Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-01-04
CORRESPOND
Letter from Kansas.


Mr.. EARLE,-When reached this point, Oct.
18TH confess it looked to me somewhat dis
couraging learning as / did and had before, the
desttution in the interior Of Kansas, and seeing
everything in formative state in the territory,
and that too within the confines Of the great
valley Of the Mississippi 1t seemed to me that
| some reason existed in the physical geography
of this great territory that prevented its progress
in civilization, but on examining the Indian
treaties and transactions, believe the want Of
progress and civilization in Kansas may fairly
be attributed to the policy Of the federal govern
ment and the older states north and cast, and
and west, and south. 1t is true that Missouri on
the east for quite distance from the centre each
way, has been settled nearly half a century and
has a great deal Of wealth, while Kansas pre-
sents an unbrokea prah le down to 1866, and
the sole reason Of this is that there was down 70
| that period an impossible barrier to progress
and civilization in the Indian possessions, and
what has been called the "Great American De-
scrt." At this day however, eastern Kansas is
eonfesscdly very fertile portion of the valley Of
the Mississippi NJ least as far west as the sixth
lll pau lllOi4NAt VI NllltNi t'itttNn h'N ~
which is about two hundred miles from the cast
ern boundary of Kansas. Indeed, within what
has always been called Kansas west of the above
named line is the territory that has been called
the Desert" or the Plains extending in fact to
She summit Of the Colorado or Rocky Mountains,
a distance of more than five hundred miles
This region, always regarded as a desert, or
plain, proves to be pastoral region sustaining
millions Of buffalo, deer, antelope, elk multi
tide Of horses, besides prairie wolves, wild tur-
keys and chickens. There is seldom rain at all,
here, because of its remoeness from either
ocean. The evaporation that causes rain in the
eastern portion the country is all spent before
it reaches this region, except during the vernal
equinox Then there is Il little rain--compared
with the east mean-and the buffalo grass, as
it is called, grows a very fine grass from two to
eight inches high. In July and August the sun
with its incessant glare cures this grass on the
ground, where it remains and supplies the wild
beasts that roam over it with food. This region
might as well feed its millions of 1ocks and
herds under the care Of civilization, as to feed
its millions Of wild beasts. And moreover with
a less expense than is required to remove the
native forests and subduo the soil, and fence the
lands last, this same land by irrigation from the
rivers that flow down the mountains, might be
made far more productive than any portion OF
( the New England States, as the canals for irri-
cation would serve the double purpose to sup
! ply the arid soil with moisture which would
/ bring forward vegetation and also a fence to di-
vide the enclosures.
But it is not very probable that this irrigation
will ever be called for, nasmuch as the great
basin or Mississippi valley is estimated to con-
! tain 25,200,000 square miles of as rich soil as
can be found on the globe capable of producing
in greater abundance, perfection and variety,
every kind of vegetable that contributes to the
wants, comforts, or even luXurcs of ciyiised
man; able, as is affirmed by the best judges, to
sustain a population ten times as numerous as
all Europe now is, and these millions will de-
mand meat food, and no place can so well and
so abundantly produce this as the pastoral re-
gion above referred to.
Kansas and the west is now open to the pro-
gress of civilization, and within about four years.
or less than five years, cities have sprung into
HAiHlEIEc lOlll DOV 70 AuUU iulltS NtHl VI Nlltit
the foot Of civilized man was permitted by gov
ernmeut to rest. The prarics are being subdued
and this world of the west is teemng with busy
life. Kansas is to be admitted as a state, the
homestead bill is to become law, and the ter
ritory will spring into an Importance never yet
thought of at the east see this young city Of
Wyandotte of only about two years growth (for
! Il.
an existence for nearly that time) suffering all
the while under the iron heel OF an oppressive
and tyrannical federal policy, goadcd on to de-
str0y it by the most heaven daring despotiSm
that ever cursed any portion Of Gods tootstool,
and all the while with aims in hand filing up It's
manifest destiny. Having the most delightful
climate, everything considered, in the world /;
free from all the damps and mlasms that gener-
ate aguc and other diseases and yet having rain
sufficient to make the rich soil produce bounti-
! fully of all that is required for man at least
Situated in central portion of this great !
great country, alfway between the two oceans
east and west, and as near the geographical CEN
tire north and south as can be fixed upon, in the
great bend OF the great river that drains the
| great northwest, on the unquestioned thorough
fare for the national railway between the two
/ oceans at equal distances from each, and prom
Using more in its future than any other point in
the Mississippi valley, allowing me TO be the
Judge. The bottom lands and prairies on the
banks Of the Missouri Kansas and Platte rivers,
on the eastern slope Of the Rocky mountains
ana Snake and Columbia rivers on the western
slope, present the most perfect line for great
national railroad to be found on this continent
beside being in a climate as desirable as any i'm
aginable portion Of the globe. Add to this the
fact that the mountains west are filled with the
precious metals, being composed of primitive OF
gold bearing rock, and what prevents the mouth
OF Kansas river from being the ccntropolis oil
this hemisphere Even so It must be.
Truly Yours