Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-02-27

in the spring with TWO or three yoke OF
oxen,he plough and raised enough corn,po-
tatoes, DC, to support large family and
his stock. There is plenty Of good prairie
claims 10 be had within a few miles of FIRE.
mont.
| presume you have heard that timber
is scarce in this country. The timber is
scarce where there is no streams of water,
but along the rivers and creeks there Is
plenty of good timber-enough to supply
a large settlement; the timber is prmcl-
pallv all taken on the north side of the
Platte River as far as Loup Fork River,
that is forty miles west of here. But there
is some timber vacant yet. But the set
tiers will sell timber reasonable, as they
want neighbors. South of Platte River is
not settled yet on account Of the Pawnee
Indians living there, and it is supposed
they will be removed to their Reserve
this sprirg,on the Loup Fork, as they have
sold their lands to theUnited States; those
lands are west of the Loup Fork, aid
north of the Platte river.
And as there is good chance for set
tiers, there will be a rush of emigration in
the spring. There is a distance of one
hundred miles that is well tlmbered; the
soil is good, land good water can be had by
digging from 10 to Is feet. If there was
company to come here early in the spring
and to bring Steam Saw Mill with them
they could settle west Of the Lonp Fork,
where there is good chance to lay out a
Town, as there is good deal to be made
by so doing, and as there is good prices for
Ieverything the farmer has to sell. Flonl
| is worth from four dollars to six per hun
dred; corn, SO cents per bushel; potatoes,
Is cents; butter 40 cents per fb; eggs 40
per dozen; groceries are the same here as
thew are in Wisconsin. | will say one
word about the quality of the grass in Thu
Valley it is the best ever saw in my trav.
els. | an one of three that cut aud stack
ed 50 tons of hay last summer that was
two months work. The grass is as good
for horses or cattle as any ever saw
The best way FOR company to do when
coming to a new country, is to send one OF
two smart men ahead to have a place Sc
lected. as the first chance will be the: best
The valley Of the Platte is broad with
low elevations on the north receding grad
ually back; then merge themselves in The
prairie or plain; the sell Of the valley rs
we'll as the surrounding country is rich and
highly productive.
TheLoup Fork is about a hundred yards
wide with much broad er bed; in general
it is not deep q never overtlows its banks
The prevailing timber on this river is cot
tonwood, &c Wood river falls into thePlatte
river opposite Grand Island and about two
hundred and twenty miles west of the
mouth of the Platte river. Platte river
contains many lslantls,th largest of which
| is Grand Island, which is sixty miles long
Iby from 3 to 4 miles in breadth. and like
all the Islands in the Platte, it is heavily
Numbered with cottonwood, cedar, elm
ash. &c. A steam saw mill or two on this
island would soon realize d fortune. Tha
is the place | would recommend com
panv to head for. 1t will be right for mt
to give the route of the road here SO thai
Emigrants will find their way easy.
The best way is to Dubuque, the Cas-
kade, then Cedar Rapids, MoIingo, New
ton City, Fort Des Moines, Winterset, Lew
is, Council Bluffs Omaha City, Elkhor1
City; then one mile westward the travel
er finds himself 10 the Great Platte Val
ley. These are the principal towns on the
route.
Any one wishing for information, direct
to VIM. B. LEE, Fremont, Dodge Co.,
Nebraska Territory.