Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-02-26
More About Kansas,

tnls Suoject at the pfeSenb Time, oeneVlng
as we do, that the question of Slavery or
Freedom for Kansas will be decided, one
way or the other, by the emigration during
the ensuing six months:
The Territory of Kansas extends from
37th TO 10th deg. north latitude, and from
the state line of Missouri 500 miles west
ward, embracing an area $4,000 square
miles. II lies in the same belt as northern
Kentucky and Virginia, and southern Indi-
ana and Illinois.
The description which follows applies to
the eastern portion of the Territory, ex-
tending 200 miles west from the eastern
boundary. 1t is the portion which is now
open for settlement.
SURFACE, SCENERY, ETC.
The surface of the country rises from
the deep valleys of the streams by series
ofsteps or terraces, stretches away in smooth
slopes, and eliminates in gently undulat-
ing up-lands, about 900 feei above The sea.
Between each terrace ave intervals; often
several miles wide, smooth as if f.leveled by
the roller, but inclined toward the valleys.
Near the large streams the land is some
times broken, but leaving the immediate
banks there is. scarcely an acre of land
where the surface is incapable of cultiva-
ton. 1t is one unbroken stretch of arabic
land, with drainage SO perfect that not a
pond Or swamp exists over the whole ex-
tent. -
The scenery, though less varied than in
rugged and mountainous districts, is ex-
ceedingly pictreque and beautiful; the
swelling surface of the prairie dotted with
island groves; lofty table lands overlook
ING great rivers bellted with luxuriant for
esis, green hewery plains and wales of qui-
ct beauty, walled in by the eternal battle
ments of nature; bluffs and hills lifting
their bold graceful outlines against The sky,
everywhere delight the eye and redeem The
landscape from monotony.
GEOLOGY.
The rocks of this district consist of lime
stones, sandstones, clay, tSc., belonging to
the COAL formation; they are usually hori-
zonial or but slightly inclined, and can be
cheaply QUARREL on nearly every hill side,
furnishing excellent stone for building OF
lime-burning.
Scarcely a square mile can be found
where they do not come to the surface; The
beds alternate with each other so that sand
lime, and good clay for brick can be Sc
cured almost anywhere.
Coal is very generally distributed; i, is
soft, free burning, bituminous coal, gen
erallv quite free from sulphur, and already
used extensively by blacksmith. The seams
thus far opened, nowhere exceed three feet
in thickness but are sufficient 10 furnish flu
ell to the population for centuries. Iron
OCCURS in several localities; saline springs
occur on the upper tributaries of the Kan
sas, and also extensive deposits and gyp-
sum. s--
The soil of Kansas is equal to the best
soils of Illinois and Iowa; it is quite uni
form in composition, everywhere preserving
the character of a rich, heavy loan.
The first terrace above the rivers is GOV
cred with an alluvial soil often 10 feet
in depth. The higher terraces and up
lands have the common prairie soil of the
west; The subsoil is usually stiff clay, in
some localities mixed with gravel. Patche.
of the sandy soil occur, but they are rare
lime is everywhere prominent ingredient
of the soil.
WATER, STREAMS, &c.
The principal streams are, the, Missouri
river, which is the boundary line for about
100 miles, from Nebraska 20 The mouth OF
the Kansas, and ihe Kansas which with its
tributaries waters the northern portion OF
the Territory; the Usage, Neosho and Ar
kansas which water the south. The Kan
sas river is navigabe for small boats eight
months in the year. Small streams are
crossed every few miles, which carry of. and
distribute the surplus waters; they are
clear except AT the flood season, fur
nish everywhere abundant and excellent
water for stock. Many of them dry up
partially in summer, but still furnish pools
of clear water in the deeper portions of
their channels. Wells can be obtained by
DIGGING from II 10 40 feet, even upon the
highest lands. The water is always hard,
but sweet and excellent.
Water-powers are found upon many of
the streams, but are not frequent. The
coal, however, will furnish cheap motive
power. 5i
CLIMATE. .rs
The climate of Kansas is somewhat diff
ferent from that of the same latitude filrth-
er east. Its distance from the ocean gives
us here the purely continental climate It's
atmosphere is remarkably pure and dry
The amount of rain and snow that falls is
smaller than in the Atlantic States. A
cloudy day is very rare, and whole month
often passes without a shower. The tenn
perature is generally mild in winter but an
occasional cold spell occurs, of short dura-
tion. The winter is confined to its proper
rarely commencing before Decem-
Der or extending in March. The heat of
summer is tempered by The fresh breezes
which rising and falling with the sun, rem
der this a delightful season. April and
NAV are the rainy months. Frosts have
never been known TO trouble the crops.
HEALTH.
The dryness, purity and free circulation
of the air, the absence OF swamp and stag
nant waters, which we find in Kansas, are
conditions favorable to health. The expe-
rience of early settlers also indicates heal
thy climate. Cases of bilious fever and
ague occur more frequently than in older
settled countries, but in most cases they are
the result of gross Ignorance or carelessness.
Let ;he settler take only a reasonable care