Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-17

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River Railroad to begin this great
enterprise, and then onward we
move. j. NJ. w.
January 81, 1872.
Letter from Lexington, Tenn.
Msssrs. Editors.
GENTLEMEN After a long and tedious
journey to the West, 1 have returned home.
Since my arrival many questions have been
asked me in regard 10 the country where |
have been. For the satisfaction Of those /
who desire to know something Of the sec
tons through which travelled, have con- |
cluded TO give brief shetch, through the |
medium OF your valuable paper.
On the 18th Of July last, 1 left home and |
went to st. Louis, No., there took the At |
lantic and Pacific r r. to Springfield, MOI
at which place l stopped for several days,
prospecting. In its vicinity there are some
fine lands in high state OF cultivation. In
proved farms are worth from fifteen TO one
hundred dollars per acre. The country Is
generally broken, interpreted with good
bodies Of land and excellent water. Find
| ing the price Of land so high l again took
the road to Seneca, Mo, where l remained
| for some time, making it my head quarters.
1 Travelled through several counties in this,
the Northwest portion of the State, and
found the country very poor and broken,
except the lands or valleys upon the water
courses.
From my observation all Of these vallies
are sickly. All the lands in reasonable
distance Of the railroad worth having are
held at high prices, beyond the reach Of
moderate means. From here l went to the
State Of Kansas, where Expected 10 find
new country and vacant Government land
open to settlers; but in this was badly
mistaken. There is no land in the State
subject to entry worth having, all the val
liable lands having been taken up and occu-
pied by actual settlers under the homestead
act. Improved lands are worth upon an
average about fifty dollars per acre. Kan
sas lands are generally over rated by peo-
pie abroad; while there is considerable
good land, there is an abundance Of worth
less soil. As to timber and water, both are
very inferior. There is more good timber
and water in Henderson county than in the
whole State Of Kansas. Our scrub and
black jack oaks will compare with the best
timber 1 saw anywhere in the State, except
on Walnut river. The climate is terrible,
and from the statement Of old citizena the
seasons are very uncertain, being subject 70
drouths. Notwithstanding these objections
Kansas is a fiourishing and wealthy State.
Improvement is the popular idea. Rail-
roads, manufactures, schools, and church
f houses are found everywhere. The people
make the country, instead Of the country
making the people.
Travelled through the Indian Nation, and
found a beautiful country, which looked
2 as though nature had bestowed upon it its
7 choicest gifts, but it not being open to set
l tlement shall not say anything Uore about
: it. l also travelled acrsss the State Of AT
: kansas, and found it but little in advance
Of the Indian Nation in point OF improve
ment, except on the line of the Little Rock
0 and Memphis railroad, where the people
/. paItake of the spirit oil the times. Arkan
g sas, though much older, is at least two hun
A dred years behind Kansas in point Of i'm
provements. although having better coun
\ try in every respect. have now given
short description OF the different section
u through which passed, hoping TO find tn
|. land Of promise; and now find myself a
1t home to stay, in the good old county o
e Henderson, where hog and hOminy abound
,r and the milk-maid's song is heard early Il
- the morn. Being fully satisfied that natur
has done more for Tennessee than the ia
is famed West,' and all that is wanting
'u make her the Eden Of the world is more er
IN ergy and enterprise, advise our peopl
at to stay at home and be satisfied; eultivai
r. their farms and public spirit, which va
"a insure prosperity equal to Kansas or an
ether place.
a. In word, adopt the spirit of the age
X encourage lightning and steam-and in
rs few years Tennessee will be in advance
ss the foremost.
"a Since my return learn that vote h
h been taken upon the proposed Jackson Al
Tennessee River r. R., which was defeate
without discussing the merits OF the que
- ton. 1 hope the people Of ED HendersC
mt will consider the matter and vote diferer
ry ly at the march election on the same su
II iect. understand the Objectionable fe
,5 tlres have been removed, 40 that the mo
ardent opposers can md but little fault
the present plan; therefore hope the Pc
III pie will vote the subscription this tin
ed With the railroad we will have prosperii
/ without it the present state OF things W
ed continue. If we want our LANDS 70 adyan
he in value, vote for the railroads. 1--we wa
s+a a good home market, vote for it. II
a. want emigrants, manufactories, and ca
'u9 tai, vste for it. II we want good mil
ley school houses, churches, intelligence, a
md general improvements, vote for it, II
Or want to keep up with the age in which
not live, vote Cor it. you do not want th'
MD things, vote against the railroad.
This Is my opinion, because have ne'
seen in my travels an inland country pT
our porous without a railroad. a road y
ian make US independent, whereas We are
'ry, pendent. Give Us a home market-k'
ney our money al home, instead OF sending
az away as we now DO. II will build up
,rs country, town and county, and stop
= from paying tribute to other towns q
foreign markets as we new dc.
Oou Yours. respectfully,