Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
A great Western Expansion related letter, on printed land advertising stationery, 1p. 4to., printed by Hayward Bros., Fort Scott Press Print, ca. 1867, formatted as if a newspaper. The boldly printed masthead announces, "DESCRIPTION OF FORT SCOTT AND BOURBON COUNTY." Followed by a lengthy description of the country and its attributes, reading, in very small part: "FORT SCOTT…is the largest city in Southern Kansas…it is the center of trade and business for a large part of Kansas and Missouri…many new buildings are in course of erection…CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. Handsome churches have been built by the Presbyterians…the Methodists have regular preaching…the Campbellites have secured a site for a church…the schools are second to none…A WOOL FACTORY. is in full operation…MAILS AND ROUTES. Eleven mail routes centre at Fort Scott…RAILROADS. Work has been commenced on the Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad…the Sedalia & Fort Scott Railroad is being pressed forward…BOURBON COUNTY. Is the fourth in population in the state…its taxable property $5,000.00. THE CLIMATE Is extremely healthy. Not a swamp…WATER. Is abundant and pure…the country is needing more Sheep, Cattle, Horses and Hogs…FRUITS. Of all kinds…COAL. Of the best bituminous quality…LUMBER. Is from $ 25 to $40 per thousand…unimproved prairie $1.25 to $5…the tract known as the 'Cherokee Neutral'…is now being rapidly occupied by settlers, who design taking the benefit of the Homestead Law…negotiations are pending with the Indians, by which it will soon be brought into the market and the settlement legalized. It is along the line of the Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad, and offers great inducements to settlers. ROUTES TO FORT SCOTT. The Missouri Pacific R. R. from St. Louis to Pleasant Hill, and thence by Sanderson's line of coaches to Fort Scott…a line of coaches…also makes the trip from Kansas City to Fort Scott (110 miles) in one day…". Surgeon Numon N. Horton of the 47th United States Colored Troops send a 3pp. description of Fort Scott, Kansas to his former captain. His letter, reads, in part: "…I am not "woman struck" nor "courting" but something is going on almost every night and I am enjoying myself well this winter…we are having a cold and backward spring. The oldest citizens say it is a very late spring…the framers are complaining very much that they could not sow their oats three weeks ago…the best farm lands near town sell for from ten to twenty dollars per acre and [are] going up. It has advanced a considerable [rate] since I have been here. Town lots fifty by one hundred & twenty ft. are held at from one to two hundred dollars and advancing. Business is improving some now…having been a little dull the last two or three months. We are expecting a large immigration to this section of country this spring…Capt. Why don't you get married. You are right in among them…you must be fooling away your time…if I were in the land of plenty…I would have taken in somebody or got taken in…come out and look at this country this spring. You ought not to settle down without seeing it…N. N. Horton." Minor fold splits, else VG to near fine.
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