Squatter sovereign., 1856-04-29
For the squatter Sovereign.
Kansas no Hnmb,e

hfough ignorance, or the want of hon
esfy, Kansas has been reported, by differ
ent ones, to be of no account. It is rather
held up in the light of great hunbug,
rather than Territory capable of contrib
uting to the wants of civilized life, in the
way of fertile lands, pleasant groves, end
less quaries Of stone. great rivers, springs
and brooks, with which it is filed. II
public opinion still continues to stamp it as
humbug, must In honesty stamp it as a
very valuable one The country along the
Missouri river was the first settled, by rea-
son of Its being easier of access than por-
tons of the Territory more inland. The
settlements next followed the great thor
oughfares leading through the country to
| the westward-such as the Leavenworth
and Laramie road, the military road lead
ing from Leavenworth to Riley, and the
emigrant roads leading to California and
Oregon from the fourishing towns of St.
Joseph and Independence, to which may
be added the traders route to Santa Fe.
As most of the desirable locations on the
roads mentioned have been selected, at
tention is called to the factthat other roads
must and will be made, leading through
parts IS yet wild, which viii offer as
great inducements for settlement as the
portions already settled upon. Prominent
among these embryo roads, is one that will
commence at Atchison, and run nearly in
western direction to the town of RAN
doiph, situated upon the great western
bend of Big Blue river, about thirty miles
from its mouth. and at the junction with
the Blue, of a clear rippling stream, flow
ing from the west, called Fancy creek.
The valley formed by Big Blue and its
tributaries, will stand number one, when
compared with any other country in the
world. Leave the rich bottom lands Of the
Blue at Randolph, and travel east few
miles, and you find yourself upon the west
fork of Rock creek-a stream running
northwest and emp,ying into the Red Yer
million near its mouth. A little further
on, and you strike the East fork, shortly
after crossing the Independence and Ore.
gon emigrans road. The country between
the forks of the creek, and bordering upon
the same, is mostly rolling prairie. The
bottom land is from a mile to mile and
half wide on each fork the timber is
scarce with the exception of along the
streams, which are studded with groves of
sufficient size to supply, large settlement
fer years to come, if properly managed.
Leaving Rock creek, and pursuing an east
ern course, you come in sight of the Red
Vermillion, upon nearing which. the trav-
eler becomes perfectly enraptured with the
scene. In gazing upon Its gentle slopes
and pleasant valleys, you witness nature
in its purity; the ruthless hand Of man has
not as yet infringed upon its loveliness.
Pursuing your course, you will soon gain
an elevated position at the forks of the
main stream. Standing upon this rising
ground, you are at once filed withadmira.
tion Of the congregated beautyoi the lands
cape. Turn your eyes in which way you
will, enchanting prospects fill them. Mean
dering rivulets, with green slopes, winding
their way to the parent stream, are seen
in aH directions; groups of forest trees
visible on every hand, add to the already
ravishing view. The bottom lands are
dry. wide and productive, and offer induce.
ments for settlement and profitable culti-
vation equal to any portion of the country,
either in or out of the Territory. There
is but little waste land, as the uplands have
the appearance of fertility, and are level
enough for tillage. A town called Amer.
lea has lately been laid out at this point,
although no settlers as yet are to be found
within its neighborhood. Pursuing the
same course east, it brings you upon Sold.
ier creek. stream of no pretensions, yet
the timber growing upon its banks renders
it point of attraction, especially in a
prairie country. From Soldier, you cross
a divide, six or seven miles in width, which
brings you to western branch of the
Grasshopper, running from the northwest
to the southeast cross the same, and jour-
ney on, and you viii come to the head.wa-
tiers of another branch of Grasshopper,
running nearly to the east. There is good
timber upon this branch, and the portion
laying west of the Kickapoo reserve is be-
ing fast settled upon. Following this
branch down nearly to its mouth, then
make small cut off, and it brings you to
a crossing of the main Grasshopper, at a
settlement Of Kickapoo Indians two miles
further, and you cross the eastern branch
of the same stream: the route from thence
to Atchison, is on divide to the left of
the head-waters of Stranger. e
The country described in the foregoing
is mostly upon the Delaware outlet, and