The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-04-07
1qiefestipg Letter.
i.asr la 91I F,ona TIE Ohio Statesman.
The Usage and Neosho Valleys of Kan
.,7..eI5 sas Territory. @

The OS2ge and NeoSnO valleys OF kaa-
-g4sa sas Territory.
aGENTLEMEN:-In a recent publication
of the proceedings of a meeting at Elyria,
Ohio. the object of which was the ''pro
motion of emigration TO the West" your
names occur as trustees or directors
fact which may serve as an apology for
the address of this communication.
The destination of the proposed asso-
citation seems to be an open question,
the trustees being charged with the duty
of exploring the western Territories and
making location; but from the facts that
the Secretary of Nebraska Territory is
one of your associates, and that several
Elyria gentlemen have already emigrated
to Omaha city, strong inducements will
probably be presented to settle in Ne
braska. Will you allow me to present a
few considerations in favor of location,
not only in Kansas, but in the southeast
ern portion of that Territory? Even if
they should not influence the location of
your trustees, yet they may be of some
service to other parties. .~
Il assume that any one who is so far
interested in this subject as to entertain
the thought of emigration, has a detailed
map at hand. aud will readily identify
geographical references. And first, I
would request him TO determine with
accuracy the course and situation of the
Usage and Neosho or Grand rivers. Both
rise in the vicinity of Council Grove, in
Kansas Territory-the Usage flowing
nearly east, into the Missouri, Just below
Jefferson city; while the Neosho flows
southeast into the Arkansas river, at Fort
Gibson. The tributaries of these rivers
occupy and fertilize the southeastern por-
tion Of Kansas, and this region has hith-
erto been overlooked by the innumerable
explorers of the country, their descrip-
tions having been confined to the Kansas
river and its adjacent valleys.
There are a few exceptions to this re-
mark. From large collection of letters
and narratives, published since the pas
sage of the Kansas Nebraska bill, | find
three slips which describe the Neoslio
and Usage districts. The st. Louis
Democrat, in review of the topography
and soil of Kansas Territory, expressed
the opinion that the valley of the Upper
Neosho. in the vicinity Of Council Grove,
surpasses at many points, in the richness
of the soil, even the bottom lands of the
Kansas river; and that there are many
spots of well -watered and well -timbered
lands, with mild climate and genial soil,
upon the streams which empty in the
Usage river, and rise in the high dividing
ridge between the waters of the Kansas
and those of the Arkansas. a CORES
pondent of the Parkville Mo, J Lumina-
ry describes the Peoria aud Kaskaskia
country (situated on the Usage river, in
latitude SO degrees, and about 25 miles
west of the Missouri State line as con-
tanning an extensive body of timber, ten
miles wide and fifteen long, consisting of
burr oak, walnut, mulberry, coffee bean,
&c.-with an inexhaustible supply of fine
rock-rich soil and luxuriant growth of
pea vines and winter grass in the bot
toms-iio scarcity of water-a fine mill
site near the mouth of the Pottawatomie
creek, with cave and large spring near
By, dc. The third item of recent testi-
mony, is an article in the Fayetteville
(Ark. Independent, giving the reports
of an exploring tour IN the southeast
portion of the Territory. These were,
briefly, that the lands were rich without
exception-the whole country one large
body of black, fertile prairie-that the
supply of water was abundant, many
bold and pure springs having been found
that there was plenty of timber, over
cup, walnut, sugar tree, etc., the latter
beng of uncommon size-and that, In
short, the southeast portions of Kansas
are superior in climate, land, and timber
to any other portion Of the Territory.
Before meeting these descriptions, my
attention had been drawn TO the country
between the Neosho and the Usage, by
the communications of the Rev. Isaac
Mccoy, made to the War Department
from 1880 to 1888. In an article con-
tributed by Gen. Cass to the North Amer
jean Review in 1890, fvoi. Xxx, page
49, sfr. Mccoy is described as having
1.devoted himself with aniudussry equal
ed only By his zeal aud disinterestedness
to the life of a missionary. - About
1890 he commenced school for the IN
struction Of Indian yoa.h at Fort Wayne
Indiana, but was soon afterwards com
pelled by the progress ef white settle
Inenss TO remeve his establishment 10 ti1e
st. Joseph of Lake Michigan. General
Gass describes the arrangements and sys-
tenn of this school as in all respects the
bestpessible; but the institution declined
as the ,vt,itas abnroaehed and It's Y,rinci-