Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-03-29

MRnnAaKA CRY. Nam q TAX


NEsaAsxA Cry, AAaM 9, 1858.
FsIEsp RIcaAaDsoS: l am induced to
write you frsm belief that some items and
facts concerning this country viii not be
uninterssting 70 your readers. particularly
= many Of them have interests here Who
have never visited Southern Nebraska
II viii be unnecessary for me to 20
through With general history Of the Terri
tory from it, organization, IS all your read
err are swsre Of the time when Il became
Territory and the general features of its
progress !; suf6ce il to say that its settle
ment commenced about four years since, al.
though emigration came very slowly to
eur borders until within the last two wear.
The population Of Nebraska As estimated
by the vote in last falls election, is from
thirty five to forty thousand and the pros.
pect now ID that the influx for the season
Of 1853 will far exceed that Of any previous
year.
The reason that Kansas received a much
larger emigration last year than Nebraska
IL to be attributed to the fact Of the excite.
ment which existed in relation to that Ter
ritory and the general advertisement which
it received from interested and paid party
letterwriters. whose only object was 70 ex-
cite sectional prejudices and make honest
emigrants believe that Kansas was the gar
den ofthe west, when the fact is, 50 far a.
my own. and the observation Of others Who
have travelled extensively through both
Territories goes. Southern Nebraska is fully
equal II not superior in all its resources,
agricultural, mineral de-, to any portion of
Kansas, and its capacities fully as great for
sustaining heavy population.
Omaha, the Capital Of Nebraska, is situa-
ted on the Missouri river, fifteen miles
above the junction Of the Great Platte with
the Missouri, and contains about twenty
five hundred people. Its Importance, in q
great measure, consists in the fact of its be-
ing the Territorial seat of government, with
the advantage Of having all the COMPRESSION
al appropriations expended there. The To-
cation Of the town, however is good, and
although the capital will undoubtedly be
removed to some point in the interior, South
Of the Platte, still Omaha is destined in all
probability to become the largest town
north of that river.
The first town in importance in the Ter.
ritory is Nebraska City. 1t contains about
the same number Of inhabitants as Omaha
but ito growth and prosperity are to be at.
tributed to the energy Of its people and the
magnificent country surrounding it, rather
than to government patronage and aid
The town is situated upon the Mo-, river,
and is every way calculated by nature and
its geographical position to assume Oh i'm
portance second to no town above St Louis.
1t lies about thirty miles south Of the Platte
and nearly opposite the boundary line be-
tween Iowa and Missouri, and has loca-
ton upon the river which cannot be excell-
ed.
The great difficulty upon this river is to
get firm and substantial landings; the banks
being generally composed Of light alluvial
soil and extremely subject to wash upon
every rise and fall Of the water, but Nebras
ka City is peculiarly favored in this respect
the bluff overlooking the river being entire
ly underlaid with rock, thus furnishing a
permanent and lasting levee upon which
freights can be landed with ease either at
q high or low stage of water.
As an evidence Of the public spirit which
the people Of this city possess. have only
to say that at the present time the corpora
ton has employed, about one hundred and
fifty mer, charging the levee. grading
streets DC. and by the opening of naviga-
ton We will have the largest and finest
wharf upon the river.
The country west Of Nebraska city, and
in fact the whole of So uthern Nebraska, to
wit: that portion lying between the Platte
river and Kansas line, cannot be excelled
west of the Mississippi, and the inducements
to emigrants. considering that the most su-
perior quality of land can be obtained by
redemption at government price, are great
er than in any state or Territory in the
North West.
There has never been q sale of public
lands in Nebraska and large proportion
OF the country west Of this place is now set.
tied by actual residents and much still re-
mains subject to be claimed and entered by
presumption.
During = recent trip into the interior
was surprised to see the large number Of
settlements which had been made since last
Summer. 1t seems that the general pres
sure throughout the country has been a
great incentive to emigration, and from
present indications We have good reason to
expect large addition to our present popu.
lation during The coming season.
The present winter has been mild and de-
lightful We have had very little snow
and hardly ice enough to secure Summer
supply in fact 1t has been splendid win
ter throughout, and has agreably disap-
pointed Thousands Of our people who ex-
pected . recurrence of the cold weather of
the last two seasons.
Nebraska city has recently, been selected
- militory depot, and upon the opening
Of navigation the supplies for the army in
Utah and the forts west, will be shipped to
this point. To give your readers an idea Of
the amount Of business to be done here
have only 70 say. that Russell, Majors 4
Waddell. Government Contractor. will
employ two thousand men A. teamsters &C.,
eight thousand yokes Of oxen and one thous-
and mules to transport the freight west.
The fact that Fort Leavenworth 10 to be