The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-04-11
Prairie vs.. Timber.

deficiency.
We have said more than once, that
those who come to Kansas and settle
down upon prairie claims, and set'ouf
with hearty good viii to make their
homes what they should be. viii be in
far better circumstances five years
hence, than those viii be who settle up
on timbered lands, or part timber and
part prairie. We are honest in this
conviction, and believe we can satisfy
most of our readers, by resort to
figures, that our position is correct
one.
We take it for granted that large
majority of those who are in pursuit
of new homes in Kansas, arc very lib
orally supplied with means; for it is
those only who have from one to two
thousand dollars ready money to ex-
pend, who can settle upon prairie
claims with the certainty of immedi-
ate fortunes. Those without money,
or with very limited amount, must
be content to get along slower way,
else settle on timber claims.
| Let US figure for some eastern me-
ehanic or merchant, who is little ae-
customed to active outdoor labor,
bat who has about 81, 800 in his pock-
ct, after defraying the expenses of get
ting his family and furniture to Kan
sas, and see what results we can pro-
duce for him:
We recommend him to find some
Igood location within from one to
eight miles of one of the many towns
in Kansas, which prospects indicate
will be central position for large
region of country when the Territory
shall become populous. There are
many such places outside of the cir
Gle Of Leayenworth, Lawrence, To.
peka, or Manhattan. We might In
stance few of these, among which
we should mention Wabonsa, Grass
hopper Falls, Osawatomie, Centrop
oils, P almyra, Council City, None
ka, Emporia, &c. These, by nj
means, embrace the whole list, bu
, will answer our purpose for illustra
tion. Amy number of good prairie
claims are yet to be found within th'
, immediate vicinity of most of these
places.
/ A claim should be selected which i.
high and rolling, mile or two away
from the bottom lands and timber
The soil of the elevated prairies il
rich enough, and will not be exhaust
ed, by proper cultivation, in Thousand
years in fact it win grow better from
age to age. ifscience directs the move
ments Of the agriculturist. Claims
are usually selected along the bottoms
with the view, in addition to the tim
Der, of getting water conveniently
the opinion generally prevailing tina
a greater depth is required for well
on the high lands, than along the bot
toms. Such, however, experience ha
demonstrated to be an error. On thu
contrary, water is usually found quite
as near the surface, on the more eleva
ted portions of the Territory, as OF
the bottoms. We hear of but few
wells which have been sunk a CREATE
depth than fifty feet to find an abun
dance of water.
With such . variety Of claims t,
select from, every person, by prope
exertion, can find just such one a
his fancy desires. If he has COM
from the mountainous regions of New
. England. the chances are ten to on
he has become weary of climbing th'
hills of that sterile region, and viii
seek comparatively level claim
while those from the level prairies Of
| Illinois, will seek one which is con
siderably broken, with the view of es
Gaping the protraeted wet periods of
aspiring and autumn, when the countr,
is frequently almost inundated witt
| water for several weeks at time
| Tho man of cultivated information
will seek a medium between thtse
4 and eadeayor to find a claim an whicl
| the water will not settle at any peri
cd of the year; nor so broken as t
render it liable ts be washed away b.
heavy rains.
/ When such selection is made, b.
sticks his stakes. files his declaration
of intentions for preemption at ths
land Office, contracts with one of ths
heavy breaking teams to break II
she entire l60 acres, costing him S60t
for the same, and makes other arrange
ments for perfectinS his improve
ments. Let us proceed hastily to in
I,vest the 80, 500 with which we sup.
Ipose our slaimsnt is possessed. in ths
ll6lrswmg manner.-
Breaking Iso acres, sso
Printing the whole with corn, including :.
d seed, Is
OAe thousand posts, and sctting same
alonad eiaim lei #. apart, 10
One thousand strips. : By inches. l011
q. long, and nsiiing to their places, .
} Wire for fenoe, and putting up, 4S
Kitchen part of house, Of stone, with two
bedrooms, pentEY, DC, 30
Well ffsy #. deep, stoning and cREbing
the same, with Windlass. Is
Incidentals. e5
II