Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-12-07
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Kansas.
WrANporrE, K. T. Nov. 10.

whan / arrived. ! was led
to enquire, " Why is famine in Kansas:
Is it attributable solely to the drouth Z"
Although Kansas like many other re-
gions has not been visited with the for
mer and the latter rains in 1860, yet l
am satisfied that drouth is not the only
reason for the destitution in Kansas
There is no imaginable reason why the
soil of Kansas should so far suffer from
drouth as 10 entirely fail of crop when
properly husbanded. notice that the
roots of trees run very deep into the
earth, three to four feet, in some instan-
stances perpendicularly. This is I'M
questionably occasioned By the warm
weather, the drouth, and the depth of
the soil. Another reason why think
the soil of Kansas viii endure drouth
and still produce, is the character of the
virgin soil. Though the soil is several
feet deep and very rich, yet it is very
compact and hard before it is moved, and
even after being moved it packs down
quite hard, as we see in the common
highway. We all know that in New
England, dry weather very soon produ-
ces a dust, or soft, mealy, or sandy sur
face in the travelled road. There has
thus far been very little rain since ar
rived in Kansas; yet the roads are very
smooth, and the surface very hard, al
most if not quite equal to frozen sur
face in Vermont, after it is worn down
smooth.
! The native rock or basis of our soil is
limestone, and Of course there is a great
/ preponderance of lime in the compost
ton of the soil, and the experience oil
the agriculturist proves that to be best
adapted to resist drOuth, and produce not
witbstanding.
I have taken some pains to enquire
and am satisfied that the soil in its frs
breaking was only broken about two
inches deep, and much of the corn CROP
of Kansas in 1860, was what is called
sod corn, that is, planted on the sod.
also learn that the second and thirl
blowing even, is only from three to si1
inches deep for two reasons, one because
) the soil is hard below where it is broken
! and the other because the people arr
somewhat shifless and thriftless. Will
! such farming who could expect a crop
r Again, many people delayed to plough
SOW or plant in the spring of 1860, "a
, the proper time, because there had beef
e no rain, in winter waiting for rain, an,
E when they did it was badly done.
I am fully satisfied if farmers in goo
season had ploughed, planted, and sowe
deep in the soil, that Kansas would hav
produced an ample supply Of food &c
It her people, Notwithstanding the droutl
J. and my reasons are that where th
!. ground was cultivated deep and tho
st oughly, it produced from ten to sixt
?, bushels of corn to the acre.
D, As we passed through northern Mi
: souri, on the Hannibal and St. JOSEF
l. Railroad, l think could at once dete
g mine where the soil had been deeply ar
thoroughly cultivated by the crop. TT
lie crop was light, but crop nevertheless
le So of Pike county, Illinois, one of ii
a. best counties in that state. The crc
e for expectation is total failure, but nc
, withstanding there is an abundant So
; ply for home consumption.
as Kansas has some peculiarities th
10 strike the casual observer. One d.
since ] have been here there has be-
.w some snow in the atmosphere, with raj
"a and once or twice beside there has be-
ri a little rain. The effect in every !
70 stance has been to make the surface We
a slippery, quite as much so as the clay
10 Vermont would be, and yet when t
!. sun comes out the soil dries off imme,
., ately, even when there has been tray
r. ing enough to mix the water with t
an soil and make pretty deep mud.
doubt whether the soil here when wet
any more adhesive than at Irasburf
nor do / think the mud viii be deer
lis than it would there, ali things bel
or equal.
in There is one thing peculiar to Kans
III and that Is you see very seldom if at {
a tree turned up by the roots. Trees &
IS sometimes broken off by the wind, |
lp- SO far as my observation extends, ha
M seen no such thing as a tree turned
s. by the roots, though l have travelled sol
miles where the road was through
us woods.
ost There is no fiction in the idea Il
= there is restitution and suffering in I
m interior of Kansas. Food and cloth
ice for poor people must come from outs
DO the territory, or my opinion is that ii
no must starve but God has opened
nd store houses Of the east already, as "
ngl as the hearts Of the people, and more
1set less relief is at hand and arriving dai
- FOR rrhich III ..oo..I. -. -.