Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-05
kansas CorrespVoCndence.
Canton, Blne RiUer, Kmsas Territory,
March Sfh, 1855.

peafance OF the country on The north, side OF
the Kansas, as far up the river as the west
line Of the Delaware Indians. | will now
speak of the country still further west The
first thirty miles are Indian reservation, and
IT is not open to settlement. | will content
myself by saying that if there is any more fer
tile delightful country than this. IL has new
es been nv good fortune to see it. The soil
from the Grasshopper TO the Soldier cannot
be surpassed anywhere. The surface Of the
country is sufficiently undulating for all pur-
poses Of drainage. The stones crop out on
the sides of the bluffs and afford excellent
building and farming materials in abundance
This portion of the country is well watered,
and contains large amount of valuable timber.
ltisdestined at no distant day 10 supporta dense
population. West of the Soldier Creek is the
Pollowatome reservation. This Indian re-
serve IS on both sides of the Kansas river, and
is thirty miles square. [, contains some of
the most fertile and best timbered lands in the
territory, and is in every respect desirable
and lovely country Sand ~
The Catholics have a mission among these
Indians, and around it have built up quite a
town. They have under cultivation several
hundred acres of land, and have a church and
several fine school houses. They have done
much TO civilize and chrislianze these wild
Indians. Indeed, the appearance around The
mission is very much like the appearance of
ordinary country villages of the same size
The Indians here generally speak English,
appear kind, hospitable and industrious, and.
are fast preparing themselves to become Ameri-
can citizens. ! am informed that they intend
at the next session Of Congress to make APP
plicalion for division of their lands and for
the privilege of citizenship. This have no
doubt will be granted them, unless defeated by
Hindoo intrigue. Would it not be amusing
to see the new tangled Native American par
ty opposing the giving of rights to the Indian!
If the native happens to be Catholic, he has
no reason 10 expect anything but hostility and
persecution from that spawn of federal aris-
tocrocy called knoto nothings. Well, let them
go on they will soon convince the people of
| their origin and base designs.
After passing through the Indian reserva-
ton, we come TO the United States lands which
are open to settlement, near Rock Creek
The land here is tolerably well timbered, as
fertile as could well be wished, and the bluffs
more abrupt and stony than farther east. From
Rock Creek to the Big Blue river is seventeen
miles. The valley of the Blue, in beauty of
scenery and fertility of soil, cannot be sur
passed. The Blue is a deep, rapid stream,
abost two hundred yards in width, of pure,
clear water, having broad, well timbered bot
toms, and hemmed in by rugged, stony bluffs.
1t extends north-westerly into the country
about two hundred miles, and is fed by an
abundance of springs and small creeks, all Of
the latter possessing fine bottoms and an abun-
dance of good timber. There is no country
more desirable for home than this Blue Riv-
er country will be, when it comes to be set
tied up. No soil will produce better crops of
corn or any other grain, and with less labor
than this, while the facilities for stock raising
and wood growing are unrivalled. The sheep
which we saw here were really as fine as we
ever saw, and this winter they did well, with
out feeding at all. The cattle need very little
feed in winter, and if pastures OF Blue grass
were allowed TO grow on the bottom lands in
the fall, they would afford full supply OF
feed for the wintering of stock almost any sea-
son. In my examination of the territory, |
have come TO tie conclusion that no country
can afford greater facilities for agricultural in
dustry than Kansas. 1t has fine, rich soil,
is well watered, has sufficient timber 10 an
swer very well, and mild, healthy and in
MIGRATING climate. During the winter which
have spent in the territory, the thermome-
ter has been at zero but once and then only
for few hours. There has been but very
little snow, and that lasting but few days.
A few days only were so clustering that it
was not comfortable working out of doors,
while most of The time the weather resembed
the pleasant days OF October in Maine.
Such are the soiland climate OF Kansas, and
Ho" iol Tue OtuoI, Sloc Oi tHc picture, lOI L
learn that many Kansas emigrants return to
the east and carry back an evil report of this
goodly land. II New England emgrants ex-
pcct to find in Kansas an old settled country,
Astounding in all the convenicnces and Injuries
OF life which it has taken two centuries to
procure in New England, they are destined
to bitter disappointment. Houses cannot be
bull, nor farms open there without labor-nor
without money. IL any propose TO emigrate
TO this country. they should make up their
minds TO suffer many hardships and endure
many privztions. The price OF almost all nee
essary articles is hish-partly owing to the
drouth Of last summer, and partly to the bad
navigation of the Missouri river This diff
Guilty must be met and obviated by industry
and perseverance. They will also find
scarcity Of mills, and lumber very high
These are the obstacles which most readily
strike tho attention Of the newly arrived emf
grant, and If he has not the fortitude to meet
and overcome them, he turns away Disguised,
and goes to the north cursing the country, and
abandons fine opportunity 10 accumulate for
himself fortune. To Industrious mechanics
!