The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-06
Eurlingams.

aItention OF large numDer OF persons
was attracted Kansas ward. Some were
inspired by a love of liberty, and others
with desire for gain. The organization
of the Emigrant Aid Company was effect
ed in June of that year, and the estab-
lishment of Kansas League in the city
of New York, auxiliary to it soon follow
ed. Geo. Fl. Stebbins, teacher in that
city, conceived the idea of settling col
ony in Kansas. With view to it articles
of association were drawn up, several
persons were interested in the movement,
and Theodore Dwight was elected its
President, and Mr.. Stebbins was made its
general superintendent. 1t adopted the
name of the American Settlement Com
pany., In September several gentlemen
were sent forward to Kansas to select To-
cation. The Directors had fixed in their
mind point near Council Grove, as
adapted TO the wants of the colony, and
to that point the attention of the explo-
rers was directed.
This small party of adventures, on ar
irving at Kansas City, procured team,
and travelled up the Santa Fe road as far
as Council Grove, examining each point
of interest along the route. Council
Grove they found situated in the heart of
an Indian country, so they returned some
forty miles, to beautiful and elevated
region lying between Switzer and Dragon
creeks. Those streams they found firing
ed with plentiful supply of timber; the
face of the country was all any man could
desire; the large growth of prairie grass
gave ample assurance of the fertility of
the soil; bituminous coal was found in
abundance, and then it was near the GEN.
ter of the Territory North and South, and
nearly an equal distance from its eastern
borders. They travelled up and down
those streams, and everywhere saw proofs
that that portion of the Territory was CAL
culated to sustain a dense population
They also took into account the immense
travel passing over the great thoroughfare
to New Mexico, which was located by
act of Congress as early as 1924, and the
probabilities of railroad being construct
ed at an early day along the natural di-
vide between the waters of the Kansas on
the North, and the Usage on the South
and they also considered the probabilities
of railroad from st. Joseph in Missouri
down the western bend of the river of
that name, and across by this point to the
great bend of the Arkansas. The ex-
plorers unanimously determined upon this
location, and took immediate measures
in regard to hurrying forward settlers.
It is not our purpose to give history of
the American Settlement Company, nor
of Council City, located by them, nor to
follow the embarrassments attending its
movements, nor detail the bad manage
ment of its agents or officers sufficient
for US to say, that after struggling through
two years, the company abandoned their
enterprise, after having filtched from the
eredulous several thousand dollars, for
lots which were sold for FIVE dollars a
piece.
Judge SCHUYLER, who had located at
this point under the representations of the
Company, early saw the many disadvan-
tages under which they were laboriDg, and
knowing that nothing practical would ev-
er come of their attempt to found a city,
determined to go to work in quiet way,
and build up home for himself, and lay
the foundations of town. Instead of
seeking high elevation, remote from
water, and even a couple Of miles from
the Santa Fe road, he found plain,
bounded by Switzer's creek, and possess
ing all the advantages which he deemed
essential to :own. He, in company with
another, erected first class steam saw
mill. to which was subsequently added
two pairs of burr stones for grinding pur-
poses. A post Office, blacksmith shop,
hotel, &c, followed in fast succession
| He gave to his town the name of Burlin-
game, after that distinguished champion
of freedom in Congress, and by eneour-
agement to mechanics and actual settlers
| he has succeeded in getting it to occupy
favorable position among the kue towns
! in the interior. He tells us that the
claims are all occupied for several miles
/ around the town; that stores are doing
good business that every class of me-
/ chanies who have settled there are liberal
| ly patronized that Others are wanted
and that during nextspring some thirty ol
forty new houses win be erected, a ma.
iority of which will be of stone.
We have travelled through that region
and seen it for ourself. and We can say o
4
truth, that, in our opinion, Burlingam'
| is sdestined to be an important inland town
second to but few, if any, south of th'
Kansas river. The people there are IN
dustrious. thoroughly Free State, and ar
IDENTIFY desirous of settling our difficulsie
at an early day, without resort to vio
lence. They have always endorsed tn
voting policy, and have contributed thei
| full share towards placing Kansas in he
present enviable position before III
country.
4 9 We publish on our fourth pags
for the. benefit of our readers, the saTel
s. tisement, copied from Washington pa
u -