The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-07-08

D. MAcKLEY ESQ.,, DEAR SIB:-
I finished my former letter on the cars on the
18th inst, near ST. Louis, on my way to Kansas
City, at which point commence the present.
Not intending to look at any particular part of
Missouri excepting Kansas City, did not stop
until arrived there about midnight
The Pacific r. r. runs nearly due West from
st. Louis, across the neck Of land lying between
the Mississippi an Missouri Rivers, and does not
come in sight of the Missouri River until you
pass Franklin, at the junction of the South West
Branch of the Pacific Il. r. The country all
along between st. Louis and Franklin is what
would be called, even in Southern Ohio, rough
and poor. There are several tunnels Of consid-
crable length through which you pass. The i'm
provements generally speaking, are Of a char
acter that but too plainly shows the poverty of
the SOIL The hills are covered with bushes, and
cut up by small ravines opening into them at
right angles with the main runs. When you
reach the bottom lands of the Missouri River,
you come into different country altogether,
som heavy timber lands, all beautiful bottom,
very productive, generally dry, and in many
places well improved and groaning under the
m ost abundant crop of golden wheat, just ready
for the sickle, The oats look as if the yield
would be certainly not less than from 50 to 20
bushels per acre, and the corn OF a dark-green
color, standing in every hill, and two feet high.
The Missouri River at this time is almost bank
full, and its turbid waters are rolling, boil ing,
and moving on at the rate of about five miles per
hour, to join the clear cool waters Of the Miss
ssppi in their race to tho Gulf.
The Rail Road crosses the Usage River on q
well constructed bridge and in few minutes
run you are brought into and through Jefferson
City, the capital Of Missouri. Here the Rail
Road leaves the course of the River and carries
you through prairie of very beautiful lands,
much Of which is well improved and to all ap-
pearanee very productive; yet most the wheat
is light CROP spring wheat late, and injured
with the rust. Grass, corn and barley look well
l could not see any streams of running water,
and one can sec that in dry season, stock
water would be a great object. Here and there
along the Road, the ground was cut to make the
grade, and in all such places the gravel comes
within n short distance of the surface, or the
subsoil would be q tough clay of blush color,
preventing the excess of water in wet weather
from sinking, and not permitting moisture to
rise from beneath in the time of drought. The
country from jefferson City, distance of nearly
100 miles, is nearly of the same kind and quality,
as far as could judge.
The train reached Kansas City about II clock
at night, and the passengers poured out on the
,lo in,
omnibuses, in readiness to take them to the
Hotels. / got in one and directed the driver to
drive me to the Sheridan II0Use, which selected
on account of the name, for reasons that would
control every Radical who travels in Missouri.
The "Buss" started of at great speed, and
passing up through and excavation cut through
the bluff from the River bottom to a plateau
some sixty feet above tho bottom level, where
part of Kansas City is built, and where the
Sheridan House is located
In the morning. on going in TO the well-flled
dining-room, the first man met that knew
was Mr.. Hull, son-in-law of Mr.. Walterhouse of
our town. After warm shake of the hand, Os
all Western men know how to give, he very
kindlyproposed to get his carriage in order and
drive me through the city to see the sights.
which reluctantly was compelled to decline, as
the train l wished to go to Topeka on would
leave in about two hours. We however took q
walk down to Main Street, and up Main some
half or three-fourlhs of mile, far enough that
| could see that Kansas City is one Of the most
fourishlng cities of the West. Located as it is
on the banks of the Missouri River, with some
fine rail roads entering here. 1t has attracted
the attention of capitalists, and the improve
ments now going on in grading the streets and
sites for buildings, the great brick buildings with
iron and stone fronts, built, and now being
erected, at an outlay of millions Of dollars, us
tonishes the beholder. They cain population
of 80, 900 inhabitants, and must say arc fast
people yet there is such thing as building up
city before the country is developed, and when
n stand still comes it takes decade of years TO
get things star ted again. This city may be one
of them. Here are merchants, doctors and
lawyers enough to do the business in their line
for 100, 900 people, and yet in single days ride
in cars in kind OF semi-circle, you pass through
the cities of Topeka, Lawrence Kansas City,
Wyandot, Leavenworth, Atchison aud ST. DO
seph, each claiming to be great center oil traue
but Kansas City at the present has got the lead,
although comparatively young.
Expecting to return to this place, took the
morning train to Topeka, the capital of Kansas
which is about 60 miles from the State line.
Ny first glimpse of what ], in my former, termcd
the promised land, was not very favorable. The
Rail Road follows the Kansas River on the north
side. From the State line up for some twenty
miles, the country is almost in state OF nature,
with here and there small Improvement. l
was told large quantities Of the lands arc in the
hands of and owned by tho Indians. Indians,
both men and women; were at some of the sta
tions, but took no part in the hurry and business
going on around them, but looked on SO indif-
fercntly, that it was very plain to be seen that
they did not care whether the trains got through
on time or not. TO mo they looked very stupid.
: After you cross Stranger River, the country is
more open, and some line lands are under cultl-