The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-09-03
| TRIP OVER THE KANSAS PACIFIC.
A Glimpse at Kansas.


DENVER COLORADO. August 2l, 1879.
EDITORS CLARION: Promising that a
glimpse of this LAND OF promise a seen bv
your correspondent. will not be uuinteresting 10
the readers Of The CLARION, / submit some
notes made on recent trip across the plains.
The principle and most direct avenue be
tween the Missouri river and Denver i, the
Kansas Pacific Railway. populsrly known ms
The Golden Belt Route. on account OF the
remarkable fertility OF its soil, the improved
condition Of its towns and cities and the thrift
and prosperity Of its agricultural communities
This main artery OF traffic between Colorado
and the East has Its eastern termiui at Kan
sas City and Leavenworth and itS western M
Denver, II is the only line running through
trains from the Missouri river to Denver, il
possesses advantages which have made il the
popular commercial and tourist route. The
main line OF the Kansas Pacific extends from
Kansas City to Denver, a distance OF esq
miles the Leavenworth and Lawrence Branch
connects the former city with the main line al
Lawrence, 80 miles from Kansas City, whore
the two trains are merged into one and SD
continued to Denver.
Little can be seen of Kansas City. either
from the trains coming from the East or
those departing for the mountains. 4 wall
of lime stone, surmounted by elegant
residences, overlooks the Union Depot
on the east, while the other side is level
with the depot and comparatively fiat.
Here is about one-ffth OF the population
of the city, numerous elevators, large packing
houses, railway shops, commercial houses
mills, the stock-yards, with water-works ON
the banks OF the Kansas river, churches,
schools, and countless freight and passenger
trains. The greater portion OF Kansas City,
however, lies beyond the bluff by which ii is
hidden from view. Situated al the confluence
of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, with its
numerous railroads, Kansas City bids fair to
rival St. Louis, and its commercial interests
extend to the mountain regions OF Colorado
and the more distant communities in New
Mexico and Arizona. 1t has population not
far from 10000, and il is confidently predicted .
that within five years there will be in the .
immediate vicinity, population of 100000. .
From Kansas City to Solomon, a distance of
III miles the Kansas Pacific runs along and
often upon the left bank OF the Kansas river,
whose shores fraught with luxurious
growth OF oak, elm, walnut and cottonwood, .
through the dense foliage OF which many
pretty views of the river are caught. \ dense
underground of sumac and elder-berry in
many places betokens fertile soil while
from time to time lodges of valuable lime
stone crop ont from the hillsides. From Sol
ONION the road follows the course of the
Smoky Hill river nearly to the Colorado line.
This strip of country, about 40 miles in width,
is the Golden Belt" and in it the small
grains corn and all kinds OF vegetables are
seen growing in the greatest profusion. The
houses of new white settlers greet the eyes all
along the line, and thrift and abundance are
evident everywhere. The fruit interest is re
ceiving proper share of attention throughout
the "Golden Bel" and the number of thrifty
orchards one sees along the way is a matter
Of surprise. Peaches, pears, necatrines, april
cots, cherries, plums, etc, abound Missis-
sipPi excepted, certainly a richer and more
beautiful country the sun does not look down
upon in his course around the Globe.
The same general features characterize the
soils of the Golden Belt. For over three
hundred miles, but little timber Of natura
growth is seen after leaving solomon, and long
before you reach the western boundary line
the timber growth ceases altogether. There are
many beautiful cities and towns situated in
he Golden Belt, among the most prominent
Of which | noted were Lawrence, Topeka (the
State Capital, st. Mary st. George, Manhat-
IAN, Junction City, solomon and Salina, all
coming at intervals in the order named.
4 few general facts about Kansas would not
,ome amiss here. The State contains an area
IF 5,053, $40 acres, and It's best lands are said
o lie along. and contiguous 10, the Kansas
Pacific railroad,j which runs from East to
West through central Kansas In 1873
Kansas had population of 100000, $500
niles Of railroad, 900 churches 5000 public /
schools, 800 miles fencing $50 Touring and
saw mills, 100000 acres in cultivation
900, 900 cattle, 100000 mules and horses,
10000 hogs, 100000 sheep, 32,3l5,5Gl
bushels of wheat, and 50, 4249 81 bushels OF
,orn. Last year, with about l3 per cent oil
ler land in cultivation, she ranked fourth as
4 corn-producing State, and first in wheat, and
his year it is claimed that she Will occupy
he first place in both. Il
All this is good showing, truly. But this
is the bright side of the picture Every few
years the crops are s@Drched and cut short by
blightng droughts, swarms Of grasshoppers
1arken the air hover over and devour yegeta-
ton Of every kind, and then things don't look
so rosy.
The population of Kansas is essentially
OF the States that have CON
tributed to its growth, Illinois leads followed
TrIi m
New York and New England.
The Southern States have contributed 10000
or a 100000, and Europe, with the German
States leading and Great Britain next, about
as many more.
l had several opportunities while passing
through the State, to converse with Kansas
gentlemen
THE EXODUS QUESTION.
They represent that the Kansas people, with
out regard to party, were almost unanimously
opposed to the negroes coming among them,
and regard the whole thing az the work OF
politicians who are cursed most heartily for
the pains they have taken to get the darky
away from the South. With cold, long win
tiers. little timber, (the best timbered lands
having already been taken,) grasshoppers,
drought and a cold welcome, the negro has
little to hope for in this "Land Of
Canaan" No man without determination
and energy need migrate to Kansas lts fair
fields demand cultivation in order 10 produce
and without the expense Of labor, they are a.
useless as the barren rocks which rise here and
there in mid-ocean only TO trouble the home
bound mariner.
Negroes were to be seen at nearly all the
towns passed in eastern and middle Kansas,
and at Topeka quite crowd were longing
round the depot in regular Southern style;
but as the train came further west only an &C
casionaI town roust-about was to be seen at
auy of the stations Ii the exodus should con-
tinue and spread throughout the northwest,
such Is the antiPathy of the white laboring
classes here to the negroes, that believe, with
the MississiPpian quoted in your issue Of the
Ell Ii at the Sn1th .unIlld ha EIlod