Litchfield enquirer., 1854-03-30
NEBRASKA TERRITORY.

SeQuent upon the 6HOrt In congress 10 organize the Nebraska and Kansas Ter. riiories. much interest has been awaken ed as to the condition, character and res sources of that vast tract of county. The. migrating portion of our people have had their attention called to this territory with view to this settlement, and already companies are being formed in different sections of the country with intent to emigrate to Nebraska, Any information concerning it cannot at this time be uninteresting.
 At best but meagre report of the character and condition of the country can be made. owing 10 poverty of sta- listics and want of exploration by either government or travellers. Emigiant trains have passed through it, but have not turned aside f,om their beMen ioute 10 make explorations or examinations as to the natural resources of the country. Yet we arc not wholly ih the da'k in re- gard to all these things.
 The Indians are sole possessors of the soil, which fact has prevented the set~ clement of Nebraska by the whites. ex> crpt in connection with the Indian ager~ cies or the missions. As no title to land can be obtained so long as it is reserved to the Indians, people have been p'e- vented f'om settling in the country for agricultural purposes.
 The eastern portion of the State is chiefly prairie. with ,ich alluvial soil. and better timbeted than some portions of Illinois. In the middle, stretches out the great American Desert, and the west rough and mountainous. The greater portion of the territory. is supposed to be liberally supplied with all the ele- ments ot an excellent agricultural re- gion. As a whole the territory is deti- cient in wood, yet many parts of it is in> terspe,sed with luxuriant growlhs of poplar. elm. birch. willow, pine, white oak and maple, but not to much extent. On the rivers, the cottonwood tree abounds.
 We are not advised as 10 whether coal abnunds sufficient to meke up their de> ficit of fuel, or whether any minerals are embodied in it's soil. A large portion of this territory is undoubtedly fertile in agricultural resources, and is well adap> ted to grazing purposes. No lakes of importance have as yet been discover ed, and the Plate, its largest river, is navigable only forty miles.
 The climate of the country is said to be very healthy. The air pure and bra- cling. .-The Rocky Mountains on the west have their highest peaks wrapped in eternal snow. The climate is of cou'se very diversified.
 At the north it resembles New Eng~ land <; the central portion is milder; while in the southern part it resembles that of Virginia. IL is said to be tempe rate and not as changeable as the eli male of some of the Western States. The air is go clear that objects can be disccrned at much greater distance than in any o,ler part of the Union. This peculiarity has been remarked by travellers and emigrants. who have ben frequently deceived by ,he great dispar- ity between the real and appa,ent dis tance of place or object from them. The geological formation of it's eastern and principal section is lime and sand- stone.
 As for game. buffalo. antelope, elk, deer, wild. horses, prairie dogs. and bears, still abound in it-thongh the buff falo is becoming scarce there.
 Nebraska. proper, is region of inn mense magnitude. It is estimated in the last census, es containing an erea ol l36 700 square miles. But by rstab' fishing the southern line of the territory at 37 degrees, as proposed ny Mr. Douglas bill, large section of Indian territory. not hitherto included in Ne b,asba, is 10 be chased under the same name. In the additional section propo- sed to be set of. a,e included grea, number of Indian tribes. and the new organization. if adopted, w''l contain about one sixth of all the Indians yet re- maining under the charge of our gov ernment, including the Delawares, Stock> b idges, the Sioux. the Cheyennes. the Mandans, the Crows and Blackfeet, the Assniboias, the Gros Ventures. &c. Part of these tribes are denomnaIed .'Christian Indians" and are under the influence of semi civilization, cultivate the soil and prosecute peaceful arts. This portion. however, comprises but a small hummer, and are situated princlpal- ly in the neighbo,lood of forts and tra> ding posts.
 TIE EMPEROR Me IoLAs's MODE OF LIFE.-The Emperor Nicholas leads lie of lle most feyerish activity. He