The Kanzas news., 1858-09-04

1
MEssRs. EDIFoRs:-A few days since, in
company with the same companion with
whom my respected name-sake took q iaunt
to Kansas City short time ago, made
trip to the Walnut and Whitewater coun-
try to the southwest of Emporia. And
knowing that much interest is generally felt
to obtain information in regard TO that see
lion, viii give to your readers the benefit
of what saw. Starting from Emroria in
the morning. the first Eve or six miles of
the road led us through the Cottonwood
bottom, on the south side. AS We diyerg
ed more to the south, and off from the stream,
the land became higher, and the bluffs more
precipitOus, and the road, as a consequence.
not SO good, with very little timber in sight.
At noon we arrived at the head waters of
Eagle creek about ten miles from Emporia,
and took a lunch. There is but little tim
Der or water at this point, but further south
we saw the timber of the Verdigris and its
branches. After proceeding in a south
west direction about ten miles farther, we
discovered unmistakable evidences of COM
ing storm, and concluded to stop and take
shelter under the protecting cover of our
wagon After the storm had subsided we
concluded TO ''camp'' for the night, where
we then were. Next morning about ten
O'Clock reached Indian creek, tributary of
| the ottonwood-purchased some fine mel
ons of Mr.. White, settler on the creek, and
proceeded. From Indian creek the coun-
try in the direction of the Walnut grows
much better, and is less abrupt and billy,
and slopes very beautifully and gradually,
almost to the Walnut. Late In the day we
reached Walnut Greek and ''lunched'' near
spring that gushes out of its bank from
under the roots of a giant sycamore. Only
eight miles southwest to Chelsea, which we
had certainly intended to reach that night,
but our team was not so minded, and altho'
we commenced our exhortation to them with
6rutums fulnaen and closed with pugnus ct
eolcibus, it seemed to have no effect. We
did not reach Chelsea that night; we camp
ed. The next morning by breakfast time
we arrived at Chelsea, and took breakfast at
the house of Mr.. Lambden, President of the
Chelsea company, and one of the first men
of Butler county. Here we met our fellow
townsman, Mr.. n. s. Storrs, who, in his
characteristic and energetic way, was labor
ing to secure the organization of the coun-
ty and election of proper officers of the law.
Chelsea is handsomely located on the Wall
nut, in the center of a fertile region of coun-
try. and will undoubtedly be a place of i'm
portance. The county seat of Butler coun-
ty will be located there this fall. The town
company offer liberal inducements to per-
sons improving in the town. There is large
settlement around it, and hundreds of va
cant claims near by. Leaving Chelsea af-
ter short stay, we crossed the Walnut
about four miles below on the road to Ell
dorado. Here we left the road-which
runs south and took due west course
across the prairie for the Whitewater, twelve
miles distant. In about six miles we struck
the old California road, and at the same time
| came in sight of the Whitewater and some
of its tributaries. Following the road about
six miles we came to the town of Whitewa
ter, "a little after dark. Two buildings on
the town site; one occupied by a family, and
the other a bachelors hail." Stopped
with the bachelors of course-whom
we found to be good fellows-Lwo in num-
Der, one member of the Town Association,
named Pogue, and the other a sort of
.'tramper'' named Mazelle, from whom we
Kaw and Usage Indians, amongst whom he
had lived some time. The town of White
water is situated between Diamond creek
and the Whitewater, about mile above
their junction. and about thirty miles from
the Santa Fe Road. The country around
is well watered and timbered, and the soil is
of that black, loamy kind, for which South
ern Kansas is so distinguished. There are
numerous streams putting into the main one
near the town, all of which are we'll timber
ed. The bottoms are not so low and wet as
those along many of the Kansas streams,
but are equally as rich. The prairie rises
swith gradual slope from the bank of the
stream, and is beautifully rolling. Thou
sands of claims are yet untaken here-many
with timber and water. Down the White
water about twelve miles is Towanda, town
laid out by an enterprising company from
Topeka, the present season. Thither we
went OH foot from Whitewater, leaving our
team to recuperate. The site of Towanda
is certainly the most naturally beautiful one
l ever saw. Around Towanda there are
many desirable vacant claims. A few miles
south is the northern boundary line of the
Usage Reservation. Due east, twelve miles
is Ell Dorado on the Walnut. The White
water affords more advantageous opening
for emigrants than any other portion of Kan
sas; and predict that in one year it will
be densely populated. It is certainly capa
bic of supporting a heavy populotion, if
plenty of timber, water, and fine soil and
climate are the prerequisites. In many pla-
ces / saw indications of coal and other min
erals. Lead has been recently discovered
here.
We saw about eleven hundred pearls that
have been taken from the Whitewater. The
possessors were generally shaking with the
ague as pay for their under water searches.
These pearls are of little or no value, and
| the axcitnnent In renard To their discovery