The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-08-21
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, AUGUST 2l. 1858,
Kansas-Iis Progress ana Prospects.

But four years have elapsed since the
living stream of emigration crossed the
| turb:d Missouri, and began to spread over
the green prairies of Kansas.
While great change has taken place
in the condition of the country, by the
transition from an uninhebited region to
that of civilized and flourishing country,
great revolutions have also taken place In
the opinions concerning the portion of the
"great west" between the Missouri and
the Rocky Mountains. The pioneers Of
Kansas have long since exploded the thee-
ry, that the country which we now behold
"blossoming as the rose," was a wild
waste, unfit for the habitation of the white
man, and incapable of contributing to his
wants as civilized being. Indeed, but q
FEW years ago this opinion generally pre-
vailed. It was advanced and sustained
by learned travellers and explorers, and
backed by such authority, it gradually
gained credence, until the existence of the
+" Great American Desert was about as
automatically established as that of "Ara-
! bia." But the illusion has now vanished,
and here we stand as Territory, possess
ing the elements of wealthy and pros
porous State. No long and arid wastes
stretch themselves in illimitable extent,
and present impossible barriers to our
march but instead, We have found green
and fertile prairies, and well watered and
| fruitful plains, a country teemins in re-
sources to supply our wants, and gener-
ously offering the blessings and pleasures
of life to the weary emigrant, who has
turned his face toward the setting sun, in
the hope to find home for the days of his
old age, and an abiding place for his pos
terity. Instead of eucountering rugged
and frowning wilderness, we discover be-
fore US broad and beautiful expanse of
"blooming nature, . inviting us onward and
onward to where the snow covered peaks
cast their shadows upon the plain below.
The progress of Kansas has been as
tonishingly great. In no other period of
cur western progress has the stream of
emigration, bearing upon its living bosom
| the blessings and the glories of American
civilization, swept over the like expanse of
wilderness in the same short time. When
the barriers which stopped the progress of
the living stream were removed, the long
confined mass of humanity, preci pitated
itself unchecked upon the promised land.
The stream has poured in undiminished
and unturned, and, after the lapse of four
years, We can look around US and behold
the mighty and astonishing effects. A
scope of country two hundred miles long
and one hundred wide has become densely
populated. Flourishirg towns and cities
have sprung up as if by enchantment, and
now dot our prairies and bestud our val
leys almost without number. Every town.
ship can claim its mill and other machine
~, and boast its large and well cultivated
| farms. The church and the school house
are lifting their white spires throughout
the land, disseminating knowledge and
teaching morality.
We possess the elements of great peo-
pie and great State.
Our mineral resources are vast, and only
need development in order to build up
within our borders large manufacturing
towns and cities.
As an agricultural and growing State,
we must, in time, rank the highest in the
Union.
We have greater facilities for the con-
struetion of railroads than any other State
or Territory. The general level of the
country, the capability of sustaining a
dense population; and our central position
in relation 10 the great ffiarts of commerce,
all point to our destiny as great railroad
State.
Such is Kansas. But what of her fu-
ture
Our central position between the At
lantic and Pacific States, must necessarily
make her the recipient of the advantages
of the commerce between the two coun-
tries. The rolling tide of humanity will
roll on. Our western plains will be set
tied, the valleys of the Rocky mountains
will TEEN with population, and the rail-
road will be called into requisition to meet
the demands of vast communities for COM
munication for commerce and trade. Kan
sas will be the grand depot, where the
exchange of different products will be ex-
changed. In her limits, cities and towns
will exist, where the fabrics and products
of the Pacific isles and Asia viii be ex-
changed for the manufactures of the East
The march of empire and commerce is
westward, and we are on that highway.
Our present prospects are bright, but our
future is brighter yet.-LeauenUorh Her.
add