The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-18
THE COURSE or EMPIRE.

AlOnX che tOutcs
NORTH PLATTE, Neb., Oct a. 1860.
Upos leaving Omaha the railroad usn CON-
menees its course Continent by liverging
to southwark IN order to seek the valley OF the
Platte For the first few miles the road has slight
accent then descent as slight to the level OF Pap
hon creek theh gradually rising grade to the
uplands a the Ekhorn. then a,rentle downward
slope to the common level OF the Elkhorn and tho
Platte, whence continues up the valley and the
Plains with cor slant but almost imperceptblc ele
walton a distance oil 500 miles. to Cheyenne where
the first sight ci the Rocky Mountains obtained.
At FIRST stretch OF brilliant underbrush lines
the banks OF the cut on both sides OF the
railroad treck; beyond even slopes OF gently
swelling native prairie and cultivated lands
roll away; farm houses with their little gardens,
appear Of points, soft aecately tinted grasses bend
before the breeze sporting over the unbroken acres
wild flowers OF infinite variety intermingle with the
grasses sunnowers lift their yellow heads above all
the hers; natural beds OF blooming plants upon
the eTely meadows show how the master hand OF
Nature, m s free and lavish style, exces all the
ieeblor powers OF art. Five miles OF this deboucne
incifling toward the south, followed by an extern
curve, bring the train more directly on It's
coarse to the distant West. A similar but wider
vie now untolds itself. Much OF the land under
cultivation. Summit Siding, Gilmore and Papillion
sahons-me-ely local depots few miles apart for
railroad sidings and the convenience Of surrounding
'sotters-are quickly left behind, and crossing the
bridge over Paplion creek, the pleasing picture Is
not lessened. only varied for fifteen miles OF splen
did landscape down to Elkhorn station, where
the level land is mutually shared by the
valleys OF the Ekhorn and the Platte Forward lies
the great valley OF the Platte ITSELF and stretching
TO the north and south the beautiful valley of the
Eikhorn. glimpse OF the latter river s obtained
while the train is crossing Shooting over the valley
(which here 10 very wde) in q somewhat diagonal
direction toward the former river ten miles only are
traversed until the eye rests upon the waters Of the
Platte. These are soon lost however behind the
line OF TIMBER while the train continues up the
valley TIL 1t stops again where two channels encir
Gle well wooded island two miles long at the town
"Bair cut orr Of the Sioux City and Pacific runs
eastward, connecting at California Junction, on the
st Tae OF the er I river with the sioux
ther on, at Missouri Valley Junction, with
the the. Chicago and Northwestern Tor the East,
II has as yet little else than local trafc, but by Its
situation It must attract portion Of the eastern
trade OF the Elkhorn valley, ana OF the through At
lantic and Pacific traffic. Fremont rose rapidly to
pc town Of some Importance with nearly 1000 In
nabtants but led partly by Eastern avarlce went
TOO FAST even for the quickly growing West The
theoretical ideas and practical exorions Of OF
ITS people created reaction. and the value Of pro-
perry mas decreased IN consequence From the bluffs
across the river an extensive view OF the whole
surrounding country can be obtained.
As the train resumes its motion westward along
the north SIDE Of the Platte you that the ricn
soii OF the valley is largely under cultivation some
times down to the river bank; houses dot the level
bottom land on both sides OF the track and the as
cending slopes far OFT to the north; grain fields
coed meadows uncut or mown, the grass growing |
IN ITS primitive luxurance, the hay standing in the
stacks; beyond the RIVER where few settle.
nents have yet been made, only the bluffs are dis.
unctly seen, sometimes rugged and abrupt, some
times smooth ana slop,ng; now the railroad nears
the river the water is in view, ana the valley widens
to the north; now the water disappears, the valley
widens southwark; soon the shining sands are
nearer and then. apDrOach Bpnd where
there IS no Notwithstanding TIMBER the broad sur
lace OF tne swift but swallow stream close at hand
and full in sight. All along this portion OF the line
the river while Still establishing its way ward wind
ings, is simultaneously describing an enormous
bend toward the north and east lao miles IN length,
between Fort Kearny and Fremont The town Of
North Bend does not yet contain many houses or
river but its course is distinctly marked by the lines
OF trees upon both its banks while we are
hides itself The river is low at piesent, and in
has no established channel, but makes Tor itself
lnnumerable channels and changes them as often.
bed, which tomorrow Is deserted. we are now
passing point where broad sandy bed, not foot
whole body OF the river flowing the opposite
OF it. number OF scattered houses form the town
Vice President. The valley is still many miles in |
width, and here the bulk OF the bottom land lies |
distant blufrs lead away to the southwest here the
space snort ana she slope - slight IRON the
eighty miles from Omaha; gradually we have lately
seen fewer houses, fewer farms, fewer agricultural
na ~ open ned LEVER Signs o. human IN
surface BOIL Is good as you can see BY the cuts along
the raroad track ana the growth q
work. WHAT IN The distance looks like mist rising
from the river s not mist at alliogs never dim this
clear atmosphere; but the wind H blowing what
would be more than half gale at sea; It sweeps up
clouds Of sand nom the river bed where 1t dry and
from the river banks 1t carries the sand far over in
the valley, IL filings In your face II you in the
open air you must shut your eyes or turn your back
which suream the railroad crosses shell
Greek s narrow. though some sixty miles
Hitherto the train has glided smoothly, but now
runs rather roughly perhaps BY reason Of the WIND
and the ground-for the bottom land itself begins to
roll little; but soon there are returning signs OF
distance ana now the train stops at the line Of the
sixth PRINCIPAL meridian on 1ne plateau, where
Starting pen sor for " Of e oup %
runs up to the northwest, and. twenty miles from
here. through the Pswnee indian reservation. It's
expected that the Nobrara and Missouri Valley Rail-
road which VIII connect the southeastern corner OF
Nebraska with the northern boundary Of the state
Will cross the Union Pacific at Columbus Here there
il a pretty and attractive town. having thriving
population numbering nearly 1000. The surrounding
Of people.
After crossing the Loup Fork on long wooden
the train runs on smoothly before. Still OF to
the south the Platte valley is broad trees along the
UOTueT VI INC river arc NOT now 30 numerous or
continuous. but rather appear more In groups or
groves, with intervening open spaces. Here is the
north channel OF an island sixteen miles long, the
water IN sight the south channel, two miles away,
marked by considerable timber. Far over both
channels the south bluffs conspicuous. Near US
10 the north the distinction between lowland and
upland dmlnishes. Lie and beauty again CON-
blne to please The wind is blowing, but the
road Is smooth, theeky is bright, the sun is warm
the ar Is pure the soil Is cultivated here
and there, the hay is cut and carried on
IRON many hundred acres; but most beau
THU oil all appear the farreaching prairie lands
covered with verdure variegated and luxurlant;
llgnt and dark green grasses, with the familiar blue
grass each now In separate patches, all inter-
mingled; mere some mellowing into amber, there
some deepening into brown; White wild flowers here
ID clusters yonder blooming among the grasses;
Inherent varieties of weeds, elegant Illuminated