The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-11-07
Character Of the DevelOpement In Pro-
gress ut the West.

The magnificent plains, prairies aud valleys OF the
Great West have been the theme OF many pecuia''ons
as to their bearing and influence on the rest OF the
world when they shall be taken possession OF by evil
ICED man The richness of the country, hardly less
fertile than the bank. the Nile in old Egypt and with
climate to suit the habits and feelings Of almost every
tribe Of man on the EARTH must ye; attract the very
life from the worn-out nations Of Eurnpe-and the
scattered thousands that are los. the wildcrness
will increase 70 hundreds OF thousands and millions at
some futur. day Unlike the sterile and rough lands
that have so long been barrier their approach and
settlement, this region is thoroughly prepare to re
oeive and nour.h cities and kingdoms they ais' IN
its smooth and gentle sopng surface over the lnpedl-
ment that has hidden its attractveress, the families OF
tho Old World be transported on highways that
the border States have devoted all their skill and wealth
to prepare for them almost unwittingy.
The Great Plains beyond the Mississippi to the Rocky
Mountains, colnprehending nearly 1000 miles square,
is soon 70 be regarded rich and lovely region, in
stead Of being viewed a. 'eser', as at present al
though devoid Of timber the great Des guer who aid
them out fitted them for becoming the cardina! basis of
an empire of aud industry exceeding IN exteut
and power that Of any record adapted the means to
this end.
The character and adaptelness Of these Great
Plains perform their part Of the great work is beaut-
fully set forth in article prepared time since by
Col W. Gilpn, aud published i'll the St. Joseph (Mo)
Journal 1t is too valuable be lost aud should be
preserved as matter of history We therefore copy it
As subject that interests shall be bound closely
to that region participate in all its advantages, when
the National Railroad shall connect the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans in i few years hence.
sThere is no timber upon the Great Palms. and single
trees are scarce They have gentle slope from the
west to the east and abound i'll rivers They are clad
with nutritious grasses, and swarm with animal NE
The soil is not scous sandy, but fine calcareous
mold They smoothly out to the naylgable rivers
the Missouri Mississippi, aud St Lawrence. Their
area is equivalent to tn surface OF the twenty yfour
States between the Mississippi and the Atlantic Ocean
but they are homogeneous formation-smooth, uni
FORM and continuous without single abrupt mountain
tmbercd space, DESERT or lake. From their ample d
ensious and position they define themselves to be he
"pasture fields of the world Upon them pastoral
agriculture vii! become separate grand department o
national industry.
The pastoral characteristic being novel to our people
needs minute explanation N trarersng the conti
nent from the Atlantic beach to the South Pass, TIT
point of tue greatest altitude and remoeness from tn
sea- we cross successivey the mbered region the prar
region Of soft SOIL and long annual grasses, and nal
the Great Plains. The two first are irrigated by tn
raiuless, Of compact soil, resisting the plow, and
therefore pastoral Its herbage is peculiarly adapted t.
the climate and the dyness OF the soil and atmosphere
and is perennial 1t is edible and nutritious through
out the year. This is the "y,"mmo or buffalo grass
Il covers the ground inch in hight, has the appear
of delicate and its leaf has the hneness ant
spiral texture Of nsgros hair.
During the melting Of the SHOWS in the immens
mountain masses ut the back Of the Great Plins, tn
rivers swell like tho Nile, and yield copous eyapcr
ton iu their long, sinuous course across the Plans
storm clouds gather on the SUBMITS, rol down tn
mountain Aauks, ana discharge themselves in verna
showers During this temporary prevalence OF 'no's
atmosphere these delicate grasses grow seed IN the roo
and are cured into hay upon the ground by the graz
ually returning drought 1t is this Longitudinal belt
perennial pasture upon which the buffalo hnds his VII
ter food, dwelling upon 1t without regard 70 .,l'oue
culixr to North Amcrica-bufalo, wild horses, ell
white and black tailed deer mountain sheep the gr'zz
BEAR the antelope, wolves, the hare, badger, porcup
and smaller animals innumerabe. The aggregate nun
Der Of this cattle, by calculation from sound data e
ceeds 100 OOO, 900 No annual fires ever sweep ov'
thc Grcat Plains these are confined 10 the prairie
gion.
The Great Plains also swarm with Pontry--the u
KEY the mountain cock, the sandhll crane, the curie
water fowl Of every variety, the swan, goose o''n
ducks marmo,s, the armadlo, the picary, reptiles Il
horned frog birds 81 prey, eagles, vutures, the rave
aud the small birds of game aad song The sreau
abound in f.k; ; d"gs aud demwolves abound III
immense population OF nomadic Indians. lately one M
lion iii number, have, from inmemorial antiquity, sn
sisted exclusively upon these aboriginal herds, bell
unacauaiuted with auy kind OF agriculture the bah
MA, use Of vegetable TODD "r fruits
from this source the Indian draws exclusively
fool his lodge. bis fuel harness, clothing, bed, his
uaments Weapons, aud n>'ls Here Is his sole
psndence from the beginning to the end Of his existent