The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-09
WHAT KANSAS IA LIKE.


WHAT KANSAS IS LIKE.
In order that it may be what sort Of country
AL this fuss is made about is we subjoin some notes
taken the spot in the spring of the present year.
The route to Kansas is via 81. Louis and the MIS-
souri, river to Kansas City the Missouri river in
Missouri, four hundred and fifty miles from its mouth.
This city consists sf trading store and few miser-
able cabins This is the place at which the New Epgani
Emgrsnt Aid Society deliver the goods forwarded to
Kansas from thence the Western emgrant has to find him.
sol and his way to the modern Utopia Kansas here he
finds that he Ia Atty miles from lawrence, and Is obliged
10 pay four dollars to get himself hauled TO Lawrence
and dollars per hundred for conveyance for his
plumber He may detained at Kansas for two or three
days. At the charge Of seventy five cents day On mis-
way to he passes through Westpor respec-
table town in Missourias towns in Missouri go Law
upon the Kansas is well located but without water
except from the river and well sixty feet deep short
distance from the but at present dry The houses
are of mud sods and cotton CLOTH about fifty 10 number
some three log houses and few emgrant tents
Some respectable buildings being erected AMI
the New England Emgraut Aid Society are putting up
hotel 1t has now about three hundred perm tnent
sidents.
Pawnee City hundred and fifty miles from the month
Of the Kansas has about fifty inhs plants two log houses
and barn, used at present boarding house; this
place il said TO be the head of navigation and may be
said to head navigation altogether 1t is only six or
eight weeks in the spring that there Is water enough on
hs shoals and bars to float fiat boat
This city owned by speculator and is sakel out in
Streets squares and LOTS the lots 2S by 100 and the
map looks well possible OF all the States and Terrific
res known the great West there IS perhaps coun
Try that presents many objections to the emgran as
Kansas the best portion held Indian rnese
ham of nd hat
you travel westward you will look in vain for timber;
you have open country, without water for inter-
walls of fifteen twenty miles, until you reach the Big
Blue river, eighty miles from Lawrence Here may
be found timber similar to that upon the Kansas The
country west Of the Big Blue is mostly prairie country
and of the poorest kind Astounding in hills short sharp
and sudden-n many places these hills covered with
small fat stones resembling slate stone, with sharp
edges, which give the country desoate appearance
Corn and pork the staple food and fifty cents the price
Per meal, and hard to get at that
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS-MEETING OF
THE LEGISLATURE, &C., &c.
After the passage Nebraska Kansas act the Presi
dent appointed Andrew H. Reeder of Pennsylvania, Gov
Of the Territory. Mr. Reeder lived at Eas'on, and
had fair reputation at the bar The seat Of govern
ment fixed at Fort Leavenworth, the Missouri
river thirty miles above the mouth of the Kansas and
sour miles below weston, Missouri. This Il military
post established in 1927. The government reservAAse
contains nine square miles and is said to be pleasant
place
Governor Reeds proceeded 10 district the Territory FOR
che election Of the Legislature and lsceained that there
we're two thousand nine hundred and five voters in the
Territory. He accused by Of his opponents Of
giving unwarrantabs prominence to DISTRICTS and
Intentionally adding to the returns in order to elect bo
ti0n members.
The Governor called the legislature TO meet ct Pawnee
settlement mile below the confluence OF the Repnb
lean ana Chetolah. This place could boast Of stone
house hotel In Of erection but the membes'
the legislature slept in canvassed houses the
ground floor covered with their blankets.
Politics high in the Territory. Gmigrauts dockei
in from the East each bringing his Yankee preudices,
and prmed up to the hit with abolitionm. Tue free
soers charged that Missouri people and vote
the proravery ticket when they had residence in the
Territory. The proslavery charged, the other
hand that the New England parsons sent men out to
steal their negroes In places there were all anti
slavery men, and in others all pro .avery. So high did
the party feeling run that travellers refused odg
ing subsistence for pay because their senti-
sacnts we're believed TO be different from those Of thu
ssttlers.