New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-05
TO h.e ~hs !. t,,e Io-s va.ure. ho-ss
CcwBuuiou ~i.h her visible forms sse sp<bs

He orgeis for a time. home friends, and all the com-
forts be has left behind. and Willingly cndures the
hardships and priv atoms If a mountain life
We have been passing through q very interesting
portion of the country for the last two three days
The great Nemaban River il considered the boundary
line between the Territories Of Kansas and Nebraska
All the country north OF this river TAR the Ayonay
River opposite the northern boundary of Iowa. l. IN
cuded in Nebraska.
That portion which lies between the two Nemahsn-
IL occupied by the hall breeds OF the various
tribes Of Indians the Lower Missouri They mum.
Der about sixty persons including their families and
have made a very near approach TO civilized life.
They possess Of the finest land in the Territory
for Agricultural purposes.
We saw numerous fields Of corn and other grain
along the river. Well cultivated, well fenced, and
number OF comfortable houses with herds Of hne look
ing cattle and horses
That portion Of Nebraska that borders on the river
is very beautiful No description, however vivid. can
convey 10 one who has not seen u anything HE an
adequate idea of it's beauty. Ii Is only the painter
that can make an approach this. On either hand,
far the eye reach, may be seen
Plans immense, inerHinabIs mead,
A5e I'd. ,' "a 1ii, mace oses '
In the Prince de- Weds great work on this region
are some fine views taken by the celebrated French
painter Bodmer which convey very true idea of the
scenery But all wood painting il insufficient. IL Is
matter Of surprise that some American landscape
painter has this taken summer trip into this
country and seized upon some of the beauties of the
scenery and preserved them. before the hand OF art
shall have made any changes Surely in no part of the
world could he find tit subjects for his pencil.
About J. miles below the mouth Of the Platte Is
small island bearing the highly dignifed name of Five
Barreled Island. Why this name given IT, | could
not determine II seems to BE- simply sand bar, Gov
cred nth Tickets of willow, which in places, is
being gradually replaced by small growth OF cotton
wood. At day break this morning We passed the
mouth OF the Platte or Nebraska River which is ten
miles below Council Bluff City. 1t is about 300 yards
10 tie nd his titnp in rh
stage of water This is the largest river in Nebraska,
and is no extent nayigable but like all the streams
in this country possesses no permanent supply OF
water can give no better idea of navigation in Ne
braska than by quoting very interesting sketch from
Col FremOnt's first journal:
I'VE halted to at open reach of the river
which occupies rather more than fourth of the valley
here only about four miles broad The camp had been
disposed with the usual precauton the horses grazing at
little distance, attended by the guard and We were all
sitting quietly at dinner on the grass when suddenly
we heard the startling cry " da monde In an instant
every weapon his hand the horses drly
On n bobbled and pickeed and horsemen galopng
at full speed in the direction of the screaming
and yelling with the widest excitement Get ready my
lads said the lender Of the approaching party to his
men, when wild looking horsemen were discovered
bearing down upon them Nous dL0hS dtrdPPeT des
coaps de magnetic" They proved to be small party of
fourteen under the charge of man named John Lee and
with their baggage and provisions strapped 10 their backs
making their way foot to the frontier Sixty days
since they had left the mouth of Larame Fork some 300
miles above barges laden with iurs of the American Fur
but nine nche. water hoped TO make speedy and prosper
ST. Louis bat after lapse of forty days found
Themselves only hundred and thirty miles from their
point of departure. They came down rapidly a. TAR "a
SCOTS Bluffs, where their difficulties began Sometimes
they upon places where the water wa spread over
Great extent and here they toed from morning until
night endeavong drag their boat through the sands
making only two or three miles in as many days Some
times they would enter an arm of the rver where there
appeared fine channel and after descending prosper
Osy for eight ten miles would come suddenly upon dry
sands and be compelled return, dragging their boats
for days aganf the rapid current, and at Others they
upon places where the watera in holes aud getting
float off their boat would fall into water mp to their
necks and the next moment tumble over against a sand
bar Discouraged at length, and finding the Platte
growing every day shallow, they discharged the
principal part OF their cargoes 100 miles below Fort Lara
ME which they secured well possible, AMI leaving
few men 10 guard them, attempted TO continue their
voyage laden with light furs and their personal lug
gage. After fifteen twenty days more struggling the
sands, during which they made but 10 miles. they
sunk their bargos, made eqche OF their remaining urs
and property, trees the bank, and packing on hs
back what each man could carry had commenced tne
day before encountered them their journey on foot to
ST. Louis. We laughed then at their orlorn and vaga-
bond appearance aud in turn month two after
ward, furnished the same occasion for merrment to
others.
But few Of the streams have any running water in
them during the latter part Il summer. The water
power for manufacturing purposes is very poor
The country in the region of the Platte is extremely
fine. There are broad aluyis plains level as the
quiet sea covered with uxuran grass and dotted with
groves OF OAK and cOtOnwood in the rear OF these are
gently sloping hills looking like lawns and as seen
through the haZy atmosphere the of the seem
10 tip every blade of grass with slvery luster These
covered with great variety OF richly colored
flowers. The prairie rOse great fayOrlte. il very
abundant at this time 2eeping out from among the high
grass in its purple dress. great variety OF eguni
nous plants found, the prairie turnp prairie po-
tato false indigo lead plant &c. We find now, north
of this river gradually disappearing the larger forest
and the finest timber, the different varieties OF
maple and hickory, black walnut, buternut, sycamore
pehan tree, honey locust, &c, also the sassatras
buckeye persmmOn, trumpet flower, May apple, dc.
The trees diminish in size and luxurlance also. We
It'll have the white and red ash the American and red
elm, quite low but with magnificent foliage and
branches bending 10 the ground, sometimes forming an
almost impenetra )le shade. The cottonwood Is every
where in the greatest profsOn along the streams. In
terminged with these find underground of
vines, the grape, ivy and hop, also dogwOod cur
rant gOosebeTry redrOOt and densely matted PUSHES
along the river banks. On the upland pralres are
small groves of the Eastwood nettlewood, mulberry
al this time covered with prous0n of delicious fruit
much resembling the blackberry. lntermlnged with
these is underground Of the black haw, pricby ash
&c. On the rocky banks of streams have species
Of prairie oak, low and of firm knotty growth, red
cedar, hornbeam, with variety of shrubs, "a wild
cherry two or three species, wild roses and sumach
The soil OF the low praires is auvial, exceedingly
ricl and deep filed with great amount Of vegetable
matter. That Of the upland prares and bluffs lscO
posed of ashcOlOred silicOus marl turning yellow
sh exposure to the atmosphere covered with fine
growth grass rendering them well adapted 10 graz
Hg Tie above description applies only 10 the country
bordering on the river. Twenty thirty miles back
in the Interior the timber almost entirely disappears;
nothing is seen but broad grassy plains often much
aFIesyauce to the settler In the latter part OF sum
mer and fall the whole region becomes parched with