The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-04-25
Tscumseh, Z. T.

tne SOuLn Slue OF the hanSaS river, anu
on the main California road, twenty
miles east of Topeka. The town site
contains 320 acres, situated on the
dividing lines of townships IL and II,
and ranges l6 and II. The river
here makes a southerly bend, and It's
course for two or three miles both
north and east. can be seen from al
most any part of the high and beauti
ful bluff on which the town is located
This bluff is about ninety feet above
the river, and On general level with
the surrounding prairies. The site
slopes back to the river from the crown
ing ridge of most beautiful and fer
tile prairie, from which can be view
ed one of the finest landscapes in the
Territory. The river here, as we'll as
for several miles either way, is skirt
ed on both sides with tall walnut, oak,
cotton wood and other trees. On the
west side OF the town are Shunga-
nunga and Stinson's Greeks, and on
the east Tecumseh creek-all heavily
fringed, for several miles back. with
good timber. The country about Te-
cumseh is not surpassed by any por-
tion of the Territory in beauty, fertil-
ity and natural advantages; it's char
acter being an intermixture of timber
and prairie, peculiarly adapted to ag-
ricultural purposes. The fertility of
the soil, the excellency of the water
(obtsined from wells % to az feet
Deep and abundance of timber and
best quality of building stone, are in
ducements of no ordinary character.
Good coal can be obtained in large
quantities within FIVE or six miles; the
usual limestone makes excellent lime;
the river affords every variety of sand
and gravel. and fish in abundance;
and the general grade and slope ef the
town site is such that the streets viii
require no grading hereafter, nor un-
derground sewers. Being on the south
side of the river and on high land. it
is free from all miasmatic influences;
and while protected by timber from Sc
we're blasts of west, north and east
winds, it is open to the dry and pleas
ant winds from the south. The loca-
ton is central. Distance, by ordina-
irily travelled roads, from Doniphan,
60 miles; Atchison, 60 miles; Leaven-
worth As miles; Westport so miles;
Sac and Fox Agency 80 miles; Osa-
watomie 40 miles; Council Grove 60
miles; Fort Riley 65 miles; Nebraska
line Is miles; Southern boundary line
l35 miles. The Southern portion oi
the Territory is not settled by the
whites, but occupied by the Usage In
dians.
Tecumseh was laid out in October,
1854, by gentlemen from both sections
, of the Union, including Hon. j. w
Whitfield, Hon. A. IL. Reeder, Hon
Rush Elmore, and IhomasN. Stinson
Esq, all of whom are yet stockholder,
in the town. A majority of the in
habitants are from Northern States
but the citizens generally are conserv
ative In their sentiments and have no
countenanced or aided the late difficult
! ties. There are about fifty buildings
: three or four large brick stores, a bricE
court house. 40 by 70 feet square. and
two stories high-a beautiful structure
Ten or twelve stone dwelling house.
have been erected. There are five
+ stores. blacksmith shops, hotel, me-
chanics. DC. One mill has been il
operation about year, and another
saw mill and grist-miil machinery are
now on their way. and will he put in
operation at Tecumseh this spring
, But the most important advantage
+ that Tecumseh will have will be the
bridge across the Kansas to the ncrtI
side of the river, which is now under
contract with Edward Hoogland, Esq
and others, to be completed by mex
fall. 1t will be permanent structure
estimated to cost $40, 1000, and canno
fail to prove a profitable investment
\ good school is in operation. an'
: funds have been already provided fo
a building church during the ensuing
e summer. A printing establishment
has been purchased and the publica
tion oil q newspaper will be commen
ced on the first of Mav.-Dundee Re
cord.