Grayville Weekly Herald

Correspondence.
For the Herald.
Lawrence, K. T., August 24, 1857.
Friend Manley: Having wandered into this country, I came to a halt a few days since, in Kansas City, and although much has been said and written about the progress of this young giant of enterprise, the truth is certainly equal to the report.
Kansas City, be it known, is in the State of Missouri on the Missouri river, and only two miles from the mouth of the Kansas river, and the line of that Territory situated at the foot of an acclivity exceeding that of your own "Oxford Hills"-with about the same width of shelf between hill and water, the site for building is not the most eligible.
but as money makes the mare go, the hill under its influence is going also, and although the cost of the operation would startle our moderate veins, the people of this country speak of it with the coolest nonchalance, and consider it a trifle.
The cost of a good business lot on Front or Water street is about three thousand dollars, and to grade it sufficiently for building will cost about three thousand more, and then you have a lot fit to build upon.
Rents are high.
A house such as that occupied in Grayville by Messrs. Jolly & Mayo would here bring twenty-five hundred per annum, and not even a shed is to be found empty--everything in the shape of a building is crammed to its utmost tension.
The Wharf is a scene of the most complete confusion from morning until night, and the wagons so crowd the streets, as to render passing at times almost impossible.
Everything is on the alert, and the busy tide of commerce here pours her wealth into the country beyond, reaching out to New Mexico and California, and the good people of the city have gorgeous dreams of a New York on the bank of the Missouri.
Above two miles, at the confluence of the Kansas with the Missouri, is the young city Wyandotte, improving quite rapidly, but far behind her rival in Missouri in point of business.
The population of Kansas City is estimated at three thousand.
This place, (Lawrence,) is forty miles from Kansas City, on the West bank of Kansas river, having for a site a beautiful plateau of prairie running back to a high hill on the Western side, and on the South, stretching out into a prairie almost illimitable in view.
The buildings are mostly of stone, making a heavy but substantial appearance, and the course of improvement extremely rapid, notwithstanding the troubles encountered by the citizens of the place.
This is styled the Abolition City of the Territory, and even now troops are stationed here to keep the good people of the place in subjection, which is considered by them (and rightly too) a very pretty farce played by Governor Walker, to keep up his credit with the Administration.
From my understanding of the matter, Gov. Bissell might with as equal propriety march six hundred soldiers down to Grayville and tell you that you must "keep quiet or bear the consequences."
The feeling here towards the government is not of the most amiable nature, and the least spark would kindle a flame not easily stifled.
"Let the blood of one man of the Free State party be shed by these soldiers," said a gentleman of this place to me to-day "and this Union will be rent asunder."
Preparations for the coming election of Representatives are being made, and a meeting called by persons assuming the title of conservatives, was held to-day half-way between this place and Lecompton, and on a pro-slavery man being called to the chair, resolutions condemning the Administration and Gov. Walker, were tried in the very presence of Sheriff Jones and other strong pro-slavery men of Lecompton, upon which the chairman most indignantly resigned, and the meeting broke up in disorder.
The citizens of Lawrence considered it a pro-slavery affair from the commencement, and went there to make a matter of ridicule of it.
This although a small matter, shows the strength of the parties, that of the Free State being greatly in preponderance.
Should the troubles of this country be settled this fall, there is no doubt of the future being bright for it.
A finer Agricultural region than that which I have seen, sun does not shine upon, and the immigration to this portion of the Territory, is of the better class, being enterprising, hard working sons of the soil, who are not turned aside by trifles, or even the hardships of a pioneer life.
Property in this place is high, but not extravagantly so.
Lawrence has already three churches--a Unitarian, Congregationalist, and Methodist, the first a very good building of substantial stone.
Streets wide and well laid out, the citizens intelligent and courteous, and altogether it might be set down as a pleasant place to live in, provided Uncle Sam does not trouble it with grape shot, and it would be preferable to me I think; to take my grapes in any other way, champagne for instance.
Should time allow, you will hear from me at Leavenworth City.
Very respectfully yours,
F. H. H.