The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-03-19

ber; as for "two bits" we got The
best meal that was set before us
on the whole route. About Eve
o'clock Of the evening of the second
day we got our first view of Fort
Scott, then about three miles in the
distance and as II is a policy that
stage men use, to put their best
teams on the ends Of the line, il
was not long till we were in the
City. Of course supper was the
uppermost thought in our minds
so, being advised to patronize
the "Western House." we did so.
We found it to be shabby look.
ing building-haviDg been built
and used by the Government as q
hospital. But, as il determined to
make tho contrast as great as pos
sible, we found that the aecommo-
dations for the outer and inner man
were first class. We were provid-
ed with a room having single beds,
which is rare thing for transient
travellers. We were not called to
breakfast the next morning until
near nine o'clock. Then VIC only
wished the night had extended far
tber into the day, for stage riding
is splendid for snoozing. Fort
Scott is built upon a knoll Of the
prairie that runs east and west and
just where the Fort stands, ends
abruptly. 1t was built in 1874 by
Col. Leavenworlb, as a pioneer fort
against the Indians. The buildings
put there for army purposes cost
the Government S250,000. The
buildings and the land they occu.
py were sold a few years ago and
what cost tho Government such a
vast sum-was bought for five
thousand dollars. II has been only
within the last five years that any
bat Government buildings were at
this point--now they have qnite q
place and the business point Of
Southern Kansas. They claim to
have about 5000 inhabitants, three
or four hotels, one Bank, and about
fifteen or twenty good business
houses. Saloons are numerous
though We saw one that was to be
sold at auction for debt. The
great trouble in this place as well
as other towns of Kansas is the
scarcity OF timber for building ma.
terial. Stone in Fort Scott is used
q great deal and can be found in
good quantities near that place.
Friday morning we intended
starting back; but owing to the
stage being crowded, postponed it
aud took the Si"ge going to Bax-
ter Springs. This place has sprung
up within the last fifteen months
and now contains population of
1900. All Of these towns are en-
tertaining great expectations on &C
count of the hope that the railroad
will pass through them on its way
to Galveston. Speaking Of rail
roads, reminds me that you see
nothing, read nothing, and hear
nothing but railroad talk. The
north and south road through
Kansas to Scott, has been survey
cd and graded twenty-five miles.
Another road from Sedalia, Mo, to
Scott, has been proposed and re-
ceive6 county subscriptions. Still
another 10 boing proposed from
Fort Scott to Springfield, for the
purpose Of reaching the Arkansas
pine timber and getting a point
from which to obtain their coal.
Coal is found in great quantities,
all through Southern Kansas The
coal that comes from near Scott is
said to be the best in all the West.
Coal of a second-rate quality is
found on the surface, and also at n
depth of three feet below. AT a
depth of ten feet, is vein of nine
feet in thickness, but it has not
been mined to any extent, as the
means for mining are not at hand
and owing TO there being no export
demand for it. 1t does not pay,
for it sells for no more than ten
cents per bushel. Within ten steps
of the road side, we saw farmer
digging upa load of coal that he
was going to haul into Fort Scott,
to exchange for his intended pur
chases.
Kansas is said to be q second
rate corn State, but among tho first
or will bo--in wheat. This year
has been very hard on wheat; as
there has been no rain since last
October the soil has become light,
and the high winds have blown il
away from the roots; so that unless
rain soon comes, the farmers de-
spair Of it's coming to any good.
Emigration to Southern Kansas
is expected to be large this Spring
and on our way home we met sev.
eral families going down to settle
on the Neutral Grounds.
After very pleasant trip of ten
or twelve days, we again found
ourselves back in Kansas City.
Previous to tho war this was only
small place; merely d steamboat
landing. 1t contains now about
$4,000 souls. A piece of property
was sold a few days ago, 76 by l25
feet, and brought $4,000, cash.
Eleven years ago it was bought
for s25, The appearance Of the
town Is not prepossessing. A writer
speaking Of it calls it the city Of
magnificent, bitches, for on turning
off from the principal streets, you
are either climbing up or down
steep and stumpy activities, or
passing through long excavations.