Nebraska advertiser., 1869-06-03

A correspondent Of the Department
Of Agriculture for March and April
1869, furnishes the following state
menb IN reference TO the resources OF
Nebraska:
Aline drawn diagonally from Maine
20 California viii interBect q similar
line from Washington Territory to
Florida somewhere within the COM
paratiYely new State Of Nebraska.
BY This simple demonstration it will
be perceived at a single glance that,
az far as geographical position is con-
cerned, Nebraska holds the central
place in the great combination OF
States comprising the American
Union. 1t has an area of about 73, ,000
square miles, or nearly twice that OF
either of the great influential States
of New York or Pennsylvania. Its
population which in 1860 was estima-
ted at 28,O00 persons has now proba-
bly, reached i've times that number.
Nebraska is strictly an agricultural
State. 1t has neither forests water
power, nor minerals, nor even coal to
any considerable extent, so far as is
yet known.
The climate is of medium temper.
ature. The thermometer may some
times in summer reach 100 degrees at
noon but the strong breezes from the
Rocky Mountains always render the
nights cool and comfortable. Winter
weather commences about the LIST of
December, and although thaWs and
rains prevail q considerable portion of
the time until the 1st of April, balmy
and delightful days, and even weeks,
intervene, the mercury in the mean
while decending below zero only on
rare occasions.
The topography is entirely charac-
teristic. No other section, not even
those which are formed like it, high
rolling prarie countries, possess the
same pecuiiarities. There are as a
general thing neither plains nor hills,
the whole surface looks as If cast in a
mould. There is no level ground ex-
cept at the margins of the sire ans,
which prevail at rare intervals, and
then scarcely ever reaches an extent
of more than 200 or 800 acres in any
one place. The prevailing form of the
surface is a succession of ridges, gent
ly and smoothly rolling like so many
great rinkles on the brow of nature,
but without uniformity, and lying
towards each other at every conceive
BILE angle. These irregularities of the
surface are so gentle, and the hillOcks
so round and smooth, that no impedi-
ment is experienced to the cultivation
of tEe land.
In, AZ - r4r lRoTs
there is q deficiency, annoying to all
settlers, and which, in the minds of
many, is an obstacle altogether insur-
mountable. Except on the margins
of the water-cOurses, or where the en-
terprising settler has supplied the de-
ficiency by artificial aid, the State is
destitute Oftrees. Whenever the pra-
rie fires are kept in check, however,
the timber will grow rapidly and vig-
orously. The principle varieties are
the oak, hickory, and cottonwood.
I'm four or five years the latter viii
attain the size Of q mans arm, and
become available for fuel and other
useful purposes.
The streams are unifoEmerly deep
and sluggish but narrow. During the
drOughts of the summer the banks are
often left six or eight feet high, as per-
pendiculaF and smooth as If cut with
a spade. Although the streams have
a tendency to dry to the bottom
throughOutthe whole extent, there are
atintervals, In the beds. springs which
never yield to the heat. In tracing
the course of a stream, these springs
are to be found at every half mile or
less. They very in size from 5 to so
feet in breadth, and from 10 to 100
feet in length. They are generally
oblOng in shape, and are concealed
from view by the tall grass with which
they are surrounded, unless immedi-
ately approached. Without this wise
provision of nature for supplying the
vast herds OfBuffalo which once grazed
here, these animals could not have
.subsisted during the summer. The
water of these springs is generally
clear, cool, palatable and abundant.
The well water of Nebraska is also
of excellent quality and easily obtain
ed. In many instances it is not nec-
essary to dig more than Is or 20 feet,
and in some cases good water has
been obtained at the depth of 10 feet.
The soil, although easily penetrated
by the spade, has a tendency which
renders unnecessary the walling OF
wells.
The drought during summer Is a
great impediment to agriculture in
Nebraska; but last season the eOun-
ties bordering on the Missouri river
were unaffected by it, and the supply
of rain in that section was abundant.
This difference was accounted tor IN
the minds Of many practical Obser-
vers in the attraction furnished to
passing clouds by the water Of the
Missouri and the growth of heavy
timber on its banks.
From the nature of the soil, how
ever, and the pecuharities Of the sur
face, q protraeted period OF diy wealth
eT does not effect vegetation lIsfe as
In many localities The rain ON iall-
ing, fills the numerous guIleys and IS
rapidly absorbed by the ground. The
hot sun and fresh breezes on the tops
of the hillOchs causes a free eVapOra-
ton, but excessive dryness is preven-
ted by a constant supply of moisture,
brought to the service by capillary at
traction. It is a well knOwn-fact
that, in mountainous countries,
springs which are dry in rainy sea-
sons, give forth copious supply Of wa
ter when the soil has been parched
with heat for any considerable time.
The same law, on q more extended
scale, ,seenstO bein operation through
out Nebraska; for experience shows
that q .prOtracted, heated and dry
term does not have the effect in parch-
ing vegetation growing upon her iT-
reGulaT surface that would follow in a
fat prairie section.
The great pest of Nebraska. is the
CRASH 5pper Or locust, yet 1t has this
sfFiiction only in common with other
The soil has the dark color common
TO an prairie countries; but the tinge