The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-11-23
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
ATCHIsON, KANSAS,
Nov. 6. 1866.

ATCHIsON, KANSAS,
Nov. 6, 1866.
EIToR GAzTTE:-After perusing
the columns Of your ever welcome pa
per, as is the weekly custom Of YOU
correspondent, the idea struck me that
a few lines from ouryoung State would
probably not be entirely devoid Of in
terest to your numerous readers in old
Bedford county This has been an eX-
citing day in Kansas. For the first
time in five years, the good old Demo
cratic party has had an opportunity to
lift up its voice in Kansas small
voice, it is true, but certainly one to
gladden. the heart of many man who
for that length of time, has had the
very inviting privilege Of voting a
ticket either in direct opposition to his
principles, or the aiternativeof disfran
chisement; and surely the tTUe men Of
our party would prefer the latter. The
race in our city was very exciting. Our
little handful of men used every eNer-
ton to bring out the strength Of the
party, and although unsuccessful, the
Radical majority was 50 small as to give
an emphatic warning Of what they
may expect in future.
Senator Pomeroy is here, and has
been busily at work, for some time, en-
gineering the election, 50 as to secure
continuance of. his valuable ~ pres
ence in that remarkably conscientious,
nstituti0n-amending body that for
the past five years has been scourging
the American people in a style which
entirely throws in the shade, Cholera
and Yellow Fever in their most viru-
lent forms.
y few days since I had the pleasure
of meeting a gentleman, formerly of
Bedford county, and although entirely
unknown, his call was duly apprecia-
ted. \ man from our native county,
here is looked upon as one almost of
the same family. That your faces are
not more frequently seen, is certainly
to be regretted. The facilities here Of
fercd for young men starting in life,
are much greater than those Of the
east. Farmers can cultivate more
land, with half the labor, the yield is
much larger and prices equally asgood;
while the nearly nominal prices at
which immense farms can be purcha-
sed, afford inducements to slim purses
that can rarely be found. The popula-
ton Of Kansas, however, is rapidly in
crcasing and in few more years, we
hope and expect TO be clasSed among
the first States of our Union. To give
YOU an idea of this State as a stock
raising country, ] need merely TO add
/ that over eight thousand cattle, des-
tined for the eastern markets, were
crossed at our ferry into Missouri du-
ring The month Of September. The
immense herds Of sheep, horses, mules
and cattle, which cover our plains, and
are subsisted on grass at no expense,
aside from the labor involved in herd
/ ing, proves couclusively that the busi-
ness is a asuccessfllI and profitable one to
| those engaged The most serious
! drawback experienced here, is the scar
city OF timber. All our fuel, or nearly
all, is brought from Missouri. 1t is
! true, the banks of our streams are most
| ~ timbered, and the underground al
ready starting or our praries, as civil
ization advances, bids fair for the fu-
ture, but its want Of maturity i rath-
er inconvenicHtly felt at present. |
! see in your last issue, yoa speak with
wonder, of number of quai!s having
made their appearance in your town.
Were you here you would soon become
accustomed to feats Of that sort. The
qUails make semi-annual visits to
our town and take TO our houses ard
front yards as naturally as geese take
/ to water. For The past two weeks the
! hotel breakfasts Of the writer have
been frequently made savory by the
unwary birds who came to their death
the day previous, while quietly para
ding in the yard, or sittingon the house
top. Although not much Of a sports
man, have, during the past summer,
killed about one hundred and fifty pra-
/ rie chickens, and often, while slaugh-
/ tering the awkward monsters rs they
sailed through the air, have ] wished
for some Of nay young friends in Bed
/ ford, who consider the result Of a sue
cessful hunt to consist of three or four
! ducks. or scarcely ennugh smal! birds