Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-09-06
letter from TOpeka.

9frespoodtnce q! tho Alexandra Gszstte. |
I.PfKA, KANSAS. Sept. 5 1t is wonder
tai 10 cuutem plate the rapid rise aud progress
OF snne Ct tha western States. We who live
10 Virginia, wasre the couutry, cities, towns
and population have remained for years almost
without Glsablo change, would be surprised to
fad Whist charges take plaza 10 year or two.
1t has Only bcea two years since ny last visit to
thia sect;au. return 10 $40 new towns wherc
| Left the wild prairie lands, and villages grown
luto tho proportion of cities, new railroads start
cd aud old ores extended further West. To
give your readers 60 idea of this great and
growing State, it will b. only necessary TO re-
mind t;cm thGt tho act which admitted Kan
saa into tho Uoion only passed Congress 10
1861 Ii then contained less than lOO, 900 in
population it DOW has 40 estimated popu'a.
ticu at nearly nine tuDdred thousand. The
State 10 bounded Oh tho north by Nebraska,
east by Missouri. 90 the south By the Indian
Territory, aud 90 the ives. by Colorado the
southern !iue If the State is the 37th parallel
OF latitude, and The western line the 40.h. The
eastern boundary line is tho meridian of ga
IS. The western ia the 1921 meredian. Thus
tho State is 20S3 miles from north to south and
4Oi Dlies in leusth from east to west, making
az area ct shout Sl,3 square miles. TO be
Ec.a easily understood ss to the latitude The
southfr1 lice is about the same as that of Nor
t'lk, Va. the northern about the seme as
philadelphia. Pa. The elevation Of tho western
lioc of the State is 1876 feet above the level
OF the sea, end CT the eastern line about GAS
feet, showing tho slope Of the State from west
to east. Tho surface is that of sopog, gently,
uoduiatlDg grassy plateau. There are 20 rug.
gid bills to Intercept this general feature, but
one excessive prairie as far as the eye can reach
With few marshes and little rocky or waste
Land of any kind. The native timber consists
! Of white, red and black oak. whito and slip.
| perry elm, black walnut, butter nut. cotton wood
| box elder. hockberry, honey locust, willow,
| shell bark. pig nut aud pecan nut hickory,
white ash, sugar maple, linden. wild cher
ry, c>tfec aud red cedar. The supply OF
timber is very small and the settlers have to
mostly depend Oh planting cut timber groves,
which grow very fast when cultivated. The
lack of timber is made up by the abundance OF
cosl end stone for iusl and building purposes.
Native wild grasses grow loxuriertly 10 any
| seoion OF tho State. atfJrdiug an extensive
range for pssturagc of stock, which is az ex-
tensive Business aud very lucrative one. The
climate is excellent. The summer tempera-
turo gees from 10 to 900. The air is dry and
pure aud the nights are always cool aud re-
!reshiDg, The extraordinary cearness Of the
atm sphere is remarked by all strangers Kan
sss has no floating debt. The bonded deut
last yesr was only 81 lS2 lis of this amour,
the State has purchased and holds 10 its own
| infested luuds S7l3 600, leaving only S46S SIS
outstanding 10 tho hands of other parties, aud
Of this 1882 500 is held as a cain against the
United States, for the payment of which bill
is pending before Congress. The State tx
cent 10 years. said to be The lowest deb, per
| capita Of any State 10 the Unioo. The assessed
vOluo of property is estimated at $3.50. 4S0, 900
in 1870 it was only s92 125 600. [ have given
tho readers of the Guzette rough sketch of
tho bCupdry, soil, climate, &c., and 10 mp
next | will writo about some of ths craving
! !owus &c. VIRGINIA.