The New York herald., 1869-10-04
THE COURSE OF EMPIRE.

Situation of Southern Nebraskn-Its Rivers
and Valleys and Agricultural Adyaneases--
Development of the River C0unties-The
Tide of Immigration Westwnrd-The Ride
| 10 Lincoln, the State Capital.
LINCOLN Neb., Sept. 27. 1860.
| Southern Nebraska is that typographical division
| OF the State lying south OF the Platte liver, and
extending from the Missouri river westward to the
line, near which the south fork OF the Platte
branches on In Colorado. 1t is 3Os miles long, and
varies in width from fortyhve to 100 miles, it Is mar
rowest at Fort Kearny, and widest In the line OF
counties in which this capital Is located. Along the
widest part the river is making extensive sweep
to the northeast; then 1t turns TO the SOUTH ana
afterwards flows east until 1t reaches the Missouri.
From that point OF the confluence Of the Platte and
the Missouri the distance is about seventy miles IN
direct southerly line TO the Kansas border, or over
100 by the windings of the river.
This southern division Of the State is watered in
the western part by the forks and the innumerable
nameess tributaries OF the Republican, which stream
itself flows along, should think, for sixty seventy
miles within some four to six miles OF the state line
before 1t into Kansas. The Little Blue, which
Is no inconslderab!c stream, comes down 100 miles
souteeasterly from Fort Kearny. The Big Sandy
which is not so long, in the same direction,
stretch OF rolling taDleland from four to five miles
vide lying in between them. Both the Big and the
braska. The Big Blue taxes more southeriy direc-
tlon. AT one point the two Blues are dfty miles
apart, but they come within eighteen miles OF one
another across the Otoe Indian reservation. In all
the surrounding region there Is no more beautiful,
fertile and favOrite farming land than along the val
| ley OF the Big Blue. While you look upon that river
Moving SOUTH 1t is singular TO see the headwatcrs
| OF salt Greek running or IN an entirely
different direction; for Salt Creek passes close TO
| this city, ana continues In the same ~eneral line
north by east till 1t strikes the Platte. The Big and
| the Little Nemaha water the most southeasterly
countIes while the Weeping Water, far distant from
| those other streams, winds Its loneiy way between
Its lines OF willows till 1t gradually browns Its grief
| in the Missouri.
| In many respects the southern side is the most
desirable section OF Nebraska. As an evidence OF
| this it Is more thcky settled. That, however, may
he attributable partly to the fact that 1t better
known, but mostly, imagine, to the more potent
that 1t possesses especially those attractions
which pioneer into new country always looks
fora pleasant climate. superior SOIL fine streams
upands uH Deween tue rivers whoreve G the there was
lack and need OF timber 1t has been In great degree
supplied by the groves winch have been planted by
the older settlers. good deal Of the grain grown
| in the State comes at present from this region.
Wheat OF superior quality raised in unusual guam
titles to the acre; and ever since the first crop
sown no July has yet come round that has
| crs. Oats are raised In similar abundance. No corn
crop has ever shown sign Of failure TIL this aon
when IT has been injured somewhat In botom lands
nearly great as has been in Iowa and iiiinois
ana other States east OF the Missouri where have
seen large fields completely inundated and where
both wheat and corn nave suffered 50 severely. A
large number OF fruit trees have been p.apted in
ception they nave prospered well. When the proper
varieties OF trees have been selected, and they have
been ludlcously planted and attended to, no di1i
Guilty has been experienced IN growing fruit success
!uly Ii il in this section OF the State that most Of
the minerals found thus far have been discovered
| Building stone OF various varieties and excellent
quality is found in several OF inc counties. Ca IN
being delivered by different mining companies.
sanBb BE BY the inteifseat indus.
trious inhabitants.
Chief among the southern river towns are Brown
| vile, Piattsmoutii aad Nebraska CITY. wnch lies
| between them. Tncy all thriving places, and
each mas Its hopes Of future prosperity and great
| Importance, closely linke /, not 80 much with the
steamboat trade on tne Missouri river In the suas-
mer-whle, hoseser they al a can taSe aIy4tage
Nebraska City Is the largest OF the three. 1t
stands on % COMMANDING point point on the este site %
CITY say they hold lie key to The interior
and can command the trade OF nearly the entire
from Nortnw Missouri and Western IOWA
When the Midland Pacific lsal'road, which will touch
City shall have been competed 1t is believed
considerable tradic viii be diverted to ~ beeaise,
tapping the Uaon pac,..c railroad near Fors keary
| and coming dowa tniouga Lincoln, that iiae,
they say, Will be i4s mlies shorter thaa an5 otaei
it was through NeOrasNa CITY and those other
river that the tide oil immi grafton passsi ald
is stl 10 settle d,ii Improve sJhtcdst
eTn section oi Neoteasa. rae beautiful ~ pto-
ductve valleys, rising far into lhe interio: utvs
been already scttled TO considerable eXtcnt by
, industrious farmers. homestead lanis-siiS oi a
! generous goyernmeat-taken up a few yedls ago Dy
pennlless people. are now good aud we sto IKE I
| farms, and some OF tncir owners are no. only com
| Portable Dls independent. The whole of this section
of country presents a pleasing appearance 10 the
eye but in some localities the land would oe more
desirable for farming II it were not quite so rolling
The choicest spots are those ricn nat bottom iand'
winch are preferred for corn, with timber along TIE
|
. | swellng waves OF upanos whcn are gooa Tor any
Of the cereals "a mo MINIS may be ssn yapds m pon M
country has been settled. within tue last ~,
years the tide OF Immigration has beer
J. | steadily coming III over all this negnborhooi
i During the last six months something Ike lhiee
Il quarters OF million acres have been taken up south
y or the Platte under the homestead ana Presumption
: | acts OF Congress. llons more remain ior those
|, wno wish TO take them. state and railroad lands
y and improvement ana some on specu'a alton. Ihl
Interior towns OF recunsch, on the north FORK oil
| the Great Nenata, aud Beatrice, on tie Big D.uc,
are In the midst OF rapidly improving ncighhol.
hoods and are growing with tile surrounding
country.
Beatrice is forty miles distant from here In a
southern direction. westward OF that line the
country Is very thinly settled Not thai the land Is
in any way Inferior but until lately the further west
settlers have gone the further they nave found them
selves from markets for their produce ana from the
supply OF articles that they needed Occasional set.
Tiers nave, indeed, established themselves Tar back
from the Missouri riger, bat they nave experienced
considerable Inconvenience. Now that the rail-.
road is running through the State and intersecung
lines are being constructed, people are pushing ur-
ther west, wnere they can nave the choice of egl.
bic homesteads, and where lands that are for sale
are cheaper than IN the river counties. Along the
forks OF the Republican, oeyond the uc OF the sixth
| principal meridian, bands OF rowing Indians have
lnterfered somewhat with occupation and improve
ment. Some settlers have ueemed lt prudent to
retire from spots they had selected and generally,
white people have been reluctant TO settle far
away from civilization. 1t Is said that an admirable
agricultural country exists along the forks OF the
Republican; and there is disposition to setue
up that region. have been informed by General
| Augur, who commands tue forces the
Platte Department, that detachment of United
States troops Will wi.er this year about the forks OF
L bllnan "a m af Eo,ta 49,