The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-07-18
Qualities of Nebraska

by William Walker, an intelligent and worthy
halfbreed, and the chief of the Wyandot In.
dans, from which We make the following ex'
tract:
GAS far as have been able to make obser-
vation on cultivated lands, have no hesitation
in affirming that there can be no country found
to surpass it in the production of corn, wheat
aid oats. Clover think, will not CO. WE'LL
The Soil is too loose, and the clover freezes out
in the winter, and what is lett gets the finish
ing stroke during the autumnal dr"ughts so
common in this country. That this country IS
we'll adapted to fruit raising | can speak with
confidence, as | have been doing something IN
that department Of horticulture. think new
er ate as lucious peaches in my lite as my
neighbors and have raised. 1t is to be re.
GREETED, however, that in some seasons the
peach crop has met with total failure. But
the apples and other fruits seldom fail On
the aluvial lands we have pawpaws. &c, that
will eclipse anything in the western world.
With regard to mercantile and mechanical
purposes, it would be difficult at present. to
tell. This will depend upon the population in
the various prominent points, and when the
current of trade has settled down to the per-
manent maximum. The location of the Mis-.
sissippi and Pacific Railroad through the GEN.
trail route will soon develop the business points
But upon the organization of the territory, and
moreover, upon the extinguishing of the title
of the Shawnee and Delaware Indians to their
lands upon the Kansas river, las they wnh9th
sides) great opening will here present its
to the enterprising and business men OF
suits. 1t is navigable for 200 miles up
Republican Fork" except in a low state
water, which occurs generally in the fall. l
country upon this stream is considered the
portion Of the territory, the land genera
being adapted to agricultural purposes, a
being well watered by streams emptying IN
the Kansas River.
have not travelled this portion Of the liz
ritory, and therefore state only what l derI
from reliable authority. have explored t
southern portion, and cannot speak in rapt
rous terms Of the country. 1t is not well w
tered, nor has it as many privileges for m
chinery as in the northern part, nor is the g
as good, though fine grazing coyHtfy. The
wh"le territory is grai1!ee, except upon the
streams ike most other western countries,
has hills and dales rivers and creeks, prairie
and timber, rich and poor land. The upland
lies high and rolling into beautiful waves. The
timber in the country is REQ, white, black, burr,
and pine oak, shell and smooth bark hickory,
coffee, bean, mulberry, ash, linden, &C., aud
in the bottom lands which are subject to inun'
dation, nothing but cottonwood OF the rankest
and most rapid growth.
There can be no better country for raising
live stock. The water from sprngs) is gen.
orally hard owing to the source being from
beds of limestone. There are springs, how.
ever, that proceed from clay banks, and the
water from these is Invariably soft.
With regard to the climate, it is about the
same as in the northern part of Ohio, except
the winters are not so long, and the summers
are longer and warmer. As evidence Of the
latter, will state that through the months Of
July and August, the mercury in the shade is
frequently up to 100 and los deg, and re.
cnllect two or three instances of ITO deg.
In the winter, the weather is very irregular.
T. the winter months, the mercury sometimes
stands at IS deg. of Temperate and in
twelve hours time will be 10 deg. below zero.
The irregularity of the climate is by many at.
tributed to our altitude above the Mississippi,
and proximity to the Rocky Mountains. But
permit me to say at least one thing in praise
of tie "Queen of the Prairies, - we have both
in winter and summer, the finest roads for
wheel carriages on the continent OF America.
do not say turnpike macadamized roads, but
roads made by the plastic hand of Nature. In
the winter, especially, is glorious whrelng.-
Indeed good for any other mode of travelling.
One popularity l cannot pass without re
marks. The morning and evening twilight
lasts about an hour longer than in Ohio.