86 BUFFALO LAND. 



tildes, there gathered from the four quarters of the 

 continent, will hail the words' as the key-note of the 

 republic. 



That spot of ground and that post are valuable. 

 I hope a national subscription will be started to buy it. 

 It is the only place on our continent which can ever 

 be entirely free from local jealousies. There would 

 be no possible argument for ever removing the capital. 

 The Kaw could be converted into a magnificent canal, 

 winding among picturesque hills past the base of the 

 Capitol ; and then, in case of war, should any hostile 

 fleet ever ascend the rapid Missouri, it would be but 

 necessary for our legislators to grasp the canal locks, 

 and let the water out, to insure their perfect safety. 

 Imagine the humiliation of a foreign naval hero arriv- 

 ing with his iron-clads opposite a muddy ditch, and 

 finding it the only means of access to our capital ! 



A painful rumor has of late obtained circulation that 

 a band of St. Louis ku-klux, yclept capital movers, 

 intend stealing the pole and obliterating the hole. 

 Let us hope, however, that it is without foundation. 



Before leaving Topeka, the party had purchased 

 horses for the trip, and consigned the precious load 

 to a car, sending a note to General Anderson, super- 

 intendent, asking that they might be promptly and 

 carefully forwarded to Hays City, our present ob- 

 jective point upon the plains. 



The professor, bringing previous experience into 

 requisition, selected a stout mustang probably as 

 tractable as those brutes ever become. He was war- 

 ranted by the seller never to tire, and he never did, 

 keeping f the philosopher constantly on the alert to 



