The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-09-29
CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING THE
PLAINS,

oneef oooPtoba11ty e the Require
nenis u Agriculture. Win Mineral
Productions and The Eleasenis In.
Aaeneing Health.
From our Travelling Correspondent
PLEASANT RIDGE, KS, Sept ., 1870.
Notwithstanding all the details that could
he crowded into my letters from Colorado. l
have found, from the numerous questions
daily proloundsl to me by persons interested
in the future of the Plains, that it would he
better TO write another, Of more general
nature, and try to incorporate into it those
satisfactory conclusions that are derived from
tour Of observation and always decisively
consulted BY people looking to new fields for
comfortable homes. / know it can scarcely
be thought possible that could add any
thing to the scientific descriptions Of this
part Of the continent, already published by
hundreds Of writer's, or increase to any very
great extent the plausible theories advanced
for speculation. FrUm AZ experience Of
more than twenty years in practical farming,
however, in the most favored agricultural
regions in the world-Kansas, Iowa and
Missouri am able, by comparison, u form
conclusions that are, at least, satisfactory to
myself; and that !. all that can be asked Of
any person.
In the 6rst place, cur attention i directed
TO the soil a. We go westward; and, in oeaer
to obtain correct ideas, We must carefully
note, step by stei, the continual, gradual
change which presents itself and finally be
comes 40 striking. As n starting point, let
us direct our attention 10 the tier Of Counties
running north and south, in which Leav-
enworth is situated, for instance,
and use it for base of COM
parison. I suggest this belt of country
for the reason that, In an agricultural point
Of view, it Is not.excelled, If equaled, even
by our best States-as, for instance, Mis-
sour, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio-and is the west
ern limits Of the soil usually cultivated By
the farmers Of the prairie States,
Leaving Leavenworth, then, We notice, ~
We progress, no material difference in the
soil of the second tier Of counties; . merely
perceivsble change r. beginning to be OBJ
y - .l.Cp -..C :.
'erved ~ tne tnlIu, .na con.,n'es un'll ny
!, s.e HT s9 aug Me' - - "
.ne n, .s re- We e an .,: ssc.a UNI,
q ing .ss co's y " sne c'lm::c WIN
' 'n % 'ne soi' oI 70 me :n:y ss . .asse
ao's' u'e osneI' VI ONn SAlN' "eI, !"
luz. . n'anneI a. 70 pi. sS .ne Pnenosnen.
,n.' snSe I 20 "e e1t Anen.n
am otaSse 'ne es"e, - ECU 70
."Pp '".' a'n eu&'1' ;, !" 'Ie.s .nD mI':fr
n n'ase1! ma"nes viii fe'.eve MN
d ali an.cpatio"s anu aPPrenensfons, ior
my mind Is not vaS enough ana my want Oh
|: Is 700 eIca: 70 propose ana est.o-
!, Geyond sPecenson' tneoe,es Gcnoerning
Inc elements Of TINS won0er1ui sa9jec1
Rat !" mas h6 oeen proposed ana sasasoc-
ior,ly accompanied by any Pefson, a. yet,
Is my excuse for touching 1t at all. What
have TO say n OF iacss with which l have be-
come acquainted BY observation, and they
sgEe3 chiefly, their own :pec,l.s'ons-
Geologs4s and minefoiogia: te!i u that this
part Of the world MAS once the bed Of great
Dcean, and that the Rocky Mountains are the
'PheAval Of the mighty forces OF nature.
The one proposition seems to be unconfro-
'ertibly supported hy the FOSSIL remains con-
sanity coming to Iight-as, for instance, the |
oyster beds Of Fossil Crcck-whilc il would
be impossible to doubt the correctne~ Of The
other after m examination Of The chaotic mass
= forming the Sieirax Il may be this fact
which accounts for the ruling Characteristic
Of the soil wet Of m. namely: The aka