The Free West du lieu suivant : Burlington, Kansas • 1

nr-i VOL. 1. Burlington, Coffey County, Kansas, August, 1869. THE FREE WEST; 1 i Free UjhuU Fres tamtt for Fres Utu la Cke fm Section Oar Free Ctutrj, for Pnc BtttrflMtlea. Below we give a copy of two laws' one to encourage the raising and growing of hedge fence, and the other to eneourage the growth of forest trees.

We would suggest a careful perusal of both, by all parties who thiok of mak. ingthis State then- home. KANSAS OFFERS INDUCEMENTS TO IM- hattan in 1860, was re-organized at Topeka in 1865, and is doing an efficient work. Valne of property, WASHBURN COLLEGE. Washburn College was founded 1864, at Topeka, and was first called Lincoln College.

It is under the charge of the Congregational eburohes of- the State. fruits; the roads are muddy, if ever, and the distance from the railroad station to the farm appears much greater than it actually is, especially to a stranger. In autumn the leaves are turning yellow, the grain has been gathered and the dry sttbble is all that remains, and the. fruits are nearly gone still the PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY IOSAV MIG INT8. umm, wrr oo.

STATE NORMAL is Emporia, air is iresu ana we tanascape grow? ing wM.na Ttiat valuable products of a farm are mainly out of sight, being stored in the barnl or in the proprietor's pOCketS. V. CHEAP, LXNDS! Lif, atmrr a cmx, Land Agents and Brokers, BDEUKSTON, KANSAS. Hate 200,000 acres of Wild an Improved land for sale in the Neosho the garden spot of Kansas. Wild landa range from $2 00 to $8 00 per acre.

Improved landa are offered at 10 00 to $30 00 per Now is the time to purchase the land, while it is cheap. The Southern Branch Pa cific Railroad is being built, and will traverse the section in which these lands are' located, within eight months. The railroad will eohanco their value from two hundred to three hundred per. There Is no section. in ivansas oners better inducements tp people seeking -fanning than the Neosho Valley.

It is destined to be to Kansas, what the Genesee Valley is to New York and tho Wabash Valley to Indiana. It is the best timbered and the best watered section in the State. Its soil is adapted to the growth of corn and all the cereals, and is equal to south-west Missouri in producing fruit. Lands are cheaj pmjiere than in portions irtber north, owing to its and was founded in '863. The number of students is 133 iands owned -by the Institution, acres property estimated at $123,.

150. Males and females are admitted. Text books are furnished free of charge. For those preparing to teach there is an initital fee of six dollars. BLIND ASYLUM.

The Asylum for the Blind was established at Wyandotte, by the Legislature, in 1865. The property is val- ued at $23,000. No charge is made for the instruction Of pupils. DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM. This Institution is at Olathe.

The site consists of twelve acres. A stone building has been erected at a cost of 515,500. SCHOOL FUND. The (permanent school fund of tho State arises from three sources, viz the estates pf persons deceased without heir or will, the five per centum of the proceeds of sales of United States lands within the limits of Kansas, and the ()roceeds arising from the sale of school ands. UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS.

The State University is in Lawrence, and was founded in 1864. The number of students is 105 lands owned by the Institution. 46,130 acres property valued at $289,475 11. Females as wellas male are admitted, and the tuition for all departments is free. AGRICULTOIAL COLLEGE.

-T-'- The Agricultural College is in Manhattan, and was founded in 1863. The number of students is 168 land owned by the Institution, 84,100 acres; property of lands, valued at $60,2000. No tuition is aaked in any department, and females as well as males are admitted. Maj. Gen.

J. W. Davidson, of the rebular army, has charge of the Mili- tary Department of the College i BAKER Baker Univenity is the college of the Methodist episcopal Church. It is at Baldwin City, Douglas county, and was founded 1858. Number of "students, 154; land owned by the tutioa, U6.

acres; value of property, tuition for collegiate term, $10 00; for preparatory and scientific department, $8 00. Baker University was the first college established in the State. 1 OTHER The Baptist churches are identified with Ottawa University, which has a valuable endowment of lands. The O. S.

Presbyterian churches have two institutions, viz: Highland Univenity and Geneva Institute. Westmore Institute, at Irving, is connected with the New School Presbyterian body. The Christian denomination is en deavoring to establish a college at Ot-tumwa. Lane University is located at Lc-eompton, under the auspices of the United Brethcrn. oi me oiate irv Wanted More Trees.

Forest culture must sooner or later, demand both the State and national legislation. The rapid destruction, of woodlands in this country can but ultimately lead to many of the untoward results which have marked the pursuit of a similar coarse ia Europe. So disas- trous have they proved in France, that in I860 the government appropriated 10,000,000 francs to be expended at the rate of 1,000,000 francs per year, in executing or aiding in the replanting of This sum, it is computed; would secure the creation of new for ests to the extent of two hundred and fifty thousand Sores- The work of replanting has been going on ever since A few years ago, the Isere, Drome, Ariege, the. Upper and. Lower the Loiere, Ardenbes, the Vosges, and other departments of were almost depopulated because the soil was rendered unproductive by the destruction of the woodlands, which were nature's safeguards.

