Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-18
Correspondence Of the Spy.
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS,
BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE.

MeSSTS' Eottofs:-AgreeaDly to my promises
viii say a word of the climate, scenery, &c.,
of the proposed new territories of Nebraska
and Kansas. This vast tract of country. ex-
tending, as it does, as far south as the south
ern borders of Virginia and Kentucky, and as
far north as the northern portion of the Cana
das, must, of course, have a variety of cli-
mates; but it is of that portion lying in the
latitude of Ohio and southern New York, l
propose to speak. In this latitude, the climate
is agreeably mild and healthy, not subject to
extremes, either of heat or cold. In summer,
although the thermometer may stand at eighty
or a hundred degrees, the heat is not oppres-
sive, owing to a gentle breeze, that rises in
the early part of the day, and continues tlllate
in the afternoon. This breeze is nearly as
regular in its appearance as are the trade winds
on the Pacific coast, and is as pure and health
full; hence, whatever damps, fogs, or noxious
gases, of any kind, may have been generated
during the night, they are early displaced by
the wholesome air from the distant snow
capped mountains. 1t is, doubtless, owing to
this free circulation of the air, that the chol-
era,-which proves so fatal in the heavy
wooded bottoms of the Mississippi and Mis-
souri, rivers, whenever that disease visits this
country-seldors or never seeks its victims in
the open prairies of this territ DRY. Such was
the case in lS49, and also in 1885, according
to the testimony of a missionary at Council
Bluffs, in that year. The climate of Nebraska
varies, not only in the different ATTITUDES, but
also in different attitudes. While on its east
srn borders no frost can be found, and the grass
is from three to nine inches in height the first
of May, on its aoeStey1 near the "South Pass
of the Rocky Mountains, ice, in abundance
may be found in the middle of June, and on
the mountain tops are perpetual SHOWS.
The scenery of this territory is as varied as
the climate The monotonous level of the
river bottoms, the beautiful rolling praiIies, the
picturesque bluffs Of the Platte, the grand
and stately piles of granite on the Sweet Wa
ter, and the sublime heights of the Rocky
Mountains, afford sufficient variety to feast a
lover of Nature a lifetime. There is probably
no other country, of the same extent, that
contains so much variety and beauty of scenery
as this, neither is there any country that has
scenery like it, in many Of its characteristics.
The scenery Of the Platte, in the vicinity of
SCOTS Bluffs, stands unriyalled, and unap-
preached, even, in the picturesque. 1t is not
only Sui generiS, unlike every other in charac-
ter, but surprisingly beautiful. Rev. Samuel
Parker, in describing the bluffs on the Platte,
says: "Many of them are very high, with
perpendicular sides, and in almost every i'm
aginable form. Some appeared like strong
Notifications, with high citadels; some like
stately edifces, with lofty towers had new
bof ~, al
alton. And what adds to their beauty is, that
the clay of which they are composed is nearly
white. Such is the smoothness, and regular
ity, and wilderness of the perpendicular sides
and offsets, and such the regularity of their
straight and curved lines, that one can hardly
believe that they are not the work of art
This is but very imperfect outline of the
background of the picture that extends for
miles,, while the Platte, with its wide and
rich bottom, constitutes the foreground. But,
though the lovers of Nature and the beauti-
full, while Time shall last, will bow in adora-
ton at this shrine, and the curious and fash
ionable shall make it their resort, yet, few of
the emigrants of this generation will make it
their home. The scenery that most attracts
such men is found nearer, in the eastern por-
ton of this territory, where the deep virgin
soil of the rolling prairie invites the plough
and spade. To give some idea Of this scenery,
l will quote my impressions, as they were
pencilled while travelling through the Indian
territory, south of the Kansas river.
May 18th. Our cruise, to-day, has been
over the rolling prai1ie and we passed along
without difficulty. The prairie seems to be
an endless succession of rolls, with a smooth,
queer surface, dotted all over with most beau
tiful flowers. The soil is of the most rich and
fertile character, with no waste land. The
feelings that come over person as he first
views this immense ocean Of land are indie
scribable. AS far as the eye can reach, he
sees nothing but a beautiful green carpet, save
here and there perhaps cluster of trees; he
hears nothing but the feathered songsters of
the air, and he feels nothing but solemn
awe in view of this infinite display of creative
power.
18th. Turned out this morning at o'clock,
to watch the cattle. Went upon high roll
of land where l had an extensive and most
| enchanting view of this, seemingly, boundless
! and ever varying prairie. The sun is rising
| out of this sea Of land in the east, line of
timber skirts Cedar Creek to the N. E., also
| Spoon Creek to the n. W., while still further
on, in the same direction, is seen a thick fog,
marking the course of the Kansas river All
Is still save the grazing of the cattle, and the
| concert of birds, which is composed of a great
4
| hens, heard in every direction, constitutes the
bass the loud cawing of the crows, the tenor;
the fine sweet voices of the ground and small
birds, the treble; and noise as of distant wild
geese the alto.
23rd. Passed beautiful little creek of pure,
cool water, about II NJ, where we found a
newly made grave. Assembled high bluff
near the creek; where l had most delightful
view of the country to great distance. was
reminded of the view of the Connecticut River
Valley from Mt. Holyoke. There is this diff
ference however, while one is circumscribed
by hills and forests, the other is illimitable in
extent and stretches from the rising to the
setting sun; and while one is striped and
checked with cornfelds and meadows like
carpet, the other is capable of being checked
as numerously with States aud nations.
at some distance north of our route, Mr..
Parker describes the country as follows
"For about twenty-five miles since we
crossed the Elkhorn, and between this river
and the Platte, which are about ten miles
apart, there is not single hill. 1t is rich bot
tom land, covered with luxuriant growth of
grass. No country could be more inviting to
the farmer with only one excepton-the want
of woodland The latitudeis sufficiently high
to be healthy; and as the climate grows warmer
as we travel west, until we approach the snow
topped mountains, there is degree of mild