The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-08-21
Letter from Omaha.
OMAHA, Nebraska, Aug. II, 80.

OMAHA, Nebraska. Aug. II, 80
DGr Hhig Il have been waiting some
time for an opportunity to give you even Il
faint description of at least part of the
country along the Union Pacific Road, as
some of Cecil's sons are now in what may
now be considered the Great West.
OMAHA one of the most prosperous and
busy cities ! have seen, is the eastern ter
minus of tie road Proceeding from here,
West, you pass through a portion of the
State of Nebraska that for agricultural
purposes exceeds any country ever saw.
The soil is some two feet deep, and as rich
as a garden need be; for as soon as the
Prairie sod is broken, there is nothing
have ever seen that will not grow. Grain
of every escription-vegetables grow to
the greatest perfection. Fruit trees, when
planted grow faster than you have any
idea of, and bear to great perfection. The
land is sufficiently high and rolling for any
kind of vegetation. You do not need pre-
pare for feeding stock, as there is an album
dance Of the best grass in the world all
around you, for both summer and winter.
\ popularity of those lands is, that moth
ing but grass grows until after the sod is
broken-not bush, or brier or tree, for
hundreds of miles, unless planted by some
one, which will then grow almost as if by
Magic no weeds or filth of any description.
| have known half peck of potatoes taken
from a single stalk or vine, of the finest
quality, in July. Some portions of Ne
braska have reasonable amount of wood
land. This country, generally, does not
possess much fine timber, and has to rely
on Michigan for her lumber for building
purposes. Some of the mountains, West,
grow cedar and rough pine, which does for
fence posts and many other purposes
There are also cottonwood, aspen and other
woods, to some extent.
The towns and villages for some distance
from Omaha present a thrifty and business
like appearance, considering their infancy.
After you run some $50 miles, you reach a
country thinly inhabited but perfectly beau
tiful. The large herds of cattle, horses
and mules fairly shine with fairness. You
would suppose they were grain fed for six
months, when they never taste anything
but grass. The beef produced from those
grasses is equal in quality to any beef I
ever saw, and equally tender. There are
herds of antelope and deer, too, which are
regarded rs the best of flesh. They are
certainly very fine food. A man may Craze
as many cattle as he can find money to buy,
without costing him a farthing except for
a hcrdsmen to keep them out of danger of
the railroad, the trains on which run with
SIcdI NeloClty tHIOiSH those pldlIlS, WHICH
are perfectly level, and the road as straight
as line. The Platte is a beautiful stream,
and the lands along it's course are lovely
beyond description. No wonder the In
dians are reluctant to yield it to civiliza-
ton.
After passing over those beautiful plains,
and around over and through the Rocky
Mountains some eight times, from Omaha
to Promontory, the western terminus of the
L. P. Road, | have arrived at this conclu-
sion,-that any man who has the means to
spare, and will not take one trip, at least,
to the L. P, X. terminus, say nothing of
the c. p. r., has not q soul sufficiently
large to secure his snlration, certainly. l
could write for week, and then fail to half
describe the beauty of the country to Chey-
enne.
have frequent inquiries with regard to
the price of land in Nebraska, will here
say that it ranges from $1.25 to $500, &C
cording to locality, and am sure the sun
never shone on better land. The lands of
Indiana. Illinois, Missouri, &C., are very
good but on account Of the liability to be
submerged by water, are not so desirable
for agricultural purposes neither can it be
so healthy there, as the air here is so pure
for hundreds of miles over which we pass,
that flesh without salt, will not spoil,
although exposed to the sun.
Yours, OCCASIONAL.