The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-08-20
ii. New s..,. Of kansas.

fhs New State Of Kansas
The reasons urged for placing our west
ern boundary At the 18th meridian are,
that there would be NEARLY six hundred
miles Of uninhabited territory, much of it
a desert. almost impossible, and totally
incapable of cultivation. between the
eastern and western setilementsof Kansas
"a bowling wilderness between two
patches Of civilization According to
this logic ofthe Lawrence Republican, the
valuable portion of Kansas extends but
100 miles west from lis eastern boundary,
as the whole State is about 700 miles in
length. This would give 21,0OO square
miles. very respectable territory, when
Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island are made the standard. If it be
an object to have, only the valuable land
in Kansas, why did the Convention add
on ESQ mics in length Of this desert
country TO the new s ate ? It gives no
control of railroad lines. Land grants in
such region would not he worth song.
No railroad capitalists will be induced to
invest capital in the construction of a
railroad through central Kansas, to the
dividing sandy ridge, which the Conveu-
ton deemed the natural western bounda-
~.
"This idea Of making State Of such
huge, uncouth and incommodious dimen-
sions is absolutely preposterous." Cali
forpia is over 700 miles in length, and
has an area of 1873, 982 square miles. Or
egon is as long from east to west as Kan
sas now is, and has an area of 225. 600
square miles. Texas is 700 miles long.
and 700 in breadth, and contains 325, 900
square miles.
But 1t is said to be matter Of extreme
doubt whether the gold region is in Kan
sas. The western boundary of Kansas is
the summit of the Rocky Mountains, the
same Ike being the eastern boundary of
Utah. If the gold region lies west of the
summit, no doubt the people there will
Thank the Republican for the valuable 10
formation, as it will furnish them grand
pretext for making the eastern boundary
of the prospective State of Jefferson at
the summit of the mountains, and leave
the rejected" desert of $50 miles in
length as free commons for the buffalo.
S D. HoUSToy, Esq of Riley county,
delivered, in the Wyaudott Convention,
one of the most effective speeches on this
question, and we are gratifed to be able
to place the most pertinent parts of it be-
fore our readers
understand that in the act organizing
the Territories of K.nsas AMI Nebraska,
Congress indicated certain lines for our
BOUNDARIES, aud the lines for Kansas are
precisely the lines l have presented i'll
my amendment. These hines have been
sustained 10y two former Conventions in
this Territory but 1t seems to me we
come almost unanimously to conclude We
will divide this Territory. We don't own
a loot OF soil only as we get our title from
government. | believe Congress is will
ling TO grant an, thing that Is sensible aud
right, and were we u extend our bounda-
ries to the summit of the Rocky Noun
tains, she would never interfere. / pledge
my word aud position for that. Sach a
thing has not been done in other States,
aud why should it be done here think
We have some claims upon this Territory
at least, if we give it up Congress will
not give it back 10 US. II is az much
given away, as if it actually belonged
now. L. may not be u sufficient argums nt
to say we are liberal. While Congress is
discussing the question Of Pacific Rail-
road, think there is a question, the con-
sideratiOn of which ought to present itself
to the mind Of every man, and that is,
whether it is not proper to take advan
tage of our position. II we can get the
boundary designated by Congress in the
Kansas Nebraska bill, and get road to
the mountains, | ask if it is not ques.
ton of some magnitude whether Kansas
shall not have the grand Pacific Railroad
Of the country. I.tell you there is more
in getting the line from the Missouri riv-
or to the Rocky Mountains than mauy
men think. Suppose you go on and
adopt the 25th meridian, you leave Kan
sas some three hundred miles from the
mountains. Il might debut is it wise?
I'd rather have it go to those regions of
gold. / am believer in the theory that
there is gold there in abundance Now
is the time to concentrate our energies
and secure this one grand object in ad-
vance, aud then those other objects will
follow. Kansas is removed from the sea.
board, and while the sea board States
may have been formed arbitrarily, Kan
sas must make her boundaries by a line
of policy. Secure this grand Pacific thor.
Dughfare and you can make north, south.
east and west tributary to you Shall we
rurtail our boundaries and lose four or
1--WE hundred miles o! this road Sup
pose there is DO gold in the mouutains-
If we get the railroad, that will be sufficient
For one, | feel like taking advantage Of
my position. / am unwilling to yield up
any portion of this Territory. We are
told this Territory is too extensive. Fig.
lres are better than surmises. California
has 1913 982 square miles Oregon lie. 230 |
square, miles. Originally Oregon conlaiu-
I'd $50 600 and little over the State
more than half that; hut divide
by two and that gives you 10000. Tex
rs has 325 900 square miles; AMI can you
iivide Texas to-day No sir the slave
pnwer is unable to do it. You can no
more do it than you can bag Of beans.
Minnesota has 10000 square miles. The
Territory of Krpsas, 1t is computed, con.
aims only 112,0O0 square milrs, aud we
propose to give It one. half away. II it
we're 20O00U square miles should still
INSIST upln it. came 10 Kansas to make
! home, and / want a home worthy of the
ltme. sm not afraid of the State be
ny too large; 90 in for large arrange