, 1860-08-04
RROM KANSAS.
pfosuecta OF q FAM Ine-.1 What IL to be
1DUno2

PfospectR OF FamIne.-1vhat IL to be
Dono2
TzcrxhxH, Eanszs, August j, 1850,
Editors Prem and Tribune:
The present condition and immediate pros-
pects Of the settlers in Kansas ought not to be
concealed. Famine and distress are apparent
ly close at hand, and unless assistance be OBJ
tanned from abroad, cannot be avoided. Il is
better to tell the plum truth at once than to
wait until The crisis is upon us. The people Of
Kansas are not to blame; they have done every
thing possible within their power to provide
for themselves, bat the unexampled drouth has
frustrated all their efforts. Since the 2G:h of
last August, nearly year, we hare had but
very little rain or snow-not ut any time during
that period enough to moistcn the ground t.,
the depth of four inches. It is certaln that no
portion Of the Union can stand drouth as
well as Kansas, and no lands are more fertile
and generally certain for all kinds OF cereals
than our Kansas lands. But We cannot entire
II dispense with both dews and rains.
The cropg of corn and vegetables last season
we're abundant, and during the winter and
spring thousands Of bushels of corn were sold
at 17@2oc per bushel. Hundreds Of farmers
were obliged to sell at such prices to raise
money to pay for their lands ard purchase gro
ceries and other neccssaries for their families.
Full Of confidence in the soil and looking hope
fully forward to the present season as tue first
when Kansas would be able to support herself,
every farmer put in from five to Gfly acres of
wheat las. fall, and even though he borrowed
and run in debt for his seed wheat reiotced a.
the prospect Of having somethip. 10 cut besides
corn dodger azd bacon. Although We had hut
little snow during the winter-not more than
two inches at anr tim--tbc winter WHEAT held
on we'll aud looked promising until March. when
it generally died cut from want Of moisture,
With few exceptions farmers were uot dis.
courapcd aad felt confident t],at the snrinp
rims would soon make their anpeararce. Ac-
coreingly sp,ing wteat WAS sown, but no rains
or showers CAME till about the middle of April
or first Of May, when not one acre in ,,untred
indicated crop Of wheat. Thea oil hands
commenced in earnest to nut in corr. rroba.
bly, three times the a1ea Of any previous sea.
son was titus planted, but again a,l prosoects
are hlighied. Thousands and thousands of
acres of corn from three to four feet l,;,,h ta.-
selled out and slightly silked, call be found ia
the Te: ritory, but, alas! it las no "nubbius"
on. The drouth has Leea ton severe 10
Eelds can be seen yhereon moi a bushel of corn
will be raised. and the stalks are too much
burned to airord any eustenance as fodder.
Even in the face Of these discouraeernents
many farmers are determined if possible vet
to SUN buckwheat and turnips for fodder. and.
if seed wheat eau be obtained, to cow whea.
aguin as soon rs practicable. Blu. unless we
haze rain within a week or ten duys. neither
buckwheat or turnips will amount to ANYTHING.
What can We do? What can be done for us ,
We have excellent lands. costly improyements
large Quantities of stock. but no readv moner
Not O. Village lot. not a quarter section of land
can be sold for casb Mt anr pr;ce- for there j..
no more7 here to purchase with. MANY Il man
who owns q GOOD farm. unon wbic,, he j,.sl;ye]
and worked four or Ilrc 1cars wo,,l h. ,,t,,
to Eell out for less than his hu;1,l;c,s md i'm.
prorements have cost lin. Necessity coupells
such sacrifices, Cattle and hogs are of litt.e
value. There il nm nrair;e orssa n lse,> IL.
one, nor corn or other feed to fattpn tho o,ber
The neon,e have nroosr,v eoo,,,, h,t nocrsd;t
The land ofJicea and the land v,rr,,, s,ecr,,-
tors hare swent a)mos. av.rr do,,,r mt If tho
country Merchants arc nn,b,e n ,a.,r1 .s-
sistauce or crsiit for theq o,a ,s,ara,rr mo,
Of small canita} bound to m,te tb.;r ,,v,a an,s
:: f,h: 81
every niEety DAYS, or 20 under themselves, a
few capitalists in Leayenwortb- 1,w,ence and
Atchison. stand ready tn 1osn small suma y,
,,do,h+a "A o,,,,.o-ar. =.
such co11atera1s as ara demanded ~ M, ,.,,,;u,,
~, :. 0.4' ~ ~Au 4u1h'on
1885, :. s'' sNA@a nc" opoa aiS 'ana. Anese
lahd liens are unsatisfactory to capitalists, as
they run too long.
Tru1r The cond;t;,n of Kansas :, do,1oxo,,1a