George P. Marsh predicts that the land in many portions of the United States will beeome simi-larly unproduetive, unless publio attention is aroused. 'The degradation," he -says, "of the soil is perhaps not equally promoted by a combination of the same circumstances in any of. the American Atlantic States but still they have ripid slopes and loose and friable soils enough to render wider spread desolation certain if the further destruction of the woods is not soon The climate ef New Vork has already been very prcceptibly affected by the rapid disappearance of the woodlands, and he asserts that the felling of the Adirondack woods would ultimately involve for-Northern and Central New York "consequences similar to those which have resulted from the laying bare of the southern and western declivities of the French In Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, the mischief has been verv jpnerentr There has soil' from wet to dry1; in the; climate, from one of great evenness to one of rapidly alternating' extremes; in the streams, from living fountains ail the year to stagnant pools in the summer and raging torrents in the spring and fall. (, Streams formerly valuable for the water power they afforded, have become almost exoept in seasons of floods, and even the Illinois, as large a river as it is, has become almost useless for, the purpose of navigation, now thai the sources from which it was fed have been cutoff.

rf 1 Some' two' years since' the question df planting prairie lands was brought before' Coagreff, la, bill looking to the proseeunon of auoh at undertaking. Jndgt Edmonds, Commiasjooer of Ae Genocai Land Ofiee, haa strongly urged the importanoe of the undertakiog. He has argued that many of the, vast Western plain can. only be rendered habitable by planting foresU, which will fertilizeN and moisten the soil, and modify the climate, and protect men, animalsand the crops from desolating winds '--i "He has, therefore, suggested, first, that the Homestead act be so amended as to oblige the planting of trees by the settlers; second, that tho government surveyors be required to plant the seeds trees adapted to the climate around each established "corner," and thirdly, that grants Ve made for the purpose of demonstrating the probability and feast- ability of growing forest upon plains. We look to see.

the matter again brought before Congress at an eaily day. V. Y. Commercial AdvertUer; J-Lane, Kent Co. have a new advertisement in our paper this week.

Their list of real estate comprises some of the best lands in the Neosho Valley, and at rates surprisingly low. Their facilities for this business are not aur passed by any firm in Southern Kan-aaa, and they an always, on hand, with hones and conveyances to show new-oomen Their lands are situated in valley, along the line of the Neosho Valley Railroad, and they have some excellent farms for sale.right hen in the vioinity of Burlington. Bur-'ingto Patriot. comparatively sparsely settled condition. But the railroad will revolution ize this state of affairs-' Get ahead of the Now is (he opportunity.

Be sure and inquire, for the office of A I LiMK. Kent Co. An Apt to encounge the growth of Forest Approved February Section 1 Fvery person planting' one acre or more of prairie.land, within ten yean after the paasage of this act, with any kind of forest trees, and successfully growing ftnd cultivating the same lor three years, or, one half mile or more of forest trees, along any publio high way uid trees to be so planted as to stand at the end of said three years, hot more than one rod apart, shall be 'entitled to receive for twenty-five 1 yean, commencing three years after said grove or line of trees has been planted, ah annual bdunty of two doilan per acre, for each sere so planted, and two dollars for one half mile, for each 'half mile so planted, be paid out of 'the Treasury of the county in which said grove or line of trees may be situated. The bounty to be paid so long as said grove or trees are. cultivated and kept alive, and in growing condition.

That the county Assessor shall not assess lands planted and encumbered with forest any Hgher than the lands adjoining, oo account of the said lands being so encumbered. -An Act to encourage the growing of Hedges and building of Stone Fen-i cea. Approved February 20, 1867. i Section 2. That any person planting an Osage or Hawthorn fence or who shall build of stone, a fence of the height of four and a half fuet, around any field, ten yean from the passage of this "let, and successfully growing or cultivating the utae, or keeping up said fenoe until it successfully resists stock, shall receive an an niial bounty of two dollars for 'every forty rods so planted and cultivated, or built and kept up; the bounty to commence as aoon as said fence will entirely rebist to continue for eight yean thereafter.

8aid bounty to be paid from the Treasury of the eoun-ty in whioh said fence may be situated. 1 Very few persong seem to know that tho months of July and August are the best in the year in whien to look for or purchase farm. At tail siaoaa cwa' jadge whether the land can or does roduco good crops, for if it is rich, the waving grass and grain will be ocular demonstration, of tho fact and if there is, according to the stereotyped assertion, an abundance of choice fruit, it can be -seen at this time to the best advantage. The low' lands will show whether they are really dry enough for pastures in summer, and the upland its capacity for withstanding a drought. Summer is also a very good time "to view the never-failing spring and the trout pond near and a draught from the one and a lunch from the other are attractions which those, who possess them seldom fail to bestow upon those who are likely to become Even the weeds on a farm will assist a man in determining its value, for if nothing but stuuted ragweed and five-finger are to be seen, then the land may be put down as poor indeed but if burdocks and catnip abound, it shows strength to produce crops of a high order.

