The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-02-23

In writing to friend, falthfulness and
truth are paramount to any otherconsid-
erations.
You wish me to write about Kansas,
and let you know itsagricultual prospects.
At present it is unimproved, and of
course its resources undeyeloped, We
therefore are obliged to form our opinion
of its agricultural capacity from an ex
animation of its unwrought clements
Geologically viewed. it possesses the
highest claims TO ourcon6dence, atleast,
so faras the natural elements ofearth, and
soil, and surface, are required in the form
alton of a farming country. I wish to
be understood as speaking of the eastern
part of the Territory: its middle and
western sections | have not seen. Lime
rock not only prevails thoughout this
section, but, with the exception of a soft
sand stone, and species of fine slate,
and also deeply deposited mass of soap
stone rock, is almostthe only rock found.
1t lies in quarries so distributed that
scarcely quarter section, except on the
river bottoms, can be found without an
ample supply for all fencing and building
purposes. The sand stone is also IN
quarries, but too soft and brittle when
first worked, until exposure to the air
and sun hardens it. The slate bids fair
to become useful as the only reliable ma
terial for roofing buildings. The soap
stone rock seems to be massive forma-
ton deeply imbedded in the earth, andis,
for aught | know, worthless to the farm
er exceptas indicating water in the dig
ging of wells. Lime rock, then, and its
consistant clay, are the two principal ma
terials of which this part OF the Terrific
rysis composed, and every intelligent far
fner knows the agricultural character of
the soil where these two ingredients pre-
dominate. In this part OF the country,
their proportion is as great as nineteen
twentieths of all that can effect the agri-
cultural character of the surface, or the
sub-soil. The position of the lime rock
is favorable in very eminent degree,
and cannot but be noticed by the most
casual observer. Instead of lying en-
bedded in unbroken masses far beneath
our reach, or piled up in mountain ridges,
as in some parts of Alabama and Georgia,
for hundreds of feet, with almost an un-
broken front of natures perpendicular
masonery, here it is generally deposited
in thin horizontal strata or layers, jut-
ting out from the gentle slopes, forming
the most beautiful and rich benches or
tables, as they are called, that | ever be-
held in any other part of the world. In
looking into the original framework, or
geological structure of Kansas. we per-
ceiye it was formed ofa series or success
sion of rocky shell, one above the other,
with more or less of fine earthly matter be-
tween them, and in which the whole
country may have been bound up as in a
death-shroud but the upper she'll being
I'of the brittle and much of the rotten kind,
1t soon gives way to the wear and
tear of the elements, which here act
with unusual force, and have excayated
long and deep channels for the rivers,
creeks, and water courses, and deep and
dark ravines, breaking through shell af-
ter shell of intervening rock, until a rela-
tive common level, as it were, has been
acquired between all the streams of the
country, and the deep gorges between
them so that now there are no cascades
or waterfalls for milling or any hydraulic
machinery. And what is peculiario this
part of the Territory, the rivers and most
of the creeks, &C., seem to have worn
| down their channels below the last rocky
shell, and are now winding their sluggish
courses in quick-sand and unfathomable
mud, or loose themselves in, as yet, an
unexplored poras bottom beneath. Il is
said there are few, very few, waterfalls
lin different places. But then were we to
take into the account another fact. that is,
the streams are so subject to inundatiou
and Obstructive freshets that water power
can hardly ever be employed here, and,
consequently manufactures can never
flourish unless propelled by steam OF
wind the former requiring wood and
Icoal. of which we have none to spare