7
THE NEBRASKA. HERALD
18 rPBUSHSD DAILY l!ii WSKKLT BT
H- D HATHAWAY;
larro ixb proprietor.
BT Office ooroer Main and Second street, tec
cud tory.
TE3MS : Iai!y $10.00 per annum, or tl.00
er month.
W eekly. $J.U0 per annum if paid in
adrauce.
f"J.iO if not paid in advance.
KAILUOAD I.IAUN.
Ueporl of Moe KUKkinj;, Esq.
Mr. Cjyrt llWZiirc, Managing li
rector Burlington and Missouri River
Rail Road in JTebranka :
tiu. : The district of country included
w'uhiu the scope of my instructions in
cluded parts of the couutioS of Lancaster,
bYwarl, York, Saline, Fillmore, Clay,
Hamilton, Adams and Kearney, und is
a portion of that iinmeu.se line of table
lands, that form the southern coast line
of the great Platte river, and which
H'cm to hare their eastern terminus in
'Saunders county, and fn the point of
land between the Flatte bottoms and the
valley of the Wahoo.
The featured cf this table are iceuliar.
It is very level, containing numerous
email depression.' or basins, usually
drainable from one to another, and finally
to trie verge of the plateau, by very
shallow drains, of one foot or so in depth.
It is destitute of trees, but everywhere
cJothed with rich graspcp. It is the
source of numerous small streams, that
in connection with its numerous basins,
afford ntock water on nearly every sec
tion. It is nowhere entirely cut through
by its numerous water courses, but on
the contrary offers, it is believed, the
largest level upland route for a wagon
road on this continent. It also presents
one of the finest surfaces for the con
struction of railroads to be found in the
known world.
The surface having an incline to the
houtheast, nearly all the waters issuing
from this immense line are discharged in
that direction, including all the northern
tributaries of the Republican, the north
ern heads of Little Blue, West Blue,
Beaver and Lincoln Creeks, and North
Blue ; and, farther east, Willow, Plumb,
Middle, Oak, Wahoo and Otoe Creeks.
Ap-d'm, many of the above named streams
reach outward and upward to the very
verge and summit of the Platte river
coat, and thus furnish the easiest grades
and the finest lines of communication
letween the latter and the country to
th? ea.-t, sodth and west. - The waters of
this region flow with a brisk current and
are weet and pure. Mill fcites arc plen
tiful, but as yet only a .-mall number are
improved. At Milfoid and Camden, on
the Nor. h Blue, are good mills; a fine
mill is also in process of erection at
Pleasant Hill, on Turkey Creek. Mr.
Iaid liecd, at Ubysses, and Mr. West,
on West Blue, also have saw mills;
more paw mills and at least one good
flouring mill on West Blue would pay
the enterjtriiinir builder largely who thall
undertake it. The want is daily becom
ing a necessity. Who is to be the lucky
man? .
The cliimite of this
rrrcat .-a'u'.'rify. and offer strong induce
ments to the rheumatic and consumptive
of the eastern States to settle upon these
fertile and beautiful prairie, and breathe
the pure, invigorating air of Nebraska.
Timber, consisting of Oak," Walnut,
Maple, Ar-h, Kim, Cottonwood and Wil
low, was found upon all the streams vis
ited, and generally in quantities Fufii-ci.-nt
to .upply pretty compact settle
ments, until such time as a full supply
ran 1; grown by cultivation. Cotton
wood, of a size to answer for ptovc wood,
has been and can be grown in three
yrar-. Plant close with seedling trees,
cultivate as for com, and thin out the
third year. It is Udicved that the whole
region examined belongs to the great
marl deposits of Nebraska, varying in
color and compo.-ition from the yellow
marl of the Muff formation along the
Missouri river, to that of the white and
ciiaikv mai'.s c-i ine uuuuiu aim c.nmi i
ii f . . ; 1 11- 1 .
i.nrt of the State, and that in the coun-4
ties bordering upon the Matte river the
strata of uiavl are of great depth, gradu
ally thinning toward the south and cast
In Saunders county the marl seems to
have a rano of from six to twenty-oue
feet in depth, under which is a thick bod
of .-and ; and, in one instance, a soft, yel
low sand roc'k was pierced to a depth of
thirty feet. These mark, whether j-cl-low,
white or red, contain everywhere
nodules of lime, md in considerable
quantities, and offer to t!i3 agriculturist
as desirable a soil for the jpwrth of
clover, root crops aud the cereals, as the
world afford?. In short, they bear a
flose resemblance to but arc not excelled
ly the famous wild oat soil of the Sacra
mento river, of California. On the dryer
IKTtions i - this plateau bogs and
hep should constitute a larc jjcrccnt
jiire of the farmers' stock. Deep tillage
should lc the farmer s mott, awl his
practice as wefl. Deep plowing wDl en
able the surplus wate r of a rainy season
to readily sink out of his way, thus es
tablishimr a reservoir below for the use
of his growing plants in seasons of
drouth. Affitiu. tree planting, both of
fruit and forest trees, for ornament and
for profit, should engage his early atten
tion. Although west of range one west
there is scarcely an acre of ground that
has been broken more than three years,
or produced more than two crops, yet
the settlers have this year grown from
twenty to thirty bushels of excellent
wheat to the acre, fifty to seventy-five of
oat, fifty of barley and twenty-five to
sixty of corn; and further cast, on
pround four pr five years in cultivation,
seventy to seventy-five bushels are re-
irtcd. Potatoes and other roots of the
very fjicst quality and large yield have
been oV.ainl. Thirty miles below
Kearney and on the Platte bottom,
peaches are grown upon trees four years
from the seed. A section of the Platte
Huffs known as the Sand Hills, and
averaging perhaps one mile- in breadth,
say Irom ranKe two u rauu -""-
we.t, is believed to be admirably adapted
10 reach growing. In the valley off
v.
VOL. 5.
itocfc Creek, and in the counties of
oaundcrs and Lancaster, are several out
crops of new red sandstone, belonging
to the Dacota group of Dector Hayden.
