New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-13
NOTES or A TRIP TO KANSAS.
Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune.


We came up the river ST the usual rate of Ms.
sour upstream speed, viz three miles an hour.
leaving Wyandot at p. NJ and arriving az the
next moruing-a distance by the river Of about Is
miles.
eayenwortb is BY far the largest and most -four.
isbipg town in the Territory. Ii has its bankers,
and its store keepers of every description; large
brick hotel, the Planters, very well kept; stsges
and hacks running back into the country.
Building here is going on at very RAPID rate
forty OF fifty houses in OF erection at the tins
write The only objection TO them is that hey
are fragile wooden buildings; a few but very few q
brick or stone.
In other parts Of the Territory, they are building
largely Of stone IL is found in inexhaustible our.
res, and almost ready for the builder, requiring
scarcely any trimming. In the neighborhood u
Topeka. saw quarry where they were getting out
the blocks with a crowbar only. They came out
so even, SO convenient in size aud SD Pr, that my
first impression was that they were taking out the
stone from an old foundation. Buildings can be
erected of this stone al the rate OF sixteen cents
per cubic foot. II is limestone, Of course. They
build, too, along the south bank Of the Raw, very
much Of concrete This makes very good house,
and can be put up for about twelve cents cubic
foot. Where lumber il 50 scarce and high as II u
here-Sl00 a thoussnd-it is great thing for the
country to have such ineXhaustbe quarres OF stone
will be sustained The people are energetic and
Industrious and il commands great deal OF capital
They are now busily engaged in plans for railroad
10 tap the Hannibal and st. JOseph's, at point
about 80 miles east from Leayenworts. This they
will undoubtedly accomplish within two years. Ia
this case thu town will remain the principal place IN
the Territory, spite Of the superior advantages OF
other localities.
the place Formerly, US you know, they were 81.
most all driven out. Since Geary's administration
commenced. they have returned and now number
probably three-hfths. The population is 3,6OO-
about 900 yoters--a greater proportion than in our
Eastern cities Women and children are compare.
lively scarce.
A day or two after my arrival, | mounted
nov prairie steed and, With my baggage in my
pccket, nv revolver in its holster, and my
money in nv belt started with q friend fora
weeks trip over the prairies. And here let mo say
upon the subject Of reyoyers (they are known here
as .'tax- PAYERS y that m IN may travel nnarmef
in any part of the country safely be can m the
Eastern States far more safely than he can walk in
New.York after nightfal. The revolver Is useful
for game You viii fall in with pr IRE wolves
grouse and turkey buzzsrds, and you an try your
skill upon them-they viii give you ample opPor'
tunity.
We passed through Eastou. bitter feeling stu
exists among the Pro-Slavery men against those
who have been active in the Free-State Capt
Cline was bold leader in the wars. On Sunday a.
be came from church. four or i've men approached
him with constabe's writ for his arrest on false
charge of horse-steslng during the troubles. last
Fall. He was unsrmed, but refused to 90 with
them; whereupon they fired upon him six or eight
shots-then ran. But il is astonishing how much
killing man requires on these heslth-restoring prai
ries Capt. Cline will probably recover
he north bank of the Kaw (Kansas) is beautiful
in Summer, with the prairie covered with verduro
and flowers, but monotonOus. The military road
from Fort Leavenw5rt to Fort Riley follows the
ridges. On every side of you lies succession Of
rolling prairie, gentle undulat!ons but treeless. At
intervals Of few miles, you cross creeks. Along
hese creeks lies the timber sufficient for building
purposes, and for frewood for the present. The
country however is full of coal, which will ultimstey
be used for fuel. The soil is rich beyond CON.
parisOn. In Illinois, they think their prairie un
equaled in fertility. They raise 20 bushels Of corn,
300 bushels Of potatoes TO the acre. In Kansas,
they raise 90 OF 80 bushels Of corn, 800 bushels VI
potatoes, and this upon the first breaking Of the
prsrie In Illinois, il requires four horses or two
yoke Of oxen to the pOw 10 break the prairie. In
Kansas, one pair Of horses, or one yoke Of oxen,
will do it.
We passed Hickory Point, the scene Of one Of
the battles of Freedom. The house ia riddled with
the Jagged holes made BY the bullets of the Sharps
rifles. The log cabin adjoining is pierced by two
cannon balls. The Pro-Sayery men were defeated.
Hickory Point lies about thirty miles north west
from LeavenwOrth. 1t has been purchased lately
by company Of Maine men, who are laying it oot
into town. II s well adapted TO the purpose, and
will no doubt in time become the center Of -four.
ishng agricultural country
Osasokee is q small pl ice in the timber bottom on
the Grasshopper. 1t is Pro-Sasery and, OF course,
doing nothing. Its inhabitants are good-nstured,
lazy, pleasant set Of fellows from Georgia. When
the weather is little cold they sit round the stove,
smoke and chat, instead Of drawing logs. They
talk of moving to Texas. Grasshopper Falls 50
Free-State town. Building is active there-share,
in the town in demand. 1t il the center Of fine agr
cultural county. The Falls, however, are nothing
eight feet perhaps. Power enough TO drive two
mills, no more.
The climate of kansas is not as mild ~ 70 reP-
resented II is colder titan the City OF New YORK
fully as cold as our River counties me ,hefn'o,ne
Ter here last Winter sank a. low as ~ deg oeioW
zero. and for many days iI succession was oe,ow
zero. The changes are very great Snuruay "a"
~ o,onyd froz.n hard. had no Thermometer,
bn, am satisfied the mercury was as low as 20 deg.
Tba Summers, however, are delghtiul--the days
:, metimes. though rarely, very warm, and TIE
NIGHTS always cool.
c., Gesrys resignation has been an injury to
the Territory. Before he went, politics were al
discount. No one talked Of them; Improvement
business, was all the rage. Now, speculation asto
Walkers course occupies all minds. For the iis
NO weeks real estate is at stand-still. lmmigra,
ION is checked. "What will Walker dol" neard
on oil sides. Ny own opinion is this: Walkers tae
greatest Spectator in the country-the Count 40
Morny Of the United States. He comes 10 hansaS
10 make money. He will buy all the mi,d nc Va.
"a IN or credit for and when be has acquired
stake in the Territory, it is not in human nature or
a. :. = -, tb;rg 10 iuiure the value