Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-09
LETTER FROM THE WEST.
ARCHER, Richardson Co., N 7. /
7th November, 1857.

1th November, 1851.
FRIEND Row Thinking that knowledge |
Of the times, the seasons, and the doings in
Nebraska may be of some interest to you and
the readers of your paper, / have concluded |
to again obtrude myself upon your notice |
and if your judgment comedies with my own. |
you are at liberty to make this public through |
the columns of the Journal.
The echo of the cry of sshard times" has
reached us from the East, and the people here
as well as there feel its consequences. Money
commands from five to ten per cent. month
here, and the person borrowing must give am
pie and the best kind of security before the
money can be borrowed at all. The land
sharks around our land offices, and spectators
generally, are not letting such golden har-
vest pass by without reaping and gathering in
its fruits. Five banks out of seven in the
Territory have closed this fall and s'gone by
the board.'' They dead that all the
bankers in the West can hardly resurrect them
or reinstate their credit so as to restore the
confidence of the people. The other two, one
at Nebraska City, the other at Omaha. yet con-
time to redeem their notes with specie. They
may possibly s'weather the storm,'' but if they
do our people will be very much deceived.
Notwithstanding the hard times very large
| number of re-emptions have been, and are
still being made. The country is now fast
| settling up, and improvements are going on at
rapid rate and though banks may break,
money disappear, and hardship, penury and
! beggary stare our people in the face, yet their
independent and enterprising spirits are not
subdued, and the Territory, under any and all
circumstances, is bound TO go on prospering
and to prosper until it shall be numbered with
the States of our Union.
The corn and potato crops here this fall are
| good, and the husbandman has been amply re-
warded for his labor. l will give you an ex-
| ample of potato raising here, which will give
some idea of western farming. Judge Miller,
| one of the early settlers of Archer, from three
| bushels of seed, and on less than one half acre
| OF ground, raised two hundred and ten bush
els OF blue Neshannock potatoes. They were
dug, and sold for fifty cents per bushel where
they lay.
The fall, so far, has been fine, and the wealth
er: with slight Interruptions, has been exceed
ingly beautiful. The first frost was on the
night of the 18th of October. The first snow
made its appearance to-day, and, to all ap-
pearance, winter, with its chill, cutting blast,
is upon US.
| The difficulties with the Mormons are in
creasing and growing more serious every day.
A bearer of dispatches to Gen. Harney, at
Fort Leayenworth, stopped here to-day. He
informed me that he met Col. Johnson with
his Company, about 250'miles beyond Fort
Laramie, and that the Col. sent word to Gen
Harney that she would winter in Salt Lake
Valley or in H-l.'' In the vicinity of Green
River seventy three Government wagons, Ia
den with stores. provisions, &C., for Col. John
sons company, were captured and burnt by
the Mormons. One man was hung, and an
other by the name of Jones taken prisoner by
them. The others were compelled to return
+, to the Fort. The cattle were all turned loose
and dispersed through the country. The Nor
mons had burned the grass in their vicinity
so that it was very difficult for cattle to sub
sist on the way. He reports them to be wei
and strongly fortified. The snow in the vi
cinity of Fit. Laramie, where he passed them
was about two feet deep. Fort Laramie il
, distant about 800 miles from here. The In
dians are less troublesome than they have beer
for some time past.
The second Court ever held in Richardson
County, has just terminated. We hold court
eat, and sleep, all in the same little house here
Sometimes the,,Judge is supplied with a chai
upon which to sit while he charges the Jury
and sometimes he sits upon the bed TO dis
: charge that important duty. 1t is really anu
sing to see how some things are done here, il
this new country. Hon. Samuel W. Black
late of Pittsburgh, Penn'a., is the Judge O
the ID Judicial District of Nebraska of whicl
Richardson County is part. He is a yer,
, mild and pleasant Judge, and is making him
self quite popular with the people.
, If an apology for the length of this letter b.
, necessary, l would say that it has been spul
out much longer than was at first intended
q and with that apology,
l am yours, &C., d..