The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-10-10
ABBEVILLE CAROLINA MORNING. oCrNBER TO- 1885,

case with the Northern) portion of the Ter
ritory abounds in coal. The coal is very
fine and abundant. 1t is generally near
the surface, and obtained with but little la
Dor. Nearly every man can have his own
coal mine. Very fine stone for building
is also very plentiful. have seen some
very fine stone fences in the adjoining coun-
ties of Missouri, built at a cost of about
~ so per rod. A very substantial and last
ing fence is built of the sod at less cost
than the stone fence. am told that there
is a machine used in making sod fences,
and it is said that very cheap, substantial
and lasting fence is made by this machine.
Two of the greatest objections to the
Territory are the scarcity of water and
timber. have travelled as far as forty
miles and passed but one standing pool of
water. Nearly all the streams 90 dry in
the summer. Rivers nearly large enough
for steamboat navigation in the winter, in
summer are entirely dry. Very good wa
ter is obtained at the depth of twenty feet,
and have no doubt that artesian wells
could be bored at small cost. Artesian
wells will be very essential to stock raiscrs.
The timber, though of very good size, is
not very good for building purposes. The
principal plank used in building is made Of
walnut, cottonwood, DC.
l have often been asked if thought
slave labor would be profitable in the Ter
ritory. In answer to which, will say, that
Missouri and Kansas are alike, both as to
soil and situation. In the former the ex-
pertinent has been tried. and there slave
labor has been found to bc very profitable :;
and if profitable in one, I see no reason
why it should not be in the other. During
most of the time was in the Territory. I
was out Of the settlements, and consequently
am not posted concerning the difficulties
between the two parties, the greatest enmi-
ty exist between them. The abolitionists
openly declare it as their object to make
Kansas a free State, whether or not, and
boastingly say, as soon as Kansas is made a
free State, they will then aboli.ionize Mis-
souri,. The war in Kansas is not merely
against the introduction Of slavery in Kan
sas, but against the institution of slavery
generally. When and where these diff
culties will end, am unable to say. 7 will
here remark that all the accounts of affairs
in Kansas are greatly exaggerated. True
it is that affairs in Kansas are bad, vet
they are not so had as the newspapers
would make us believe I have also been
asked if I thought Kansas would be a
slave State or not. 1t is my opinion that if
the South does not do more towards ma
king it slave State, that it will fall into the
hands of the abolitionists. Most Of the en-
igrants to Kansas from the South are yonng
men without families, and on account Of the
difficulties these young men cannot find
employment; consequently they cannot
make support, and are compelled to leave
the Territory. On the contrary, the abo-
litionists that are sent there by the Aid So
cieties are furnished with arms, and sup
ported the whole time they are in the Ter
ri:ory, and, I believe. paid besides. 1t would
be better soF the South to send ten men to
Kansas and support them, than to send one
hundred and not support them.
| belene that the destiny of the South
depends upon Kansa. If Kansas is made
a free State, I fear it will not be many years
ere the institution of slavery will be crushed,
and this great Republic destroyed forever.
am, with respect, your obedient servant,
w. P. BELCIIER.
AJbeviHe G. H., October l, 1856.