This rock is very well adapted to build
ing purposes, and is within a short dis
tance of the line of the railroad from
Ashland to Lincoln.
In the same vallej-, and near the resi
dence of M. Riddle, is a small salt basin.
The northwestern portion of Lancaster
and eastern jwrtion of Seward counties
are quite rolling and abundantly sup
plied with small streams. The soil indi
cates more clay than is usual in Nebraska
soils. -
The grazing is somewhat inferior, in
consequence of the large proportion of
the fetid wire grass that abounds.
The other grasses of this section are
rich in nutritious qualities, as are the
grasses usually found throughout the
State.
Mr. Wtu. Iiuly, an old settler of Ne
braska, formerly of Cass, but now of
Seward county, and who has been for
three terms one of her County Commis
sioners, says that Seward is a better
county than Cass for wheat and oats,
but perhaps not quite as good for corn ;
thinks the soil more compact and clayey ;
has examined the cauntry west of Sew
ard and southwest to the Republican.
Thinks the country on the Blues the best
he has keen, and admirably adapted to
the production of grain. Mr. Wra. R.
Davis and Mr. Ellsworth, of Seward,
corroborate the statement of Mr. Imly.
Crossing the North Blue at Seward,
our route lay down the west bank some
four or five miles. After crossing
Crooked Creek, a small tributary, with
timber, turned southwest across the j
prairie to Walnut Creek, a branch of
West Blue, and also showing timber ;
thence west on wagon road to Beaver
crossing. The whole aspect of the coun
try since crossing North Blue, has
changed for the better. More timber,
smoother surface, soil more friable and
much less of the fetid wire grass.
Mr. Rolaud Reed lives at the junc
tion of Beaver and Blue; owns 1,0(0
acres, has farmed four years, had good
no trouble ,fru uthThiiAi f
the soil unsurpassed, ji .
Mr. Foust has farald five years in the
fork of Blue and leaver ; has good
crops this year lias Seventy bushels of
corn to the acre has grown wheat, oat
and rye AlldowfcIL; He has no trouble
from drouth and thiuks the oil exceed
ingly fertile. The Hk'svcr and West Blue
make a fine show cf timber from this
point Continued u the road to sec
tion 22, town 9 nortk, of range 1 west ;
crossed the table land in a southwest di
rection to the TYe-it Blue, section 7,
,
J
'.V "iu --La-r- '
rich, WiWuir rf&iH77 --ui hhi, ana ir
i.ivUit. Mlu ana e
ered with rich grasses the redntem pre
dominating, mixed ' with blnestcm,
bunch, buflao, and a little of the worth
less wire -grass. ; "
The bottoms have a beautiful slope to
the river, and arc lii,h and dry and very
fertile. Timlier sufEcicnt for a compact
settlement. The high land drops down
at an easy slope. livery settler talked
with reports good crops and no trouble
from drouth ; ami tlui appearance of the
deep, rich soil, fully, corroborates their
statements Crossed 'the tabhjland
again, to Captain Wy Marc" ci ,
sci tion 0, town 10, range 2 west ; sur
face very level ; passed a wet basin of
some forty acres in -area. It is believed
that these basins could easily be con
verted into permanent watering places
for stock a desideratum where the table
is wide or running water too distant
... .
1 . ... . ... 1. 1 -i ratminiiitiit. v:i!llC
mm ""t
but increase the beauty of tin already
beautiful plain. At Wyman's saw some
fine samples of wheat, oats and corn of
his growing. Followed up the Beaver to
David Baker's a new. settler, who has
lived in Iowa, Missouri and West Vir
ginia section 10, town 10, range 3.
The valley of Beaver offers fine sites
for farms, except that it is deficient in
timber ; much of its original stock having
been cut off by the overland travel; still
there is sufficient for several additional
settlers. Mr. Baker has a splendid loca
tion, is evidently a man of energy and
some capital, and will soon make a
notable mark here ; claims arc now taken
on this stream some sixteen miles above
Baker' tC Several parties arc stopping
their families here, while preparing
their houses. From this point, contin
ued up the rtrcani three uiiios; passed a
village of prairie dogs; turned south to
West Blue; hit the trcatuat the mouth
of School Creek, section 3rt, town 9, of
range 4 wet. Peautiful jdare, fine
land and plenty of timber.
Table land was very level. Badcr
holes show a creamy colored marl under-
lying the surfac. and containing nodules
of a cb-ilky liuie inconsiderable quautt
tities. In the middle of the table land
found a second village f the prairie
dogs; crossed to th south side of the
Blue, and went up stream to Fairbanks'
section 28, town 6, range 4 west, who set
tled here July J 866 ; did some breaking,
too late; did not rot well. Soil rot
quickly if broken at the right season of
the year. He believes in deep plowing,
thinks th ground resist the drouth re
markably well. He has had good crops
and thinks the upland full as good as
the bottom for a crop. His neighlior on
the opposite side of the fiver, and whore
the table terminates abruptly in high
bluff, has good crops and no' damage
from drouth.
Fairbanks - showed sonic fine wheat,
corn, oats and potatoes; has cottonwood
trees two years old that are fifteen feet
izh and three inches in diatnetcr. Up
the stream and just above the Hender-
son farm, and nearly opposite a nortn
branch of the Blue, which, suows consul-
: . 1 :::.,'. .' j : : ; j ; i
PLA1TSMOUTH. NEBRASKA
erablc timber, found corners of sectious
19, 20, 29 and 30 of town 9 of "rango 4
west. The Bluo (shows plenty of tim
ber. ' " ' ' -
At Waddles section 2f, town 9 of
range 5 west obtained sou. pies of wheat
and barley ; yield of wheat twenty-six,
and of barley fifty bushels to the acre.
