New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-03
FROM NEBRASKA.
/, Ct IT, ". 7. Tribune.

OMAHA, y. T., Jan. TO- lco'.
The Platte Valley to e description Of which
propose 20 devote this letter. extends along tue
course of the Platte or Nebraska River for 700
miles from ire mouth. Commencing stthe Missouri,
IFS width a. far "a the mouth OF the LOup FORK, Is
from % TO 80 miles from this stream TO Fort Near
ney -, and from Fort kesrney to Fort Laramie
from 70 miles. Il is estimated by good Judges
to contain 10000 square miles. But, If TO this be
ADDED the lands upon the numerous small streams
which empty into the Platte on the north, which
lands are in all respects similar To those OF the
Great Valley the above estimate will be swelled to
at least double the amount mentioned, or TO tne
size Of tract of territory about four times the szo
of Connecticut.
Respecting the Platte River but little need be
said The Indians call it the Nebraska or the Shs-
low Water, name sufficiently indicative OF its
character, for il ran be tordsd 1T almost any point
being in tact shallow that there il rarely place to
be found along twhere the water is sufficiently deep
for a ferry crossing IL flows over bed Of qmck-
sand il constantly changing It's channel, and OF
course is of no value whatever for abe purposes of
navigation.
Tie biufs along the Platte attain an average
hight Of two hundred feet. On the north they are
gently rolling, and invariably several miles distant
from the river; while on the southern bank they
are almost PERCEPTIONS. and rise immediately from
tie waters edge. We would call particular stten
ton to this fact for it indicates that any railroad
which may in future be constructed up the Platte
will inevitably be located upon it's northern side
for nature has made on this side 80 gentle and con-
tinuous a grade that but mere nominal sum VIII
complete il for the track, while the rough and
rocky bluffs which hue closely TO the southern
bank pre.eLt an almost insurmountable obstacle TO
q railway.
There il nnch more timber upon the southern
shore of the river than upon the northern, TACT
which conceive ean BE- accounted for IN this way:
During The Autumn months, when the fires are
running upon the praires, the prevailing winds,
coming a. they do from the oorth. carry the fires
directly 10 the northern bank Of the stream, but
blow them from the southern; and thus the trees
upon thu latter side escape 10 greater extent Shan
upon the other.
For the first three hundred miles the valley is
supplied with tinlber-I will not say abundanty,
f,r tina. can be said Of bu. small portions of the
Great West. But il has a fair supply-enough b
meet the wants Of an agricultural community. 10
il not true that these regions are naturally una
dapted 10 the growth Of timber; for those places
that are rejected from the ravages OF III tres are
iurd,iaJu found covered, densey covered, with 1t.
A. for instance the islands in the Platte, many Of
which contain hundreds OF acres and are always
covered with dense forests OF oak, cotton God,
black Walnut aid cedar.
Il is true and there is need Of eoneesling the
tact-tbat large portions Of lows, Ksnsas and Ne
brs.ka are but poorly supplied with timber; but
that will Dot prevent their speedy settlement, any
more than il has prevented Illinois from receiving
her compliment OF inhabitants. Her vast naked
praries-nO. particle better for cultivation than
tho,e of Kansas and Nebrssks-sre being rapidly
and thiebly covered with the homes Of industrious
thouiaD6s. And, when We consider that the com
paratyely barren soil Of New England and Of other
portions Of the Esst is, in many cases, densely
populated, We cannot for moment s1ppose that
these beautiful rolling prar.es, with their pure at
nosphere their gushing fountains, and their soil OF
e1haustless fertility, will for any great length of
time remain destitute Of inhabitants. The suop0-
sition is absurd.
Epptying into the Plate along rs entire course,
We find greas number Of small streams The fret
Of these on the east 10 the ElkhOrn, a stresm 200
miles 10 length, and running through one OF the
mort charming valleys that human eyes ever beheld
Along this river there is good supply OF timber OF
various kinds.
know of no scenery more magni6cen. than that
which Is presen!ed 10 tho traveller while riding
along the bluffs Of the EEborn. Directly below
HIM be sees the besutiid winding river siouou-ly
s.iir amid its fringe Of forest trees On the east
far az the eye can reach, lies the gently undul.tng
prairies; nhle on the vess, the combined valleys
OF the Plste and the Elkhorn are seen 10 lose
Themselves IN tse dim and hay distance.
The valley of the EkhOrn may be considered 81
the largest and most important Of the outlying
branches Of thr grea. Platte Valley.
" est OF tbs ElkROrl, a. the defiance Of twenty
les, w come 70 Shell Creek, . small stream
eghiy niles in lergh, having also ia broad Valley
# rich bottom land and its lining Of timber extend
irg its whole leigh. Still further on, at the dis-
taLee Of eighty nes from the Missouri, we meet
with the Loup Fork, a stream 'omewaat larger
than the Elkhorn, and te it. having ts fertile bot
I'm lards and IL Numerous groves OF heavy osk
and cottonwood. At the mouth OF this stream the
town Of Columbus ia OcAted, at present The western
limit Of emlgrst.n Beyond this point Tie lands
are ye. iD tie possession of The Indians.
Bet, cen The Loup Fork and Fort Laramie there
are a. many q. tAirty small streams, varying from
so 10 100 miles in length, and Of q hse character
with those above mennoOeS. All these, with the
lands upon tbem, may be coDssdered as 30 many
Sepepdeneies of ise Platte Valley, destined " be-
ecne tributary TO j., nd 70 have the same oosle.
,pon The BissSuri, Lanely, ihis young metropolis
Of Eebra,ka, which from iss position must become
the sn,,epo, and The point Of departure for all the
VAST regions serth Of he Phke, from the hlssoori
70 The Rely Aessfaina
Th. valley, a. hefsrs remarked, presents the best
pc,,ibls grade for railroad, being " tho Eye q
dead lsssl fer Dore thas 200 miles.
The descent fIsn The base Of Ne Rsesy Nous