New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-03
THE NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY.
dssse Of The ~ Y. Trsrse


Corr,.pss sssee Of The n. Y. Trsuse
OMAHA, n. T., Jan. a. ls57.
There is an idea very prevalent IN the MINDS o.
many that the vast reach of country oef~eeR NE
Missouri and the Rocky Mountains s, to great
extent, a desert This idea "a very VIDE Oh zoe
truth. There is no more waste lsbd IN Kansas md
Nebraska, in proportion 70 their sze, than there -
in the State OF New-York.
For sn average width OF $50 miles ives. Of The
Missouri The soil is good, both upon the high and
low prairies. After going further Yves, thar tbs,
the high ridges between the streams beesme sandy
and the soil thin. Rain seldom falls, because It IS
SO far removed from either ocean, and also heosnso
IL is out of range with the cloud-bearng wiBds from
the Gulf OF Mexico. But even this deeert, which, in
the old maps, is represented scattered ahoot
generally over considerable part OF North America,
"a covered with short but exceedingly nutritious
Grass which. not being injured by the fros supports
Vast droyps of bufal, elk and deer both Summer
and Winter. This being the ease, Why may g not
be equally capable of supporting the hocss and herds
OF nan
West Of this belt Of comparatively unproducsve
land there are around the head waters of the Kan
sas the Arkansas, and the Platte almost limitless
regiols where all explorers unite IN bearing .eeh'
mony TO the fertility Of the soil, the Aeathiuetrs
of the climate and the exceeding beauty and 'srl'
ETY. of the scenery.
The Rocky Mountains do not form one coutins-
Gus, uninterrupted cnalD, as t1ey are relseNfhttN
| upon maps; but they consist Of a mountainous re-
eon four or FIVE hundred miles IN width, inssrsected
by spurs running in all directions, divHied into
| valleys. and exhibiting al the varieties OF sceDery
| which such cOnfguraton Of country naturally
| would.
| The testimony Of Fremont 10 the fertility and
beauty OF these regions IL clear and unequiyoeaL
| Let us call him upon the stsnd. Speaking Of TIA
country about the sources of the Platte, he says:
"Our route .y sosg Of the mountain %. ons
narrow spurs which opd gradually down the river rg'
~s.er.d in almost every hollow clear mountain ';r'so
the OF the morning We eo''ee seventeen ,ysl
of them beipg large creek with s~f cures and toe.s5
deep These ysrioasy wooded with groves d 81
frequently sht during the Gay and IN their abundance re
latter reminded slightly Of the sasm"-to VA
nc country preenns the appearance eNcop, that
the 'canty bat 'i he bottoms OF iee cIfks
the afternoon brought 70 the main Platte o@,e band
come with uniform breadth u seventy ysrd- except
where widen-d BY frequent Ands IL apparently 2,
with moa.ate and wooded with grove, o. ARG vi
s.S,r.eS iso sorsc throush which he rivsr passed
through We entered 1t. Ard found ourselves 10 the
ter, walled II an ,ro1nd rn snowy mountains, no ~
water ard with grass. ns'd VIII Prs or ,ns U', a,n 90
signifies Lodge Of which may b. cohsiasIed
,os Ss aS. 70; a.s ~S tho G
park From ,his elevated aud froa the surrounding
P.te or Sssr.is River collects its
| tsinly river coule ssk more beautiful origin
thus see that there IA upon ue eiu ON siOkS
of the Rocky Mountains, q region Ut vast extent,
presenting al the charming varieties Of scenery
Which such q combination Of bill and mountain,
sequestered valley and winding brook, ia won't -
exhibit, and witbsl having most healthfJ climate
and an abundant supply Of timber. making another
ew-Engand another Highlands of SEQ land %
a region which we have been taught ~ regard -
barren waste. -
Fremont, Stansbury and other explorers speaI
of finding coal gypsum, iron and other metals az
mspy points among the mountains, and we cannot
| doubt but that when they are thoroughly examined
they will be found to contain sources OF pinerai
wealth fully equal 10 ihe Older parts OF the Scnn-
ny, aud only needing science and industry 81 reo-
der them suSsertsnt 10 tho progress % society and
| be- wsnis Of man.
Now. there being but little wsste land for $50 &c
400 miles west Of The Missouri, and there being sse
vast regions Of fertility and beauty lying st she
eastern ba,e Of the Rocky Mountains we can afford
o acknowledge the existeaoe Of belt Of territory
| from 2,O "a 800 niles in width, extending from
north 20 sOuth through the central parts Of Kan
| sas and Nebraska, where there IL TIMBER,
where the soil ID poor and toe scenery deeolse,
At the same time, remembering what have already
stated that this strip il covered with grass,
End forms the pasture grounds OF innumerabIo
herds Of buffalo, deer, and other wild animals,
| that man will carry The arts of civilized LIE
il and be supported by the wood, the coal and The
millions of people upon either side Of it, is not only
probable and possible, but certain 70 take Place
among the stirring events Of tho next few years.
The idea that there IL, in proportion ~ she whoe,
any considerable amount OF uninhabtable and bansS
land IN Kansas and Nebraska, IL false hea.