Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-04-21

CnErora, LABErr Co, KANSAS

that | would give you snort sketch Oh
INV wanderings while absent From the
d tie of this YOU will discover that atn
now in south eastern Kansas - within
about two miles of the southern line.
left home on the 9th, and after the
usual delays at Warren, Freeport aad
Mend ,ta, reached Quincy, ILL.,, the fol
low inr day at l2;lj z, NJ. At 8 o'clock
the cry Of "All aboard for Kansas City
greeted our ears and in company with
over three hundred others, we were soon
OF, our winding way for the South West.
The first noticeable object after leaving
Onincy was the r. K. bridge over the
Father of Waters At fret view it APP
reared like frail structure, but we soon
i SEQ cred its iron trestle work to be
of sufficient strength for n much heavier
train. This bridge is over mile IN
lenrth, making ~ curve in crossing OF
one fourth that distance. The river was
unusually high-coyerin the bottoms on
the Missouri side for more than i've
miles. through timber and rAiries. The
water in many places, was litorallv COW
cred with wild ducks, often floating with
in a very few yards OF the cars, and
manifesting but little fear on their APP
nroach The track of the Hannibal u
st. 10 Road runs through fine country,
though a portion OF it It's quite destitute
of timber, and think from the appear
ance of farms, the Inhabitants are not
over.tasked with enterprise. There are
some thrifty looking towns on the route,
but the general appearance Is less invlt-
ina than many other portions OF the
State.
After hard ride of nearly fourteen
hours, we found ourselves IN Kansas
City, ltte before daylight on the Sth
This is place OF some 5o,OOO lnhablt>
ants, and is truly i've city. In appear
ance il resembles Mineral Point, only on
larger scale,--the hill. both in number
and SIZE, corresponding with those OF the
Point IN about the same proportion as 10
popuiatlon The rush of emigration to
the West is yielding them rich harvest
this spring, and they know well how to
improve IT, Land spectators are as
plenty as muskctoes on the Mississippi
bottoms, and quite AS annoying. Mans 3
Clty Depot is on the RI or bottom. while
the city is located on the blu1s, "a good
half mile walk from the depot grounds.
The railroad bridge at this place is a
wooden structure, though about half the
length of the bridge at Quincy, Neglt-
alton is beginning to show itself slighly
here, but not as much as had expected
At ii A. NJ we left for Girard, the
terminus of the Fort Scott road, and now
we commence to pass through country
much more inviting tilau northern Mis-
souri, A portion OF the way to Fort
Scott the country is poorly supplied with
timber, though much OF 1t Is well tim,
bered and watered by numerous small
streams Fort Scott Is fine city OF
about 5000 inhabitants, and contains
some fine buildings, particularly resl>
lencCs about the suburbs. With fair
capital and business quarters one might
make "A good thing al Fort Scott There
are numerous smaller cities and villages
90 thi. road mostly OF recent origin, but
rapid growth Grard, the terminus Of
the road on the day we arrived there,
(thougl u..- a way-station twenty miles
from the terminus) is a place nearly the
size OF Darlington, and but one year old
The country around Glrard Is not
as good AS farther north or farther
south. A thou IN the praries are quite
level, they are covered with Hat rocks
Tor miles, or rs far rs the eye could
reach, and Of course poorly calculated
for farming purposes.
Alter good nights rest at Girard,
(the frs. since leaving home) we took
the stage Tor this place distance OF
forty five miles, and as our progress was
less rapid than by rail, we had much
better opportunity for noting the features
of the country, and being less confined
to the valleys the view was more exten-
siye, The larger portion OF the route
passed over 10y stage Is an unbroken
prairie; often out OF sight OF timber
| The land is rich, AS IS usually the case
with prairie land, but the lack OF timber
and scarcity OF water will probably re-
tara It's settlement though we saw many
claims staked ont, (some OF which were
partially improved } and few fine farms.
/ There are several belts Of timber on the
route, and wherever you find that article
/ It IL OF an excellent quality of heavy
growth Of walnut, oak, cottonwood, DC.
/ The abundance of good coal in al parts
OF The country, enable settlers to dispense
with wood Tor fuel, but Tor buildings ana
fences it is poor substitute As we
enter the valley Of the Neosho river from
/ the north, We begin to come into u
country well supplied with timber and
running water Heavy timber adjoining
/ the pralries, and sparkling streams fed by
springs meander their way Trough near
/ " every section Of land through which
you pass. lhe Neosho bottoms are
heavily timbered hickory, walnut eot7
tonwood oak, blackberry pecan, sott'
maJle ash, and many other qualities are
abundant aud Of very large growth, -
lAack~whlnut, hickory and pecan trees
! - 4 ( ~ am