Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-03-02
Sflistellanp>


Geography, Population, - Climate--, ,Soa,-
Productions, ,-Riucrs.
The following article from the Boston Post,
will be found interesting at this time, when
the organization of the territory occupies so
large share of public attention -
" Now that bill is before congress to or
ganize the Nebraska Territory, our readers
may be glad to learn the geography of this
proposed territory. Where is the region call
ed Nebraska. What is the extent of it!
What is its soil, climate, and productions |!
What is its population, and what may be its
future1 Looking in vain through all the
newspapers to get answers to these questions,
the writer has sought information from other
sources, and here is the result of his research
es:
Nebraska is so named from one of its large
rivers called Nebraska, and also Platte river
1t contains all the unorganized territory of
the United States, if we include within it the
Indian territory, SO called. IF we include in
Nebraska what Mr.. Douglas proposes in his
bill now pending before congress, it will ex-
tend south to 81 deg, or half degree above
the line established by the compromise of 1920
Taking this line, considerable portion of the
territory now occupied by the Indians would
not come into the Nebraska and Kansas terri
tories, into which the region, popularity called
Nebraska, is to be organized, according to the
plan before congress.
We may say, in general, that Nebraska is
bounded on the north by the parallel of 43
deg, on the east by the state of Iowa and
Missouri, on the south by the Indian territory,
or portion Of it, by Texas and New Mexico,
and on the west by the Rocky Mountains, bor-
dering upon Utah and Oregon. According to
the estimate in Haywards United States Ca
zette, lately published this territory contains
I36,700 square miles, or tract larger than
all the New England states, New York, New
Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Some Of
the papers estimates that Nebraska is ten or
twelve times larger than Ohio. 1t would
seem by this estimate all the Indian territory
must be included, or more than that bounded
by the Douglas BILL
There have been two previous attempts to
organize this territory. One was made in
congress in June, 1845, or soon after these
graphic reports were submitted to that body
by Col. Fremont. It was then proposed to
make the territory extend from the Missouri
river to the Rocky mountains, and from Al
deg. to 43 deg. north or south, or quite a
small affair compared to the bounds now pro-
posed. The second proposition in reference
to organization came before congress in March
of last year. The southern boundary was to
be The latitude of SO deg. and the northern that
Of Al deg. Neither of these plans were enter
tained by congress.
The information to be obtained with regard
to Nebraska is by no means extensive nor per-
fectly accurate from its wilderness state 'Horn s
Overland Guide to California has some facts
as to the places and roads Of the route to the
state Of gold. The book is small, and the in
formation is meagre. Through Owens geo=
logical survey of the territory considerable
knowledge of its geology has been acquired
But the large volume published by congress,
containing the reports of Col. Fremont's ex-
pedition through this region to California and
Oregon in l842, '43 and Al, contain by far
the largest amount of information, probably,
extant on this almost unknown region
SchoOlcraft's great work on the North Amer
lean Indians, contains some valuable statistics
on the Indians Of this region.
From all sources Of information now open,
we learn that there are but few white settlers
in the Nebraska territory besides the Indian
agents, military occupants, and missionaries
sent out by the various religious denomina
tions of the United States. The whites are
principally located along the Santa Fe road,
and the routes leading to California and Ore
gon. Prominent points for them are Fort
Leavenworth, military station, and Council
Bluffs, an Indian agency.
1t is estimated that there are some rs 900
people in Nebraska, the greater part of these
being Indians. 1t is the choicest hunting
ground Of the red men, and it is supposed, Of
the estimated half million of indians in the
United States, nearly sixth of them are
within this territory, The Sioux tribes alone
are supposed to have 5000 lodges, and about
10000 people, Added to these, there are in
Nebraska, the Pawnees, the Delawares, the
Shawnees, the Kickapoos, the Stockbridges,
the Grow, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Aricare,
Grosbentres, Assinebome, the Mondan and
other Indians. A portion of the Cherokees
will fall into this territory, under the bill of
Mr.. Douglas. 1t is well known that the
American board of missions has for many
years employed missionaries among those In
dians. The Osages would also be included,
to whom the same association formerly sent
missionar ies.
The climate Of Nebraska ia, of course, diff
ferent in different parts It's southern portion
may have about the climate Of Virginia, its in
terror Of Connecticut, and its extreme northern
section that of Maine. Then the prairie re-
gion must be milder than the mountainous
portions on the wester borders. The tops Gf
its highest mountains are described as covered
with almost perpetual snow.
The soil varies as much as the climate
Much of If is excellent while other portions