The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-11
For tie Herald Of Freedom.
A Trip TO the Gold Mines.
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perhaps it may not be uninteresting to the
numerous readers of the Herald Of Free
dom, to learn more of the climate, soil,
scenery and natural productions of this
part of our beautiful and fast improving
Territory.
Let us, therefore, prepare for trip
across the grand prairies. Setting out
some fine May morning from any of the
border towns, we turn our faces towards
the setting sun, and proceed at a leisure
pace over the graceful undulating swells
of Eastern Kansas.
As we prefer good road to poor one,
we will take the southern ronte, and &C
cordingly strike out for the nearest point
of the Santa Fe road which we follow till
we come to the crossing of the Arkansas.
We perceive but little difference in the
general appearance of the country, until
we get about one hundred and fifty miles
from the eastern boundary of the Terri
tory. Here the hardwood disappears and
the scattering timber is quite scanty.-
The prairies grow larger and less rolling,
and the soil becomes somewhat sandy.
Soon the Buffalo-grass appears, and i'm
mediately the first Buffaloes are seen. In
a short time the prairies are covered with
them and we prepare to take Buffalo
hunt. Well mounted, on fleet horse we
pursue the flying herd over the plains,
and singing out fine fat one, we come
along side and give him a fire. As he
falls and expires we take off some fine
pieces of steak and are soon partaking oil
the hunters fare.
As we resume our journey the timber
diminishes, and the prairie gradually
spreads out into vast level plain. At a
distance of one hundred and fifty miles
from the Missouri line, the timber wholly
disappears, and for two hundred mile.
scarcely stick can be found. The last
timber on our route is near the Big Bend
of the Arkansas. Leaving the Santa Fe
trail at the crossing, we follw up the right
bank of the Arkansas. Soon we enter
upon the Great American desert-a barren
trackless waste, covered with burning sand
and boulders, and producing few varie-
ties of the cactus and other stinted shrubs.
And where, even in the lovely month Of
June, the scanty vegetation is so dried and
burned up, that it seems as though the las
vestige of life had departed.
One hundred and fifty miles from tn,
crossing we come to Bent's Fort lately
purchased by Government and fitted VI
as military post. Here are the Bi:
Timbers so celebrated on the western
plains. Having heard Of their fame, ont
really expected to see large forest, bu
on approaching, he is surprised to find j
only a small grove, such as would line tn,
banks of any small creek in prairi,
country. But it appears larger than i
really is after having travelled so far with
cut seeing any timber. Pausing here 70
a few days and resting after our wear!
march, We again, hasten on our rout,
towards the mountains which sool
appear in the distance at the verge of tn
horizon.
} We now come to a more fertile AM
inviting country, where the air is extreme
ly pure and transparent, the breezes sof
and gentle as the evening zephyr, and a
night the moon and stars shine with in
creasing brilliancy. We see the tops O
the mountains while more than ahundre,
miles away. Aswe approach nearer, the.
loom up in the distance with an appear
ance truly sublime, forming q bold an,
striking outline to the landscape whicl
here is truly beautiful.
The tops Of the mountains are covered
with snow, and the sides with evergreeni
, such as pine, spruce, balsam and ceda
giving them dark green appearance,
quite refreshing in comparison with tn
parched and sun-burned desert we hay
+ left behind. ~ . '-tt
The climate here grows more mild an
: genial, the heat of the summers sun be
ling tempered by the mountain breeze, an
the winters blasts broken by this hug
barrier of nature. Indeed this is the mos
splendid and lovely climate / ever behelt
and l think all my readers would say tn
same if they could but once enjoy il
beauties.
Well, here we are at last, at tn
far famed Rocky Mountains. We wi
encamp at the foot of Pixies Peak an
prepare to ascend it, for no one shout
pass this lofty peak without making
visit to its summit. It is nearly fourtee
thousand feet high and perhapse th
highest of the Rocky Mountain range
So taking our blankets and few day
provisions, we are soon on our way
Passing up the Fountain qui Boine for
few miles, we come to the famous boilin
fountain, which is directly in our patti
and also upon the bank Of the strear
that bears its name. This spring whic
boils up from an aperture in the soil
rock, contains strong mineral propertie
which render it very much like the cele
brated Congress springs of Saratoga.
contains large quantity Of carbonic aci
gas, so that a glass Of this water with
little soda, makes an excellent efferyes
icent drink. After refreshing ourselves 9
the spring, we pursue our winding wa