The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1856-01-12
Firm the CAicago Democrats Prss.
The Natural Features Of Kansas.
MAGNOLIA, ILL.,. Oct. 10. SO.

since to the Blue River section of Kansas
Territory, send you few extracts.
Manhattan. situated at the mouth Of
Big Blue river, is now beginning to i'm
prove rapidly. 1t is situated in a central
position, which will eventually command
the trade of the Territory. and be the
best point of departure for teams to Sam
ia Fe and California. Nature evidently
designed it to be. the future seat of gov
eminent. Several influential business
men from Ohio and Massachusetts, are
interested here, and viii push the place
ahead. Its site is on the north bank of
Kansas river, upon an elevated plateau,
extending back mile and half to Blue
river; and on the North. prairies swell
ing gracefully as far as the eye can reach.
Above to the west the valley of the Kan
sas opens, and in about fifteen miles, at
Fort Riley, spreads out into wide valleys
of the Republican. Smoky Hill, and their
numerous branches. Below to the east
spread out far away the broad bottoms of
the Kansas river, while the figured lines
of bluff and conical bills in front, open
to view the most enchanting and pictur
esque scenery, rendering it altogether the
most beautiful city site in the world. 1t
is backed by the Blue river country,
which is now attracting the attention of
emigrants. A gentlemen, recently from
the Territory, informed me that settlers
were building their cabins all through
the Big Blue river country, but there
were left yet many of the choicest claims
of timber and prairie to be selected
The Blue river waters a country more
than one hundred raiIessquare, and thou
sands of emigrants could here find ex-
cellent homes. | believe this section
the most desirable in Kansas, and one of
the healthiest in tile West. The air is
dry, bracing, bland, and salubrious.-
Settlers who had been some years at the
crossings of Blue river, stated that they
had not seen case of ague there. The
atmosphere is too pure for green head
flies. A lady informed Us that her COWS
which had been accustomed to run to the
house from flies, near Fort Scott, "look
ed ashamed when they came up last
summer and found none.''
This is a paradise for stock raising
When will the lowing herds cover these
hills? The country rises rapidly as you
ascend the Blue river which comes in
from the North, heading near Big Platte
and running nearly parallel with the
Missouri river; distance from it one
hundred to one hundred and fifty miles.
Here, on the borders of the vast prairie
plains, nature appears to have lavished
her beauties with aprodigal hand We
found plenty of fine sparkling springs ON
the prairies, and little rivulets of clear
running water fed by springs reticulate
the country. We have scarcely known
northeast storm. Away from the in
fiuence of the oceans and the Northern
lakes, in the center of the United States
Territory, far in the interior, the climate
is unusually soft and mild, very pleasant
and desirable. The hills are composed
of soft limestone having some of the
qualities of gypsum; these disintegrate
by the action OF the atmosphere making
very rich land along their base. The
uplands are black sandy loan, which
it is thought will make excellent wheat
lands. The bottoms of Kansas, Smoky
Hill, Republican and Blue rivers, are
from two to three miles wide, dry, mel
low, and productive; even the little
spring branches have fertile bottoms
where from twenty to one hundred acres.
can be had of prairie, .and little coves of
timberin the bluffs, or skiriting along
bright sparkling rivulet that winds
round the bottoms-while projecting out
Of the circling bluffs are large quantities
of stone, convenient for building houses
and barns, or for making permanent
stone wall fences at the same time there
is around enough of broken land for ex-
tensive pasturage,J with flush, durable
springs of the purest water at this time
for cattle. We know Of no new country
where such beautiful, rich, and conven-
lent farms can be made with SO little labor
There is a great scarcity of timber, but
there is more than would appear at first
view-it is in small bodies, generally,
scattered in different sections of the
country. The abundance of stone will
obviate the necessity of making rail fen
ces, or Usage Orange hedges can easily
be made, and locust and peach trees
raised for fuel. Coal is said to be dis
covered. We did not make any particu
lar explorations, and therefore did not
see any. Iron, gypsum, copper, lead,
and other valuable ores, abound in the
rising country back. Water-power can
be found on most of these streams for
manufacturing purposes. and these hills
afford nutritious pasturage for sheep =
wool-growing will be an important bust
ness. The dryness Of the climate can
be obviated by planting early The soil
is quick, and grass usually springs up the
last of March, some three or four weeks
sooner than in the same latitude on the
Mississippi. The fall. winter and springs,
are usually dry and pleasant, except oc-
casional cold spells in the winter, which
are sometimes very severe, but generally
short-May. June and July being usually
warm and wet