The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-26
UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY.
The Kansas Excursion The Country
Towns s-EeRvenwOFth.
~. n, ~, liant

Towns EeavenwOFth.
Prom our OUa Correspondent
LEAvENwoRTu, Kansas, Oct. 10, 1868
The General Ticket Agents. kansas EXcur-
sionn party have just arrived, homeward bound.
Each one is delighted with the buffalo hunt the
Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division, and
the magnificent country through which the road
pesses. The only regret expressed is that they
did not proceed as far west as Sheridan 405
miles from Kansas City, the western terminus of
the road. The excursionisis lett Fort Hayes
last uight ut O'Clock, and reached here at III A.
NJ, some two hours late. The detention occur
red near Fort Harker, IN consequence of some
advancement of the machinery OF the
Iocomotive IL was fortunate, however, this
took place. other wise q sad accident might have
resulted. had the train continued on at its usual
tpeed The cars re NAMED q sufficient length OF
time 10 discover a freight car on the track and
remove it before the special excursion train
came along. Reaching the Lawrence and
Leavenworth Junction, one mile east of Law
renee, the visitors came to this place over the
Leavenworth branch, instead of returning to
Kansas City.
Strange as it may seem to many, the ground
west of Fort Hayes upon which the buffalo hun.
ofyesterday took place, are, in direct east and
west line, about the centre OF this vast and
extensive continent and, for all practical pur-
very near the centre of the great Ameri'
N. With civilization far advanced IN
70" g, ~, 'rLheast, and southeast, ana making
raOid strides o. the lar western snores Oh the
pao,sc this midole section of oar common
country is being peop!2d TO au extent beyond
the most sanguine anticipatons of the 20
iectors OF the great road passing through it,
and in the future will become .n~','.' ,,, ea with
more certainty and greater rapidity than did
either OF the States added to the original thir-
teen which formed the Union, allo wing them
full twenty years. advantage.
The portion of Kansas travelled over possesses
considerable interest TO the tourist. AS general
thing fat treeless expansive, and streamless
prairie is supposed only 10 exist. Experience
teaches otherwise. 1t affords views OF large
rivers, numerous creeks and streams, an undu-
lating and beautiful country, rich in soil, a
healthy and delightful climate, fine Limestone
formations in which numerous Springs of water
are found, and almost every hing that makes 1t
desirable or a home. Such may be said of this
growing State for distance of two hundred
miles from the Missouri line, and these facts
among other considerations, demanded the
building of the Union Pacific Railway
Eastern Division. As before remarked, il is
becoming rapidly populated, aud that, too
with vigorous, deter ernlned people. The pro-
duchOns of the State are varied, and already the
railways connecting with this grand national
highway ale feeling aud apprl clating the in
creasing trade of Kansas. There are many points
OF great beauty along the route, aud east Of
Fort Harker the pulpit or mushroom rocks
possess rare attractions. These rocks are unique
and exceedingly interesting.s they resemble a
musbroom-havipg broad, umbrela-shaped
table or cap, poised upon pedestal stem
varying from six to ten feet high and from two
to i've feet in diameter, ~hle the cap is trom
10 TO 20 feet in diameter 1t is a curious forma-
tion, and the more singular when it is known
that the pedestal or stem is Il ght sandstone OF
rather soft character while the tao or cap
is of a different color, fne-arained and ,nita
hard. These are singular freaks OF nature, and
standing out on the open, rolling prairie, where
they have stood doubtless Tor ages, impress the
traveller with the grandeur and versatility OF
the scenes OF this destined to be great Common
wealth. There are heavy outcroppings Of valla-
bic and easIy.worked stone and granite deposits
along this section, which are admirably adapted
for building purposes.
Beyond this reg on come the buffalo grass
praires. These are more flat and unn.erestng
and are mostly inhabited by Indians and the
innumera5le herds OF butlaloes or bison. The
grass grows in small tufts, resem bling timothy
but finer and more delicate in the blade. IL Is
not more than from three 10 five inches higl
and remarkably hardy; so much so that
millions upon millions OF buffalo, cattle, sheep,
and other animals exist and grow fat upon It
during the winter months, as we'll as in the
spring, summer, and auCumO. Tlis "bllfao
grass" region is unproductive, so far as is
known, for want OF irrigation. 1t sell
dom rains, consequently there is insuf.
fcient moisture tor vegetation. From June,
1867, it is said there was no rain until August of
this year. But while vegetation does not thrive
here, for the reason staIed a system OF taukage
might easily be devised, and water gathered
during the rainy seasons, through which cattle
can be supplied with water at all seasons, and
from the superior pasturage of these millions of
acres the finest aud best cattle could be raised,
and at very trlng cost. This done the entire
area OF these vast "b1ffa o.grass" prairies can
be made of great Importance and value.
Ihe valley OF the Kaw or Kansas river is fer
TIE and quite productive. This section com,
prlses the lands Known as the delaware indian
Reserve" Smoky HILL Solomon and Saline
valleys are also rich and unsurpa .sed for fer.
uhIy. Grain and stock-raislug are becoming
noted IN Kansas, and remarkably fine crops Of
ulHeIeht Kinds OF gram and some extraordinarily
iarge cattle have been raised. The Saline valley y
possesses great wealth in its salt sprmps ana
gypsum Deos, and already several operators arc
successfully working these pIolidc salt weIls
ana sending their manufacture eastward BE.
sues salt ana gy psum, aium, iron ore, and tin
are SAID 70 exist, as well as coal,
Ihe prlnclpal Vns In Kansas are NECESSARILY
on Tue Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Divlsion