, 1875-07-10
Emigration from Kansas.

We have been permitted by Col. ). Foster
Tappan, Of Boston, Massachusetts,, connected
with the Oregon and California railway.
who is now in this city on tour OF observs-
. tion. to make few extracts from q letter ad-
dressed to him by gentleman residing in
Topeka, Kansas, who says, speaking Of the
emigration to Oregon, under date of June
l4th:
The overland emigration to Oregon Is
mostly from the southern part of the State
Ihaustsl aud emigration goes more up the
Arkansas valley than here, Topeka
Il IL true that probably 100 wagons have
gone through here, but It is too far south for
the bulk OF emigration to the Pacific coast.
\ gentleman recently in Topeka from the
valley of the Arkansas, tells me- he met 1877
wagons bound fer Oregon, IL six days travel
Those emigrsnts who pass through here enter
Nebraska by way of the Republican river.
Since last wrote 10 yoa have received i'll
formation Of large party who expects to
start in few days from Texas and the In
dian Territory, and that Others all along ths
Arkansas valley Will De ready TO 20 with
them. The gentleman of whom | have
spoken says that one night he csmped with
party Of % wagons. They had a large
amount of stock with them, were well pro-
vided, and expected 10 reach Oregon by the
10Th OF September. They were from L.ouisi-
ana, Alabams and Texas, and were almost of
one family From other sources / learn that
parties In Arkansas and Northern Texas are
preparing 10 start for the Pacific coast in the
spring bu. they have not yet decided whether
Oregon % Washington Territory will be
their ultimate destination l Will inquire
into this and inform YOU. 80 Tar as relates
To Kansas, II, in the expressive language of
the day, Il. played OUT" our people are
compelled TO leave What, with the drought.
the chinch bug, the potato bug and the
grsSshOpper, poor Kansas is IN q bad Ak As
write You this | see graSshOppers from my
window thick as you ever saw snow flakes.
Thy have eaten up everything between here
and Kansas City.
You will excuse me for remarking that I
Judge from the tone of your letters YOU DO not
properly or sufficiently estimate the import
ance of this overland emigration l firmly
believe that within one year from this date
Oregon or Washington Territory viii receive
an accession of lts population, from Kansas
alone, of 10000 PeEsoas, nine-tenths of whom
will &C by teams As Missouri Is now being
devastated, to even Il greater extent than
Kansas, large numbers will go from that
State.
Thanking you for your kindness in send
ing the map &c, and assuring you 1 Will
"pace them where they will DO the most
good" nm, &c.
?. S.-Oa Wednesday last i've wagons
went through here, bound to Oregon. On
the cover of one of the wagons, in villsinOus
writing. were the words "Kan-as or bust.
1871" on the other side was, =" Busted by
Cd" On another wagon were the words,
:" For Gods c, untry this time "Oregon,
10y darn" They -ere about as rough
looking crowd as l ever saw, and had eight
Of the hardest kind Of cur dogs tied to their
aTIes They sad they were Eackensack-
ers, five men, three women and several
small children. They had twelve head of
horned c It g, and four extra horses y0aa,s.