Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-06-18

CIOMu ITlnCc Ol OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. S4OU.
The famous Norman Stallion, PHI Sheridan,
was also struck of for $1,000
TOPEKA, JUNE 9th, 1870.
Friend Reed-I promised some of my
friends, and neighbors when left Ashtabula
that | would, through the coumes of the
1etegrdph, give them an impartial and unvar-
nished account of Kansas | left Ashtabula
in the midle Of March, with six inches of
SOW on the ground, and pretty keen frost,
which continued through Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, and part of Missouri, but on reaching
Kansas City in the morning. its beautiful clear
sky, bright warm sun. and salubrious air
seemed to congratulate us on our safe arrival
The feathered tribe peeled forth their morning
anthems, and the remarkably dry roads, and
far streaching praires, presented such an
aspect of lovelincss as almost to induce one to
think he had dropped on some other hemis-
phcre. l should say, that, Kansas for rich
ness, depth of soil, natural rolling lay of
the land, and general fertility, can not be ex-
celled by any State in the Union, and am in
clined to think, that jim Lanes remark was
correct, when he said, "that God could, no
doubt, have made n better land, but he
never had" The soil is what is called black
muck, undcrlaid with n strata of hard clay,
in the up-lands, from 2 to 3 feet below the
soil, and in the low-ands, from 3 to 5 feet.
THIS clay is underlaid again at the depth of 6
10 10 feet by strata of hard rock, wch has
to be blasted to get water for the wells, which
by the way, is very good. In the river-bottom
nn1,
great depth Of digging has proved. 1t is
somewhat remarkable that while the soil will
speedily absorb all the water that fails, and
leave the surface dry, yet in drought of or
weeks the moisture will be within an inch
or the top. SO much for the soil of Kansas,
ana this, with Il few exceptions, is the
generally accredited fact Topeka City, has II
population of about thousand, and like all
other rapid-grown cities of the west is made
up of fusion of all lands, but it maintains
very good order. 1t is situated on beauti.
fu rising knoll, with gentle decent alfurdng
ample space for its suburbs. 1t has wisely
improved on the Eastern cities, in laying out
lis streets, not only the main business streets,
but all the streets, are patterned after the width
of Broadway, New York, and sidewalks in
proportion. Being the capital of the State,
and possessing considerable facilities for all
kinds of manufacturing, it cannot fail taking
its stand among the first cities of ,he great
west. 1t has II very respectable Brick Court
House, which serves, also as cage for the
struggling INSIDERS, to look through its iron
bars. The Capitol is built on a fine emincnce
that commands prospect over miles of beau
tiful country il is fine stone building of
exquisite workmanship, and is To be doubled
in capacity by the addition of wings
We have two daily, and two weekly papers.
The State Record, and the Common ,realtA each
with able corps, that issues the current news of
the world There is also the usual force of seC ct
societies, Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons, and
good Tcmplars, besides two Brass Bands-one
white and the other colored-that discourse
sweet music, when wandering star chances
this way,
Now rs to business, and the art Of making
money, don't see. that in many respects it
differs from other places, 1t must be worked
for. Gold is not found in the streets, nor wealth
gathered fom the praries, without toll. A
good mechanic can do WELL and get u home
easier than in the east. An industrious farmer
OF small means, can secure good farm that
will TRIBE in value in ilye years or less. Good
land can be bought within or 12 miles OF
this city ranging from to l2 dollars per acre
and cheaper further out. Lumber Is high for
building purposes, but stone is plenty, and to
considerable extent, supplies the place of wood
There are quarries of soft stone than can be
cut withN jack knife, or saw, which, when
exposed To the air will become us hard us rock.
have not seen very heavy timber, walnut
and cotton wood, seem to be natives of the
soil, but others varieties are being planted
that seem TO thrive well, To any one deslrous
of coming here, / will say, there Is plenty OF
room, and good chances
VERITUs.