Connecticut western news., 1879-05-28
KaMsas Letter.

MIR. EDITOR About March 2Oth we left our New England home and started on our journey toward the setting sun. Stopping some two weeks in Central and Western New York, we rode over snow banks some 10 feet deep. A days ride through Western New York and Canada, 0lving us distant view of Niagara Falls, and nights ride through Michigan and Northern Illinois, brings us to Chicago, out of the region of snow banks. As you are aware, Chicago IS beautifully situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, live Ro-ahead city. That DOT ten of it destroyed by the gareat fire, is built up with 9 substantial class of build ings. good indication of the business of the city. Ravenswood. where we spent some two days. is pleasant suburb, regu- lariy lad out with wide streets snd drives The dwellings surrounded by forest trees arc inhabited mostly by men doing bus mess in the city. A ride of a day and night over the Chicago & Alton R. R., in South west course, through central Illinois, to the Misslssippi river, and to Mexico, Missouri. and westerly over the Northern Missouri R. R.. brings us to Kan sas City, The land in that portion of Illi- nois over which we travelled, is very fine, and along the Missouri river m Missouri, it IS all that can be deslred. gently rolling, and very fertile. Groves of forest trees are lnterspersed along the route, but more noticeable towards the Western part of the state. Apparently there is but little market for the wood and timber, for large num bers of trees are dead from age. The dwellings are mostly small huts, such as we may ex- psct to fiDd in 8 land that has been cursed by slavery. We could but wish as we rod through the state. that it might be settled by people that are accustomed to farm out living from the sterile hills of New Eng and. feeling sure they would cause the land which is so beautiful by nature. to bud and blossom in manner it is capable of doing, but as yet knows not of.
 Crossing the Miss ouri river, we find our selves in Kansas City, located on the ex- trems Western border of the state. The main portion of che city is located on q high bluff on the rlver. The Upion depot
 fine building. 10 under the bluff. and about on the level with the Kansas river which. with its tributaries, has its source
 near the Western border of the state, some 400 miles. Kansas City is g growing place of some 5000 inhabitants. Extensive eat
 tie yards are located here, and a large bus
 mess III cattle. horsea, hogs, etc., is done. A large pArtl0n of the emigration to Kan
 sas and Colorado rasses through it. Some
 idea of the extent of it may be formed
 from the fact that when we arrived there
 we found the depot and shed, very large
 ones, thronPed with people. and the in.
 coming and putgOing trains filled to theil utmost capacity. Men, women and chil.
 dren in all conditions of fife, looking fol
 homes in the almost boundless West.
 Having purchased . first-class ticket fo, self and wife. fer $10.9Q to Hays City, 2Se miles, we were shown to 6 frst-class car which was precisely like those of the sec ond class. tickets to which to Hays were | SIX dollars. As the passengers kept getting | out at the different stations, 6 second class
 car was left. and the remaining passeDgeri were crowded into our car. Further or our car was left, and we were crowded m.
 to 8 ear of second-olass passengers. In ono
 second d-class car we counted twentv-s,1 | babies, or children under we should sa, cne year old. We finally secured seats in | rear tirst-class car, and were not further l disturbed. but our experience showed uI that any one, especially over the Kansas Pacific, IS as we'll of with second-class as l first-class tickets. We menmou this fol | the benefit of any who may come after us We will also refer to the freight charges
 over the road: An organ shipned to us
 from MeEiden, Conn.,. welehine 300 lbs. t,
 Kansas City here 2S9 miles. S6,25. Tbis tt show how the company bleed tho people
 when they have them in the.r over,
 Tbe time to thls place is ab out IA hours whore we found friends to welcome us ts their home.
 The country now IS at it's best, and ii
 looking very beautiful about Hays City
 its surroundings we will write yoq at aunth | or time. H. J. RI.