The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-22
TIE COURSE OF EMPIRE.

CHEYENNE, Wyoming Territory. Oct o, 1869
The first, or Platte, division OF the railroad
extended from Omaha to North Platte q distance
OF 29i miles, Beginning at q level OF 96S feet above
tide water the grade gradually rises to 2zde givinu
increase Of l,79l feet less than 900 miles or an
average Of over elk feet to the mile. Ten miles
below North Platte city the main river forks: tho
South Fork bears OF directly towards the northeast.
ern corner OF Colorado, which il crosses; the North
Fork makes curious circuit OF many hundred miles
up into Wyoming Territory, round the region OF tho
Wind River Mountains down into the North Fork oe
Colorado, describngxt course something like tha
shape OF shepherds crook. The railroad follows
the North Fork for only the ten miles, and crosses is
on long wooden bridge just before coming to tho
station 1T North Platte. Three years ago the limo
was finished 10 that point IL was then that tho
city had its greatest population and prosperity
Being the furtheat Western town on the line OF tho
railroad 1t had Its tfu feverlsh life; and then It's
floating population. its peculiar trade, Its carnival
OF vice and death passed in turn to oher proml-
nent points established by the completion OF tho
railroad further West. Now 1t has only . few hun
dred inhabitants and many OF these are either In
business more or less connected with the road. A
large locomotive house and extensive machine
shops are located here where considerable repairD
are done. Were 1t not for these North Platte would
probably be little more than telegraph station for
improve II. At the present time IL receives more
consideration from the fact that IT is the most
yenent point OF access to Fort MCPHERSON. There
Is no bridge across the river at the station nearest
to the fort and consequently the business copnected
with the military District OF the Republican passes
buildings and the few houses Of the inhabitants
there Is quite adjacent to the town military post,
with accommodations for Quartering troops in win
ter well as summer.
The railroad resumes lts course westward between
the two forks OF the Platte keeping nearest to tina
OF which It follows towards Cheyenne Near North
Platte, between the forks, there Ia an immense
grass; some herds Of cattle are enjoying
rise the biuns of both branches OF the river. Bus
little timber ID visible along the banks OF either.
You come close to tho South Fork which looks sngu-
larry bare and sandy, at the station called OFalons
Here We enter upon Inc region q inc SAND n Inc
bluffs the right are fastening near III, the evea
land our feet begins to get more rugged, and from
the open prairie rises gradually . line Of rolling
bluffs which stretch forward on our right and form
the northern wall OF the South Fork valley. This
now il narrow, not much more than mile in width.
The valley OF the North FORK OF TO the north
west, and forever leaves There settlements
In this portion OF Nebraska 1t Is not now adapted
to profitable agriculture and Is not occupied because
there Is so large quantity OF superior soil Ia
be had further TO the castward but until population
ana development increase so as TO demand mora
land for cultivation 1t would be folly TO condemn
section OF tue state, or to predict what may not
III,
industry OF man. The South Fork winds about
along ITS narrow valley, ana sometimes comes very
as shallow and - filed with many SAND bars, with
their bald and shining pates and gathering host OF
lllputan Islands, covered with q luxnriant under
brush and blooming plants.
Amid the rougnness and sterillty OF the surround
Ing region II 10 delightful to the symmetry OF some
Of these thousand Isles and the beauty OF their io
age, which now displays profusely the soft and
brilliant autumnal tlnts Still, the valley IL quite
narrow; the railroad keeps close 70 the rght hand
lntIg ha nn
and then comes within lew yards again,
with Its bare bars and blooming Isles From Akals
station the train keeps more continuously near the
bank, cuts through a stretch OF the sandy hluffs,
energies on fine eXpanse OF bottom land aud soon
name Of ogalala. here large amount OF hay is
being cut under contract for the government. II
was dark when We passed Big Springs and the APP
partition OF the once pandemon!um town OF jules
burg. This was the terminus OF the road in the
summer OF 1867. Here the railroad employ s were
paid of, and every possible satanic influence and
art near at hand to secure their money. All
consgnments OF goods from the East to places FUR
hsr West o centred at this point rms oc
TO and different from that created by tho
presence OF 80 many railroad men, Here wagon
trains were fitted out for Colorado, wyoming
Utah. and other western Territories and places on
the Pacific slope. Outcasts from society assembled
law or order they held high carnival during all the
summer Gambling was openly carried on; de.
gambling den, whlskey shop or other HELL Bac-
chanGan scenes were daily and nightly witnessed
everywhere; shooting was sefassnmed preroga-
tive for which there was no punishment at all; It.
was the prompt and prevailing argument, against
which there was no appeal; humanity was system
atcsIiy outraged; brutality reigned snpreme y
dead body. the oozing blood yes warm, was tossed
out OF u window or door with the utmost noncha-
lance; dead body was found in the streets at day
hight; no questions were asked, but was put out of
the way into mole. The Big Tent was feature
OF the town; the bar stood near the entrance;
gaming tables for every description OF tbs
art were arranged around the canvas room;
o platform, with the musicians, was iocaHed in
lowest type danced round 1t IN abandoned freedom.
each vieing with the other IN everything 0bscene
na H w wv Ss sos
OF the business men, the Vigilance Committee Was
organized, and some Of the desperadoes were sum
marty despatched; and at last, when the terminus
OF the road extended further and the mushrooms
town moved on, dead bodies Of many missing per-
sons were found covered up In the cellars OF those
.helsD which had SO disgraced tho town. Now ali thas
remains OF this once Internal region are few scat
tered buildings and the graves OF the devils and their
victims upon whose dilapidated head boards YOU
may read this rude NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." Jules.
burg now serves as station for the military station
Of Fort Sedgwick on the south side OF the river.
Here the road, leaving the South fork right,
branches OF to the northwest up the valley OF Lodge
Pole sydney and Potter stations tai me SKY was red
with the reflection Of the fires the burning prai.
ries. Now and then we came near 10 places where
the fires were raging and for many milos could
the long lines OF name sweeping over the level land
and up and down the uneven places. The stars,
which in this clear atmosphere appear 30 large aud
brilliant gradually faded and the dawn OF one OF the
loveliesU mornings soon succeeded. The valley OF
Lodge Pole creeK IL very narrow and az first the
burs on either side are rugged. Evidences OF soft
sandstone formations are everywhere exhibited.
The stream itself Is Insignificant 1t Is only az inter-
walls That there Is any water In IL. Here you the
shallow stream which now sinks down beneath
the sandy bed, and reappears at distant point,
only TO repeat the eccentric FREAK ut other places.
The road repeatedly crosses tho deserted channel.
soon the valley assumes more cheerful aspect; ie
looks quite susceptible OF cultivation. All along
slopes up to the table land on either side is very
gradual The grade Is nigh, and the view extensive
Tue grass u good for grazing. and there 10 sbund-
ance OF II. The little sandy mound homes o.
the prairie dogs can be counted by the thousand.
troops OF anteiopes scamper away over the Nils.
they must DO very numerous In this vicinity fof ths
next station IL called Antelope. NOW the valley
opens out into an extensive arnphtheatre. FROM
the borders Of a broad area OF comparatively level
land the low hills roll away, Increasing IN tDer
numbers and the horizon il more Distant Passing
Bushnell station, crossing tho western limit OF Ne
braska, the dark outlines Of Pine BUNS appear, In
the territory Of wyoming. .-.- ,