Kansas weekly herald., 1855-08-04
MEMBERS OF THE House.
Correspondence of the Kansas Herald.l
The TOaUas of Tecagaaseh.
IT'S NATURAL AND ACQUIRED ADVAN-

TAGES.
To THE EDIroRs OF THE KANSAS HERALD.
Your invitation to correspondents to send you
brief descriptions of the several Town sites in
the Territory, is my excuse for sending you a
few lines concerning this beautiful and promis-
ing locality.
Tecumseh is on the late Shawnee purchase,
and is named In remembrance of the Shawnee
Chief, whose death, at the battle of the Thames,
by the hand Of Col Dick Johnson, probably did
more than any thing else towards eievating the
latter to the Vice Presidency, as well as ending
ths Indian confederacy against the power of the
General Government. The Town is situated on
ne South bank of the Kansas river, about 60
miles from Westport Is from Fort Riley ;
81 from Leavenworth City 66 from Council
places) and 80 from Agency City, on the Sac &
Fox Reservation. The bearings Of those several
places from Tecumseh, range, according to the
surveys and maps, about as follows:
MstR9rs Yves RRsv about W East 60 % miles By road
Leavenworth City g E. BY N.54 {: /"
Council Grove &c w. by S. &c &c &c &.
Agency City &c South, 60 Il" &C
North Boundary North, 80 &c &c "
The Town site is a beautiful piece of high,
East with skirting of timber sufficiently dense
only to protect it from violent winds. The bluff
rises so or 60 feet above the shore of the river,
afording, from almost every part Of the Tswn,
country. The channel runs on the South side Of
the bed, and the banks and bottom of the river,
along here, are rock consequently free from all
danger of the bluffs ever washing off any. There
are two good and easy slopes down to the river,
besides an excellent road-eat and graded down
to the ferry landing. The Ferry is arranged
with ropes and buoys, and sprobably the best
and most certain on the river. The ferry boat is
large, entirely new, and capable of crossing
three teams and wagons at each trip. The
l. L..
preached and perfectly safe from sand bar OBJ
structiens. Although many persons, judging
from the inexperience and mismanagement Of
the boats that ascended it this summer, consider
the river unnayigable, many more who have
been acquainted with the stream for years, and
understand navigation of shallow streams thor
oughly, say it is perfectly practicable to run
suitable steamboats, of 75 or 80 tons burthen up
the river at least 100 miles, eight or nine
months in the year, without danger Of snagging
or grounding on sand bars. A light draft boat,
one that would carry that tonnage, besides pas
sengers C baggage, on II or IA inches of water,
Gas do several of the Pittsburg and Allegany
river steamboats, would be sure to do large
and paying business. The prices for hauling
freight from Kansas City to Tecumseh, by land,
average about 70 cents per hundred pounds
The steamer would be sure of plenty of loading
for az far as she could run, at an average Of one
cent per mile per hundred pounds. Such a boat
viii certainly be put on the river in September
next, should the new beat recently built at Kan
sas City for the Kansas river trade prove fail
ure. All the boats that have ascended the river
this summer draw 18 to SO inches light. The
Excel, drawing over two feet, made three trips
up to Fort Riley last summer when the river
was less known than at present, and the water
lower than it has been this season. The captain
of the Excel was energetic and ploughed his
way few rods, once or twice, rather than re-
main "stuck."
In the vicinity Of Tecumseh is an abundance
of timber Of all kinds found in the Territory
In fact the timber on Mr.. Stinson's 500 acles
the town for years while the Half-breed Kaw
lands on the North, the Shunga-nunga Bottom
ON the West, and the large tracts of fine timber
along the river on the East, are sufficient to ban
ish all fears for the future.
Owing to the difficulties experienced in nayi-
eating the Missouri river the past spring, itwas
not until recently that the steam saw mill,
which was contracted for last fall and should
have been on hand by Ist December last, was
put in operation. The mill is good one no,u,
and saving lumber ssright smart.o But few
buildings have been erected on the town site
yet. At the earnest solicitation of those most
heavily interested, purchasers of lots last falPs
sale, refrained from commencing buildings until
suitable LUMBER and materials could be obtained,
it being the general design to mar the appear
ance of the place as little as possible with log
cabins and fimsy shanties. This policy has re-
tarded the growth of the place temporarily, but
it will be a benefit in the long run, as many men
of capital have purchased lots in the town and
made arrangements for the speedy construction
on them of handsome and permanent buildings
which will be an honor to the village.
Three brick yards are in operation, and large
quantities of brick have been burned and are
now rea dv for use. DIR. Hunter is putting up a
large arssk store w. A. M. Vaughan & Go.
have number of hands now engaged III collec-
ting materials for large brick store, which
they will commence in a week or two /; the