The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-03-20
rour 10 ths uecsho-claim Makine.

u
Upper Neosho. and gave q general account
Of the country, its people, and various
incidents connected with the expedition.
Just a year from the time we returned
from that journey we set out to travel
over the same portion of the Territory
again. with the two-fold purpose: First
to make the necessary actual residence on
the Aelaimo we selected at thai time for a
future home. 50 as 10 enable US to perfect
our title; Second, to observe the progress
of the settlements there, with view that
we might answer numerous inquiries from
friends and cores poHdents, whether there
were any good claims between Burlin-
game and Emporis, or in the vicinity of
the latter place. yet open fer settlement.
Inzcempany with Mrs. BHows, whose
actual residence on our claim is necessary
to perfect the title, We set out from Law
renee, with light buggy drawn by one
horse, on the afternoon of the Goth ult.,
and drove ten miles directly south, past
Blanton's Bridge, to Mrs. BIS fathers,
near the Santa Fe road, where We tarried
for the night. We found every claim
occupied, and evidences that the people
had made great progress in, the way Of
improvements in that, section since we
first passed over that region three years
ago. Mr. Bennett, who came out with
US from Pennsylvania, in 1854, has a
beautiful home on the elevated prairie,
some four miles from the Wakarusa.-
Mr.. GLEAsoN's residence, about mile
beyond, overlooks the whole country for
many miles. A more healthy locality
than that Of this vicinity can not be found
in Kansas, nor elsewhere. Though the
winds of heaven have full play, yet all
the inconyeniences arising therefrom are
amply atoned for with the cool breezes
of summer, which blow away the miasma,
leaving health and happiness as their con-
comitant.
Early in the morning of the 26th, we set
forward for Burlingame, where we deter.
mined to arrive at night, with the under
standing that we had but twenty five miles
before US. Instead of this we found the
distance full thirty-fye miles, and v ith
the state of the road, it.was hard days
drive. Willow Springs, three miles on
our journey, was the first point worthy of
note. We found it hamlet of a dozen
buildings, mostly oflogs, we believe, with
rich country all around it densely pop
ulated. Every claim seemed to be occu-
pied. We made no call, and have no
acquaintance there; but, from the locality
of the town on the Santa Fe road; its re-
moteness from other points; and the popu-
lous appearance of the country, we were
not long in coming to the conclusion that
few years would witness thriving
village there, and the center of rich agri-
cultural community.
Our route lay nearly west along the
great Fanta Fe road. This. road was es-
tablished by the government in 1924, and
over it is probably, carried on a greater
amount Of commerce than over any other
road of equal length in the world
Thousands of teams, loaded with mer-
chandise, pass over it yearly. A Santa
Fe train in full motion, extending for
miles along the road, each covered wagon
being drawn by from six to- eight mules,
and drove by ''greasers,p Gas they are
usually called, who are semi barbarians
of New Mexico, evidently mixture of
the Spanish with the Indian, gives q
person some idea, no doubt, of the magni-
tude of the traffic carried on at one period
between the countries bordering on the
Mediterraneanand the Indies, during which
populous cities, like Tadmor. better
known in modern history as Palmyra, was
built up to accommodate the immense
caravans of that period. .aa sE
u As far as the eye could see On either
hand, for sight to ten miles beyond Will
low Springs, the claims all seemed to be
occupied. Beyond this they grow more
scarce, until they quite disappear ,af.er. a
few miles. At one point we saw prepara-
tions for the erection of several buildings.
We learned soon after that it is the site
for new town to be called Washington.
IF timber and water were abundant; or il
the latter could be obtained by digging at
moderate, depth, we should esteem it a
good location for a town. The elevation
of the country, the beauty of the distant
scenery, and the immense travel through
it with the populous country which 2 few
years will build up around it, will, no
doubt, make it a point of some oonsidera-
ton. "A few miles further on we passed
the body of a hewed log house, minus a
cover, window or door, From its brown
appearance it must have been erected a
year or more ago. Apaper nailed to a log
informed us that this was Glasgow; that
the town company was chartered at the
late session of the Legislature; that that
quarter section and the first one esstof it
had been selected as town site; that it
would be entered as such at the land Office,
and forbidding all persons to jump it.
As we approached the point of inter-
section of the Lawrence read, which
passed Bloomington and Twin Mound, to
Burlingame and Emporia, we found evil
.dences again Of settlement. and houses
began to grow more numerous. Between
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