The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-31
CORRESPONDENCE.
lJoarrsy from Topeka to Fort Riley.

WIS INV lieu D. 0ct.e1 OilefOy 10 EsAS q
trip with him to Fort Riley, rs miles
above this point, Topeka, which I gladly
accepted and at the Generals request
] took notes on the journey, in order to
give brief description of the Territory,
hoping tisas you viii consider it worthy
place in the columns of your valuable
paper.
Gen. Pomeroy and myself left Topeka
at O'Clock A. NJ, on the morning of the
7th of March, and, after short delay,
succeeded in crossing the Kansas river
at Pappan's ferry. which is one half mile
above Topeka. Passing through quite a
bottom of timber, we came out on to a
beautifulhigh bottom. as level as the sur
face of lake, and containing thousands
of acres OF land, which belongs to the
Delaware and Pottawatomie nations. We
had gone but few miles when we saw
a prairie wolf a few rods from the road.
| had taken the precaution to take my
rifle along. which, by the way, is one OF
Sharp's self-capping, and was prepared to
have all the fun possible. Driving along
close to the wolf, l sprang from the
buggy and fired while the wolf was
running, but missed him: slipping in
another cartridge, | fred again before he
was out of reach, and this time shot
him through the bind parts, but not suf-
ficiently to kill him.
Passing on our way over beautiful
level we passed two stores in close prox-
unity, and occasionally the cabin of some
hardy squatter. who had been attracted
by the beauty ofthe surrounding country.
After riding some 19 miles we came to
spring of clear. cold water, running out
of high bluff. These springs are like
the oasis in desert, and are always
hailed by the thirsty traveller with de-
light.
Six miles further on We found saw
mill. carried by horse power, and man
aged by some Half breeds, but not adyan-
tageously, as the saw and carriage are
out of repair, and it requires a good me-
chanic to put it in order. when it could
be run so as to pay well at present it
costs seven dollars per day to run it.
The power is SIX horse. We arrived at
the Catholic Mission at 12 O'Clock, M,
and had the pleasure of dining at Mrs.
Bertram's, who sets a good table, and a
lady who is well calculated to please all
who may favor her with a call. She has
two beautiful daughters who have been
educated at the Mission under Father
Durink's supervision. The Mission is
in very fourishing condition, and the
children at the school are taught to sew
and embroider and am informed that
the Indians are very apt in learning to
use the needle, but are rather dull with
their books. We saw some very fine
specimens of embroidery executed by
the Misses Bertram, which for design
and beauty of finish, have rarely if ever
seen surpassed.
Resting an hour we continued on our
route over hills and plains, and OCCASION
| ally down in the deep "glutch" of some
ravine. which, in its course from hill to
river, would cross our path. Three miles
from the Mission we passed some very
fine limestone quarries, which viii one
day be of great value for building mate-
rials. We crossed the Vermillion creek,
which is stream of clear water, and
well wooded Louis Jumbo, Half
breed, and a Mr. Dean, are building a
fine bridge across this creek, and think
it will be good Investment. Riding
some six miles over beautiful rolling
prairie, we arrived at the crossing oi
Rock creek, where we found Mr.. Will
son located introducing ourselves we
met with warm welcome and concluded
to spend the night with them. We slept
in a feather bed, which by the way is
quite a treat to US pioneers who are
obliged to lay on the ground, or little
prairie. grass, as the case may be. Two
hundred yards from Mr, Wilson's house
is good water privilege, with sufficient
water to run mill for saving and grind
ing, and would be good chance for
some enterprising man with a small cap
ital to putllpa mill, as there is consider
able timber in that region. Crossing the
creek, we rode over some very fine prai-
rie for eight miles, when we came to
Black Jack Grove. Here we found a
marked difference in the soil instead OF
a deep rich loan, we found sandy soil
covered with the black oak, or black
jack, which grows small and scrubby, and
is good for little except for wood. This
grove covers five hundred acres, and per-
haps more. The sand is black and shin
ing, and presents beautiful appearance
in the sun. Leaving the grove in our
rear, We gradually descended to the bot
tom lands which border on the BIG Blue.
Wepassed through some fine timber land
which has in measure been squatted
on. Immerging from the timber, the
Blue river suddenly burst on our vision
and as it winds It's serpentine course
through the rich bottoms, and patches Of
timber, it presents one of the many beau
tiful sights which one sees in travelling
over this 8. Garden of America" Some
two miles further on, we found a Mr..
Dyer, who has erected a log cabin, and
furnishes entertainments for man and
beast. A few rods from Mr.. Dyer's
cabin we crossed the Big Blue on very
fine bridge lately buils byr' Uncle Sam.
The bridge is $50 feet long by I8 feet
wide, and has one arch in the frame, and
stands 25 feet above the water. The
bridge is built of oak timber, and is BY
far the best ] have seen in the Territory.
Immediately after crossing the Blue, we
came into a beautiful level bottom con-
tanning thousands of acres much OF
which is llopen for squatters. Leav.
ing the bottom, NE came to Wild Cal
creek, which is well wooded, and there
are some very fine claims along this
creek. The land back from the streams
is very much broken. and worth but lit.
tie for agricultural purposes.
Leaving the Wild Cat on our left, we
came into an entirely different country.
Instead of the level bottoms and rolling
prairie which had met our view for the
last day and a halfss travel, we found a
high, rocky, barren waste some of the
bluffs rising abruptly 50 or 100 feet, and