Thinks barley one of the surest and best
crops to raise, just the soil for it. Has
good corn, potatoes and -other 'root's;
believes in deep plowing, says the turf
rots quickly if broken at the proper sea
son; thinks the upland will produce crops
equal to the lottoms; says that stock
will thrive all winter on the rane; that
a pair of horses belonging to a neighbor
ran out last winter without grain and
but very little hay, and in the spring
wore in good condition for work. This
settlement, now only three years old and
embracing about a dozen families, has
this year grown and threl.ed 12,000
bushels of small grain of excellent qual
ity Up stream several miles to Chaffee's,
in the forks of the Blue, slope of high
land cut up with ravines so as to present
a rolling' appearance; bottom fine but
narrowing to half a : mile or less; timber
still plenty, soil getting lighter, more
friable, quick and warm. Chaffee has
good crops: oats seventy-five bushels icr
acre, and wheat twenty-six. Turnips and
potatoes wers very fine. Ills California J
pink-cyes could not be excelled. Section
34 town 9 range G west, J miles
up north fork found the Salmons brothers
new settlers with their first crop a
fine location, section 2S, town 9, range
0. The stream here is small, sluggish
and muddy; timber thinning up ttream.
From Salmon's to head of timber is about
nine miles; one farm in this distance.
Frequent gullies from the upland cut up
the sloe and bottom into small sections,
otherwise they are very fine. Timber,
elm and ash. The grasses are rich and
abundant. These bottoms and slopes
should be grazed, and the upland farmed.
Left stream and turned north-northwest
for the cut-off road, which was reached
a little pat sunset, and the Platte river
at 8 t. m.. Table land very level and
blnestcm and
buffalo grasses. - . ,
At Geo. Marstoiis,' northeast corner
of Adams county, section 2S, town? 10,
range 9,' saw good wheat and atsgrown
on the Platte bottom; he thinks both
bottom and upland as good as the coun
try farther to the cast. Rode south from
junction in north-cast corner of Adams
county, eight .or ten miles ; table land
level and dry; grass" redstein and buffalo;
toil light loam. Badger holes thov
a grayish marl, with nodules of the chalky
liintw Pound the southwest corner of
town Oi range 9; tunied west and kept
near Hiro between ttiwnshljw eight and
nine for some seven or eight miles,
Crossed a ravine, the head of Elm creek,
a fork ofWestBlue, and containing water
and four, cottonwool . trees; examined- .a
cliffof gray hiarl II- feet high and con
taining the usual fossils of chalky t lime.
Whole road to-day over beautiful prairie
grassy and rich ; came in at Martin's an
Englishman, section 12, town 9, range
10 west. Mr. Martin was wounded by
the Sioux Indians in 1SG4 and his two
sons were pinned together by an arrow,
.&liilcjaMWjatj.ur2
They arc now well," and correctly appre
ciate the Nohlc lied Man. Mr. Martin
states that he sowed four bushelo of bar
Icy on 2 acres of ground, and harvested
and threshed two hundred bushels from
the same: has fine samples of wheat, oats
and barley, potatoes, cabbage, beets, car
rot, parsnips, onious, etc.; has raised
peaches this year on trees four years
from the seed! . His trees do not winter
kill; thinks the upland fully as good as
the bottom. Martin says that the alkali
ground on his farm comes all right in
three years.
Three fourths of a mile southwest of
Martin's examined a cliff nine feet high,
i first six feet gray marl full of fossils,
next a thin sheet of rock and horizon
tally under this M as three feet of dark
brown soil, without fossils and belonging
to a former age. These dark lines of old
soil are quite common along the Platte
Valley. At Cottonwood Springs are
three distinct fines, and in the bank of
the river below Geo Marstin's is quite an
extensive deposit of bones of a large
Mammalia. Between Martin's and
Kearney the surface near the Sand Hills
is undulating and in places some sandy ;
"shows signs of denudation ; grass thin,
water scarce ; farther south is found the
smooth surface of the gray marls.
At Kearney City examined some very
fair vegetables and seed corn grown by
3Ir. Meschcll, among the sand hills of
the Platte bluffs, on new breaking -r also
j vegetables and grain grown in the Platte
bottom by- Messrs. Talbot and 31. 11,
Sydenham, all of which were fair as
usually found in the eastern counties of
the State grown upon new ground.
These gentlemen express great confidence
in the productiveness cf Kearney county.
Nov. 3. From Kearney, iu Kearney
county, travelled south, crossed the sand
j hills, and out upon the plain,' to corner,
of sections 22, 23, 2C, 27, of town 7, range
15 west, near center of Kearney count3
These sand hiHsare one mile in breadth
and will some day be crowded with peach
orchards; next alout one mile of undulat
ing marl of a creamy color, compact, looks
dry and hard; covered with short buffalo
grass. In a cliff, twelve feet high and six
fijet from the the top, was the dark line
of an old Kil and usual red grit
Ou the table Und again. To the east,
south and west, the eye cannot reach to
the limit of the plain. Buffalo giuss com
prises four-fifths of the herbage, and this
bus been grazed close and the "chip"'
sign shows which sjiccies cf the 'Bos ' has
hceahcrc. Turning east, pas: ed one large
ana several .smaller ponds,- from onto !
