Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-04-14
For he Eagntfer.
Pen and Ink Sketches Of Kansas Territory.
Letter No. l.
L]EcoAPTos, KANSAS TERRITORY,
N,r,h IL 1857

March IL, 1857.
Messr. Edi;ors:-Permit me through the colGmns
Of tho Enquirer to communicate TO your numerous
readers something about this much talked Of West.
en Territory. l trust that my extensive ranb!es,
and close observations over this Territory, will en-.
able me to make my communications satisfactory 10
You, md of no rrihing value 10 those who are d..
-ec!iuy their thoughts or .teps towards this interest.
ing country. II Is q Elatter Of vast impor;ance TO
emigranrs, and all others, who have IN eye 10 Kan.
ans, 10 have laid before them suoh Information as will
enable them TO determine and reach the very point
they desirs. without any other guide. Such q descrip.
ton | shall endenvor explicitly TO give in these com.
munications. Upon the opening OF navigation and
Spring, thou1auds have gous 10 thi, field OF high pro.
misc and enterprise.
The Missouri River is, of course, the great high.
way nj present for reaching the frontiers OF lhlr
country, while the Piatte River carries you far be.
ynnd, and through the heart of Kansas Territory -
The. geographical POSITIONS Of kansas will inevira,
bly, max. her the point OF outfit and departure for
individuals and companies travelling across. or DIES
tined beyond The great American Desert, Hs we'll as
the place of trau.hipment and exchange between The
far West ana The Eastern States, and rice rsrso. a
home market and extensive comrnel c. inlet ever b.
her. of rirhr, in consequence of the central position
she occupies. Bounded on the East by Missouri. on
,te South by the Indian R--ervs,ions, Texas, ana
New Mexico, OH The Wss, by Utah, and on the North
by Sebrseks. and carrying across her laos thu natG-
raj !in.a Tor ID, great thoroughtares 10 Sante Fe aud
San francisco, she cannot but Dc on object OF IL.
t-res: to everybody who coys,- q hume on the prs:.
ries. A former Governor Of k.nsss, in u letter u q
TREND in Pennsylvania, write, as follows;
This ID o most lovely and promoting country. There
is ~ 6ner under the sun. aud next summer II Will b.
a rich harvest for all kinds vi building mechanics
and lsborers. Last season stone nasOns and car pen
t-r- got a. Is aud 81 81 u day, and labnrers : | - and
81 III. A legion OF them sill be needed early IN the
spring and all summer. lfyou have any TO spare send
them righ; along We shall pay out in tho territory.
nra- a million dollars in building, aud g lnan can bs
earning the highest wages and getting a good farm
a. 81 Is per acre al The same tune. the s;one.ma.
sna. carpenter, brickiayer, piastsr-r. and lim-'burnes
can lay The foundation If II fortune here the NJ 8; year.
Send them OH; | know they will no. repent il. Spring
opens about the l-tot March, and mechanics should
bs here about that time" As have said b-io-r, II
;r,Dendou. rush Is beimg mace 10 kanoas ii this time.
For the information Of those who think OF coming
here, | will state, that there are ~tr!-wrekly lines OF
stag-s rnnning from various places on :he upper Mic.
sis.,ppi to Council Bluffs ard kAnsss City. But for
,ao.. living far East o.; South, it will be more easy
and convenient 10 come 10 81. Louis, and take a boat
up the Missouri river 10 Ksnsas City or Leaven~orth
City. Fare up the river is about Sl2 To sl3 for cabin
aud J. for deck psssage; freight, from ~ 10 eOc per
hundred. In my next communication will endea'
vor 10 give you a description OF The soil, climate aud
productions OF Kansas. You're. SC, n. +. B.