The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-11

KRnsas-Her POsiLiOn-The Great Gem
trail State-Hor Climnte-HOt Sum srs,
Beautiful Falls and WInters-The Cues
tIOM of DrOuths Popularity OF the
sOiI-Ratn Enough
LAWRENCE, Kansas, Dec. 8. 1867.
Probably no State in the Union has been
more thoroughly written about and talked
about than Kansas and yet have uniformly
found at the East that few people have any
correct idea regarding the State, except in so
far as relates to its political history, and even
that is often greatly misapprehended shall
devote this letter to some practical observations
concerning the situation, soil, climate. produc
tions, and resources of this great Central State.
call it a Central" State because 1t comes more
nearly to being in the centre of the country
than any other member of the republic Taking
the parallel of 400 north latitude as the central
parallel of the United States, and the east and
west boundaries of Kansas very nearly
equidistant from the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, while Its northern and southern boun-
daries are about the same distance respectively
from the British possessions and the Gulf OF
Mexico. The State is SITUATED between the S7th
and 10th parallels of north latitude, and between
941So and 1929 OF west longitude. The north.
eTn line of the State is in the exact latitude Of
Philadelphia, the southern Is in that of Nor
folk. Washington, Cincinnati, ST. Louis,
and Lawrence are situated in almost
State, 1t will be seen, occupies about the
same latitude as Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia,
! and Southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Its
climate resembles that of the States mentioned,
except that it is unmodiied by mountain
ranges or by proximity to large bodies of water.
1 do not know mountain or anything that
could fairly be called a marsh in the
whole State. 1 do not remember, during
a residence of nearly ten years In It, or on It's
hnV To hoU daxy nnao ofr
is very clear, dry, and bracing, the prevailing
winds being from the South and Southwest,
1t used TO be Thought that on this account
Kansas wonld be an eminently favorable coun-
try for persons afflicted with pulmonary com.
plants. TO a certain exteht It may be so. but
have Witnessed many cases of genuine con-
sumption here, and lung fevers are frequent
form of disease, and sometimes of fatal type.
The country has not been settled for sufficient
length OF time TO allow OF climatic Influences
revealing themselves in those born and brought
| up on the soil. -.
The summers here, as a rule. are very hot
more 80, think, than In the same latitude on
the Atlantic slope. There is, however, con-
stant breeze blowing over the prairies, which
goes far to mitigate the rigors of the heat; and
the nights, even In midsummer, are almost
always cool and pleasant. once took a long
trip through the southern portion OF the State,
in July, in an open buggy. with only an um-
brella as a defense against the sun, and expe-
rienced no more inconvenience than should
have done in the East. There are times, how
ever, when these prairie winds become a
scOurge. After long spell of not, dry weather
a hot wind sometimes springs up from the
south or southwest increasing in violence 10
stiff gale and resembling blast from the open
| door OF a furnace, Vegetation Wits and withers
beneath 1t; all labor is suspended and animal
life is even sometimes endangered byit The
STORM usually lasts for from twenty four 10
iorly eight hours. These occurrences, however.
are rare. From 1857 TO 1866 knew Of only two,
M one curing the great drought of 1860. and one in
September, 1864
Hhe antumns are delightful and frequently
the beautiful fall weather prevails throughout
a good portion Of the winter. Nothing could
be more beautiful, for Instance, than the day
upon which Write this letter, The sky is alb