The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-07-09
Editorial Correspondence.
OLATHE, E. T.. July 2. 1859.

through Prairie City, we found it town
If magnificent distances and ambitious
,,s.euces, which the hard times has
somewhat nipped in the bud. Several
substantial buildings are in process of
erection, and the town cannot be num-
bsrsd with the finished" cities of the |
Vest. 1t has a good location on the high,
rolling prairie, one mile south of the San
IA Fs road, and twelve miles south of
Lawrence. At a recent auction sale of
,ots which contain about one fifth of an |
acre each, they brought Sc apiece, max
ing the price of farming lands in to,cn
$50 per acre. Passing over one quarter
section east of the city limits, we came
on the town plot Of Baldwin City. This
CITY contains fine three story stone edi-
fee designed and used for collegiate pur-
poses by the Methodist denomination.
Baldwin City suffered somewhat from the
recent hurricane, as we'll as Prairie City,
but no substantial house in either place
was materially injured. 1t has not the
signs of thrift which are manifest in Pal
myra, on the north.
At Baldwin City we struck the Santa
Fe trail, and passed over the high rolling
prairie -four miles further on, to Black
Jack, the field on which was fought and
won the memorable battle which will
live in history when Austerlitz and Ma
reDgo pale, wherein II. Clay Pate, after
several hours fighting with force double
that of CAPT. Brown, surrendered at dis
crstion, and was subdued patriot for at
least twenty -four hours. Black Jack has
an airy and commanding situation, but
seems to progress slowly. Two or three
buildings show evidence of the late storm.
Several Mexican trains were camped
out, tho teams grazing, and the "greasers,"
recognized as American citizens, though
as uucouth and repulsive as the negro,
were resting on the grass, beneath the
shade of their wagons.
Eight miles from Black Jack, brought
US to Lanesfeld, a thriving little town on
the West side of Bull Creek, just opposite
Mechanism. Men were busy setting posts
and hauling brush to cover an arbor for
the celebration of the Fourth" Mccain
ISL is larger than Lanes6eld, and can
boast of grocery where "Beer and Sider''
are sold.
Gardner is the only town which lies
between Mechanism and Olathe. The
town proper, which consists of fine two
story stone hotel and dozen comfortable
residences, is Just off from the Santa Fe
road. Like many other Kansas towns, it
is resting on its laurels.
0lathe, the county seat of johnson
county, is thriving town, ono of the few
which has sufficient vitality to become an
honor to the Territory. 1t is we'll stu.
ated, on rolling prairie, and built on the
four sides OF public square, containing
five acres. On the East side Of the square
county Jail is in process of erection
WITCH will be finished In October next
Il is thirty feet square, and the walls arr
three feet thick, the masonry and carpen
ter work being of the most solid charac
ter. The lower story has six cells, will
high grated windows in the outer wal
and also over the doors, which lead int
a hall in the centre of the building. Tn
doors will be double, the inside iron, tn
outside double oak, substantially spike
together and secured with an iron bar O
the outside, fastened with lock. Tn
same style of door is also to be erected 9
the main entrance. If solid masonr,
and bolts and bars can prevent the escsp
Of criminals, johnson county will posses
that power
Already a candidate for the cells is
the hands Of the officers. Stephen v
Pnrdy, formerly from Illinois, was ares
ed and brought in to-day from Aubr
township, charged with horse stealth
he and two Others had stolen three hons
from the Shawnee Indians The hors
had been stolen, taken to Illinois al
sold. On his return he was immediateI
arrested, confessed his guilt, and gave Il
names of his accomplices, for whom wa
rants are already issued. All parties W
PROBABLY have even-handed justice met,
out to them at the next term of Jud
Williams court. The upper story of Il
Jail will be used for jailers' room and cou
ty Offices, making four good sized al
pleasant rooms.
To-day, July I'd, meeting was he
At this place for the reorganization Of &
wig party. Many old-line Wings, W
are driven away from the Republican
and do not wish to join the Democra
nave felt compelled to rally again arou
the standard which Webster and Clay
noOly defended. We, of course,
an independent, can give them I
night hand of fellowship and bid tn,
UOdspeed. Their movement may pro
serious embarrassment to the RepU
ncans, who have SO confidently rec
oned on compelling conservative m
10 Join them, rather than give tn
votes to the Democracy. With
'uohs disposition of the people to slsus
Ter the Republican leaders, who are
very anxious to purify their party by DR.
Tug away from them all who stand in
way OF their unholy ambition, and
no" combinations coming up, We consi
0ew'fsusled Republicanism as hav
81 's''oed its zenith of power.