Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-07-26
THE CHRONICLE.
DODGEVILLE.
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY 2e, 1867.
Kansas and Missouri.


Sir: A trio of US, namely Col. Thomas
Stephens, Maj. Richard Stephens and Cap
tain William H. Gill, names which we pre-
sumo will be familiar to most if not all OF
your readers, have just returned from q
trip to southeastern Kansas, and the lead
mines of south western Missouri. We think
that we saw much that will practically in
terest the laboring man, and those seeking
new locations, everywhere, but our atten-
ton was more particularly directed to those
fields, more directly interesting to mining
communities.
We started from Baldwin on the 26th
ult., with wagon, team, and camp furniture
and few of the appendages necessary to
hunter, fisher, and miner, with fine wealth
er and exhuberent spirits. We passed
along southwark, through Franklin, An
derson, and Allen counties, thence east
across Burbon into Newton and Jasper
counties, Missouri, thence north through
Barton county, Missouri, again west into
Bourbon county Kansas, north through
Linn and Miami, home. With the ex-
ception of Bourbon county, Kansas, and
Newton and Jasper counties, Missouri, we
think all that need be said may be said in
few words. Along our whole route to
every point that met our gaze lie oceans
of prairie. The rich coating of grass tell
an unmistakable tale of fertility. There is
good deal of unity in western scene, it
needs no description to western man.
The strips OF timber, enlivening the scene,
grows heavier, and seems to grow more
frequent as we so southward. The inva-
riable accompaniment Of timber is heavy
settlements. We passed several enterpris-
ing and growing towns, the most impor-
tant, Ottaway, lola, Humboldt, and on our
home bound journey, Carthage, county
seat of Newton county, Missouri, (this last
place, in radicalism, energy, and enterprise
seemed Kansas town. In Kansas, Fort
Scott was the most important business
point through which we passed. Among
other places inviting the notice of a pass
ing traveller, most worthy of notice is
Mound City and Ossawatomie. We passed
| through the Indian Reservations Of the Ot'
taways, New York Indians, and Osages
also what is called the Cherokee Neutral
Lands These Indians have been holding
the richest portion Of our state in govern
ment reservations; but they are now near:
ly abandoned by their tawny proprietors,
under recent treaties, and fast filling up
by hardy, energetic pioneers. The neutral
| lands, especially, are attracting attention.
They abound in coal, are contiguous to the
Missouri lead mines, they have plenty OF
timber, cold lime stone springs, brooks Of
/ clear water ripping over stony beds,
| abounding with abundance of fish. The
soil is extremely fertile. We saw field
of wheat at the Usage Mission which we
thought was the finest crop we ever saw
| The limestone outcrops are to US unmista
kable evidence that this will make great
wheat country, while the many rapid, clear
streams will furnish abundance Of water
power. Emigrants appear to know the
advantage Of this favored spot, and are
| crowding in from all quarters. Of Kansas
generally, we think a few words If caution
and advice will fill the bill. All that ar
emigrant need know is this: If one is
willing to bear hardships, to be deprived
| even, of many of life's necessaries for few
years, by commencing with few head o
stock, he will be amply repaid in the enc
by increase of cattle alone. Add to this
the homestead, which he will have acquired
and the improvements which, during thi
time he may have made. But we thinl
the southeast corner of the state, or tn
neutral lands which we have mentioned
possess advantages not found elsewhere
| We must be pardoned if our pen linger
in this interesting region. We remembe
when in Minnesota and Dacotah, wander
ing over the prairies and going into RAP
lures over those glossy lakes and elea
streams, we used to think what an Ede
Kansas would be with her mild, short win
ters, with her southern fruits and flowers
could she only boast Minnesotas clea
lakes and curling brooks; but we hav
certainly found such happy spot even i
Kansas, with her southern fruits an
, flowers, with her abundance of timber an
prairie about equally balanced here, he
,, short winters, her breezes soft and balmy
5 but healthy withal. We saw neither sign
: nor complaint of sickness; even here "
|, found those rippling streamlets and larg
ponds of clear water, abounding in abunt
t ance of fish.
To this favored spot is all Kansas lool
: ing in prospective for fuel Coal beds hel
abound on every side. Two beds are COZ
: sidered the most important, one fee
! another feet thick, both cropping out
, places, and we think, both above waite
4 All this within days journey of IL
mines Of lead and zinc of Missouri Hel
too are the prospective points of the Kal
s $ sas City and Fort Scott railroad; also Il
: Central Missouri railroad. Our next poil
i of interest is the Center Greek mines