The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-09-26
NUMBER 7-yOLUME g..
From lie ERporia .Esees.
From the vsraigris-
On THE yERDfGaIs, NEAR
HRspFRIA Santnral.nr & 1877

u
HEsPERIA, September 6, 1875
EDITOR NEws:-I sec by 3 late NUM-
Der of your paper that you feel interest
enough in this portion of the country to
make favorable mention of it Occasionally.
Heretofore. the Yertiigris country has at
tracted but little attention, and no efforts
have been made towards directing emf
grafton thither. The heaviest portion of
las tspring's emigration to Kansas flowed
into the valleys of the Neosho and Cot
tonwood, peopling them as If BY magic
A small portion of it, however, either dis
satisfied with the Neosho country, or find-
ing the most valuable timbered claims
taken by those who had come before
them, pushed on to the VeFaigFis, which
as ret had been but partially explored,
aud of which nothing dcfnite seemed to
be known. The first settlements were
made on it this spring, by emigants who
had been attracted to the NeoSho by ac-
counts of its fertile bottoms, large bodies
of timber, &c Of course, it would not
be expected that the first season would
show very great results in flle- way OF eul-
tivation, comfortable houses, &c, espe-
eially as all the settlers arrixed late; but
| will venture to say, that for the time
and opportunities possessed by the inhab-
itants of this portion, no settlements IN
Kansas has done more than that on the
Upper Verdigris. The settlers arc all
hard-working farmers-men who came
to Kansas to mako for themselves and
their children homes, substantial ones, and
who in few years will be surrounded
by plenty-the fruits of their teil-and
al the appliances that make such homes
happy.
The soil on the Verdigris is rich and
deep, equally with that of any portion of
Kansas. The prairies are beautifully un-
duiating-not too high, yet enough so to
make them healthy. The bottoms are
broad, and the streams and ravines heav-
lily timbered. Coal and building stone
are abundant. Noportion of Kansas that
l have seen offers more inducements to
the emigrant than this. Timbered claims
can still be had, though they are rapidly
being taken up by the emigration which
is fast pouring in upon us. The fall en-
igration will doubtless add hundreds TO
our population.
The disadvantages which we have here
tofore labored under, arising from the
want of good saw mill, trading estab-
lishment, and a blacksmith shop, arc
about to vanish. The town of HEsrERIA,
which has Just been laid of By an enter
prising company, will soon supply our
wants in this direction. The town occu-
pies beautiful site on the north side of
theVerdigris,s ,sloping nearly to the stream.
1t is located on the southwest quarter Of
section No. /, and the northwest quarter
of section No.12, in township22, range IL.
1t is eighteen miles from Emporia, direct
ly south, and about twenty-five miles
from 0ttumwa, on the Neosho
With proper management Hesperia
will soon grow into thriving village
The country about it will amply support
good town. / have no doubt that the
proprietors viii push things forward rap
lilly. The settlers all favor the location,
and will do all in their power to toward
its interests. A hotel and several other
buildings are being erected. a store and
mill are expected soon.
And am yours, truly, REX.