The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-02-05
IPs IsfaIo Of FfeeooQ.
LAWRENCE, *. T.
Saturday Morning, Feb. 5, 1859.
Letter from Gov Denver.


Gov. DENVER. in answer to a letter
from Hon. ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS,
Chairman of the House Committee on
Territories, who inquired for all the in
formation in the formers possession in
relation to the Territory proposed to be
formed out Of Kansas and Nebraska, Oh
the head waters of the Platte, writes -
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIoR,l
Office Indian Affairs, Jan. Is, 1859.
SIR In reply to your note of the 18th
instant, asking for information to the Ter
rtory now proposed to be organized out
oil the Western parts Of Kansas and Ne
braska, | beg leave to state that, not hav-
ing seen copy of the bill, and, therefore,
being uniformed as to the extent of the
proposed new Territory, l will assume
that the Eastern boundary is to he the
lO3d deg. of longitude West from Green
wlch, and the Northern line to be the
Northern line Ct New Mexico. This will
include part of Utah, as we'll as parts of
Kansas and Nebraska.
Nearly the whole of this country, ex-
tending six degrees from North to South,
and eight from East to West, may proper
ly be termed mountainous. The Rocky
Mountain chain, passing through the en-.
tire length from North to South, forming
curve to the East, from which branch
out numerous spurs, which, in themselves,
form considerable chain. The most i'm
Portant OF these are the Black Hills, there
beng several ranges so called. Some Of
the highest peaks within the United States,
are formed in these ranges, among which
are Fixes, Longs, Laramie and Fremont's.
amid these mountain ranges are some
nne valleys, among which the most re-
mafkable, perhaps, are the "three parks"
which are in fact three extensive valleys,
surrounded by the very crests of the Rocky
Mountains, where abound some of the
sources OF some Of our most noted rivers.
Inc north fork CT the Platte has its source
IN the north park; the Grand river of the
West in the middle park, and the south
FORK Of the Platte and Arkansas rivers rise
IN the south park. The Green river has
It's source in the Wind River mountains,
IowS south, and forming "a junction with
GFand river, is afterwards called Rio Col
orado, which empties into the Pacific
ocean, through the gulf of California.
Inc Sweet Water, one of the principal
tributaries of the North Fork of the Platte,
also rises in the Wind River mountains,
but flows east.
Until within the year just past, there
were no white inhabitants in this country,
except few traders and trappers. The
principal trading posts were Bent's Fort,
On the Arkansas; St. Vraine's Fort, on the
waters Of the South Fork of the Platte;
quo c budgewater's Fort, on the west OF
S'een nVer. Laramie, once trading post,
was a.. some years since converted into a
nl'l'aiy establishment, and the same has
IWSy'etatly been done with Fort Bridger.
w "nnih hve or six years, quite settle
i pt, was made in the vicinity of Fort
Dnuser by the Mormons, but not long
''',Se they abandoned it.
=, AaS year the discovery of gold mines
I'm - Tue head waters of the South Platte,
- 4uIeu quite large number of persons
r., 81 out there, a good many of whom
NS .uG during the winter, while proba-
Scu 'ue larger number returned to their
, rTaes' intending to go back again in the
Ss.n The number wintering there has
! ooo 'arlously estimated at from 500 to
H. ~ ana those who intend going out in
~ sp4ng will number many thousands.
chs. as l have before stated, the general
tos,S: oil the country is mountainous
ami Ju'cn The Spanish word Montana would
ps T. very appropriately. 1t is not and
Ia,,;I. T4n De an agricultural country. The
oftbs IAN .InG comprises very small portion
il -. VIC whole, and even when that is found
al . oe made productive only to limit.
lS5o 1A'ent While at Fort Laramie, in
am ! was informed by officers of the
ps.;,u VINO had been stationed there. that
bv S.; all their crops had been DESTROYED
SON. ~a. ~ storms, which visited the eastern
viii VI the Rocky Mountains every veal
bowauWrr inc violence. Aside from this
WON'T the great latitude of the country
9TH, prevent the cultivation of product,
la,i,rdIauA n such as are common to high
plains - Herds of buffaloes frequent Ii,
Norn.O ns the eastern sides of the ROCKY
fur.b.. out none have ever been foupd
is scsr.. 70 the westward. Indeed. Their,
ever ely any evidence that buffaloe,
ranos soa that rocky barrier. Theil
excu,;vs' Ems TO have been confined almos
sissioni to the great valley Of the Mis-
~ mineral resources have been bu