The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-01-06
eepcfai 1qteNigeqcs.
A Tour In Kansas.
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= Richmond Enquirer.

The Rev. Mr. BoYNroN, of Cincinnati.
Ohio, paid Kansas visit during the
last season, and travelled over nearly
every portion of the Territory, making
notes and observations, which he is now
preparing, and will soon issue in book
form. 1t viii be the first full descrip-
ton Of Kansas made up from actual OBJ
servation.
On DIR. Boynton's return to Cincin-
natl he gave an address at his church on
Vine street. descriptive of his tour
Among other things, he said he consider
ed Kansas as divided geographically into
three sections. The northern, which
will find its commercial depot at st. Jo-
seph railway. The middle, OF valley OF
the Kansas river, which will trade at
Independence and the southern, of
which Council Grove is the center, will
N lst probably find an outlet at Neosllo,
in Missouri, where the southwestern
branch terminates, or perhaps descend
the Arkansas and seek southern market.
The agricultural district of Kansas he
represented as being about 900 miles
square, and lying directly west of the
Missouri This he described as a de-
lightful region-every rod of it capable
OF cuItivation-free from rocks and free
from swamps.
The soil is deep rich vegetable mould
resembling in appearance that of the
richest portions OF. the Miami and Scioto
valleys. Eyerything that will grow in
Kentucky or Southern Ohio will grow
there. Strawberries, plums, grapes, DC,
they found growing wild in great abund-
ance. The timber is oak, cottonwood,
locust, walnut, sugar maple, blackberry,
wild cherry, elm, beech, DE.
Of the country Immediately west of
this section, and forming part of the
great American desert, he gave far
more aattering account than we have
generally received. He regarded il as a
grass country, well adapted for cattle,
and on which almost countless numbers
of buffalo, elk, moose, deer, and other
animals, now find subsistence
The climate he represented as similar
TO that of Cincinnati. The range of the
thermometer at Fort Riley is about the
same as here, only not quite as variable,
and there is less rain and snow there in
winter
In speaking of the game and fish, he
told of catfish that weighed l59 lbs,
and that it took three men to haul il
ashore.
In regard to the geology of Kansas,
he said the prevailing rock was carbonif-
erous or mountain limestone, illclosing
minerals. among which are iron, coal,
lead, copper, and tin. Of the las;
manr specimens have been found there
is little doubt but that it exists in abund-
ance. The coal is found cropping out in
the bluffs, visible to the naked eye Oh
ore he had brought home several speci-
.mens-gypsum existed in large beds.
He regarded Kansas as destined to be-
come in manufactures, especially of iron,
q reproduction of PENNSYLVANIA.
He then proceeded 30 speak of the
indeseribable beauty of the country
The river bottoms were never low enough
to be swampy. and rarely 10 be fooled
next there was second rise. and then
came the high rolling prairie, which
formed the general surface of the whole
Kansas. This was from 100 to rs feet
above the level of the river bottoms
The general slope of this prairie was
towards the east and southeast; but the
level prairies Of Illinois gave no idea
whatever of those of Kansas-the latter
were 50 rolling and so varied in their
character as to present some new scene
at every step. 1t was sight that filled
the spectator with an indescribabie sense
of beauty and feeling of sublimity
something like that inspired by gazing
on the sea and hearing the cesseless rol
of its surf. 1t was not the monotonou'
prairie that tires and disgusts one, but a
scene that interests and impresses the
soul