which issues a branch of Little Blue. 13
lowed down this one hour and came ton
pool of clear good water. Nearby waU
cliff seventeen feet high, fifteen feebof
light colored marl, with the chavy
nodules of lime resting horizontal!' n
two "feet of dark brown soil, and contan
ing coarse grit resembling grains of nrv
red sand stone. Followed this branch til
dark but little water surface roudi
near the stream, but smooth a half inle
distant. Timber begins to appear
and also considerable water; a fork comes
in from the south west1 camjicd hen',
In the morning ascended a knob som a
fifty feet high, and took a survey of the
country ; rough and full of gullies ncc
the stream, and quite sandy; grass
coarse and but few trees ; smooth in the
distance. Rode northeast half a mile to
the marl plain; tunied cast and rode
over a beautiful level tract, well covered
with grass, to a second creek, studded
with Cottonwood trees, an old can i ping
place ; plenty of water in long lagoons,
steep cliff, banks of white marl, offering
good shelter for stock; on again over
the level and v. ell crassed nlain : crossed
two old wagon trails pointing north and
south. At 11 o'clock, a. m. came to a
third creek, at six large elm trees water
9 . 1 1 L -
in holos timber below far as seen, banks
low, grass abundant, and mainly redstcm;
one mile farther east came to the St. Jo-
aeph. road; one-fouth of a mile further
came to a fourth creek with ccttonwood
timber; continued east over beautifniluld scarcely see eighty rods. Rode
and well grassed prairie until an old
Indian trail was reached ; here found a
qnnrtcr corner, iunicd north halt a
mile, and found corner of sections 20,
21, 17, 16, of town 7 north, range 10
west ; the center of Adams county ;
north throe miles to township liue ;
fouud all the sectiou corners. Turned
east again two miles crossing a fifth
branch of Little Blue, to the comers of
sections 2 and 3 of town 7 north, and
sections 34 and 35 of town 8 north, range
10 west ; north again one mile to a fork
of West Blue ; down stream two miles
and camped on good grass near water ;
here the hollow turns south. All of this
stretch drpralffc Is moifljeauTuuf, rich,
and covered with grass, mainly bluestent
Nov. 5. Traveled north a short dis
tance, swung around east and south to",
the high land on south side of creek
cast and north again to the first timber
eleven cottonwood trees et the fork and
near the quarter post of sections 34 and;
35, town 8, of range 9 west ; just below
the cotton are thirteen elm trees. Here
found fresh chopping and the track of a
waron drawn bv shod mules. North
again, some two or three miles, twining
mom east, found corners of sections 12'
11, 13, 14,- of towu 8'horta7"6rransCvK
west, in eastern part Of Adams sounrvi.
Turning still more to east and southeast,
came upon the trail of railroad surveyors
at stake 5G18V -in northwest corner of
Clay county ; followed line east to stake
5530 ; tamed, south to river for water,
and nooned near some elm trees. All
the country passed this morning is very
beautiful and well covered with blue:-tcm
grass ; soil of the best qualitiy J badger
holes' show the cream colored marls.
Passed to the south side, and out upon
the table land; turned ea.-t and kept
TrearTTKmgh- t-j th'j-uwMtw twrMf-f
the timber." In range eight the tivuber
is tCin, about enough for one family to
the quarter. Range seven has more
timber, enough for a compact settlement.
In the west part of range G, the timber
is thin again, but is quite abundant at
the cast side and around ChaCee's sec
tion 34. town 0. range C west, in south
part of Hamilton county.' All cf this
prairie is beautiful as the '"'Garden of
Eden,' and the rich, warm soil, deep
enough to produce all the "fruits of the
earth" in abundance forever.
Nov. C. From Chaffee's rode south
east, accross the table land. Crossed the
railroad survey at stake 2734. About
half a mile further came to corner of sec
tions 17, 18, 19. 20, town i, north of range
5 west, in the north east township of Clay
county the first corner stake yet found
standing in place. Struck School creek
at corner of sections 34, and 35, town S,
range 5, and sections 2 and 3 town 4,
range 5, and a little below the head of
timber; count ry passcd over same as yes
terday. On south east quarter of 3, and
north west quarter of 2, town 7, range 5,
and on north-half of 35, town 8. range 5,
there is timber sufficient for settlers; still
higher up arc a few trees. Crossed the
creek, and rode cast one mile to summit
of table land level and grassy, as far as
the eye could sec. In town S, range 4
west, the north west township of Fillmore
county, crossed the railroad liue again at
stake marked 2338, P. On the south
side ofSchool creek the surface and breaks
indicate more clay. At several points a
red compact clayey marl, containing the
liniefossils of thewhite marls with various
colored and water worn pebbles of granitic
origin, were observed. Grass abundant
and mostly redstcm. This crcok is very
well timbered to its mouth, and but a few
claims taken. Camped on the prairie,
night cold and frosty.
Nov. 7. Down Blue to the Whitaker
brothers, section 8, town 8, range 3 west;
damn chillv cast wind. Mr. Whitaker
has been three years in Fillmore county;
came from Ohio, has raised twenty-five
bushels of wheat, sixty of com and two
hundred and thirty of iititocs to the
acre; thinks the soil very productive; has
a mill site that he wishes improved.
Nov. 8. Southeast from Whitakcr's
found corners of sections 10, 11, 14, 15,
town 8, range 3. On the summit of the
table found the usual ba-ius. Crossed
the railroad survey at stake mat Led 1GG2;
reached Turkey creek at noon, abut three
mi!es below tho head of tituberr at a high
TOT
TIIUHSPAY, JANUARY 27, 1S70.
b'uff and near south branch having tim
Lrr. This plateau differs somewhat from
my of th . proceeding ; it evidently con
tiias more clay and a closer, firmer soil;
tie result no doubt, of the red, granitic
nnrly clay subsoil above described. The
hsins, also, differ in thi3 that they con
tin water and slough grass; also there in
Uargc proportion of the bluestom grass.
4-rain the earth raLscdby the Badger was
erker. more clayey, and the lima peb
les reddish in color ; the surface more
)ugh, indicating standing water altera
m. Turkey creek at this point, near
he centre of Fillmore county section
!7, town", range 2 west, is a mere rivulet,
iut shows evidence of being a river at
times. Drift wood was noticed lodged
jin the branches cf trees fifteen feet above
the bed of the stream. The bench or
terrace bottom is wide, level, rich, well
lnverod with grass and elevated fifteen
r twenty ficet above the bed of the creek,
The upland to the south has a very easy
f'lso .U1J js 0f the best quality. Kept on
Sie south side, to the entrance of a con-
lidcrable fork, having a good show of
limber coming in from the southwest
.lection 3, town 6, range 1 west. Passed
ne cLiiiu in this distance, on which was
X hOUiiC and about five acres of sod corn.
I ' .... . , ,.
Viniber mainly white-ash, and small.
