The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-01-27
Ihe Tourist.
Letter from Our Tourist.--No.I ".

1OttGk k4044 S0A 4SOS4Sts-~4sos
The reader will please observe that our
remarks thus far have been, and for the
present will be, confined to localities on
| the north side of the Kansas river.
Passing northward on the military road,
from the residence of c. Journeycake to
Fort Leavenworth, distance of sixteen
miles, the traveller finds bald prairie the
whole distance, with surface very un-
even, much of it abruptly undulating.
Toward the Missouri, on the right,
there is a range of timber land, but on
the left the prairie prospect is extensive,
and at the present time-blackened and
charred as it is by the action of fire
dreary; though one sees around the base
of the bluffs, and along the tortuous
ravines, few trees which the hand of
nature has kindly, though sparingly plant
ed to relieve monotony, and add, as it
surely does, somewhat of the picturesque
to the scenery.
About ten miles west from the fort is a
conspicuous eminencc, rising abruptly
above the surface of the circumjacent
country, which can be seen from great
distance, and from the summit of which
the eve can sweep a range of country
south and west, for perhaps distance of
thirty miles. This eminence is known
by the title of Pilot Knob.
The buildings at the fort loom up con-
spicuously as you approach them from
the prairie country westward, and in their
white drapery, salute the vision of the
beholder very pleasantly.
Below the fort two miles, on the west
! side of the Missouri river, is the location
of Leayenworth CITY.
The site covers, believe, s,mc beau
tiful bottom land, and also bluff, at the
uppermost part of the town, which will
afford many excellent building sites, and
also protection from the friction of the
river to the bottom land below. On the
! whole, it appears to me pleasant and
interesting location for a town.
On the route thus Ear pursued. on either
side of the military road, and north OF
the supposed line of the Delaware re-
serve, 1 observed here and there, dotting
the face of the prairie, things which re-
minded me of eastern stosk pens-square
| Enclosures, built of rails or poles, and per-
| haps three or four feet in heishth; also,
something that lookei like tents, their
white cloths tapping in the breeze-the
tents, no. the breeze-conical in shape,
and certainly comicaI in appearance.
Not being '.posted" touching the
matter, wondered at the existence of 50
many pens. and no hoy, nor straw. house,
nor human being anywhere in sight but
| an intelligent Missouriah kindly informed
me that those pens were evidences that
some5oay. either for himself or somebody
else, had crossed the Missouri, and thus
established /" claims" to lands in Kan
sas. All was now clear this was the
way Kansas was to be settled and spec
ulating m claims on lands not yet open
for settlement was to be the order of the
day. -
I was strongly urged 70 .jump IS one
of these pretended claims, but declined,
because it was bald prairiie-there vas
scarcity Of water-much of the surface
had no woodland, and hardly any place
had enough TO supply the first necessities
of the pioneer /; and moreover, after a
man had become located and commenced
improvements, somebody, or his cousin,
might APPEAR to set up the pretense thai