The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-09-13
n AND NRBRAsKA


KANSAS AND NEBRASKA
As these newly organized territories
are now attracting general attention, We
have taken the trouble-to collect from
our exchanges all the information in re.
gard to them that we could. The fol
lowing articles are all that we can col
lect that we deem worth publishing
correspondence of the Missouri Republican. !
WEsrPoRr, Aug. Is, 1s54-On leav.
ing Westport, the last point in the
States, and where the emigration find il
the most convenient to obtain stock and
supplies for their outfit, we first enter
1.-THE Reserve. This being the cream OF
the Territory, and as we find it under
high State of cultivation, and teemine
with the neatness and thrift of Indian
husbandry, nothing can be better cal
culated to embolden the ambition and
strengthen the hopes of the a~dyenturer,
as he goes onward to become a grateful
recipient of the bounty of an indulgent
Government. When across the Waka-
reusa, we have left the attractions pre-
sented by the thrift and Industrial ae-
complishments of the Indian farmer,
and the beauties of the seemingly bound
less prairie open to our view. We con-
tinue NJ march over the roll of the
prairie, and as the province of our ris-
Ion becomes more extended, we find the
sameness of the prairie relieved by scat
tered groves that here and there spring
Up with a luxurious growth along the
rich bottoms of the creeks.
. We can be more explicit and give
"a more Ineligible account of this pro-
vince if we speak of it in sections,
than by making general remarks; and
as that portion from the Wakarousa
west for twenty miles has been the most
thickly settled, and for other reasons
.entitled to a special consideration, we
shall speak of that first.
The prairie within these limits is
squite undulating, with great uniformity
IN its wave, rolling to the westward upon
a line nearly north and south. A great
portion of the surface is thus made a
hillside; the inelinatiens are very regu-
lar, and as the soil is equally as rich,
and the timber and water equally as con-
: venient, the hillside is as readily occu-
pied by claimants as the more level
plains. The soil is very fertile, being a
heavy black loan, with an average thick
ness perhaps of twenty inches. This
soil is susceptible of the highest ~cultiva-
tion, and when so cultivated, which can
be done with little labor, a plentiful har-
vest must be the reward of the husband
man.
As a grazing country, there can be
none better than this prairie; the grass
is thick and heavy, and even during the
great drought of this season it has not
failed or become parched. Water, at
the present time, Is very scarce in con-
sequence of this drought; we are in
formed, however, hat when no drought
is prevailing it is quite plenty, and such
Is the physical formation of the country
that We should judge this statement to
be correct. Tillage is all that is want
ing to develop the richness of the prai-
RE; give it the seed, and In due time
these fields of heritage shall wave with
abundant crops. The Creator has made
this land as rich and beautiful as the
Eden home of the young italian. How
much g~ratefuIness for this boon of Prov
idence is acknowledged by the blood
thirsty strife of its recipients seeking
for the sacrifice of its beauty at the era
ter of political incendiarism
: Of the game of the prairie, birds are
the most plentiful. The whole prairie
is n vast ayiary; prairie chickens,
quails; partridges and ploVer startle you
at every footstep, while in the air do
float the vulturous birds, awaiting some
.repast, No buffalo, and but few deer
are found in this section. The wolf and
the eayole have not relinquished the pur-
chase, but still remain to make night
hideous with their yell, prefering death
by the bullet to butchery by the arrow.
Timber can be had in abundance upon
the bottom lands, and bluffs of the river.
In some cases, however, the haul is long
Ia distance you may reckon in miles
but as a general thing the claims are
made SO that the timber is quite conve-
nient. The prevailing character of the
timber is oak, and in places valuable
patches of cottonwood is found. These
bottom lands are also very rich, and un-
der horticultural cultivation will doubt
less be made very productive. As the
Territory becomes populated, navigation
will be opened, and a ready market fur
nished for these garden products. Many
claims have been made In the timber
and the smoke is now ascending from
their cabins.
Along the river, within the limits of
section, are some few favorable sites
for towns and cities, with one exception,
however, we think that one of these
viii be built up for years to come.