Crossed to the north side, and rode one
aid a half miles over a beautiful bottom;
cjine to ten acres of breaking and an
' cipty house. Camped here,
OV. 9. Morning dark and foggy;
jown stream to section 24, town 7 of
tinge 2 west east line of Fillmore
lounty. IIer found out crop of the red
flay in a cliff, and gray marl above.
Above the cliff the clay was so near the
surface as to be reached by the plow ;
iwth the clay at its base was mixed a
citable quantity ot coarse red sand, re
smibliug the debris of the new red sand-
sfonc.
f On section 20, town 7, range 1 , found
Xre. Irclan, from Ohio, who has been
lfcre three years ; raised two crops--botl
good for new ground. Wheat t his year,
twenty-five bushels to the acre, and
ihi smutty ; com .sound,;.- planted jonc-aici-a-TlaTF
bushels, of potatocsriind tar-
vesting htty bushels.
j At noon reached Mr. John Manley's,
section 4, town j, of range 1 e"st in
north-west part of Saline eou:aty; has
been here since June 18G6, Mr. Manley
is i rom New York, has raised two crops,
last year had eighteen busheb of wheat
and twenty-five of corn to the acre. Says
tho upland suffers more here than the
jbottoms; thinks it due to the underlying
clay, which he sa3'8 i3 found within one
foot of the surfuee
Timber on Turkey Creek has become
trgc aud mere abundant in quanti'y and
variety. Walnut and burr oak are now
sesn.
Mr. Manley reports one hundred
bushtls of potatoes to the fourth of an
acre as his yield this year. Six miles
further down found a Mr. Gilbert, from
Ohio section 4, town 7, range 2 east
has been on Turkey Creek four years;
plows deep and has-good crops, twenty-
five to thirty burdiel of wheat, fifty to
sixty of corn to the acre ; last year crops
were injured by the drouth and tho hot
winds that prevailed live days j this year
hiis suffered from floods ; tjiinks .jhg
country tar better than Omo. -
itcports out-crop oi nuisstone on
Spring Creek and near feasant Hill,
says that it is found on both b.nk.s of the
stream, a distance of one and a hal
miles; is full of shells and mikes excel
lent lime ; says that Swan Creek, a south
branch of Turkey, is quite heavily tim
bered, and that Saline is tho bctt tim
bered county iu the State.
Nov. 10. Snow this morning. Went
down stream three miles and crossed
The valley of Turkey is a good fanning
country, well supplied with tifnber. Left
the creek and took the road for Camden,
which is located near the north-east cor
ner of Saline couuty; table land high am:
level, with basins, soil grayish brown,
rich and deep ; elevation of tible above
river about one hundred feet. Three
miles from Camden forded the Blue
maple timber on the banks; good bot
toms; fine stream and valley. At Cam
den forded the North Blue, and came at
once upon the rolling prairie that
strccthes away to the Missouri River.
From all that I have now seen, and all
that has been gleaned from settlers, I
am decidedly of the opinion that the
country west of the Big Blue, and north
of township 6, will, in the production of
fruits, roots, wool and cereals, excel the
country to the cast of that river, and
fully equal it in the production of corn
and live stock, beef, pork and mutton ;
that Kearney and Adams counties are
by no means, the barren wastes that has
been represented, but on tho contrary,
drew the elements of fertility from the
same inexhaustable fountain of marl as
Hamilton and Clay, Fillmore and York,
having less timber and less water; they
are not as inviting to the settler, but for
the production of fruit, (especially
peaches) and wool, I should place them
at the head of the list The great want
of these counties, as indeed of the whola
region, is a Railroad, on which the pio
neer seller can transport his family, his
goods, and the lumber out of which his
house must be constructed. Every train
will bring in civilization and comfort,
and feeling that he is not out of human
ity's reach he will be content ; and con
tentment favors industry, and industry
on these rich prairies, will soon supply
an abundance of the good things of life.
Ten years after the completion of your
line of road, will see these lovely plains
dotted over with farm houses, orchards
ana groves oi umoer, iui scnooi nouc
and the church, the liook and the herd,
and long lines of hedije enclosing broad
1 .- .,11
acres of waving grain. Here the farmer !
will put down his plow without fear of
turning up the bottom.
These views are the result of fifty years
spent in agricultuarl pursuits, sixteen of
which have been spent on this frontier.
either in actual cultivation of the soil or
the handling of stock. I have worked
cattle hard, the entire year through, and
on no other feed than the grass of the
prairie ; have seen fine crops of grain and
vegetables grown on new ground that rcry
2c?"! people condemned as worthless.
But sixteen years back the first Indian
Treaty, that extinguished their title to
the lands of Nebraska," was concluded ;
and what is Nebraska to-day ? A Slate
and a "loyal State" of this Uniona
State unsurpassed in the salubrity of its
climate, the beauties of its prairies, the
depth of its fertile soil, the abundance
and purity of its waters, the richness of
its grasses, or in the proposed facilities
of intercommunication for its people.
Respectfully,
MOSES STOCKING.
Plattsinouth, Nov. 23., 1869.
REPORT OF L. It. WAR.VEK.
McFaddkx P. O., York Co., Neb.
Mr. Cur us Woodman, Managing Di-
rrctnr Burlington and Missouri Jiiccr
Rail Road in Nt hraska :
Dkai. Sin : I Itft my residence (sec
tion 10, town ?, range 3 west,) Wednes
day morning, November 17th, 18G9, to
investigate the character of the land in
Adams and Kearney counties ; its fitness
for farming purposes, etc,, is you re
quested in your letter of the 30th ult imo.
From my place I passed up the West
Blue river, through a part of York,
Hamilton and Clay counties. Entering
Adams county on sectiou CG, town 8,
range 9, then west northwest to or near
section 16, town 8, range 11, then south
west to the corner of towns 5 and 6,
ranges 14 and 15, then east northeast to
section 1, town 6, range 9, then south
west to Thirty-two mile creek, down
which I passed to the mouth of More
house creek, where I found sixty lodges
of Omaha Indians encamped. Here Jet
tag sayi te-the-cre Aifc-ilafcasifcsicjzl.
was received like a brother and treated
with the greatest kindness. Being short
Lof provisionf, they supplied all my
wants free of charge, giving me corn
bread, venison, sugar, coffee and flour,
They were courteous and gentlemanly in
their bearing. and very solicitous for my
Srelfare, offering to furnish an escort to
accompany me as far as I wished.
