The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-07-23
Kansas corresponding

EDS. GATE CRY: In my last merely gave
you on item or two, without saying anything
In relation to your correspondents where
abouts. Deeming, however, that your read
ers feel an interest in this so much talked OF,
so much published territory, have thought
that very short description of Eastern Kan
sas might be acceptable to yourselves. !
have been here but few days, but since my
arrival have been "around some" You
may rest assured have not been idle, at any
rate. No sir. zee! / have already been
through the country, and the best idea can
give you OF its agricultural resources is to
tell you TO imagine you see immense fields Of
waving corn,-not patches, but fields of 100
acres, -standing in its rich green livery and
shaking iss just spreading tassel at least ten
feet from the ground, while along the stalk
the just forming ear is pushing out. There
you see yellow square, say so or 100 acres.
Those mammoth stacks are the just gathered
in, while those little mobilize mounds so
regularly distributed are shocks of the same
there, those large squares, and those others,
these are all hemp. Do they not look rich
Yes, reader, this is a hemp-growing country,
and IS tons we're exported from here last
year. DO you not see that semi-golden,
semi green field there. That is an oat field,
and that man there is just grading it. The
oat harvest 10 just commencing and the yield
is very heavy. Besides, barley, rye, timothy,
hungarian grass, potatoes, MELONS, &c., are
very important elements Of the agriculture
of this country. The yield of corn was
about 80 to 90 bushels Il. the acre last year
wheat Is to 40. Without an exception this
is the best agricultural country have ever
seen. There we're exported from this port
last year about 20 900 bushels of corn, bring
ing from 80 to 60 cents per bushel; 10000
bushels of wheat, at 75c to 81; 10000 bush
| els of rye, and proportion of barley
Pretty good, 10 it not, for small town.
To complete the picture, imagine that you
see oil these fields enclosed by nice straight
board fences they have no rail fences
and scattered here and there nice little
homes,--and you must, toe, put in those
trees go picturesquely scattered over the
brow of yon hills and 80 thickly popping
those holows. The unfenced ground is ex-
cellent pasturing. The wild grass is more
than knee high, and SO plentiful that you
rarely see the nice fat cattle eating. All this
you can see in country so beautifully undu-
lating that it seems q paradise for farmers.
Isn't it an inviting picture? So much for
agriculture.
There is considerable speculation here as
to the land sales, and the general opinion is
that there will be no bidders. Buchanan's
ill-advised measure of forcing the homestead
Of the preemptor into market has had the
effect of making many votes for the OPPOSE
ton. The fact 10 that even among the Dem
ocracy there are "none so poor to do him
reverence" lie is repudiated on all sides.
There were no bidders at tho Omaha sale,
last week. Not single cash bidder, be-
levc. So much for forcing. There are,
however, many spectators out here with
land warrants, and as soon as the days OF
sale shall have passed they will begin to To-
cate them. There will be not little confu-
sion and the poor man will be crowded to
the wall Many poor pre-emptor will be
crowded down, unless they should form some
sort Of mutual professionalism is by nc
means improbable.
There is considerable Misunderstanding ir
relation to preemptions. The law is designed
to give quarter section to the actual settler
and when person makes an entry he 10 re-
quired to & an oath that be intends the
land for occupancy, move on it, and make
some improvements. 10 forty days thereaf.
ter he gets what 10 called . presumption
claim. In mul,itudes Of instances, lin fac,
in a majority Of instances, --as soon as tn.
presumption claim has been obtained, the
improvements have been carried Of and pu,
on some other piece, and thus parties, BY
assuming different names and psrjuring
themselves, have pre- tempted several shares
There are, therefore, many claims unoccu
pied, and owned by NONRESIDENT speculator.
Gov. Stewart, Of Missouri, being one Of
the largest.
A new difficulty is now arising, and it bid,
fair to be very serious one, and it may re-
srlt ;n t!ccasha.. !. Is ;ha. tic people VI,
have just appreciation of the law, see il
has not been complied with and have com
menced dumping" the nnoccupied claims
and the owners, it is thought, will resort te
violeace. Frequently do you hear person
declare he will shoot anybody who .jumps'
bis claim. But 30 1t is, matters are becom
ing confused, and though all may eventual,
be righted, We may fear the worst.
L L will wrifa a1Ain anon and niua mar