The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-05-26
Original Correspondence.
Far tie Herald ef freedom.
Kansas in 1870.
AhNESWUhIHs ~ II
Anrii Or 1QER

Aprli 70, 1000.
Ed. HERALD OF FREEDOM II observe
by your paper of April 7th, which is
received, a dream of Kansas in 1876
About the time you were publishing this
/, too, had dream. l was cogitating
upon removing to Kansas. / fell asleep;
and in my sleep found myself landing
from fiat bottomed steamer at place
called Lawrence city. X. I. / walked
up through the mud into the first regular
street, and inquired for a respectable
boarding house, and was directed to a
long shanty or roof of a building made
Of poles mud and logs, which entered !;
and in answer TO my inquiries was told
thatnone but genteel boarders were taken;
that if my recommendations were salts
factory | could be accommodated at Sd
per week. Matters being duly arranged
l wished to retire, rs was much fatigued
with my long journey. The landlord
conducted me to bed, which resembled
rack where sheep are fed more than any
thing else. Here slept soundly till |
was awakened the next morning by the
sound of the old mans voice asking a
blessing at the table; in which he was
careful to express his gratitude for the
bountiful supply of provisions spread be-
fore them. | arose, dressed myself, and
with keen appetite approached the ia
BILE, which, | found provided with brown
bread, bowls of molasses, and pitchers
of water-no meat, no butter, tea nor eof-
fee. | fully appreciated the old mans
piety, but had very poor opinion of his
fare for genteel boarding house.
But as | heard no grumbling, con-
eluded | would accommodate myself to
the circumstances. After eating break
fast | sailed forth to make explorations.
! first counted the houses, churches, and
stores there were just one hundred
buildings all told; most of. them were
mud walls and straw tops with few
frame buildings, no shingles and no paint
Taking it altogether it was the poorest
apology for city of which ] could pos
sibly dream. But
Hope springs eternal in the human breast,
Man never Is, but always to be blessed"
And thinks l. to myself, if these people
can live here can. just then the Steam
er's bell rang-as it was going to Fort
Riley, fastened on board and went up
the river. carefully noticing its channel
which found frequently obstructed with
sand-bars, but which could be easily
dredged.
On my arrival at Fort Riley I wrote a
petition to Congress for an appropriation
10 remove distractions to navigation in
the Kansas river. As asked people to
signitthey would laugh at the idea, saying
the President would veto any such thing
but would generally sign, after had as
sured them chat the next President would
be free-soiler, and that the party were
in favor of internal improvements. My
object in starting the subject thus early
was TO call the attention of the country Il
it in season, as the rule might be, hrs
come first served.
Atthe meeting of Congress ] forward
ed my petition, which contained ont
thousand signatures; wasdaly presented
and referred. Sometime In May follow
ing, took up the National Era and found
an editorial as follows:-
'tThe subject of discussion in tht
House for the week past has been on ths
Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill
and it.has been of an exciting character
.Mr. NJ, delegate from Kansas moved
to amend it by appropriating si00. .0ot
to improve the navigation Of the Kansa.
river from Fort Riley to its junction witt
the Missouri; as there is plenty of money
in the Treasury; and almost every mai
has q cousin in that Territory. the amend
ment found general favor.
"Mr. B., from Missouri, seeing the thins
was like to take, moved TO amend tn
amendment By adding $500, 600 to i'm
prove the navigation of the Missouri
from the mouth of the Kansas to- Its juno
ton with the Mississippi.
Immediately Mr.. L., from Louisiana
moved ofursheramend. by adding $500,
600 to improve the navigation of til,
Mississippi from the month of the Mis-
souri, 10 New Orleans.
"As there was some doubt as to the REQ
ularity of the proceedings the three pro 9
positions were dropped by mutual con
sent.
"Mr.M., from Kansas, moved an amend