The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-03-31

- .. [For the News
Reply to A. ]. Evans Letter on
Kansas, published I'm the News
OF Feb. 24, IS7O-The Other
Side of the Picture.
COTTAGE HOME, Clay Tp.,
March IA, 1870.
Mr.. Editor:-Not being a subscriber
of your valuable paper, I did not see
until recently the letter written by A.
J. Evans, of Kansas, bearing date of
February l4th, 1870, commenting up
on the trip of James Duncanson's
brother, sister and husband to Kansas
from Clay tip. AS it has become a
matter Of newspaper comment, it may
not be improper to state the facts for
the benefit of many friends and read
ers of the Nei0S.
In June, 1868, I volunteered in Co.
&C." I'd Battalion 18th o. V. c., re-
cruited by LIEUT.. Col. VIM. o. Collins,
destined for the Western service
against the Indians. The 1st day of
August, '63, if my memory serves me
right, we left Camp Dennison, for the
Plains, arriving at Ft. LeavenwOrth,
Kansas, 14th of same month, at which
place we went into camp to recruit our
stock.
We bad been there but few days,
when the Post Commander received
the intelligence that the notorious rebel,
Quautrell, was moving on Lawrence,
Kansas. We received marching orders
at once to intercept him and repulse
the command. On this trip I took a
fancy to Kansas-what I saw of it. l
then went with the command across
the State to Ft. Kearney, and thence
to the Plains, and returned in '66, re-
solved at that time to make Kansas
my future home, not being fiattered at
the hand of art, but "Nature's own
handy work" She had done her
work and done it well.
February the 9th, 1869, we left for
Kansas, myself and family, wife and
little daughter Eunice, accompanied
by John Duncanson, my brother-in-
law, and Robert Stewart, all of Clay
tp. We did not go to ''try Kansas
awhile" but to make it our future
home-not expecting to find "Para-
disc" as our friend A. J. would have
it, but on the contrary comparatively
new and unsettled country.
We arrived in Kansas safely, found
just such country as we expected,
found some "nlud' and "grasshop-
pers," but being raised in Ohio, we
were as well able to endure the former
as those that had been accustomed to
dry and arid climate. The latter
evil (grasshoppers) did little or no
damage in the vicinity of Tonganoxie,
so we had nothing to fear from them.
I cultivated garden in Tonganoxie,
which was all we could ask in quality
and quantity, including almost every
variety of vegetables belonging to the
farm garden. I raised from one bUshel
of Early Goodrich Potatoes, 30 bush
els; at that ratio 300 bushels would
grow on an acre. No doubt but the
eastern portion of Kansas will favor
ably compare in soil, with any Other
of the Western States say from the
Goth meridian east-having more bot
tom land than other Western States
and rich alluvial soil, while the Wes'
tern portion is better adapted for graz
ing-being undulated, except the river
bottoms; also having too much cilioiOu'
earth, and an arid climate. Timber ii
scarce except along water courses
consisting of oak, walnut, hickory, ash
sugar, &c.
1 built a store house in Tonganoxie.
intending to start a grocery and pro
vision store, but found that there were
already too many in the business, tC
insure a sufficient patronage; go !
gave it over, traded property for l6(
acres prairie land, unimproved, which
cost me SO per acre, situated in Leav
enworth CO., IA miles from Leaven
worth city, and one mile from tn,
railroad. Now for the reasons for Ou
leaving Kansas. .-... ..a.
1st cause. The Assessor appraised
this land at $3.50, upon which the fol
lowing taxes were charged, on eacl
IslOO, viz:
State purposes.
County or general revenue......... 6
Poor account and Court House LOTS. 4
Interest on County Bonds. 8
Bridge Bonds-series "A'... .,....,.,,,,,.- 8
Interest on Bridge Bonds -. ...................A