The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-03-09

.ra-u n uH 0t For the Stssdard /
Nebraska and Some OF iss Advantages.
A | suppose there arc many who con.
template coming West in the Spring, or
as soon as they conveniently can, and who
havo not determined in their minds the
point TO which they will steer. I thought ]
would give my experience and observations
as one who has looked over the grounds,
thinking, perhaps, they might be of some
service to such as have not determined on
any particular locality.
Nebraska, in my estimation, offers to
the emigrant tho best opening that is now
TO le found in tho West. Here the cmi-
grant may find a choice of as good land as
the Continent affords. The soil of this
Territory, as far as my observation goes, is
the best that have ever seen. Tho land
may be classcd under three heads: The
first and second bottoms, and the rolling
prairie. The first bottom lands arc these
bordering on the water courses. They arc
composed of sand, clay and largo quanti-
ties of decomposcd vegetable matter, and
are productive to an astonishing degree
Tho soil is very deep, averaging from three
to four feet, and may be said to be mex
haustible. The second bottom land is that
which lies beyond the first bottoms, and is
equally as good. Tho only difference be-
tween the two bottoms is, that the second
bottoms lie considerably higher than the
first bottom lands, and are dryer. The
rolling prairie is that which lies beyond the
sccond bottoms. 1t is also very productive.
The soil, however is not SO deep as it is
on the bottoms. 1t lies in wavy swells,
presenting very beautiful apl earance.-
1t is extremely well watercd by springs
and brooks, which serve TO irrigate the
country and render it grand country for
stock raising. never saw country 80
we'll adapted to the purposes of stock rails
ing rs this. Here nature furnishes the
best Of pastureagc without any labor oh
the part Of man to assist her in her work.
The whole face OF the country is covered
with as good rass as man need wish for;
and which horses and cattle cat with rs
good relish as they would the very best
timothy and clover. On tho bottom lands
it grows very heavy, producing from five
to six tons to the acre on an average. In
deed, have So On instances where ten tons
to the acre was yielded. am told ly
traders and those who have been in the
country for several years, that, as gene
raj thing, stock procures its own living the
entire year, the winters generally being so
light that horses and cattle have no diff.
Guilty in taking care Of themselves and
keeping f.: at that Sc Ear as the wealth.
or is conccsn d this season such is the case
Up TO the present liho there has been the
most beautiful weather. At the present
time there is not ono flake of snow; and
the weather is more liko April than De-
| Gerber.
l am informed by surveyors, and others,
who have been in Kansas, that Nebraska
is far ahead of the former Territory in its
grass, and the quality Of its soil. In one
other respects it isfar ahead Of Kansas,
and that is in its internal affairs. While
our sister Territory is rent in twain by her
feuds, and her citizens subjected to annoy
ancc, and in many Instances their lives
and property placed at the disposal ard
mercy of lawlcss mols, Nebraska glides a.
long smoothly on the sen of politics; her
citizens arc left free to pursue their several
vocations in peace and quietness, which of
itself is enough to render peace loving citi-
zens, who wish to enjoy homes Of quiet
and happiness, TO settle on the soil Of Nc
braska in preference to that Of Kansas
Nebraska, to-day, offers thousands of such
homes TO those who will como and take
them. Hero every man man sit under his
own vine and fg.trcc, here every man
may enjoy the honest fruits Of his labor
without any to trouble or molest him.
Nowhere is tho husbandman more ampl Y
repaid for his labor than in Nebraska. =
The land is very fertile, producing to an
astonishing degree, and that too with com
paratvc little labor. The soil is extreme
ly easy of cultivation. The first CROP am
ply repays tho busbandman for the labor
expended on it. The swsrd is easily bro
KEN there being no stunps, roots or stones
TO impede the progress Of the plow. All
that is required for the first crop is to break
the prairie, plant the seed, and in due
time harvest the crop--no labor being re-
quircd in the interim. From three to four
hundred bushels Of potatoes, and one hun
dred to one hundred and fifty bushels Of