Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-11-13
MtsrcIIantnns.


We mako the following extracts from let
ter of Col Gilpn, Of independence, Missouri.
to the New York Times:
There is a radical misapprchension in the
popular mind, as 20 the true character of the
"Groat Plains of America as complete as
that which peryadcd Europe respecting the
Atlantic Ocean during the whole historic PEE
Rod prior to Columbus
These plains are not DESERTS, but the OPP
postc, and are the cardinal basis of the future
empire of commerce and industry now cree
ting itself upon the North American conti-
mont They arc calcareous, and form the
PASTORAL Garden of the world. Their posi-
ton and area may be easily understood. Tho
meridian line which terminates the States of
Louisiana. Arkansas Missouri, aud Iowa, on
the west, forms their eastern limit. and the
Rocky Mountain crest their western limit
Between those limits they occupy O longitu-
dian purallologram of less than ono thousand
miles in width, extending from the Texan TO
the Arctic coast
There is mo- timber upon thcm and single
trees are scarce Thoy have a gentle slope
from the west 20 the cast. and abound i'm riv-
ors. They are clad thick with nutritious
grasses, and swarm with animal life. The
soil is not silicious or sandy. but is a fine cali
cucous mould They run smoothly out to
the uayirahlc rivcrs-the Missouri. Nlississip-
nj. and st. I.awrencc-and to the Texan coast
The mountain masses towards the Pacific
form no serious barrier between them and that
ocean No portion of their whole sveep of
surface is more than one thousand miles from
the best navigation The prospect is every
where greatly undulating and graceful. being
bounded, MS ON the ocean. bv the horizon. -
Storms are rare. except during the melting of
the SHOWS upon the crest OF the Rocky Nom
taius. The climate is comparativcl, rainlcss:
the rivers serve, like the Nile. 90 irriratc
rather than drain the neighboring surface. and
have few uhluents They all run from, ,ycet
TO east. having beds shallow and broad. and
the basins through which they flow are fat
long and narrow. The area of the "Great
Plains is equivalent 10 the surface of the
twenty four States between the NHssissippi
and the Atlantic sea. but they are one homo
gencous formation. smooth. uniform. and COM
uuous. without single abrupt mountain. TIM
bcrcd space desert. or lake. From their am
pie dimensions and positions. thew define
themselves the "pasturc fields of the world
Upon them rAsroRGA1 AcRIcu1rrRr will be-
como n separate grand department of national
industry.
The PASTORAL characteristic. heinz novel to
our people. needs "a minute exclamation In
traycrsing the continent from the Atlantic
beach fo fine South Piss t,o mint of ,ro,t-
est altitude and rcmotcncss from the sen. we
cross succc.sivclv tbc tip,borod rc.,i,p N,s
prairic re,iep of soft sail and lopo oo,noi
grasses. and fuallq tbo Cra,t pairs Tbo
two first are IRRIGATED bv the r,irs ,o,o;r.,
from fine .oo and ,e,p,r ma L,., ;.r.;,
o
is therefore ntstorial Tho b,rl,.. t. ,,r,;c
ularlv adnntad to thc clim,te and ho dr,rnss
of the soil and otmoscboro and d. ',,,rorr;.l
IT is ediblc-rntritions tbro,,.,b.,,,t lo ,,.a,
This is the gamma" ~ "bng,I,.' ,~rass Il
covers the ,,round one inch in bci,r'I bas tLo
appearencc or delicate r,oss and itsl.,cl,s
the fnene.. and spiraI tovtpro oc p, ro,r,'s
hair Dutin., tho inolt;r,.. ~ ~, .,l,,s T., a..
immense mountain masses ot tIo boc- If t,o
Great Plains tho ri,crs s,yell likc ho Niin
and Weld a copiou. ov,Dorotiop in ,loi. sin,,
GUS courses across ,bc pla;rs. st,r,,.oia,,J.
gather on the SUBMITS roll down tbo r,o,,r.
tain sides. and DISCHARGE tbensol,.os il, ,.o,n,l
showers During mis- temno,arv nreyaIenco
of moist atmospbcre. tbcse dolicate grass.s
grow. seed i'm the root an are cured into bay
upon the ground by Ia rrn lunllv retnrning
drought II is This lonoitpdipnl holt ~ rco
rcnnial pasture upon which the bufTalo fnds
his winter food. dwelling upon il without re-
Yard to latitude: and here are the infinite
herds of aboriginal cattle peculiar to North
Amcrica-buffalo. wild horses. elk. antelone.
white and black-milcd deor. mountain sheen.
the grizzly bear. woles. the hare. BADGER. nor
cupine. and smaller animals iununcrable.-
The aggregate number of ibis cattle. bv calcu-
lation from sound data, exceed one hundred
million. No annual fires ever sweep over the
Great Plains: these are confined to the prairie
region
The Great Plains also swarm with poultry
The turkey. the lnountain-cock. the prairie
cock the sandhill-cranc. the cnrlew water
fowl of every variety. the swan. goose. brant
ducks; marmots. the armadillo. pcccarv: rep
tiles, the horned frog: birds of prey. eagles
yulturos and the small birds of game and
song. Dogs and domi-woyes abound. The
immense population of nomadic indians. late
ly million in number. have from time imme-
mortal and antiquity subsisted upon these alb
original herds, being unacouainted with any
kind of agriculture. or the habitual use of veg
otablo food or fruits From this source the
Indian draws exclusively his food. his LODGE
a.: r.t l u a