Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-29
DAILY EVENING STAR,
NEBRASKA.

NEBRASKA.
The Cleveland Herald contains an in
teresting letter from the Nebraska region
written by William Walker, an intelli
gent and worthy halfbreed, and the chic
of the Wyandot Indians, from which W,
make the following extract:
As far as | have been able to make oh
servations on cultivated lands, I have n,
hesitation in affirming that there can r,
no country found to surpass it in the pro.
ductiOn of corn, wheat and oats Clover
[ think, will not do well. The soil il
too loose, and the clover freezes out in
the winter, and what is left gets the fin
ishing stroke during the autumnal drouths
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 line myself, and
take much interest in that department OF
horticulture. think never eat as lus.
cious peaches in my life as my neighbors
and [ have raised. 1t is to be regretted
however, that in some seasons the peach
crop has met with total failure. But ap.
pies and other fruits seldom fail. On the
alluvial lands we have pawpaws, plums.
&C., that will eclipse anything in the
western world. -r
With regard to mercantile and me-
chanical pursuits it would be difficult
at present to tell. This will depend
upon the population in the various prom
inent points, and when the current of
trade has settled down to the permanent
maximum. The location of the Missis-
sippi and Pacific Railroad through the
central route will soon develope the busi-
ness 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 own both
sides, great opening will here present
itself to the eenterprising and business
men of all pursuits. 1t is navigable for
200 miles up, to the Republican Fork"
except in low stage of water, which
occurs generally in the Fall. The coun-
try upon this stream is considered the
best portion Of the Territory-the land
generally being well adapted to agricul-
tural purposes and being well watered
by streams emptying into the Kansas
River. l have not travelled this portion
of the Territory, and therefore state only
what derive from reliable authority. /
have explored the southern portion, and
cannot speak in rapturous terms of the
country. 1t is not as well watered, nor
has it as many water privileges for ma
chinery as in tbe northern part, nor is
the soil as good. though a fine grazing
The whole Territory is prai-
rie, except upon the streams and like
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 red, white,
black burr, and pine oak. Shell and
smooth bark hickory, black walnut
blackberry, coffee bean, mulberry, ash,
linden, &C., and in the bottom lands
which are subject to munda1ou, noJnlng
but cottonwood of the rankest and most
rapid growth.
There can be no better country for
raising live stock. The water from
springs) is generally hard, owing to the
source being from beds of limestone.
There are springs, however, 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, l will state that
during the months of July and August,
the mercury in the shade is frequently up
to 100 and los deg, and ] recollect two
or three instances of ITO deg. :.
In the winter, the weather is very ir-
regular. In the winter months, the mer-
curry will sometimes stand at IS deg. OF
"Temperate,' and in twelve hours time
it will be 10 deg. below zero. The irreg-
ularity of the climate is by many at
tributed to our altitude above the valley
of the Mississippi and proximity to the
Rocky Mountains. But permit me to say
at least one thing in praise of the "Quecn
of the Prairies have, both in winter
and summer, the finest roads for who Il
carriages on the Continent of America. i
do not say turnpike or macadamized
roads, but roads made by the plastic hand
Of Nature. In the winter, especially, it
is glorious wheeling. Indeed, good for
any other mode Of travelling.
One popularity l cannot pass without
remark. The morning and evening
twilight lasts about an hour longer than
in Ohio.