The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-01-20
IhsToqtist.
Iettez from Dur Tourist.-No. M.

| Lettez from Dur Tourist.-No. III.
Upon the Wysndoa and Delaware lands
there appears g Be an abundance of tim
ber. especially oa that portion bordering
ion the Kansas river, and known as 81 bot
tom lands" Timber of various kinds is
also ranged along the tributaries of the
Kansas, and along the rasines; and II it
is not abundant, there is enough. if it
|coula be- equita8iy 'apPoftpned among
settlers, to meet their first and most
pressing, pecessilies, and be sufficient
even for ! term d years But there is
much bald prairie that win make salua.
bic ana extensive range for stock, but
for purposes of settlement must remain
worthless till capital and labor unite to
plant and produce timber, which may be
done with great facility-adding ma
terially to the worth. as wen rs TO the
magnifcence tof this really strangely
strikingly beautiful country,
The Delawares have retained the best
portion Of their land, and have employed
the Federal government to sell the resi-
due to the highest bidder. It is not vet
known where the lines of their reserve
will run. The lands are not surveyed
are not Ia morkef--Qre net open for SET
Reuaent-yet squatters are crowding on,
stalking out claims, and pretending TO
pre-empt portion of land-ah very in
judicieus, il is thought, because 1t excites
the cupidity of the Delawares, who are
led thus to believe they shall obtain a
high price for their lands; whereas
know Of no man who would not consider
it bad investment TO pay more than
81 95 per acre. Many valuable loca-
tions may be obtained, where timber, and
water, and stone. and coal exist, when the
lands are open for settlement |; but people
from the East, who seek farm interests in
Kansas, should understand that on the
whole timber IS scarce, water not abun-
dant, limestone in great abundance, and
coal known to exist; but to what extent
is unknown, as the whole resources Of the
country remain yet to be developed by
the head of enterprise and the hard hand
of labor. l
A few impressions touching the Ter
ritory may not be out of place at this
time.
| came here with a strong determine
ton to dislike the country. if | could find
a plausible pretext for 50 doing. But
must say that in spite of all sszabarrass-
ments, and the absence of almost all the
conveniences of life,. Kansas: has. by its
silent unfoldings, won my most favorable
regard. and | amuled to feel at home on
its soil, and satisfied with its smiling
promises of future utility and pervading
and perpetual beauty. s' g =
| am suited with the general face of the
country, because il is elevated and undu-
llating bog and marsh and stagnant
water are not found here. :.
| like the soil because of Its capacity
to produce abundantIy, in an agricultural
point of view for / do moi believe it IS
surpassed by the lands in the .Genesee
Valley, n. Y.
Ii am in favor of the climate /; SO pure,
clear, vitalizing. invigorati1g-it seems
to me like mountain air. have never
breatbed atmospheric cir moro congenial
to my lungs and general health. So.
! Far from the habitation of man, from
the top of a bluff, often pause in my
solitary rambles, and look eastward, and
northward, and westward, and southwark,
and behold ayast prairie range, high and
rolling, traversed by occasional streams,
and those draped along their margins
with ranges of timber-here and there a
fountain casting forth its treasures Of liy-
ling water-while the prairie prospect
| tires the eye, out runs the vision, and
dies away in the dimness of vague and
immeasurable DISTANCE.
| Wildly beautifuland picturesque eoun-
try! A genial climate, prolific soil.
rich in all the native elements aud assur-
ances of present and perpetual worth ;
and as evening approaches, and the stars
Iopen their eyes, and look lovingly down
upon you, you stand rapt in silent con-
temPla ion, and perhaps overwhelmed
with the ecstasy OF poetic elevation !; for
old Night displays his robe de chemJye,
and composes himself To rest in the folds
of the most rich and magnificent twilight
drapery my eyes ever beheld--a golden
aud gorgeous tissue, gemmed with. fade
less and impcrishable stars. s ssg
One forgets that he is alone-celd--
hungry--foot-sore and far from the fire.
side and home comforts of human beings:
he looks from the eternal beauty above
him to the vacant country around him;
and he knows that Kansas holds from
heaven the charter of perpetual beauty..a
That Beauty, Bloomer as she is, walks
forth upon the lawn in magnificent array
climbs playfully the bluff-side-threads
slyly the ravine-adorns the waving for
est-carols with the birds-laughs mrsic-
ally with the meandering and merry
slreamlet-enjoys an excursion on the
riyer-mingles with the storm-dances
In the sunbeams- perrades like sweet
and pure exhalation the air--and uncloses
her heart, and extends her open hand
and salules with a kiss of affection and
winning grace the dusky brow of tho
hardy and perseyering pioneer. =. =
You see, feel, know all this. and ron
look forward, and peer into the practical
future-not far /; and you see . social.
domestic, moral. intellectual magnifcence
all these wastes appropriated hardy,
intelligent, free. and industrious popula-
ton where now all Is solitary; and the
charmed ear of Beauty, even, will be re-
paied and fascinated nv The tr,ss;eaI a-,3