From Morehouse I took a westerly
course, to town 5, range 10, west ;' then
south to the Republican river, then
northeast crossing Elk creek, Little
Blue, Big Sandy, to my placo. Above I
haru given you my course. , Txoia ths I
frequently diverge to the right or left,
from one to the three miles, occasionally
digging through the soil, which, I inva
riably found to be a rich, black vegetible
mould, from eighteen inches to throe
and a half feet deep, sligbtb impregna
ted with lime, and sand enoDglj to keep
it friable, but entirely free from stones
or gravel. lake the land iu the eastern
part of the State, it seeuif. to have the
singular property of resisting unusual
wet, or continued drouth. The eubooil
is a yellowish clay, not inipcrvious to.
water - The soil - "between tho - surface
mould and the clay base seems to be
strongly calcarous, which must be of
great value in the production of cereal
crops. The points of some of the short
divides, between the small streams, I
found to be filled with gravel. Town
ft, 6, 7 and 8, ranges 9, 10. 11 and 12
aro rolling, well watered and wooded.
I believe these towns to be the very best
adapted to fruit growing, especially
grapes and peaches, of any locality in
the State. The water, in both Adams
and Kearney; I found to be clear, beauti
ful and delicious. The reports about its
being so strongly impregnated with al
kali, as to he injurious to the health of
men and animals, I positively declare to
be false, base fabrications. The timber
is cottonwood, white ash, red and white
elm, hackberry, oak and willow. The
annual fires, which have swept over these
prairies for agespast, have kept the tim
ber from spreading and attaining its full
growth. If these fir js could be kept out
of Adams county for five years it would
doubtless become one entire forest.
Along the creeks, plums, grapes, goose
berries, raspberries and a superior quality
of hops grow in abundance.
In Webster county I fell in with Mr.
Charles Coon and Jacob Haines, who
with six associates have been employed
by the State as frontier guards, at
Kiowa, and for the past season have
been farming on section 15, town 3
range 4 went. Their corn crop this year
surpassed anything I ever saw in Iowa
or Illinois, where I have been engaged in
farming, for the past twelve years.
These men inform me thr.t they have an
average yield of seveut3'-six bushels of
corn per acr, and this in soil far inferior
to the poorest I saw in Adams and Kear
ney counties. Mesrs. Coon and Haines
havo taken claims in town 5, range 7
wot. I see by town plats, which they
showed me, that nearly all the laod is
taken along the Little Biue, as far weat
as the ea.-t liue of Adams county.
There is no ,ioubt but nearly all the
Government claims iu Fillmore, Clay,
Adams and Kearney counties will be
taken long before the railroad is corn-
pletcd. On my way out I saw Mr. X.
Bray and Mr. James Waddie who reside
in town y, range 4 wct, also Mr. Robert
L. idont and Mr. J. Chaffee, who reside
on section 34, town 'J, range 6 west
(pot office Farmer's Valley, Hamilton
I ... . 1 1
j county. ) . these men nave keen in
' Adams and Kearney county, end express
a Sriu !lief rhat th.ee counties arc a?
NO. 45.
valuable for farming purposes, and will
sell at as good prices, when tho railroad
is completed, as lands in any county west
of range 5 east. It is the fixed belief
and expressed wish in the minds of every
man with whom I have conversed on the
subject, (aud they are not a few,) that
the Burlington and Missouri River Kail
Road Company in Nebraska could not
possibly do better for themselves than
to build their road from Lincoln to Cam
den, then south southwest along the di
vide north of north fork of Turkey
Creek, though near the centers 'of Fill
more, Ulay, Adams ana rvcarney coun
ties, whieh I respectfully submit for your
consideration. In regard to Kearney
county in particular I can only say it is
one broad expense of beauty, rolling
away in richest verdure, as far as the eye
can reach, from any standpoint As I
ascended each successive swell, in that
rich field of floral beauty, bounded only
by ctherial blue, I could not refrain from
adoring the Great Creator, in obedience
to whose command, all this wealth, this
beauty, this sublime scenery was formed
Ohl how the soul expands, what rever
ential awe overspreads the mind as the eye
surveys this vast expanse of beauty and
grandure. 1 he eye can see it, tnc soui
can feel it, but the pen connot deserile it to
another. God has placed here untold
wealth, and rich fortunes, and so near tho
surface that tho farmer can easily turn
them out with the plow share. In Web
ster county, there is an extensive bed of
good coal, lime and sand stone, chalk and
slate, and Ithinkrich soap-stone. These
wiU be quarried and shipped ns soon as a
road is ready to transport them.
I saw and talked willi Mr. James Whit
aker who resides on the north cast quarter
of section 4, town S, range 3 west. He
has seen as much of Adarus and Kearney
counties, as any man on the frontier. He
thinks these counties as goad, in every
respect, as York, Seward, Hamilton or
lnlmore. His remarks arc: Adams and
Kearney have as good soil; the land lays as
well; they have better water, as good tun'
her and far better surroundings, than any
county west of range 5 ex-t. And in my
opinion, he said, there will be an ex
tAnslre local business, and a ready sale of
- ij -.-. . :
lanas in tnese counties, as any conmy casi
of them, if the railroad should bo con
structed through them. Mr. Whitaker
also said he had seen coal, lime stone,
slate, soap-stone and good plaster in eb
ster county. He thinks a branch road to
the Republican river, through towns in
range 10 or 1 1 would pay enormous profits.
I believe as he does in reeards to a branch
wad. In closing;, I would say, that if
there is any difference in the quality of the
soil in Adams an Kearney counties, or de
fect in the lay of the land, from any other
county in the State I have fioled to see it.
