Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-08-11

for miles in extent, and leaving uot","5
but black wastes behind them. hlgn' giAh
we're we to halt at Central City, mere COZ,
lection Of shabby houses, but atouno
which lies rather productive region, ssil'
able on account of the worse iafu oey ohu'
Even here farmer declared to US that lou,
years out Of seven the crops Houio ta'l
from dronths. Ga the following Gay We |
pushei forward, to have our glowing IDEAS
Of Kansas still further dashed 20 eartn.-
After leaving our camp two mlies 70 the
rear. we encountered an elevated and utter
~ barron region, destitute OF water, and as
unoroduc,ive as . strip OF the Sahara
desert. What the good Lord ever intended
Il for wo cannot divine. For sixteen miles
through this drsary realm We made our
way, not . tree, shrub. animal, or hsbita-
ton meeting the weary eye. The grass
vas scorchsd almost 70 the earth BY the
burning rays of the sun. Even the birds
had deserted this 6sry range. At noon,
however, We we're greeted with beautiful
sight, which Utmost repaid our sutferings.
Far along the distant horizon could be seen
with oil the dstinctness of . reality. per-
feet resemblance to placid bay filled with
numberless islands, and We could scarcely
bring ourselves to believe that the fairy like
scene before us wss but one OF those won
derful mirages which as,onished early
travellers IN the West, and which fade away
to nothingness as you approach them. We
reached Tolls, Allen county, on the 22d.
It's population is about 800. Here the soil
commences to improve, growing better,
with occasional exceptions, as you push
southwark. The country is also better
settled. Eight miles distant, with . beau
tifu and fertile prairie intervening, is the
town Of Humboldt, with . thousand inhab-
itants and world of enterprise. A gov
eminent land office 10 located here, but the
homestead and state lands are oil taken.
In fact. Kansas has but little desirable
homestead lands to be taken. Camped in
| the woods near this place, No saw . white
man with bis Indian wife. and "largs and
interesting family" Of halfbrceds. Near
here We also met q number Of the simon
pure noble savages," in the costumes Of
the Alabama gentlsman-shirts, spurs and
shot guns. On aceount of lack Of water
on the route ahead OF us, 10 concluded TO
push on twelve miles further that evening,
but were caught out 10 . terrific thunder
storm, lost our way on the prAiries, and
on examining our compass at midnight,
| IVuuO NuWS iuotVau vi Pu0uiUk uuG UOUtU,
W had been going due west for some hours
We stopped for the night. On tho follow
ing morning we regainsd our route and
csmpsd at the town of Erie, Nsosha CO., I
thriving place Of 200 inhabitants, anc
backed by asplsndid farming country
Here we noticed the professional shingls o
Dr. Dodds, formerly Of Davenport. On tn
following morning W passed through Mis-
sion Town, liTsly place Of three hundre,
inhabitants. Here We did some tradipl
with party Of wild Usage Indians, Jus
from the prairiee, dspcsing Of their peltries
and equipped in all the glory Of shave,
heads, red paint and feathers. Mission
School, two miles below, is Al old Catholi
post, and has been in successful operation
, for the past twenty-five years, conducte
BY an order Of the Sisters Of Charity. Tw
hundred Indian children arc furnished wit
tuition free Of charge. Seven hundred acre
acres Of land is portion Of the property o
the Institution. Crossing the Neoshe Rive
At Trottsr's Ford. We camped on bottom
several miles below.
, Tho best part OF Kansas, as far rs we hay
seen, is along tho valley Of this stream.
IN the following day we passed throug
, Oswego. in l.abette county, ono year old
: with two hundred inhabitants, and a news
. paper. At l.abette City, further down, "
r witnessed the strange and knowing spects
clio" ola town being transported across
pralr.c on trucks and being drawn by oxen
"Old Labetts' was failure, and was bcin
hauled up to Labette City.
? At three O'Clock we passed through Gle
topa. with two hundred inhabitants, an
: camped on the Neosho River, near the Sta.
lie. This morning We moved across int
the Territory few miles, and are no,
I, campcd on Russslrs Greek. To give fu
, description Of our 'tramp'' would occop
: five or ten columns. We passed throug
, six counties which arc said to be the best |
the State. We were not wholly please
with our observations. The high lAnds ar
: worthless. The climate is dry. We woul
not give twenty mile strip across lows
barring your unbearable winters, for tn
whole State of Kansas. Just now genera
drouth prevails. A great many settlers ar
disguised. Money is scarce and times At
hard. The late Indian treaties are outrage
upon the people. Many are abandonin
their homes and returning to Missouri. :
Almost every farmer you meet is willing +
+, sell. Few persons in Neosho, Labette an,
Cherokee counties have any titles TO thei
lands. Railroad monopolsts own alnios
that whole section. The settlers make thei
Claims and improve. The markets 70
r grain and produce are generally poor
, Town lots are given away to whomsoeve
will build. To any farmer in Iowa Athlete,
with the ''nore land" mania, and intendin
to cone to this boosted but overrated re
gion, we would earnestly recommend visi
Of inspection before he commits himself. :
The good land Of Kansas is we'll scattered
and about all taken. Timber 10 scarce ant
costly, We have tried to touch on multi
tudo Of subjects in as brisfa manner a,
possible.
Tonight, lured by its widespread fame
two Of US intend march to the vsrdigril
Valley, west Of Labstte county, on . sight
seeing tour, and if the Usage Indians whc
inhabit that district don't elevate our hair
you may hear from us again.
Respectfully,
CLINT PARKuuRsr.
| Indian Tnrr,tovv Irlv ootk 1910