The pasture and meadow, orchard and garden all show what they are and what may be expected of them in these months but earlier or later the aspect of things may change. In the spring- the trees have not shown leaves, flowers or Big Com. tl "i 1 A gentleman just returned from Saline tells the following story He was riding by fields of corn last the stalks standing high as his saddle, and noticed that the heavy growth had taken place without any working of the field. Encouraged alone by the soil, and plentions rains, the corn was weeks ahead of that in other States, through which he had lately passed. Seeing a fat old farmer sitting lazily on a fence, he hailed him as follows doq't you ever 'Work your corn out fcre?" i 1 And thus came the reply i "'Twouldn't do, stranger, 'cause if you tickle the roots the least mite with a hoe, the plagwey thing grows so high you can't reach the ears.

Some of the new 'uns tried it last year, and they had an awful sight of trouble cutting stalks down first, and then gathering." Couldn't save -half their crop, and what they did save they couldn't shell, 'cause the ears wouldn't go through the ma- and By time the last sentence was apparently half finished, our friend got his. horse into a canter, and kept on without attempting any more agricultural problems. But then he remembered he was in Kansas, the only rival of which, -California, grows immense trees, and he could easily see how farmers, who grow such big crops, would be tempted to tell big stories. Pabfl Schools. There are 1,372 school districts in the 8tate number of white persons of school gesr 71.

160; number of colored pacaoaf aobool persons enrolled in publio schools, 45,140, of whom 1,940 are colored ehif-dren number of pupils in other than publio schools, number of male teachers, 749 of female teachers, 865; amount paid for teachers' wages, 70; total amount derived from various $420,115 58 number of school houses, 853 value Of school houses, 9813,062 75 total productive school fund, $618,912 79. CATHOLIC There is a large Seminary in the State, besides others oontemplated. They have also good schools at Topeka, Lawrence, and other localities. The Mission Schools, established long before Kansas was organised as a Territory, wen principally Catholic. We have many thousand Catholics iu the State, Irish, German and French.

TEACHER8 INSTITUTES. Institutes, during the year, were hold at Atchison, Auburn, Burlington, Hiawatha, Iola, Irving, Junction City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, LeRoy, Manhattan, Mound City, Olathe, Oskaloosa, Ottawa Paola, Senaca, Troy, and VI The value of the publie and private school property, is about two million of doilan. V1" Our State is only eight yean old and yet we have one of the best school systems in the country. EPISCOPAL FEMAXE i A This Seminary, first opened at Man Land Lookers. We notice quite an influx of strangers in i town during the week, making inquiries 'for farms: This is what we like to When such men.

as Mr. Henky'ioomea' into-our office and makes the statement that he has avenged tweati-five, bushels of wheat to the acre, on our ctnmoa land, we begin, realise wliat we might be produfling if all our vacant 3' uarter sections wre occupied, by in-ustrious, thrifty farmer We ought to raise this county a quarter of a million of busheles of gram for export', instead of depending om; Missouri and other States for a portion of our breadatufis. There is no bum inviting field in Kansas) for the energetic and laborer than i0 these rieh'ag- ricultural lands in Coffey county that now slumber in wild beauty, awaiting the magic touch of industry to reveal their hidden sources of wealth. Give us the increased facili- ties that railroads bring as a promoter of business and as a civiliter, and these unoccupied lands will be transformed into thrifty fields of. wheat and corn.

Immigrants, now is yOu? time to secure good lands at cheap before railroads put it 'out of your-reach. Lane, Kent Co. are offering a large tract of the very best lands in the Neo- sho Valley, lbr sale, and on 1 reasonable These lands will be more than treble withi two 1 Rivers. The mosi important rivers in this Sute, are the Kansas, Republican, Smoky Hill, Neosho, Arkansas, Solomon, Osage, Big Blue, Verdigris, Great Nemaha, Saline, 8tranger, Grasshopper, Pottawatomie, Marmaton, Little Arkansas, Wakarusa, and Cimaron, all of which abound in a great variety of fish. The valleys of these streams ate very rich.

Tl. 9The Topeka Commomeealth "Tho 'Land Grant Railway and Trust Company' of New York, who are building the Southern Branch Pacific Railroad, have published a pamphlet, entitled the 'Neosho and have circulated in Sweden and Germany seventy-five thousand copies of it. A tolerably well executed map of Kansas ac companies the pamphlet. The document will be largely influential in attracting emigration to KansaB from the old country. Che condition, resources, of the State, are graphically and glowingly given therein." v..