1 1 see no possible rean why there shoul:
not tKJ ueuHMFe jovau uuaiuca, an iwiy
sale, at as good prices for railroad lands,
in these counties, as any counties in the
State. The soil is as good, the water, tim
ber, by of the land and surroundings are
most assuredly as good as any other two
counties in the State. Th constant drcai
of Indians, in the minds of new comers, is
the only thing that has prevented these
counties from beiug settled. We know
how to deal with the Sioux and other hos
tile tribes, but the murderous Pawnees
are what we dread. Let these villians be
ke7rfwiwmthrirrTeTratkfr,'- lyrlcf'the
government give usfull permit to kill them
at sight and I will warrant Adams and
Kearney to settle.
Yours Rcsicctfullv,
LYMAN R. WARNER.
This is to certify, that I accomjanied
Mr. Warner through Adams, Kearney,
and "Webster counties, ttnd I believe his
report to be correct, truthful and not
overrated. O. N. WEBSTER.
"Dayton, Ohio, has 40,000 inhabitants.
A Rhode Island preacher says that
any man who uses tobacco .cannot be
saved.
The telegraph operators cng.ipred in
the present strike number about 2,000.
Massachusetts contains twenty-five co
operative manufacturing associations.
It having been asserted that "Laird's
Bloom of Youth," a popular cosmetic,
is rank poison, a lady retorts that she has
used it for months with no injurious ef
fects ; a doubtful compliment to her skin :
A religious paper has an article in its
columns, "May Christians Dance?"
The editor of the Washington NeioM says
they may, if they are not cripples, and
can pay for the piper.
Brick Pomeroy frequently boasts in his
oral tirades that he once worked at the
case by the side of a "niggur" printer,
and feels proud of it. We would like to
hear from the negro and learn how he
feels about it
Andrew Jackson Cunnimrham, of Cin
cinnati, Speaker of the Ohio House of
Representatives, is a "Reformer." lie
voted for himself for Speaker. He is a
modest model.
After the first sermon of Father Mont
sabre, the Ultramontane successor f
Fere Hyacinthe, in the cathedral of No
tre Dame, one of the fastidious ladies of
Paris said: "How terrible to be com
piled to listen to the chirping of a blue
bird after having hearkened for years to
the melodious son of a nightingale."
Bishop Simpson estimates that it will
take three thou-and years to convert the
world, at the present rate of progress.
The lii.-hop does not intend to stay and
see the job comjJeted.
Another Sta-le will soon bemadded to
our great family. A delegation from
Colorado is in Washington to ascertain
the views of the powers that be relative
to the admission of that Territory as a
State.
Au invalid son of Bacchus-was about
to undergo an operation for dropsy at
the bands of his physician. "O father,
father!" screamed a son of the patient,
who was looking ou, "do anythisg rise,
but don't let them tap you." "But,
oarumy, saui tne ratner, it win uo me j
good, ami I shall Hyo many a year to I
make you happy. .No lather, yvn
won t.
There never was anything tapped
in nnr house that Lifted lonrer than a
week."
RATES OF. ADVERTISING.
One Kjuxe (ipaee ton linwilono inrlluu. 0 M
Dni-h ul.ouout insertion, 4.00
Prufratiiiwal t-anli not eiocodinic alx I to -a. 1U
Oue-q'iartor column or 1M, per a.njiutn,
" " nil month. 74M
- thremt!tfA
On-fc.ir Pnlumfl tw.4T mnnUi. W.ilP
six month-- 38.00
" three mouth. 50.i
One column UrcWc month , lo.r
it months, C0.C
thror hiiitli.
All transient aJvcrtireuenU Btirf bo 'paufer
ina'lv.ouo.
A promising young shaver of five or
six vcar was reading ms lessons ax
school one day, in tho deliberate manner
for which urchins of that ago. nso some
what remarkable. As he proceeded with
is ta.-k he came upon the passage,
"Keep thy tongue from evil and thy hps
from guile" Master Hopeful drawled
out, " Keep thy toneue from evil
and lliy lip." irom gins.
According to the Frankfort Ziitung
au important (c) discovery lias In-en
made by Ilcrr Kircl.er, of Wurtcmburg.
of a new printing ink. Tho essential
part of the discovery w that, by n pecu-
lar process, the mk cnu be completely re-
moved irom inc sunace oi mo paper, as
a cost of half a dollar (onc guiden) for
every hundred pounds of printed rapr,
and the material is then ready for u
again. ,
Mr. C. II. Haskin, an Kuerlishman
and a chemist, employed in the worku of
Dr. J. C Ayer, in Jowel, was poivomsl
recently in trying to recover a jKirtion of
the oil of bitter Almonds used in th
manufacture of cherry pectoral a )ottIo
of which had been spilled by mvident.
In his rational moments he states that
during his labors his sense of smell be
came so impaired that he touched bis
tongue to the wood on winch some had
been spilled, to seo if it was worth ra-
covenmr. lie remained in violent con
tortions the greater part of tho niiht,
and yesterday morning was in an uncon-r
.. . . .. ii
seious suite, lie is attended uy IT.
Fox. and Saverav. Recovery is consid
ered very doubtful.
SSTT EMMS IS II!!
To Any Fart f Tht City.
WHITE & SPIRES,
Hnvin remoTol t fiir
New FUir 0orur
Main b1 6tu street, will
DELIVER GOODS FREE
That are rnrcharetl at thrir Flora. ITill
Good oa cheap am ever, ailt wilt not La uclar
old hy anyone.. ..,,,. . .
Oar stock coofll"t oi vuo oeat Dranaiai
TEAS, CJFFEES, SUGARS,
Canned and Dried Fruits,
OYSTERS, SARDINES, SPICES, FLOUfl
TOBA VCO, - irjSUTUB&r
Buckets Soap, Salt;
"D A finil TT A MQ T. ATJTI
ml avn-thn krt in a firoecrv ttore.
'"Erntyi
article warranted of tho boHq aalitjr. IhliiB-j
eat price paid in c&nh for
Corn, Oats, Butter, Eggi.
