The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-22

APRIL 23d.-We have arrived at Lyons
Creek, about six miles from the Smoky
Hill After leaving Council Grove, we
travelled on the south side of this river
for two or three miles, crossed one Of the
branches, and then came up in the valley
for about fourteen or fifteen miles. Be-
tween the forks of this river is an extensive,
beautiful, and fertile valley, with plenty
of timber surrounding it, for fencing and
other purposes. Fourteen or fifteen miles
up, we followed the trail of the Sac and
Fox Indians toward the Smoky Hill.
Eleven miles from where We left the Fort
Riley road we crossed little creek, called
Clark's Creek and seven miles farther on,
toward the Smoky Hill, Lyons Greek.
These creeks are pretty well timbered. and
the valleys are excellent They are set
tied, to great extent, by industrious
German farmers. One of them, Mr..
Becker, has beautiful claim, where we
forded the creek. The creek is in beau
tiful valley, surrounded by timber, and by
a rocky limestone belt, too high, too
solid, and too strong for anything to pass
in or out, without the viii of the master.
Mr.. Becker tells US that they want s saw
and grist-mill; and no doubt this would
pay them very well: These people are
willing to help the Council Grove and
Kansas Falls men to make a good road
from Council Grove to Kansas Falls, and
to bridge their creeks-which ought to be
done.
26th. Early this morning, we started
for the Smoky Hill, and by taking wrong
left handed trail, we reached the river 5
or miles above the point We wanted to
go to. I hailed farmer on the opposite
side of the river, for information of our
whereabouts, and whether we might pos
sibly ford the stream he told me ;" you
are about FIVE miles above Kansas Falls.
but, you could not ford this river If you
had two fifteen foot poles tied to your
legs" Thatsettled the question effectu-
ally. In travelling down the five miles,
one of Us drove, and one walked through
deep ravines, and climbed up steep hills,
fifty feet or more, almost perpendicular /;
sometimes We had to drive off from the
river from half mile to a mile, to get
around the steep, rocky ravines, and by
doing so, met wolves, antelopes, and for
the first time on our road, met buffalo.
All these animals acted as though they
were masters, and we mere intruders
upon their soil especially the Symmetrical
and graceful antelope, which would Craze
very quietly, sheep-like, within very
short distance of US, on these rich, heav-
en- bound prairies.
18th. After having waited for more
than four days, opposite Fort Riley,
on account of the ferry rope being
down, and the ferry-beat sunk, and
worked with fifteen men for one or
two days, to enable Mr.. Perry to getupthe
rope, and his ferry boat afoat, we finally
succeeded in crossing the Kansas river,
and arrived in the evening, late at this
place, Kansas Falls, new town, laid
out by MT. Blake, Harris and others, in =
beautiful valley, on the north side of the
Smoky Hill. This place is fast building
up. They have ageod saw-mill, a hotel
in the course of erection, for which, they
want a good efficient and gentlemanly
man, to keep, the same. They also
want a man who will bring on good
stock of goods, usually kept in such
places, and who will keep store there.
3Oth.-Yesterday we crossed the Re-
publican river on new ferry, made at
Kansas Falls. To-day we crossed Chap
man Creek and Armistead Creek, and are
now encamped between the above named
Creeks and Solomon's. Ever since We
have crossed the Republican river, the
country becomes more beautiful, and more
interesting. Antelopes and frequently
deer and buffalo carcasses lay about in
every direction.
May 1st.-Junction of the Smoky Hill
and Saline rivers. The weary travellers
have reached the end of their journey.
The journey has been not only pleasant
but an instructive one. As We proceed
up the Smoky Hill the land becomes bet
terand better the valley broader and
broader, from one to ten miles. Gradually
ascending towards the bluffs which are
more accessible, sandstone takes the place
of limestone-rocks. Solomon's Fork is
quite stream, lined with good, heavy
timber /; the valley between the Solomon
and the Saline, and between the Saline
and the Smoky Hill, exceeds almost
everything else in this Territory, in
point of good soil, good water. broad, ex-
tensive valleys, and good timber. OF all
places now open for settlement, in this
Territory, the Smoky Hill valley is the
best part for settlers tog to here they
not only find plenty of unoccupied claims,
and the best of soil for farming purposes,
but plenty of timbered claims and this
IS not all, however; between the Salmon,
she Saline and the Smoky Hill rivers, the |
country is richer in minerals of many |
kinds, than in any other part settled upon
It present, in the whole Territory of Kan
as. Iron and gypsum. of which I have
'ome beautiful specimens ia my possess
on, is scattered ali over the country, and