Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-04-12
Letter from Kansas.
NEosHo FALLS. KANSAS, !
Morch O1st 1870 (

anu tlllc since nave DeGH mere.
Our company arrived at Topeka on Sat
urday the 18th, five days and one hall from
Barton, and tired set you may believe,
but otherwise well and hearty. We bid
adieu to snow between Detroit, Michigan
and Chicago, Ill. Saw some splendid prai-
rie farms between the Lake and the Mis-
,issippi river at Quincy, where the cars
cross the river over a splendid bridges. 1t
is amusing to see the steamers on the river
put on steam and pillow through the water
with all their might to reach the draw be-
fore the cars; the one that is there first
gains half an hour of time. After crossing
the river into Missouri we passed through
a beautiful tract of land rich bottom lands
from three to six miles wide, | should
Judge, back of that prairie as far as the eye
could reach. 1t was very warm Friday
afternoon and evening as we passed thro'
Missouri, heavy shower in the evening
with very sharp lightning. Saturday morn
ing brought us in sight of the Promised
Land, and we could swing our hats and
shout, Ho! for Kansas !" The land in
Kansas is not so fiat and level as in Hi
nois. There is what is called the bottom
land on all the streams, and then the bluff
as it is called, rising in some instances
twenty and sometimes thirty feet above the
! streams. These bottom lands, as l said be-
fore, vary from three to six miles in width,
| and are considered the best corn lands in
the State, and no doubt they are; the soil
is dark, and very adhesive as one will find
by goirg into muddy spot; it will stick
to your boots and one can hardly get it off
without soap and water.
There are many fine quarries Of stone in
these bluffs, in some places they look as il
placed in position by human skill. Back
Of these bluffs is the rolling prairie covered
with grass interspersed with rayines which
are valuable to carry off surplus water, but
sometimes causing the traveller to deyiate
far from a straight line in traversing the
country The timber land which are found
only on the streams are valued the highest
as there is but little in comparison to other
land, in the State.
There is a flood of emigration pouring
into this State, they come from New Hamp-
shire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
| Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and
/ Indiana, some days from three to six hun
bred persons on the trains seeking homes
in this land of promise, and also Vermont
is swarming with spectators who are real
ling great profits on their investments, if
we can believe them, not only on land, but
| also in all branches of trade, which is very
lively in all places that have visited
The natives use the phrase, "a heap, to
| qualify the parts of speech they are using,
thus, a heap easier, a heap quicker, right
smart place. and heap of people this year,
and you Yankees seem to have heap OF
money, and we mean that some of it shall
stick to our fingers, you bet.
Speculation IS all the go. Flaming ad-
vertisements, hand bills, maps, newspapers
and sign boards meet you at every turn.
Land offices are more plenty than good
hotels. though there are exceptions.
Agents at all these Offices meet YOU with
a smile, invite you in, show you maps OF
the country on which are plots of the land
which they have for sale, with price per
acre. description of the location, and priv
iIere: also a string of oral praise of the
land that would fill column in your pa
per, and then you are invited to select one
two or half dozen sections OF said land,
and they viii very courteously escort you
to the several localities free Of expense, j
goo purchase Of them the price is from
three to fifteen dollars per acre. have
not as yet mustered up courage enough tC
accept any of their kind offers; am wait
Eng Micawber like, for something to turn
up in the meantime looking around on my
own hook. These offices Of which | have
been speaking, are not government offices
but private concerns. Some act as agents
for the railroad companies. who own every
alternate section twenty miles each side o
the road. Government lands inside OF TIM
twenty mile strip is y 80 per acre, jus
double the original price which was 81 ,.
per acre.
Perhaps by this time some one Is read.
to ask, well, how do you like, and what q
you think of the country? I say, friend
if you are well of, let well enough alone
err for soulless corporations nor for tn
State. am here to lcok, hear and see fo
myself, and two weeks is not long enoug
to Judge correctly.
There is a great deal to think of in leay
inc Vermont. or any of the Eastern State,
b and iournevinr eighteen hundred or tW
Thousand miles to a new country. Societ
convenience, and privileges do not sprin
b mn in one or two wears As the experienc
b Of MANY of your readers. the fathers an
mothers of Vermont can attest. The eli
. mate is very different here from what it
in New England. Friday. March II, wa
very warm. the wind south; Monday, til
7 l4th. wind north, thermometer a belo
zero, the wind cutting sharp as 4 knit
e the dust filling the air as full as you eve
saw the snow in Vermont in your life
D Tuesday. some flakes Of snow people shi,
ering over the little coal stoves and VOL
Il derins how long this is to last; Wednesda
moderate; Thursday the wind goes dow
with the sun; fine weather again; peop
e at work with their coats off blowing al
IS sowing, which is mostly done for the Sc
son, many are now blowing their COZ
a ground. Some days are nearly as warm
e they are in Vermont the last of May
ii / Er-+ Of Inpa Pint I rous+ nv nm for RI