Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-04-10


Committee, letter written to them by Mr. Ma.
Ohio association, in 1854.
TO the Executive Committee Of the "H;sconsi~
kansas Emigraat did Association"
GENTLEMEN:-I improve the frs. leisure
merit TO comply with your request of the 9th
instant, and state few facts from personal OBJ
servaton in Kansas.
In August lS54, / was ono of the two COM
mssioners delegated by the Kansas Emgrant
Aid Society of Cincinnati to visit the territory,
examine the country and make report
We entered the territory at Fort Leavcn-
worth, about thirty miles north of tho mouth of
Kansas River, where il empiies
into the Missouri, and pursued zig gag course,
crossing between Fort Leayenworth and Fort
Riley, until we reached the latter point, from
lao to 100 miles west of the Missouri River.
At Fort Riley we crossed the Kansas River,
and Travelled in n souih-weseIly direction about
80 miles TO Council Grove, OF the great Santa
Fe Road, ana from that point, returned to-
wards Fort Leavcpworth or she south side of
the Kansas River, anti we struck a FORD about
30 miles from the Fort, when we re-crUSsed and
returned on the north side 10 oar starting point.
The face Of the coGotry throughout the entire
journey was exceedingly beautiful, and to us
unique; miles and miles of high rolling prEire,
slopng in every possible direction, skirIAd On
one, two, aud sometimes, three sides by the
dark, green foliage OF the lines OF timber, far in
the distance; high perpendicular bluffs rising
abruptly from The margin of some one of the ma
ny streams, from leo to 800 feet aSeve the SUR
rounding country, then descending by regular
terraces, aud gentle slopes for miles 10 the tim
Der lands on the banks OF another stream, or
perhaps terminating in exceedingly rich bottom
lands, perfectly level, and extending from 3 or
q, to 81 or 40 miles in length, and from half
mile. To fDIlP five tuilAS n width alOpp the
river BANKS presented scenes ever varying, and
always magnificent and beautiful
The soil on these vast bottom lands is very
rich black loan, not wet and soggy, but Of such
q consistency that it is easily worked, and VIC
were told ny settlers, that it Yves from three to
six or eight feet deep. An Ohio farmer after
examining a specimen which We brought back,
said, he should like 10 have a few loads To ma
nure his farm"
The soil on upands OF high rolling prairie, is
lighter, little sandy, and varying in color from
very dark chocolate to a yellowish brown, X
from ono to two feet in depth, We did not find
a low ,cst marsh, nor pond OF standing water
nor 'stae" in the territory, and ifthcre are any
lands which need draining they escaped our no
tcc
We brought home several specimens of coal.
picked up on the surface in various places, all
OF which prove to be btuminous, and some of it
a superior quality.
were pronounced by some the smelters III Gin
cinnali to be very rich.
Every day we crossed running streams of
good water and occasionally found pure cold
spring gushing out from the bin side By en-
quiring nj various points, we learned that plen-
~ of good water can be obtained by digging
from - &c 20 feet.
We made abstracts of the meteorological Ia
bles kept 1t Fo' LeayenWorth and Fort Riley,
and Wy comparison wih similar tables kept at
Cincinnati, Ohio, Cambridge, Mass, and other
place. We ascerJaned that tho amount OF rain
during one year picSl Gus, varied less than two
inches at any two points.
A very bcau.i.uI, light straw colorad bdildihg
stone abotnds i'll neny parts OF the territory
The government buildings at Fort Riley arc
built of this material, and we were told by the
! Quarter Master that notwithstanding good clay
for making bricks could be obtained only II
short distance from the Fort yet the first cost of
a stone building was less than brick, and the
material more duarb!e
The farmer going from the heavily wooded
lands Of Wisconsin Will be fearful Of a scarcity
OF timber, and il there is any thing III which
Kansas Is deficient i IS timber lands. We
were very particular in our observations on this
point, measuring the distances from timber to
timber and making comparisons with Illinois,
Oar conclusion was that with economy there is
now timber land enough in Kansas 10 supply all
The wants .. q large emigration for the next II
on Is years. But we advised enigrants to COM
moncc ihe cultivation Of forest trees at once.
As soon however at Kansas is settled by
civilized people the timber will increase rapid
~. The Indians are accustomed to fire the pra-
riea cry Iall, and these fires not only burn the
grass bat very frequently extend to tile timber
aud destroy large quantities. We examined
several Of these borni districts Which had es-
capped the fires Tor two or three years,and found
the ground covered with forest trees of various
kinds, from one 20 three feet high, showing con-
cIusively that if let alone the spontaneous
growth viii be enough for all purposes
You can with safety, gentlemen, recommend:
Kansas as the garden Of America having soil
unsurpassed in richness and fertility abundance
Of good water, and ciiuate which, with tbs
dry, bracing aud inyigorating atmosP here tho
North during the winter months, includes also
during the summcr and autumn the soft balmy
air Of a more southern china G.
With heartfelt wishes %. the success of your
Association, AIN gentlemen,
Respectfully,
T. Z. MASON