Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-08-17
Correspondence of the Delaware Gazette.
CLINTON, DOUGLAS Co., K. T
August 9th, 1860.


Mr.. DEMONSTRATING been requested by a
number of the readers of the Gazette, to give
them some little description of Kansas, pros
poets of crops, how like the appearance of
the country &C., concluded to do so through
the Gazette, if it would not be imposing too
much on your time and paper, to publish such
an imperfect sketch. In former letter stat
ed that the prairie was rather rolling or hilly
west of Leavenworth. Fifteen miles west, we
came on high, rolling prairie, a beautiful farm
ing country Soil rich, timber rather scarce,
though for fencing there appears to be plenty
of rock or stone. South of this the Delaware
reserve is well timbered along the small
streams. Scarcely a section without more or
less timber, there are but few stone on the re-
serve. This is the most delightful farming
country / have yet seen; had my parents
taught me to love work, should be almost
persuaded to locate here and engage in farming
the remainder of my days
This reserve will soon coI:1e into market as
it is about to fall into the hands of the rail-
! road Company. From the Kansas river south
the prairie is rolling, timber rather scarce,
| though stone pleanty, farmers think they have
stone enough for fencing purposes, there is
scarcely quarter section without more or less
| stope. and they are so situated that they do
not interfere with plowing, being just on the
brink or near the sluices and but rod or two
in width and extending along the bluff in
places thirty or forty rods. The country fur
ther South las have learned) is similar TO
this, though with less timber and larger prair-
les The early corn North of the Kansas riv-
er presented promising appearance two or
three weeks ago. but on account of the drouth
it will not ear well but few ears are filled, the
most part having bnt few scattering grains
on the cob. the late corn may come in well
if rain comes soon; no hopes of potatoes with
out considerable rain. South of the river
there is no prospect for corn, it does not aver
age more than two feet high, much of it is in
tassei. There are no potatoes yet, nor any
prospect of any. On account of the drouth
they had neither wheat nor oats; pasture on
the prairie quite short. Many of the settlers
are moving to the States, expecting to return
in the Spring. l have seen numerous accounts
from the Neosho country all agreeing that in
consequence of the drouth they will have no
crops of any kind except near Enporia, to-
wards the head waters of the Neosho, where
they are likely to have small crop of corn.-
The soil is of the best quality, generally some
what sandy, some localities much more SO than
others. The people here are blessed with plen-
tY of high winds, too much to suit me- l
think they will never be troubled with muddy
roads, for in the course Of an hour or two after
a rain the road is dry by reason of almost con-
slant winds. On Thursday I'd inst, we had
another Of those hot days, | say hot days, for
there was a kigh wind all day. and dust and
sand filed the air and it appeared as if it came
heated from furnace The thermometer
ranged during the day from % to l10 deg. in
the shade This day was similar to Monday
July 9th. lii ordinary seasons there would be
plenty OF water for stock on the prairies, as
there are numerous springs which even in this
dry season afford plenty Of water. Neither
spring or well water is as good and cool as on
the prairics Of Illinois. A man with few
thousand dollars could make good invest
ment here at present, by buying land Some
farms (160 acres) with reasonably good i'm
provemcnts have been afforded for five or six
hundred dollars, that las l learned) were re-
1 fused at two thousand dollars, one year ago
Those persons with small means had better re
main in tie States for some time yet at least
until next spring.
Oskalooss, the County seat of Jefferson Co
is pleasantly located town, bordering on the
North side of the Delaware reserve, a majority j
of the Inhabitants are Ohioans. Population
about 500. Unlike some other towns, the in
labitants appear to be industrious and enter
prising. and there is neither saloon. grocery
or doggery in the place Lecompton, place
of considerable note in days gone by, is locat
cd on the South side of the Kansas river and
is the most dreary and desolate looking place
have seen in the territory. If the Governor
and other officials, and the saloon and grocery
keepers were to leave, the place would be left
desolate, which it is supposed will be done il
the course of the coming year.
Respectfully Yours
T. G. MILLER.