Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-06
Correspondence Of the spy.
q iNesra.isa and Kunsas---No' 81
BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE.

EITCHBUR0, pAtA oVs
saasgsssys. Edttors 81 propose in this letter to
show why, in my judgment, the territories Of
Nebraska and Kansas offer greater induce
ments to the emigrant than most, if not all
other localities in the West. There is, how
ever. one objection to some parts of this terri 1
tory, and that is a scarcity of wood. The fires
that annually sweep over these prairies pre-
vent the growth of timber, except along the
river courses, where the grass does not become
sufficiently dry to burn readily. But this OBJ
lection does not apply with much free, SO
far as the present is concerned, for in many
places there is a suficiency for at least one
generation Of settlers, and ample provision can
be made for the future, by planting forests,
and protecting them from fires. Besides, coal
has been known to exist in this region for
long time, as well as in Missouri, where Him
ton says it is found in +" immense strata. -
With beds of coal within and around it, Ne
braska can afford to have its soil devoted to
wheat fields and pastures, since it is to be-
come part of the great granary of the
world.
One advantage Nebraska has over other
places in the West, in addition to those before
named, is its market. The best market for
the West is California. That State, while
the mines continue, which will be at least a
century, will depend chiefly, for articles of
consumption, upon its neighbors for, unless
-four should bring from fifteen to twenty dol
lars barrel, it viii not pay to raise it, where
wages are from three to five dollars day. As
soon as the Pacific Railroad is completed,
California will be almost wholly supplied with
breadstuffs from the Western States and ter
ritories this side of the Rocky Mountains;
and, as this territory is nearer than any other
grain growing territory, or State, of course it
will have the advantage accordingly. When
we take into consideration what the popula-
ton of California is soon to be-that San
Francisco is soon to be one of the great CEN
tres of commerce, and contain a population
exceeding that of the whole State at present,
some just estimate of its value as a market
may be made. 1t is well known that the
shipping of -four from the Atlantic cities to
California is losing business generally ; in
the first place, because of the great distance,
and consequent high freights and in the sec
end, because probably one-half of all that is
thus sent gets damaged, hence all purchasers
are Suspicious of American -four, and it must
be sold, the best of it, below the market price
for good -four. Consequently, Chill can af-
ford to raise wheat to supply this market, al
though paving a tariff of twenty per cent, l
think ad valorem. Nebraska soil can raise
as much wheat to the acre as that of Chill, or
any other country, and when the railroad shall
be built, the freight to San Francisco will be
as low; and, with the disadvantage of the
twenty per cent. duty, Chill will be driven
Ian Nah olrof
far ahead Of all competitors. Even at the
present time, the market for -four, on the
borders of this territory, is equal to almost
any in the West, on account of the annual
emigration to California, across the country;
and when the ground is broken on the Pacific
railroad, and thousands of workmen are scat
tered along its course, it will be still better
In Is49, -four at Salt Lake Valley was twenty
cents pound, and other things in proportion;
aud, although this was probably an unusual
price, yet there is no fear for a want ofa mar
ket, so long as the emigration continues, be-
side the Missouri river, and the railroad across
that State, afford ready access to st. Louis,
Cincinnati, New Orleans, &c., for any excess
over the demand at home.
Also, for stock raising, what, State or eoun-
try can compete with Nebraska There is no
limit to the pasturage, and every man may
keep his thousands of cattle, without encroach-
ing upon his neighbor. Cattle in the more
Southern portion of the territory will winter
themselves in the open prairie, and fatten
themselves during the summer. The market
for live stock is better even than for grain, as
thousands, every year, are driven from the
Western States, by the overland route to Cal
ifornia, where am informed by gentleman
who returned from that State in December
last. oxen bring from $500, to $780, yoke,
aud other cattle in proportion The wild cat
tie of Northern California having been near
lY all slaughtered, the States east of the Rocky
Mountains are relied upon, chiefly, to supply
the markets Of that State. Hence there Is and
VIII be better market in Nebraska and KAN
SIS for all kinds of cattle than in Ohio or any
other Western State.
Another reason why this territory is the
most desirable for emigrants is that the land is
not, like ,ch of the valuable land of the
West, in the hands of spectators. While in
the States the settler must take an undescrib-
able location, and far removed from any settle
ment or pay an exorbiant price for his land,
III Nebraska the most desirable situations can
be had at the Government price, No sooner
is q settlement made in the vicinity Of this
territory that than the land is worth from ten
to fifty dollars an acre and of course, if not ta-
ken BY the actual settlers, it is by spectators
aud hence the desirableness of emisrants 60
ing in companies, or under the auspices OF
company in order that land may be secured in
a settlement at the first case.
49, .sA NEBRASKA.
s For the Spy
A Nebraska IndiEnasicn Meeting Mt