The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-26
TELLS OF KANSAS
Early History of State Received
by Auditor Turner.
Report of Experiences of Sur
yeyOrS in Early Days.
LETTER DATED NOV. q, 1859
Villa ID. Latshaw, Deputy L. $.
Surveyor, Tells Experiences
Work Was Carried on in Cloud
and Republic Counties.

An interesting bit Of unpublished
Kansas history has just come TO State
Auditor y. A Turner. in the form OF
a letter dated November p. 1855
three years before the Civil war. The
letter was written by William d. Lat
shaw. deputy United States surveyor,
who. with a band Of companions, was
surveying land in what was then KAN
sas territory.
The letter was addressed 70 General
Ward e. Burnett. surveyor general,
stationed at Nebraska City II was
report Of the experiences OF the sur
vevors which indicates that the work
was being carried on in Cloud and Re
public counties. The letter was sent
10 state Auditor Turner from the
eor- missioner OF public lands OF Ne
braska. and il IS presumed that L mas
been sent 10 the Nebraska officiaiS
from headquarters in Washington
A portion OF the letter. which tells
Of some OF the difficulties the sur
vcyors met in plotting the Kansas ter
ritory follows
.-s.r: I herewith transmit for ex-
animation and inspection, my field
notes and plats for work done IN
Townships 4 and 8, : OF Range T. and
townships ?. AID s OF Range ..
west 81 the sixth principal Meridian,
Kansas territory. under nay contract
Of July 10. 1855
The latencss of the townshipping-
prevented me from getting 10 Worh
until the last Of September, and a lew
fovs ar-ar IT'S commencement 7 had
rhe misfortune TO have one or the
horses badly injured by one OF the
-eamsters in crossing oanssIOus
stream called Buffalo Greek from
The effects OF which inc morse s-o9-
quen-ly died
..scotvitIlstauding these disadvan-
-sEes the work was pressed with en-
--rev althO there was some o4IIicuA1S
- n ma a - 2 . -
and delay occasloned oy tne IN -.
ing Of the Republican fork. OF the
XIV river while the weather from
rain and extreme high winds proved
Tor number OF days. quite irnpropl-
-fous- During the progress OF the
work. the Pawnee Indians were en-
camped in large numbers around US
and gave the corps operating IN tne
field some annoyance indicating by
-hair Conduc- a very hostile dlsposA- !
-r,n one OF their principal men, or I
-rfafs ordered Us TO quit work and 4
1erva that region. as ne SAID II De
Ion-s TO the Pawnees and We were /
driving the buffalo Off
Il eNhibitel my credentials to them.
and in replv. told them we should not l
comply with their demands. as the /
ro,trrrv belonged to the United States 7
and that in pursuance OF law We were
there doing the public surveys, and
Trirrher. if the.- interferred with US the 1
Rooms frorl Fort Riley and kearney 4
would be sent after them We We're
F-@r this compelled 70 keep a strln-
cent watch o- the Pawnees, and were
NOT futerferred with save in the steal
ing Of some minor articles from my
f-4rrn. The work was continued up /
10 the fifth OF November. aitho Sc
we're cold WEATHER had been expert
enced for two weeks preceding. the
Grass having all been eaten by buffalo
orr DESTROYED by fire Being over 100
miles from any settlement where corn
or feed for the animals could be OBJ
-asned land that only at an enormous
expense) they daily weakening. 1t be
came a matter of necessity and SER
ureservation to stop the work and
maka forthwith for the settlements
sfter all efforts to buy or trade with
the Pawnees fer a horse or mule on
-he sixth Of November. We destroyed a
large amount Of property TO tighten
our loads and started on our way in,
with two wagons and three animals,
the men having to assist for 100 miles
or upwards in getting them into set
dement's
Il would further mention. officially,
that a portion of my men detected the
Pawnees in the act of pulling up cor
rer stones on the township and sec
-iou lines. stealing our flags and carry
frE off the rock