The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-03-30
Description 9g Nebraska Territory


large rivers called Nebraska. In this
Territory there are but few white settlers
besides the Indian agents, military occu-
pants, and missionaries sent out by the
various religious denominations of the u
nited States. The whites are principal
ly located on the Sante Fe road, and the
routes leading to California and Oregon.
Prominent points for them are Fort
Leavenworth, military station, ana
Council Bluffs, and Indian Agency.
1t is estimated that there are some 49,
600 people in Nebraska, the greater part
Of these being Indians. 1t is the choicest
hunting ground Of the red men, and it is
supposed, Of the estimated half a million
of Indians in the United States, nearly a
sixth Of them are within this territory
The Sioux tribes alone are supposed to
have 5000 lodges, and about 10000 peo-
pie. Added to these are in Nebraska, the
Pawneess, the Delawares, the Shawnees,
the Kickapoos, the Stockbridges, the
Crow, BIackfoot, Cheyenne, Aricare,
Grosbentres, Assinebowe, the Mandan
and other Indians. a portion of the
Chcrokees will fall! into this territory, un-
der the bill of Mr.. Douglas. 1t is well
known that the American board of mis-
sions has for many years employed mis-
sionaries among those Indians. The
Osages would also be included, to whom
the same association formerly sent mis-
sionaries.
The climate of Nebraska il, Of course,
different in different parts. It's southern
portios may have about the climate of
Virginia, its interior of Connecticut, and
its extreme northern portion that of
Maine. Then the prairie region must be
milder than the mountainous portions on
the western borders. The tops of its
highest mountains are described as COW
cred with aim ost perpetual snow.
The sell varies as much as the climate
Much of it is excellent, while other por-
tons are composed Of nothing but sand,
such as the Great American Desert, in
the central portion of the territory. The
eastern portion is generally prairie, which,
like the tracts on the numerous rivers, Is
productive, 1t is generally agreed that
the country must be chiefly an agricul-
tural one. Manufacturers may flourish
to some extent, and commerce hardly at
all, as it is far from oceans, and has no
great lakes leading thereto.
Tie agricultural powers Of the country
may be somewhat inferred from the re-
turns of the four tribes Of Christian In
dians-the Delawares, Kickapoos, Shaw
nees and, Stockbridges-all living north
and south Of the Kanzas river. The
number Of these Indians is 1902. They
are mostly supported by agriculture, and
these returns are for single year. The
number of acres cultivated we're 4000.-
They raised over $4,000 bushels 0! corn,
$500 bushels Of wheat and ID 900 bush
els of oats. They kept over 500 work
ing oxen, and large numbers of horses
OF melons Of all kinds they raised over
1000, and 400 hogs. The value Of
their products is put down at 83I coo.
Among these Indians, civilization and
Christianity have much advanced, and
will be further indicated by the statistic:
that follow. They have six schools, sever
teachers, and two hundred scholars
Their Sabbath schools are five, and their
churches the same. OF professors of re.
ligion there are 372, nearly half of whom
are males, or a much larger portion than
is usual in England The Nebraska, the
Kanzas and the Arkansas are the three
great rivers The first two flow from
cast to west, and empty into the Missouri
several hundred miles above its mouth
The branches or forks of these rivers are
many. The Arkansas rises in the west
ern portion Of the territory and flows
southeast, and empties, after crossing the
State by the same name, in the Mississip-
p. The Nebraska river is from one tc
three miles broad. 1t is fall of island.
covered with cotton wood, willow and
shrubs. Col Long, says that "onIy for
ty miles of it is open to steamboat nayi.
CATION" The great emigrant routes tc
California and Oregon follow the north
fork Of this river. The Fremont route oI
1912 was upon the south fork of the
same river. The kanzas river is rayiga-
bic for $50 miles from its mouth, for
steamboats,.
All accounts agree that this territory
is not we'll wooded, or at least, is not 9
timber country. Many trees that are
found in cur forests, such as elm, birch
maple, white oak, willow and pine, ar,
found there.
Much Of the country is high table anC
prairie land, elevated from 2000 to 600(
fee above the sea. The climate is term
ed very dry. Wild animals abound there
such as bufaloes, deer, elk, antolopes
prairie dogs, mountain sheep, wolves, wild
horses; turkeys, etc. Occasionally griz
zlY bear crosses the track Of the traveller
Those who journey through this territory
subsist much upon the meat of the butta
10, the meat of the COWS being much pre-
ferred to that of the bulls Deer ar
much used for food, as is also plan
called the milk plant, much eaten by th'
Indians. Fremout's S account OF his glyln4
chase to the Lufaloes, in company witt