Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-12-04

III teu toI tH4 n NV
Fort Riley and its Surroundings.
|. Being isK spsas during sePtembsr last.
/ went with my 500 James B. Mcclure,
\ DO lives IN Junction City, 70 Fort Riley,
'whieh Is situated on he north bsnk Of
the Republican River, near its junction
With the Smoky Hill River. Fort Riley
is not really FORT. but depot for pro-
visions and rendezvous for soldiers, and
IL situated on bluff bank Of the river,
about one hundred feet above the river,
on uneven ground, and consists Of twenty
or thirty we'll built and commodious cut
stone buildings for Qusrfermsster, Com
misssry,. Surgeon, Chaplain, aud the many
officers belonging to "A army, barracks
for men. and stsbling for Eve or six hun
dred horses, each stable calculated to hold
one hundred horses. The stables are I'll
made Of cut atone, and built in the most
substantial manner. ! saw two rieks Of
prairie bay containing four hundred tons
each. w. W = - { 81
The Rev. Thomas Reynoiis, Cbsplain
at II, Riley, told me that the improve
ments there had cost the Government per-
haps 81, 800. 900. The grounds are all
open, without any sign OF defense more
than seniineh. Near this fort is the
grave and monument Of Maj. Ogden, who
died with the cholera In 1856, 1 believe.
The monumenti 10 situated on ahigh point
Of land O e|Hf l,s fsos !. F-9s1,Fg -
You can see fully ten miles up tho Smoky
Hill aud Republican Rivers, with their
valleys from Eve to ten miles wide, and
down on junction City three miles Of,
and also down the main Kansas River. to-
wards Manhattan for ten miles or more.
The bluffs or hills are about two hundred
feet high, with white magnetism lime.
stone border about twelve feet thick,
which shows on the hills.
! went from TT. Riley about four miles
In westerly direction on the highlands
10 the farm and residence Of James M.
Harvey, Governor elect Of Kansas, who
settled there several years ago. He has .
small improvement and also young or
chard coming on. There is not stick Of
timber nor house In sight except his
own that could see, so that II could truly
BIO said, "hs IL monarch Of all be surveys;
his right there Is none to dispute" His
house, garden and farm are In one enclo-
sure. The soil Is black, aud from the sp-
pearance Of his corn aud truck, is very
productive. l understand be does bis
own farming. We drove 10 at his gate,
which was open, and drove around his
house, which Is a small one-a half-story
frame about l6 by ls feet, with small win
dows 10 each side containing by 10
glass, and door 10 each end with tho
latch string hanging out. Close by stood
his old log house covered with sod, which
be had lately moved out Of. This is as
good description as can give from
hasty examination.
Governor Harvey was not at home, but
am told that he il an honest man and
possessed Of good common sense, lie
was Captain in Kansas Regiment dur.
Ing our late s'unplesssntners," " and made
an efficient officer. lie hss served several
sessions In the State Senate. He was nom.
mated for Governor over several able and
men, General Carney among
the rect, who has been TO Congress, | be-
lieye, and who Is Que Of the richest men
IL the State. lie also beat Mr.. Click,
the Democratic nominee, one Of the finest
orators and most polished men In Kansas,
running ahead OF HIN moro than two to
one, and also running ahead Of his party
everywhere.
Kansas is one ofihe most radical States
In the Union, I see from a Kansas pa
per that about thirty Adies voted at Law.
renee at the late election, Mrs. James II,
Lane among the number. Ifthey should
be allowed TO vote generally, We would
soon have Maine liquor law that would
be effective. WIN. MCCLURE.