Transcribed letter from R.W. Cummins, Indian Agent, Fort Leavenworth Agency dated Oct 18. 1838
Agency of Fort Leavenworth October 18, 1838
Sir
In obedience to instructions received from Gen. W. Clark Supt. of Ind. Affairs of July the 10. 1838 on the subject of establishing a manual labour school by the missionary society of the methodist episcopal church among the Indians. I have in conjunction with the Rev. Thomas Johnson agent for the society designated a site on the Shawnee land about six miles nearly due south of the mouth of the Kansas river and about half a mile from the western boundary of the State of Missouri, the site is on a beautiful elevated rich prairie near & adjoining a beautiful grove of timber on the south on a small creek known by the name of brush creek which is near the site and always affording water in abundance for stock, there are also three springs which are in a line in the edge of the timber, parallel with and close to the edge of the prairie which we believe will afford water sufficient for all the purposes of the establishment, the country in the immediate neighborhood although very rich has a healthy appearance, no lakes, ponds, or stagnated water near.
I am respectfully
your obt. Serv
Rich. W Cummins
Ind. Agent
[Transcribed from National Archives Microfilm Series M574, roll 63, frame 262 by Debby Williamson, July, 1992]