New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-20
NesuVork DAILY Gtibm,re
NOTES OF 4 TRIP TO KANSAS.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence Of The N Y. Tribune
WEsTPORT, Mo-, April ~, 1857.
The ride from Topeka to Lawrence is beautiful.
As l have before written you, am disappointed in
the beauty Of Kansas. To the eye of the farmer, it
must be perfect; but to the lover of Nature, there
is great mOnotony in the scenery. Timber is not
only scarce but it appears to be scarcer than it is
lying in low ground, along the creeks you overlook
it. The road from Topeka TO Lawrence, however,
runs along the ridge Of the prairie The eye ranges
over vast extent Of country, from the kaw on
your left to the Wakerusa on your right. Both
rivers are heavily timbered and you thus have the
nuch-needed woods in sight.
This deficiency of trees will soon be remedied if
the settlers give themselves the trouble The locust
grows with great rapdity. -Four years VIII give
shade, irewood and rails. Indeed, trees spring up
naturally upon the prairie. II is the yearly fires
which destroy their growth. As the plow super
sedes the fire. trees will spring up around, and the
settler have cause for complaint IN tins respect.
The Spring this year il backwards; l am Told 80
backward Spring has not been known by the old
est inhabitant. As that experienced individual,
however may in this case be very young man, l
receive the statement with allowance. L should
Judge that the Spring in Kansas advances about as
rapidly as in the vicinity OF New-iork-Westches-
ter for instance-nO faster. The prairle grass-a
Ill.
Whev cattle have fed much this grass dies out and
is supplied by the bluegrass of the States. This, on
the sheltered hill sides and in the wet places OF the
praire is lust commencing Ia be green now, at the
time Of writing nearly the middle OF April The
trains for Santa Re will be- late in starting this year;
they always wait for the grass. The returning trains
start early however; they travel light, and can carry
corn enough with them to support the mules during
the trip.
As YOU approach Lawrence the fields are fenced
in the land Is cultivated and the country has the
appearance of settlement in the old States Law
renee is thriving busy, busting country town. IL
is the focus toward which immigration sets. Wher-
ever the emigrant may land, Kansas City, WyandOt,
ar JeayeuwOrth, he starts Immediately for Law
reuce Thence he strikes off to the south or west,
as he fancies. or is advised. Consequently business
i very active at Lawrence. They have three or
four hotels there Two more are In course OF con-
struction Tue ruins Of the Eldredge House still
remain as a mementO Of the troubled times of
Kansas. but within year another ana hlger
Eldredge House will be erected upon the SITE. hea
estate il constantly changing hands. Lots range
fr'sn si0O 10 81. O0O-5O feet by III feet. Stores
If every description are to be found in the place
bookstores. periodical and newspaper stores, OF
course. One can easily tell from what part OF our
couutry North or South, a new town Ii settledi Dy
the bookstores At Lawrence there are TWO OF
three largely stocked. AT this busy httle place.
| Westpsrt about the same SIZE ana many years
older. there is one, with perhaps hundred volumes.
The problem of the naygablllty OF tDe Kansas
River. as far as Lawrence at least, has oeel sati'-
factorilv solved. The Lacon, drawing about tnree
| feet and a half loaded has made the Trip three
times. Mr. Hyatt's boat, the Lishuoot, was lying
AZ Lawrence when was there, on her hrst trip up
She draws about two feet loaded, and her owner Is
| in homes that she can make the trip during ak
months of the year, and be trusts, in some future
dsv, 70 put on line Of light propellcrs, which VIII
roach Manhattan. confess do not anticipate 80
mncb surcess. To reach Lawrence aud Topeka
with boats Of light draught during four months Of
the wear Is all look for. Two other boats destined
for tbe Kaw are now their way up, but unable TO
make head against the swift current Of the MIS-
sruri. The great quantity Of mud near the Platte
has raised the Missouri unusually high for the
Snring freshets and in some narrow passes OF the
river il sweeps by like a mill-raee. Most OF the
boats are obliged to lie by to gather head OF steam
betore thew can shoot up these rapids. Some seek
bepine rope. or wait for the falling of the stream.
X Lawrence you cross the kaw and take the
road for Leavenworth, thirty-f miles. The ride
il unipterestiug, except for the roadside grave OF
Free-Sta man. murdered in cold blood after he had
surrendered and been promised protection by the
captain Of the gang. Three Free-State men were