1
i
!!
and all kinds ef Farmer! Trodac
Casli paid for' Hides. '; :
Hensot moved, and t-nodmrid hf Anetl"n
the nbortcut notice, by 1'. S. WlilliS. ;
Platumouth, July 29. Ifl9. f'
KXIUHTN OF PrTHUH.
4H. t
Pum Valley Lonoa N. 5.-
m 011118 every Iburaday evemnf. Yiitii
brolheia alwayi welcome. - :
V. V. nEfAKI, W. C. f;
V. M. JHiRIUMi'rON. k
j. y. w i,sk. v. p. jj
Pi.trrftMouTB Lodqk No. 6 J F. A A. M.
Regular meeting at their hill oil the firrt ata
third Monday evrninm of euch ciouth. Traarf
J. 2t. vTisb. Sue.
Mcv Loons No. 22 A. V. ATA. M. Remila
meetiugiS at Mowmic Hall, fimt and third Fri
day. J. . WlSli. W. M.
Oro. It. Setrolt. Sc? .
Nicrraska Cmattkb X. 3 R. A. M. Regular
convecatioD nccond and fourth Tuenday ere
nims of each month at 7 '3 o'clock p. to.
i:. T. PL KK, It. P.
Eastkrx.tar Wxr.itKgL'u'.:.--Kt-Kulnr meet
ings of the Family Hre hrld on Yvdiie?d.iy evt
ninic, on or bolero tho full moon of each month.
All Mailer Miuoiiii. their wiven, ni.-ncr and
daophler arc invited to attend. I 11 married la
iier must be over eighteen yt-tri of Hue.
1. II. U'lIKKLEK. Patrea.
Mas. C. A. Disk, Pntroiw-m.
.1. X. WiHK. Ke:ordr.
I. o. o.
Bcgulnr meeting of riiitte Ln Ifrf. Tfe. 7. T. O.
O. I', every Saturday evening, at Odd Fellow
Hall. Traacicnt hri;!i"r arfi .v.rdiat'y invitod
to visit. WAI. L. H ELlA N. ti.
Jl. J.STBKtrillT, Sea
I. i. T.
Oi.ivnnRAScn.TIo.2-K A.'KirVp.itrirk W. C.
T. U. li. hcwin, W. S. It. P. Windham. Lodge
Deputy. Meets at Court JI011.se Hall every
Tuesday evening. Traveling Templars rorpecl
fnlly invito I.
Kx-Kt.snK Ttr.c.nr. Loio. Nn, 1. E. B.
Lewi. II. T.; F. E. White. It. S. Meet at Court
Ucu.ie Ha'.l on the fir Ft and third Saturday erea
inK of cm-li month.
Stab ok IIoi-k I,oix;g Xo. 8. O. .T. Iavi, W.
C. T-: Andrew Coleman. W. S. MeeU at Alt.
Pla.nt every 8aturd:ty evening.
Fairvitw LoixiK. Xo. 14. .1. J. Chandler.
W. C. T.: Win. J.ilesacr. W.S.; S. W. Calkiu.
Lcdjre JJeputy. Moctn every Wodnoxduy even-nx-
Traveling Tctupl.ir re-re;ifully invited.
TnitrK Ukovr )ik.k. Xo. :i.-Amo Jrilf,tb.
V.C. T.;Ja. Vlllann. VV. S.; C. H. Winnluw,
Lodge Deputy. Meet every .Siilurdny etcum?.
Traveling Tempi ara respedfully invited kj
piert with un.
hi. Iuke'iTl'TirTsfr
Monthly meeting of the Vestry lt Frida?
evening of eaeh month, at thelUx'tory; (juartely
tr.eoting of Vctry lt Monday, of May, Augui(.
Xovember and February.
H. St. GEO. YOITXG. Hector.
ff. L. VTvr r . i'1-rk.
ft. II I. IV 10., 31.
PHYSICIAN AND KUtt;K.ONr-t
profe-ional ervietK to the citir.enn of C Monti-
ty. UesidenccoutheaHtcornerof Oak drink"
street-'; olBee on Main street, opoK Court
lluiine. Platiamouth. Xehrarka.
j. y. un iA, n. ..
PUYSIC1AX AN'li SUKatO.V.-late a Sur-reon-in-thict
of tho Armv of the Potormic,
PlatU'tnouUi. Nelraka. Ooioo with Lr. K. at.
Livingston. ou Main utroet, oppoi-ire tlio Court
llou. Private rmidoaco eoriter ef Hock and
11th HtreeU. tw doors south of P. P. t;a.'.
br. TiioiiTV,
irrffff permanently located at Woeping sta
ler tall, tenders hi proffiooni avrvioos to the
jiUions of Ca-s cunty, X'tbr;t.tka. jjauT'OJtf.
D. H. WIIKCLKK. UD.KXUl'T.'
D. H. WUEELEIl & to,
Sf!-EstL"t ndi .T rx ,Pllin Agent-.. XotjirUsa
Fubho, hire and Life Iusuihimjo AgeuU. Plntw
montli. Xeliraska. je'JUf
t. tt. MAiaiiiL rr,
ATTORXEY AT LAW and Solicit.,, in Ch.a
eery. rhill'moiK-i. Xehran k a.
8. XAXWELL. 8Aa. U. t'HAPil.l
1UXWKLL &. GUAP.fi 4 X,
ATTORNEY.-? AT LAW and Soii.-i:.,r- In
Chaiieery Piult.iauth. Nebraska. Uil.ce ovr
V hite A Xiirttery g lrig Stori;. fn prl .
3. E. HoIUd I. ProprietF. corner f Min n
Third 6tro;t.s. P,
I
1
cias5 accouHjxiatoiid.
dccu iviiiicu nun iiew y itiriiiclii.l ..M w -1 r.l
iSrX by the wi-tk vr
Jauaii;i'.
tt!y.
J. IV. TVljiC,
i lnu.uco Ag.nt. wai n.ke nk- "t re.-." -
; aide rate in th
Unite'I '
I..r
'f.vtw.
. 1