The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-27


State Of Now York, and its south line with that Of
The central portions of Delaware and Maryland, and
The northern part Of the State of Virginia. and that
part of the territory in which settlements are now
about to be made corresponds in latitude with the
southern portion of Pennsylvania, and the central
parts of the States Of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois,
and lies directly west Of the northern part Of the
State of Missouri. Hence the climate of Nebraska
is favorable one, and the territory is even more
agreeable for residence than any of the sections of
continent upon the same line Of latitude.
The atmosphere is remarkably pure, and fogs are
of seldom occurrence. In the eastern part of the
territory the winters open, and accompanied with
but little snow, and Of several weeks less dura-
ton than are the winters of those sections of the At
lantic States in corresponding ATTITUDES.
From the I'd to the 9th Of April, 1851, the writer
encamped out upon the prairies lying north of the
Nebraska river, and between the Elkhorn and Mis-
souri, rivers, and suffered no Inconvenience from the
cold. The praries were then covered with the early
flowers of spring, and the trees Of the groves
beginning to put forth their foliage, and in spots
protected from the winds and irrigated by springs
and brooks, the grass was so far grown as to afford
some food for animals But it is not until about
the first Of the month of May that the grass of the
prairies becomes sufficiently grown to offer full
grazing for cattle.
While but little snow falls during the winter, the
summer brings with it o considerable amount of
sweep the prairies with much force; and the
warmest season Ofthe year is rendered agreeable by
the gentle breezes which continually come the
prairies. Cold comes with the windfro the north
west even in summer; and in the winter warm
weather is brought by south wind. Proceeding
westward from the Missouri river md approaching
the region Of the Rocky Mountains, the changes of
the atmosphere from heat to cold become more fire.
quent, and are felt in greater extremes than in that
portion Of the territory which lies along the Mis-
souri, river But the praires of Nebraska are ut no
time swept by Winds cold and violent are those
of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and the north
ern parts Of Illinois and Indiana; and blows from
the Rocky Mountains are mild indeed whom COM
Jared with those which come off from the great
lakes of the north.
The tract Of country breasting on the Missouri
river and extending in breadth west two hundred
miles more, and from the Kansas river up to the
fortythird degree of north latitude is equal any
lands on the continent Of America in the fertility
Of its soil. Let any person thread the provinces,
States, and territories spread out between the rug
gcd granite hills lying north of the st. Lawrence
river, and the sandy shores of the Gulf Of Mexico,
and he shall find no lands productive those of
the eastern section of the territory of Nebraska,
nor lands out Of which the means Of subsistence
can be obtained with so small an amout of labor.
The soil of the lands in Nebraska in its prime
val state, was of sand and clay. At the present
day the component parts of the soil sand, clay,
ashes, carbon, (or charcoal, which gives it black
color) and decomposed vegetable matter; and these
five ingredients compose soil which has depth
measuring from three to fifteen feet-a black and
rich mould, which covers every rood of the length
and breadth Of the eastern part of the territory.
The bottom lands which lie along the rivers
with a level and plain like face, are alluvial,
and in the composition of the soil there is larger
amount Of decomposed vegetable matter than that
which exists in the soil of the rolling prairie and
table lands, and less amount of matter having the
lands. VIZ 'O''oA'
At several points along the Nebraska river there
are what are termed first and second bottoms. These
also exist in some few places on the Missouri river
and they arc prevalent along the Grand Nemaha
and Blue rivers. The second bottoms commence at
some distance from the channel of the river, and
run back to the bluffs. TheX are raised one or more
feet above the first bottoms which form the imme-
date shore of the river. Many of the irst bottoms
have comparatively thin SOIL and that rests upon
bed of sand, while the second bottoms have ex-
treme depth of soil, and Of the greatest degree
of fertility.
Stagnant pools of water exist nowhere in Ne
braska, except upon some of the large bottoms ly-
ing along the Missouri river. Swamps and mo-
rasses are not to be found in the territory. The
water which, in the eastern part of the territory is
abundant. presents itself in numerous springs and
brooks and it is always pure and limpid-the soil,
of which sand, ashes and charcoal are Ingredients
forming an admirable flterer for it. There is no
better water to be obtained ANYWHERE AL
though there is considerable limestone deposited
throughout the territory, il is seldom found only in
strata and lying deep under the SOIL with strata of
sand and clay, and sometimes with another of
gravel above it; hence the water is not much az
fected with lime.
Wherever springs and brooks are not convenient,
water OF a good quality can uniformly be obtained
by digging few feet into the earth below the SSH
Such being the quality of the water, the territory
could not fail to afford general health to white
population, and it has been demonstrated to be
country offering to settlers the extreme of good
health by a number of families who have been
domiced and continue to reside near the missionary
IN h lhrnnn ants ind hat
The mineral resources of Nebraska, although not
yet developed, are estimated to be various and of
great extent Iron ore is known to exist in album
dant quantities on the north side of the Nebraska
river, and it is believed that the like may be found
in the southern and western portions of the terri
tory.
Coal, of the semi-bituminous class, has beeu dis
covered at various points the south side of the
Nebraska river and it is believed to exist in large
deposites throughout vast portion of the territory
vein of coal has been opened near Fort Leayen-
worth, on the Missouri river forty or fifty miles
above the mouth Of the Kansas. This vein has been
worked to some extent for the use of the troops
serving on the station. Between the two Nemaha
rivers another vein has been opened, from which
quantities are annually taken by blacksmiths and
other persons who reside upon the opposite shore Of
the Missouri river.
A vein Of coal also exhibits itself in the bluffs. al
distance of about fifteen miles below Table Creek
This was discovered by the writer, who took from
it small quantity, which he burned, and found to
be OF good quality Veins Of coal have also been
discovered at different points The Blue river, and
there are evidences upon which to found the belief
that coal deposits exist in the territory north of the
Nebraska river. In the sluices formed along the
shores Of the Nebraska and Missouri rivers, when
the water is in a low stage, specimens of coal are
often found and the like have been picked up in
the sands of the Elkhorn and Niobrara rivers.
In almost every section Of the territory, clay of
good quality for the purposes of brick can be OBJ
tanned IN almost any desirable quantities. Lime
stone exists without limit, and other varieties of
stone, NJ tor the purposes Of building are to be had
tion of the territory which wilt be subjected to early
settlement. On the north side of the Nebraska
river there have been discovered veins or strata Of
sandstone. very similar in quality to the sandstone
found in tho valley of the Ohio
At several places along the bluffs, on the Mis-
souri, river, there shown considerable quantities
OF the same description Of clay which is foundin the
hills along the Ohio river, and which is there used
The opposite shores Of the Missouri river included
within the States of1owa and Missouri, are without
limestone, or stone of any other kind, in any con-
hlp uuo pfit o,l