The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-04-28

A few miles south of Fort Scott, we passed
close to the coal mines, if they can be called
mines, there they were uneovering the coal
with plows and scrapers, and working the coal
with crow-bars and picks. The coal interest
is in its infancy here, but great things are to
come from it in the future.
We now realize that we are in new coun-
try as we come to towns Of from one to eight
hundred inhabitants, not on maps two years
old. such as Girard, Columbus, &C., &c. Also,
we notice the many dugouts or sod huts,
where pre-emptors lived the allotted time to
secure a title to their land. We are on what
is called the Neutral Lands, and on which
there is three cornered dispute about the
title. But it would seem as if Mr.. Joy is the
man, in fee simple.
at Drywood, we saw military encamp-
ment, the tents of the soldiers and officers,
nicely arranged in grove. They had pre-
nared their gardens and looked really comfort
able, as they are there to keep tho peace 1
trust they will have peaceful times, although
the feeling is very bitter, on the part OF ola
settlers toward Mr.. Joy, the railroads ana
the Government.
! The land from Fort Scott to Baxter Springs
hes generally in long undulaiing swells, rang
ing from ten to twenty miles, from crest 70
| crest of the divides. The extent OF tnese
views from the car windows, gives the I'M
preston Of vastness that one gets IN gazing on
/ a silent, swelling sea, at the same time reel
/ ing of lenlilness will creep over one, even on
| the cars What must it be to a man like ).
| Fenimore Coopers horseman, as he Wends MS
| way on the never-ending plains, IN search OF
/ lands or adventure. As the sun disappeared
| behind the blue mound, on the line OF the In
dian Territory, we came to Baxter Springs,
/ l60 miles south of Kansas City, town OF
| some two thousand inhabitants. This has
been, and is now, great recruiting point for
| Mexican cattle. 1t has good trade with the
Indians of the Indian Territory, which lies at
its door, This being q border town, it of
course has rather a rough society, although
there are signs of great improvement In the
way of law and order.
As the wind was blowing what the sailors
call spanking breeze, next morning, and not
having q letter of INTRODUCTION to any big In
dian, concluded to omit the visit over the In
dian Territory. But as distance is said to
lend enchant1nent to the view, perhaps lost
nothing from the omission. For indeed the
| broad plains of the Indians land did look
beautiful from my point of view, and it is no
wonder the white border man looks with
greedy eyes, and longingly wishes to go over
and own the virgin soil. But Uncle Sam
saws, Hthus far and no farther" shall his peo-
ple crowd the Indians This Territory oon-
tains now about 100000 inhabitants: Choc-
taws, Chickasaws, Greeks, Cherokees, and
several other tribes. The extent of country
would make four states as large as Ohio. 1t
has climate unsurpassed by any section of
the Union, excellent land, well watered and
better timbered than any Of the prairie states.
The Indians are becoming civilized, cultivate
some of the land, and raise a great many
horses and cattle for market. On our return
north, conclusions arrived at In regard to the
country is, that south of Fort Scott, the land
is far better adapted to stock raising than grain
in fact there is a great deal of very thin soil
and much hard pan and sand stone, that 1t
would be useless to try and cultivate. South
ern Kansas, is, L judge, not as healthy for new
settlers as the north and central part of the
state. The state Is now so cut with intersecting
Railroads, that person can, IN short time
see nearly all of the best part OF the country
The climate Is much dryer than Ohio. Tc
some constitutions this is good, but to others
: bad and all things considered, the average Of
people in the eastern states who have became
fixtures on their farmes or at home, will find
themselves as happy in the end to stay
there contented. But the young and
} ambitious, who are willing to work
use continued industry and economy for 6
few years, will, if they come to Kansas, fnd
a fine field to reap the reward of their labort
in, having houses and lands, &c, &C., added
to their substance.
From what can see of the various parts o.
the State that l have looked at, l am con,
Vinced that people from Northern Ohio viii
|. be the best satisfied with land, towns and peo
pie of the northern part of the State. The
weather, from l4th of March, to 18th of April
has been on the average warm and pleasant
with only two half days of rain, and rain {
part of two nights, two days of what are hert
called wind storms, (and it blew hard enough
TO take the hair off dog) You, doubtless
have had many rainy days, and cold, damp
and chilly winds. The air Is so dry here tina
there seems to be no chilly feeling when on'
' goes out in the wind. There is no doubt bu
what Kansas springs and falls are far NOR
comfortable and healthy, than the same season.
: along the lake shore in Ohio.
Yours truly, G. G. CANFIELD.