The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-24
Letter from Pawnee.
PAwNEE, K. T., Feb. 10, 1856

TANhEE, n. L., Il eD. III, 1000.
Mr.. EDIroR:-Through the columns
of your paper see you throw out invi-
tations to correspondents from different
sections of the Territory. accept your
invitation, and shall give you short de-
scription of this place and country around.
l have seen a good deal of Kansas Terri
tory, and a majority of the many town
sites already located.
Paunee is situated one mile from Fort
Riley, on the north side of the Kansas
river. 1t has high and dry banks, and
being just below the junction of the Re
publican and Smoky Hill, is such point
as nature most unquestionably indicates.
It viii be at the head of steamboat nayi-
cation; and the idea that the Kansas river
is not navigable is simply absurd. Be
ing, then, the head of steamboat naviga-
ton, it will be the great outftting place
for all the overland emigrants to Oregon,
California, and Utah; for these great
roads of travel pass through here.
Pawnee covers an area of about six
hundred acres of ground. 1t is as level
as floor, and never subject to overflow.
The landing is as good, if not better,
than any on the river-already a fine
stone one has been made.
All along the north side of the town is
fine, beautiful, and high bluff, which
overlooks Pawnee, the Kansas valley up
and down for miles, the valley of the Re
publican and Smoky Hill, as well as the
country for miles opposite the Kansas.
This bluff is full of the very finest kind
of building stone | have ever SEEM
They lay loose and in natural blocks, Just
ready to be rolled down the hill. This
stone, when dressed off, looks almost like
marble. and when first quarried is soft,
and very easily worked. The buildings
of the Fort are all constructed of this kind
of material, and it is said are much
cheaper than brick. Timber of the finest
kind is quite abundant-more so, indeed,
than in any other part of the Territory.
The land all around Pawnee is of very
superior character, and fast settling up
and the notion that there is no good land
west of Fort Riley is very mistaken one,
and persons entertaining it only show
their ignorance of the rich and mex
haustible resources of this country. The
country for hundred miles or more west
of this place surpasses anything have
seen east of 1.-THE finest kinds of prai-
ries, and very extensive belts of timber.
Already the towns of Chetolah, Mont
gomery, Saline, and Reeder, west of this
place, are in fourishing condition
About thirty miles above this place, near
Reeder, very extensive and superior
bed of gypsum has been discovered.
shall send you specimen of it.
About two miles from Pawnee is the
beautiful and magnificent Spring of Mont
gomery, named after Col. Montgomery,
its discoyerer. 1t gushes out from the
side of hill, and at once forms nice
little stream of the purest water. twill.
ere long, become place of much resort,
as strangers already are visiting it, and
pronounce it one Of natures greatest
freaks in Kansas Territory.
The Pawnee Association have at this
time about fifty men at work on aware
house, sixty-four by thirty six, three sto-
ries high; it is to be built Of stone. Two
saw-mills are about being put into oper-
alton. A hotel is in course of erection
of the following dimensions: seventy
five feet front and one hundred feet deep
II viii be mammoth structure. 1t will
be built of stone taken out of the hill
right above it.
There is great demand for laborers
here, and good wages viii be paid them
but none ought to come at this time un.
less they have the means of accommo-
dating themselves for some time in the
way Of bed-clothes, DC.
A word more in regard to the country
around here. It is well known that For
Riley win soon be one of the most impor'
tant military posts in the country. and
viii for years to come afford an ezcelleni
market for all the produce that farmers
can raise; and Uncle Sam viii give them
the ready cash for it.
In view of all these facts, Pawnee mus
necessarily becomes very important place
lin all probability one of the largesi
cities IN the far West. Yours,
ARISTIDES.