO Kan
| sas with the expectation of sitting dowr
in homestead furnished with all the ele.
| gance and luxuriance that time, money
and labor can procure. Brick or marble
palaces, furnished with Turkey carpets
Tyrian drspery; mahogany sofasand beds
of fdown-hnds fenced and cultivated, and
lgroaning beneath the weight of rich and
golden haryests- orchards and vineyards
! laden with the mellow fruits or juicy pulp
inviting the epicurean hand to come and
Ipartake: such. I say, is the expectation
tof many. How different the reality
Their marble palace becomes q log o.
turf hut, which they must erect viii
their own hands-their rich drapery tht
/ winds and clouds and skies Of Heaven
their Turkey carpets the Parched swart
.iof the prairie, and their beds OF down ths
buffalo robe or blanket the expectant em
| igrsnt may have in his possession, viii
his knapsaek, boots, or soft end OF log
for his pillow Well fenced and wei
cultivated fields we expect to have; or
j, chards and vineyards, with their luscious
fruits, win ultimately become our inher
4 isauce to an eminent degree; but the tim'
is not yet; the hand of labor, the expend
| iture Of money, the lapse OF time. are re
quisite for their production.
s I have given you in this letter the darl
picture of Kansas shall hope IN my