Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-06
Letter from Kansas.

MR.. EARLE,-Days are lengthenlng
and the warm breath of the Southland
reaches US from over vast prairies, dis
polling in night the make-believe win
ter we have had this month. The snow
which at sunset lay lightly over the
earth, disappeared as by magic before
morning, and the rivers were running
broad and free, which for less than two
weeks were held in icy bondage-jnst
long enough 10 make our people secure
ice for the heats of summer, of which
these signing southern gales are already
harbinyer. We are all grateful for
this pleasant winter-so mild and genial
for the soldiers, for the poor contrabands
scattered about in the towns and villa
ges of Kansas, and more grateful that
there has been a swiftly running river
and not bridge Of ice Gas we had fear
ed) Letween ourselves aud rebeidom.
Mr.. Secesh, our els pis in Clay
county, is very great rascal. He often
comes out on the banks of the Missouri
and fires over, pretending lie wishes to
shoot some stray negro but we have no
faith in the gentleman we expect he
would like to burn our houses, steal our
horses and cut our threats if he could
get chance. He does not like to ferry
across as he might be invited TO stop
therefore he keeps at distance, though
on the alert if there is loop hole left
unguarded, to make the most of his
time.
All the border towns have suffered Sc
verely from this war, many of their best
business men are in the army, others
have left on account of the alarms from
Quantrill and his band. The rame of
Quantrill has become almost terror in
every household; but as yet he has not
visited this town. He came 10 Shawnee,
only s miles south, killed several mer,
burned a dozen houses and carried away
considerable property. We don't expe-
rience great fears from these stories of
robbery and murder, but talk it over,
and then settle down to the daily routine
more tranquil than before.
The society here is pleasant and in
telligent, notwithstanding the gloomy
times, there have been several very ele-
giant parties in the town the winter past,
among them a golden and a TIN wedding,
both of Which were an honor to the good
old German custom Of celebrating those
Kansas City, our neighbour two miles
distant, has greatly diminished in the
number Of its inhabitants. AT one time
it was said to have six or eight thousand
inhabitants, and even the estimates have
been as high as ten ; but now / doubt
If there are four thousand in the CITY,
Large wholesale stores, which were
Furnishing and crowded two years since,
are now closed and silent. Desolation
broods over the once busy streets. 1t is
a very irregular town, built back on the
bluffs from the river, and the streets
running up from the river are graded
down many of them 80 feet. In passing
through the deep cuts one is strangely
reminded of descriptions of the buried
cities Of Hercuaneum and Pompeii -
There are "A goody number of hand
some and extensive stone aud brick eii
fees and it is hoped with the building
of the Pacific railroad that trade will re-
vive and peace smile again.
Our expectations are very great con-
corning the Pacific railroad, with its con-
struction, and at the close of the war the
prospects of this place will be exceeding
Iy brilliant. As it is, people are doing
well and living well ; even better than
when corner lots were worth ingots of
gold. Leavenworlh is the metropolis of
Kansas. We willingly yield the palm
TO her. The fort and military forces
there have called in members from Mis-
souri, and this State who were alarmed |
and considered that point one of safety.
1t is very fast town, extremely aristo-
cratic, and Extravaganza least, large
number of its denizens are gay, devoting
much of their time TO pleasure--seeking
at the theatre, and in attending dancing
parties. Yet with all this gaity, Leav-
enworth has several Furnishing churches
i. r.