Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-08
Letter from Kansas.
NEOsHO RAPIDS, KAN,
October 9th. 1870.

NEosHo RAPIDS, KAN,
October 9th, 1870.
October is called the ague month ofKan-
as. In this month quite number have
lad the shakes in this vicinity. The great
er part of this sickness can be avoided by
careful attention to the laws of health;
put in the case of those who live on and
cultivate the rich bottom lands, it nearly !
to avoid suffering from it.
Quinine is the prevailing remedy, taken
generally with unlimited quantities Of whis- |
key, though every one has his cure spe-
cifc for ague, and there is little difficulty
in breaking up the disease if taken in time.
Within the last six months emigrants
have arrived in Kansas from Iowa. The
most of them are well-to-do farmers who
buy improved farms. They think the soil
of Iowa equal to that Of Kansas, but make
the change to escape the severe winters.
In conversation the other day with one of
these Iowa emigrants. celebrated NJ. D.,
and man of much travel and observation,
| mentioned that | was from Vermont, and
that thought it more healthy than Kan
sas. Said he, 81 think Vermont is the
most healthy State in the Union. l never
saw in any other State such large, robust,
healthy looking men, as the Vermonters
and l think a country that produces such
people must be exceedingly healthy" l
think the Doctor was not far from right ;;
and though Northern Kansas is undoubt-
eddy healthy place, l think, if your able
correspondent there would consider simply
the appearance Of the inhabitants, he would
be willing to give Vermont more credit
than he does. Certainly as far as physical
perfection IS concerned, one cannot find
such men in Southern Kansas, as in Yer
mont; and, Though 1 may get my hair
pulled for it, I will add, such women eth
er. Like Douglass, think Vermont is a
good place to be born in, " and not only
that, but a good place to live in; though
think the West has superior advantages
for making money.
The crops in this section have been pref
ty good, although it has been rather a dry
| year for Kansas. The sod corn was almost
an entire failure, and it ought to have been
Sowing corn broadcast on the grass, anG
then blowing it under, or dropping it il
every third furrow and covering it with
! the pillow, or even putting it in hole mad,
through the turf with an axe cannot prop
erly be called farming, and ought not t.
be rewarded with good crops
l think one reason for the failure of tn,
sod corn was on account of the shallow
blowing, as in blowing greensward the!
usually pillow but two or three inches il
depth. have been told that in the yea
of 1860, when nearly all crops in this sec
ton were a total failure on account Of tn
drouth, good corn was raised by som
simply by giving it good care and cultiva
ton. Ordinarily corn is plowed GU
and not hoed, but sod corn is neither pillow
ed nor hoed, and yet this is a countr
where weeds abound and where sun flower
grow fifteen feet in hight with a stalk tw
inches through.
A few days since | visited the Kaw Re
serve, tract of land twelve miles squar
, belonging to the Kaw Indians. 1t is
fine tract of land, situated between tw
thriving towns on the Neosho river, fort
miles from this place, with the railroa
running through it. 1t is expected thi
this land will come in to market soon III
der the provisions of the Homestead Ac
as the Indians are anxious to leave it, an
only wait the ratification of treaty by ii
government. This reserve was original
twenty-five miles square, but they coded
portion Of it to government as paymel
for the erection of stone house for eac
5 family. But these prairie Bedouins cal
not forsake their old customs, and ha'
built their wigwams beside the houses, O
2 casiOnally using the latter for stables.
e With the exception of the houses, Il
e reserve is as much of wilderness as eve
!, the degenerate Kaw raising little besid
3 watermelons which here require no cal
e Furnished by government with an annu
: supply of provisions, they live in perfe
! idleness until these are consumed, al
7 then beg, steal, live on carron, or go hu
IS cry, managing in some way to get rid
e working for living. They speak but Ii
y tie English, just enough to enable them
o beg for whatever they see. Their Chi
e mania is for tobacco of which both M
d and women use all they can get.
+ One day while picketing my pony st,
# wart young brave accompanied by a SOUS
4 approached. His dress consisted of
i blanket and breech cloth, red paint on
d ears and on the top of his head and Y,
4 low paint on his nose and cheek bon
while that of the squaw was the same n
nus the red paint. give our entire co
versation as specimen
Z "How~ extending his hand.
- "How?"
'Give me chew tabac"
. 81 haven't any"
3. "Give me five cents"
| assured the noble red man that | "
J. not the possessor of solitary nickle, a
e they passed on to the rest of our compa
where their hearts were gladdened by
+ chew of tobacco for each. Without dou
(. these Indians are to be pitied but it
because they are cursed with such la
=. lying, treacherous disposition.
r. The weather here for the last few wee
: has been rainy, but the rain came lit
Il too late for the benefit of the grass. Gu
(. number are haying yet although ;
grass is rather dry, but they can hay h
D. till December if they wish But my til
q is limited just now as we Joseph Skim
" Geo. Taplin and myself start for Adele
r, after cattle this afternoon, and presu
f the patience ofyour readers has also lin
: M. j. OWEN
sr w. Hyde of Brattleboro, raised in
| uardau this eaacnn naar that rnpasu1