The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-10-20
Letter from Ii an sas.

Letter from Kansas.
FRIENDS OsNAN d HAPEsAN: In the be-
lief that few months experie ice aud OBJ
servaIion in the State OF Kansas enables me
10 communicate few facts relative to its
resources ana 4dvar tages that may be su.ii-
cently interesting to be worthy nt notice. |
devote portion OF this beautiful day to that
end
The physica! features Of the State of Kan
sas are perhaps already too we'll known to
demand further remark than that the eastern
potion of the State, for an age width of
or ; miles along the line OF the Missouri
River, is broken into hills and ridges, pretty
generally covered with timber, which in some
places IS very heavy and abundant. Further
to the interior the timber becomes more
scarce, ard the surface Of the country more
even, till it gradually slopes off into a vast,
unbroken, rolling prairie, save where a river
or smaller stream. with is accompanying
groves. serves to break the mouotury OF the
scene. Through the portion of the State
where the march o. civilization ani Improve
ment Is more clearly observable wood water.
farms ami prairie are pretty evenly dispersed,
and The general appearance OF the country
Is pieasIa.g and attractive 10 the eve, and
suggestive of iiie ot a gOoilY degree OF
ease a"d comfort, prosperity aud success,
from the agreeable combination of desirable
OBJECTS presented III Il single view. Ia iertIl
ity OF soil there l. probably 10 state in the
Union that can boast au advantage over
Kansas. Is broad fields reward the abUrs
o! the hastAudman with an abundant yield,
and the season l. favorable - the growth
and culturr of almost every variety OF fruiI
and vegetable. Although the agricultural
resources OF the State are b.: poorly j vei>
If,. 4.
zeal manifested in the cause, vet at the State
FAIR, held this wear at LIwreuce, are abUnd-
ant provi-, IN the display oi fruit and yege>
tables of almost fabulous dimensions, tIat
the merit of the State ia this respect cannot
be over estimated.
Ia explanation TO the statement that agri>
culture received but slight attention, | mast
mention that the stock raising facilities are
so great. and the Occupation SO easy and
lucrative. that the tiliing of the sOIl Is left
chiefly TO those whose limited mean Is Will
admit OF no othe; employment. These beau.
lIiul, fertile prairIeS, with their luSurIaut
growths OF grass, aifJid unbounded pasturage
duri 2 the summer. and unlimited supplies
of hay for lhe winter season; thus, at a
slight expense, preparing the drove for
market. which l. bot few hours ride from
home. In fact, all things taken into cbusi1-
j
,ion Of Texas, more admirably adapt5i to
meet the wants and requirements of the
stock raiser. Aud when it IS remembered
tn thousands of acres of this beautiful,
productive land can still be bought at prices
ranging from s. to Sle per acre, convenient
to market, and continually increasing in val
ue and Importance by the progressive devel-
opment of the StaIe and the more complete
aud efficient means of communication with
business polLts III the easl. 1t Is uoJ surpriS>
ing that so large proportion of the elngr
ton from the older states should seek this
f,ld as the Eldorado of their enterprising
schemes. The mineral resources of u . State
are considerable, and when iurther developed
VIII, no doubt, add much TO rs importance.
| We have some of the finest qualities of build
ing and lime stone in abundance in many
parts of the State Coal has also been dis.
| covered III several localities, but rs yet the
| mines are bur little worked.
| Quicksilver ald lead have been found in
The western portion of the state, and If | an
rightly informed some enterprlsing adven>
| tlrer has actually struck oil!
| Kansas Is also blessed with a most delight.
| ful climate. The winters are short and mild,
aud the summers, though long, never attain
| that degiee of burning, bli-tering hdat that
more northern climates are subject td This
may seem almost -incredible,-it iI surely
! surprising to me,-but | have suffered more
with the heat of Wisconsin SUNNI er than
the warmest day l have experienced here.
| We have IA continual GInd from off THE plains
| through all the summer season, aud soon
| after sun down the air becomes cool ind the
| nights agreeable, which , conceive TO be 4,
matter of 40 shth, Consideration.
In th2 matter of railroads, the State is
! making wonderful progress, and already most
| OF lis towns and cities are enjoying direct
| and abundant means of communication with
St. Louis and Chicago, which, together with
the transportation on the river, affords an
efficient outlet for its productions, and great
| ly enhances the Importance of its river towns
and cities. Perhaps no ci,y in the State is
more advantageousiy located in this respect
than Wyan0otte. 1t IS situated on The Mis-
souri, river, and has direct com III ,nlcation
by railroad with ST. Louis and Chicago, and
Is also the eastern terminus of the Great
Union Pacific X. H., where the machine
| shops. depUtS, an extensive round>hdu duse, and
other buildings connected with the road, are
In process OF construction which, 18th other
indications of improvement, bids fair to
make it one OF the most important cities in
the State. The L. p. K. Il. is now complete
to Fort Riley, and contract is let for layii. =
The next 700 miles west, to be complete by
january |, 1868 The towns and cities along
the line OF this road are improving rapidly
and in son localities real estate hes doubled
in value during the past year.
Much might be said commentators 0i
other iuterests of the state-uf it's numerous
public schools and other instituticns-of its
social, commercial and political advantages
as regards its future prospects and impor'
tante but | leave you TO make your own
interences and draw your own conclusion
after stating that during the past year Kan.
saS has enjoyed a degree of prosperity and
been strengthened by tide of immigration
hitherto unprecedented in the history Of the
State. Respectfully yours, c.