The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-01-13
Questions Answered.

Is best adapted TO, dc. They inquire
q whether the soil is sandy or mingled
with clay !? What is the temperature of
the climate I? the surface of the country ?
the size of the water courses ? and are
there good mill streams ? Is the land
subject to pre-emption, or how can claims
be secured What is the state of socie-
ty, and what religious denominations are
most prominent Is there any of the So
ciety of Friends Where is the village
of Wakarusa :? Is it situated on river ?
and If so, is it nayigable? How far, and
which is the best route for US from North
Carolina to get there Is there any, or
many slaves there ? What is the proba-
bility of its becoming free State ? Is
the land now in market How long have
you been there 1--WE are aware" con-
tinues the writer, .'that editors have
much to do without needing such let
ter; but We are extremely anxious for
the information ; and as you are adyoca-
ting the cause of freedom and the settle
ment of the country, we hope you viii
impart it to us. We wish to settle in a
free State. and hope to lend our influence
in making Kansas sueh.''
To give the querists all the informa-
ton they desire would require several
columns, and more time in preparing an
answer than We can possibly spare from
other matters. As to general descrip-
ton of the country, it can be gathered
more fully from the notes of trip up
the Kansas, in July last, by GEo. S.
PARK, Esq, of the Parkyille Luminary,
published in the first number of the
HERALD OF FREEDoN, and from the late
speech of Hon. THOMAS Ii. BENTON in
Baltimore. published in the second num-
Der of the Herald, than from any other
source we are aware of. There are also
articles IN each of those numbers on the
depth and fertility of the soil which are
reliable. As to its adaptation, its resour-
ces have not been sufficiently developed
to allow US to statespeci6cally; however,
from its near locality to Missouri, which
has similar soil and climate, we sup
pose it is susceptible of raising similar
productions, which are chiefly corn and
hemp. Wheat we think is not so sure
a crop as IN some other localities, because
of the too great fertility of the SOIL
Peach and apple grow here luxuriantly.
Sweet and the common potato, are said
to be Of sure growth. 1t is perhaps as
well adapted to the raising of horses and
cattle as any country in the world, and
we are not sure but we should say that
it is better qualified for stock raising than
for anything else. Nature has been
lavish in her arrangements for supplying
domestic animals with food /; and all
that seems necessary for man to do is to
cut and give out their winter stores, and
shield them from the inclemency of the
weather.
The soil is of rich black muck, rang
ing in depth from eighteen inches to five
feet. In the western part of the Terri
tory it is said to be sandy.
The temperature can best be inferred
from the meteorological table which We
published last week, and continue in this
number. The thermometer is said to
have risen as high as 10 degrees in the
shade in the summer; but this is ex-
tremely rare.
The surface of the country is high and
undulating, resembling old ocean in q
storm. 1t it just what the agriculturalist,
of all others. would desire it to be.
The tributaries of the Kansas are oi
various sizes, from small streams UP to
those which in times of high water would
float the largest ships. AT the present
time the beds of nearly all these streams
are dry from the effects of the protract-
ed drouth, which has lasted since July
last, with slight exceptions.
There are no good mill sites in the
eastern part of the Territory. About
seyenty-fye miles west Of here the coun-
try is more broken and it is said mil
sites are plenty.
Upon the subject of pre-emption, read
the various articles in the three numbers
of the HERALD on that subject. We art
inclined to the opinion that a pre-emptior
claim, as such, cannot be made on unsar
veyed lands; however, the act of Jul,
22d. 1854. seems to render the subjec
doubtful. 1t viii be found in this mum
Der of our paper, on the inside.
Society is in rather chaotic state
and win require much time to organize
Houses and protection from the inclem
ency of the season seem to be the frs
demand of our natures. after which soci
ETY. viii be looked after.
There is Mission of Friends anon.
the Indians some ten miles this side 0
Westport; but we know of no other or
ganization Of that denomination in tn
Territory.
Wakarusa has been subsequently name,
Lawrence. which is about forty miles u
the Kansas river. anden its south bank
some six miles above the mouth Of Wa
karasa, which empties into the Kansas
The Kansas river Is Yayicabie with boat