The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-03-28
For the Bloomfield Times.
Letters Descriptive of Kansas - Its Gil
mate, Productions, &c.

Mr.. EDIToR-Tt is little over three
months since l left the State of Kansas.
We intended before making cur exit from
it, to write concerning its SOIL climate,
productions, and other topics, but did not
take time to doso. Since il may be advan-
tageous, or at least interesting to many Of
your readers to hear something about that
State, from one who has travelled over
different portions of it, we have conclu-
ded to commence to carry out that inten-
ton. We had the qualification, as well
as pleasure, of seeing large portions of
Northern and Southern Kansas, and can
truly say that we were greatly pleased
with much that we saw and heard while
there.
The settled portions of organized coun-
ties cover at least $4,000 square miles,
The general slope Of the country is East,
with slight inclination to the South
this can reasonably be inferred by the
general course of the principal rivers and
creeks, which is from West to East, and
from Northwest to Southeast 1t is in
place here to notice that streams of the
size of creeks in the East, are usually in
the West called rivers, as we'll as those to
which the name properly belongs. The
mouth of the Kansas or Kaw River,
which flows into the Missouri in the East
central part of the State, is $50 feet
above the ocean. The rise of the land
due West to the Manhattan, 107 miles,
is very uniform and gradual, and is a lit
tie over two feet to the mile; thence West
erly the rise is similar, and but little more
rapid. But the average height of the
Eastern border is about 900 feet above
the level of the sea, and gradually as
scends toward the West, at the rate of
about three feet to the mile. There is
much similarity in several respects, in
the general appearance of the country of
most Of the State. 1t in general with
the exception Of the slopes referred to,
resembles Iowa more than any Western
State that l saw. Like Iowa. it consists
of gently undulating prairies, Or prairies
without many.large hills interspersed.-
AS in the latter, the timber is mostly
along the streams. The soil is also in
general, the same as that of Iowa. Most
of the streams flow in narrow beds, and
have, in many places along their course,
high banks, either on one or both sides.
No State in the Union has better natu-
raj drainage The descent of the beds
of the streams is, for the most part, suffi-
ciently great to produce tolerably rapid
currents There is almost an entire aD-
sence of lakes, swamps, or marshes. TAX
ing these things into consideration, in
connection with some mound-like hills
and ridges, the country, it can truly be
imagined, in the spring and summer,
when the surface is covered with carpet
of green, presents very beautiful and
picturesque appearance. So much for
the typography of the country.
AS to the soil: Along the streams it is
in great measure of alluvial or fresh
water origin. The same is true in regard
to the prairies. 1t is mixed with sands,
clays, etc. The vegetable mould or hu-
mus Of the high prairies is from one to
three feet deep, 1t is fine dark brown
or black rich iosm, mixed with deposits
from the different kinds of rocks The
humus is deposits of decayed vegetable
matter.
The soil along the streams is commonly
from five to twenty-five feet deep, 1t is
said in some places to be more than the
latter depth. .0slmproved land is general
ly sold at from five to fifteen dollars per
acre, and improved from ten to thirty
five dollars per acre, according to quality
of soil, location, and improvements. Min
erals in almost every county. Free-stone,
otherwise called sandstones, are found
Good houses have been built with them /;
they have also been used in ornamental
carvings AT least nearly every county,
if not all, has plenty of limestone. A
great many houses have been built of
this material. Marble, which is but a
nice variety OF limestone, is found in sew
eral localities of the State. 1t is of such
fine, soft, uniform grain that it can be
cut with knives or saws without iniuring
them. 1t is susceptible Of high degree
of polish Fine-looking houses have
been built of it. AS to lead 1t is sup
posed by those best acquainted, that
there is but little of this ore in the State.
Gypsum, or suphate OF lime commonly
called "plaster of Paris or "plaster," is
found in numerous places in the State,
and exists in tolerably large quantities -
Iron ore, suitable for manufacturing pur.
poses, has been found in large quantities,
only in the Southeastern part Of the
State. With reference to the amount OF
coal, we can say that large quantities of
it have been found but the beds are nei-