Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-03-01
LETTER FRoM kANsAs-

LETTER FROM KANSAS
The following letter has been handed us by
Dca. c. W. storrs, the Ireasurer of the
Kansas Relief Fund ior Washington Couit
ty, Mr. Badger having formerly resided in
this place. and being well known to our peo-
pie bis statements respecting the suffering
and distress in Kansas will be received with
more confidence than from any unknown
source. We hope that, of our abundance,
we shall not forget 10 bcstow portion upon
the perishing thousands in the new State of
Kansas
MUscorAH, Feb Z, 1861,
The crops raised in Kansas, in the season
of 1852 were very abundant. Corn grown
upon the sod yielded forty to fifty bushels
per acre, and in old ground from sixty to one
hundred. Grass on the piairies yielded from
two to three tons Of hay per acre; wheat
oats, potatoes, vegetables and melons were
very abundant. The earth was well wateied
with timely rains, up 20 the latter part Of Oc-
tober of that year, after which time there was
but little rain or snow fell until about the
10th Of Feb. 1860, when snow fell to depth
Of from four to six inches which remained
suddenly melted aud ran into the creeks and
rivers. The earth being lrozen to cousidera-
BILE depth, bat very little. ir any Of the melted
snow penetrated the earth. About the 2Otn
of May following light shower Of rain fell
which wet the recently ploughed ground less
than half au inca in depth Corn planted a.
bout TINS time remained in the earth for weeks
without being sprouted. Another rain, simi-
lar to the last mentioned, fell in the latter
part of June The thermometer now indicat-
ing from ninety to one hundred degrees of
heat in the shade, and the sun rising and set
ting in the same clear and clondless sky for
days and weeks together. On the 9th of Ju-
ly a very hot wind arose, about 10 o'clock in
the morning blowing from the south west,
which continued until 8 o'clock, p. NJ. SO
scorching hot was this wind the thermometer,
exposed to it and in the shade, arose to III.
and in some places to l IA degrees People
hurried into their houses aud closed their
'ioors and Vsinda,Vs. s.',e i,.9t4sinNn their win
dow curtains to keep cuoi~ Cattle He'd from
the usually cool prairies, and sought shelter
from this scorching sirocco, in the low bot
tom and timbered lands Corn, grass and
every green thing wilted before the burning
blast the earth became dry, hot and parch-
ed in the extreme. This wind was hotter
than the suns rays, for the thermometer,
placed in the sun, sheltered from the wind,
indicated only 100 degrees. A similar wind,
blowing from the same direction, occurred
gain on he 18th of the same month, and
gain about the 10Th of August, neither OF
which, however, we're quite SO scorching as
the first. About the first week in Septem-
Der, a heavy shower Of rain fell, but too late
to benefit the crops. Such season of drouth
had never before been experienced, by white
men OF Indians, some of whom have lived in
the country for more than thirty years.
Where, year before, corn had yielded large
returns, now is found only little fodder, the
ears OF corn not filling With the grain. No
grass upon the prairies, only here and there
scattered patches, OF very coarse kind, upon
the bottom lands no corn, no wheat, or 9TH
er grains no potatoes, OF vegetables of any
kind no hay or fodder Tor our stock, and
in the midst of a cold winter, with an unusual
quantity Of snow, 1.-TWO feet covering the
ground and population Of more than one
hundred thousand people, thinly scattered
over a country two hundied miles from north
to south, east and west, gives faint idea Of
the condition OF things in Kansas. From fi-
ty to seventy thousand hogs were sold and
shipped out of the Territory last fall because
who did not sell are nov losing them by star
vation Cattle must perish by thousands be-
fore spring those taat survive will not be tit
for spring work. Many families have not
particle Of hay, corn, OF fodder Of any kind
for their stock and as for themselves, the
picture is truly heart rending. My son was
addressed by good, substantial farmer but
few days since, thus Sir, have iami-
ly of ten persons, and we have eaten the last
momhfui Of meal or breddshB in the house this
morning for breakfast, aiSf have potatoes
or meat, and have had nothing to drink for
more than two weeks but sassdtras tea, with
out sugar, Will you let me have a little meal
until | can get some from the Relief Commit
tee :" This man has nearly one hundred a.
cres enclosed and under cultivation. And let
me here remark, that those who have the lar
gest iarms, and the greatest number of cattle,
horses, hogs &C.. will suffer the most. An
other family, young man, his wife and bro
ther his wife is dying with consumption
He got out of provisions, and was 800 proud
to ask his neighbors for immediate relief, but
Travelled on foot across the prairie, through
the deep snow, where there was no road, a
distance of eight miles, 70 a relief committee
He obtained a peck of meal and started back,
when. within u mile of nome, he fell into the
snow exhausted with fatigue and hunger
After resting a few minutes, the cold being
intense and a keen wind blowing, he left his
meal, and proceeded about halt a mile further,
when he again fell down, but this time was
seen by one of his neighbors, at whose house
he soon arrived, but 70 exhausted that he
could not proceed furthel. After remaining
about an hour, this neighbor put him on his
horse and accompanied him home, the young
man having travelled sixteen miles on foot, to
get peck of meal As soon as his wants
were known he obtained relief. This young
man lives within half mile of my sons house.
family consisting Of husband wife and
several children, living fifteen miles west Of
my sons, and thrty-fve west from Atchison,
got out of provisions. The husband being
sick, his wife went to her neighbors to borrow
something to eat, but found them nearly or
quito out of provisions. No other resource
being left she started on foot to go to Atchi-
son, to obtain medicines aud food.-the latter
she expected to get conveyed by some passing