Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-27
Letter from Kansas.

kellam, OF Topeka, hansas' 10 d SeHIi0-
man in this town, who has kindly fur
nished US with it. As it is from one who
is well known to most Of the people of
the county, VIC take pleasure in transfer
ring It to our columns =
Topeka, K. T., March 3, 1857.
Il FIRST set foot up
on this disputed soil at Leavenworth |
City, the first day of November last. It
was a summer like day, and the appear
ance Of the country perfectly charmed
me. The weather since then, or from
that time up to the first Of January, was
very fine indeed, Ike the Indian sum
mer" in Vermont, with occasionally a
day however, when it would be cold and
uncomfortable on account OF the north
west winds. In January the mercury
;-.Jiss,rd severe cold weather for Kan
saS, and indeed it tcaS cold through the
month. February was fine; but little
cold winter weather. Sudden changes
from mild pleasant to cold windy weather
IS all the fault / can find with it in Kan
sas. Farmers commenced ploughing
hele about two weeks ago l have no
doubt you and l. could live here
and enjoy good health.
Timber in Kansas is not over album
dant, still in the vicinity of Topeka
there is enough for all purposes. Good
stone and land for building; also, plenty
Of brick made just in town. They build
good deal of concrete. Still it is not
my kind. We have the best mill in the
territory-80 horse power-grist mill,
turning lathe, &c, connected with it.
BY working day and night it hardly sup
plies the demand for lumber and meal.
The water in this vicinity is excellent,
rs good, if possible, as spring water in
Vermont.
Land is not yet in market, but still
there is good deal of trading in claims,
and a grand chance for speculation in
town property. Lots that were selling
in Topeka when l came here for $50
cannot be bought to-day for $780,
Claims are selling from 500 to $1,000
We are in hopes that the Land Office
will be opened as soon as the first Of
June. Then will be the time that money
will fly.
There is not, as yet, much done in tint
way of letting money. There seems tt
be no occasion for it. 1t can be done a
great deal better advantage at Leaven
worth.
Law business here is dull. The fret
state men, you know, do not acknowledge,
the laws, therefore many of them sufe.
rather than apply to them. We hav,
four lawyers in Topeka; about the samt
in Leavenworth and Lawrence.
We can boast, and truly too, of tn,
best society west of the Mississippi river
Quite large and refined in degree no
usually found in a country as new a
this.
We have society in Topeka Gale
the Kansas Philomathic Institute"
connection with which is a large an
we'll assorted library-made up mostl
by contributions from the east; hay
weekly meetings with either lecture {
debate and the reading Of a weekly p;
per, The Prairie Star" by the editres
a Mrs. DR.. Martin, formerly of Phili
delPhia-quite an accomplished lady
The paper is conducted exclusively b
the ladies belonging to the Institute.
proves very attractive feature in OF
evenings entertainment. We have ha
u good school all winter, and preachir
every sabbath. Every third man in KaI
sas q guess is, or was once ministe
Constitution Hall" and h" Union Hal
serve us as churches until our near on
are built. BY the way, our Congreg
tional minister has gone east, on a tol
through the New England states, solic
ing aid in building 4 Congregation
Church here /; will be in IrasburgI
hope you will all give. His name
Louis Bodwell, young man and smaI
There are always more or less priv
lions in all new countries, and you kno
the people Of Kansas have had things
struggle against harder tha1 was ev
known since the days of the Revolutic
Kansas must and shall be free stat
We do not hear to anything else. VA
it Will become so, wiser heads than mi
must tell you"
We are pleased to hear of the evidt
ces Of general prosperity which perva
the territory at the present time, viii
We gather from the. above, as well
from Gov. Geary's farewell address; /
must say that the lively hopes which
have heretofore cherished that Kan: