New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-26
PROM WESTERN IOWA md NEBRASKA.
F,om Our Or CDrr-spo.Ssni -, ,or.
OOuEoL BLuYFs, Jan %, 1867.

COUNCIL BLuYrs, Jan %, 1857.
The Winter thus far has been Que Of una "a 81 ~
ys,iiy in shi. seciion- Srbce the let oil D~csnocf
the mercury M the Thermometer has beea seD"
zero f., q larse part Of the tims-As io", re
ouen,ly ~ l2o r l5o. On Sunday, toe e
insr. it went down in the Inoroins to %,
some ssy TO 400 That WAS the c'lde.t
dsy ever experienced in this vicinity, and Il
certainly aas cold enough for all practicable pur-
po,es. The snow DUNG the Winter has alsI been
quite abundant. AMI lew covers The ground - she
eep,h Of about two feet ON the level. Further
north s is still deep aud 40 badly drifted
iuceed, sb We 81 Ciy, that all Intercourse wi n
the United States force at Forte Randall and Pierre
has bern Suspended Our o~n mail. have been
sadly hipdered in making their way Across the
STATE. Twenty Days have not unfrequently been
tai en- up the transit. OF letter from your city 10
the Missouri River Travelling, OF course, has
been exceedingly uncomfortable; but in spite OF
both drift.d roads and intense c,id, god many
people have continued 10 make their way luther
curing the Winter. Several persons have been
frozen TO death on the praires ana bot feg have
been badly frosted. The game, especially the deer
have suffered severely. Thousands of the latter
have beeb killed with the grestest ease BY dogs and
wOves. The poor creatures, owing to the depth
Of the snow, are unable where attacked, TO escape
from their as.ailants, and thus fall an easy prey 10
their enemies. II seems pity that these beautiful
slaughtered.
Tie swamp-lsnd trials commence before the
REGISTER and Receiver Of Public Lands, IN this city
on MoIdsy next. The title to at least three bud
dred Thousand acre. Of valuable land IL ID be placed
at issue by this proceeding. All these lands have
been seleced, and set apart 10 the counties, under
the act passed in 1850, donating swamp and over
flowed lands to the State The legality of these
selections is now to be tested. Ahidavits TO sae
number Of several thousands have been flied, claim
ing that these lands not properly included wlthl6
the meaning Of that law. Each affidavit vas ac-
companed by an application to the Register, f,r
the purchase of the tract TO which the affidavit ap-
rrtd. If the United States, st tue mi
himum price of 81 % per acre, and ii the
lands tball be- finally adjudged not 70 be
swamp lands then the persons 40 applying tor IN an
will have the privilege of making the purchase
All these afdavits have been heretofore sent Oh 70
WashngtOb-haye been there carefully examined
and numbered by the Commissioner OF the General
Lard Office, and are now sent back tor hnh exam
nation The proceedings will consist 10 the taking
Of dispositions on interrogatories fixed by the
Government. The final decision will be made
on these Dispositions by the Department a.
Washington. The subject excites great deal OF
interest. In the first place, If the counties lose
the " lands they Will lose large amount OF funds
which they have been expecting 70 derive from
them. In the next place, considerable portions, IN
deed nearly all of these lands, have been filed on,
or in other word. preempted under the State Pre-
emptOn la@s, and in sOme cases considerable I'M
prOyenents made upon them-tOr you must re-
member that nearly all Of these lands are bit foe
cultivation, and indeed, the very best for agrcul.
tura purposes in all The West. Both the counties
aud the individuals holding State preemphODs are,
therefore, deeply interested 10 preventing the lands
from reyertiDg back to the Government. COmbI-
nations. it is said. have been formed, and threats
held ont, against such persons as purpose TO testify
on the part of the Government or rather Ot the
persons applying for the lasd from the United
States. Personal violence is strongly limited at,
but | have no idea that this will be r.sorted TO.
Should anything OF special interest occur as The In
vestigaton progresses, will inform you.
The Nebraska Legislature assembled at Omaha
Civ Cd the first Monday of the month. An organ
izaion Of both bodies was promptly effected. The
Governors Message is quie long-one hat OF It
being devoted 10 h Qualification of the Democratic
parry, and the other to the affairs OF the Territory
The latter are represented aud believe sruly-as
being in highly favorable condition. The eastern
and southeastern parts of the Territory are settling
up rapidly; cities and towns are being commenced,
and the foundations being laid or large aud popu-
lous State. No busness OF much Importance has
yet been transacted, except that which relates 70
the removal Of The capital to sOme p0iat in the in
terror An act to effect this object has passed both
branches Of the Legislature but has been vetoed by
tie Governor. 1t is not likely that a majority of
two thirds can be secured IN either House in its
favor 80 that the measure seems almost certain to
fail. II has excited a good deal OF interest," and
charges OF bribery and corruption are freely made
by each side sgainstits opponents. number of bank
charters have been introduced and some ofthem will
probably pass. II is understood, however, that
The Governor will veto them, 30 that there will not
probably be any additions made this Winter 10 the
banking facilities enjoyed by the residents Of the
Territory. At any rate, all well ~ishers to the
Tor ,f,,rp Will ha esH ~ ueh No.
braska has five banks already 10 operation, which,
one would suppose, would be sbandantly sufficient
for population of 10, 00O or II 900. The-e banks
are principally owned by Iowa capitalists and
large proportion Of the bills are brought into this
Stale for circulation. They pass current here aud
in other parts OF the State but see their bills
in bad Odor further east. These banks are now, /
believe, oil owned by responsible parties, who are
personally liable for the redemption Of she clrcula
ton, and 70 long they continue in their present
hands there is not much danger Of " break-down"
among them.