The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-09

ground was frst broken on the farms, are seenyn
the yicIni Of great corn are ne'aa moving Young
fruit look promising some are osanus 1 hs
and flowers in mont OF established MONIES nsnSs In
| the region watered by the Ekhorn more IMAM ioodo
ceres OF government land were taken mp ey Nome
months beginning with last May ana about
| $4,000 acres Of what mas remained sub
9 Tsis IS exclusive Of State and railroad lands
some OF which have also been sold. aeas OF tho
ne saey Ffon anGs
sent east Of the Missouri the remainder IL used,
part for home CONSUMPTION aud part to supply the
have been fpa,ned as branches OF the Elknorn ana
the parent itself have fall and now Of water
sufficient 10 keep constant operation mills with
| from two to sixteen pairs OF stones. The valleys
range from mlie TO three miles In width. Since
the country was frst settled and as timber has in.
creased the climate has perceptibly improved, and
the showers OF ram nave been more regular and fre
| man habation In the valley; now IL looks Ike q
/ comparatively old and well settled country.
/ Standing on the highest bluffs behind West Point
| hand far as the eve eau reach; the nearer
slopes adorned In spots with native clusters
den flowers upon cultivated lawns; the windngs
OF the river and the valley III view up and down Tor
background, illuminated by the setting sun-it was
easy TO appreciate the grateful and plous sentiments
| oil that lrst band OF German immigrants who, on
coming here 10 settle aud ascending 70 THIS spot,
| spontaneously exclaimed. "TnaDks be to the dear
| Lord VINO hast led us to this lovely andp
SOLITARY antelope speeding past served TO recall
the TACT not obviously apparent, that within tue
memory OF children stu at school this lovely land
the resort OF thousands OF roaming red men, buf
fao. antelope and elk. but surprising changes are
quickly wrought The Indian and his game depart,
the Anglo comes and brings his arts thence
forth broken prarles and virgin valleys yield cui
tvated crops: streams winch had run Tree Tor ages
are made the motive power OF mills; even the wiid
winds that sweep the prarIes are taught To turn
the water tanks at stations along the railroad track;
intelligent communities arise and flourish the eli.
OH NTH tnn nff hn and
thus 1t is that civilization moves in the OF
empire IN obvious obedience TO the Eternal viii.
Rapid Growth OF the Capital Of Nebrnssa-
Situation OF LincOIn-A City Iniprovised
Upon the Pru!rie-Successful FinnncierIng-
Public Institutions Free Of Cost TO the State
Admirable Public School System-New Rail-
road Enterprises in Nebraska.
LINCOLN Neb Sept 80. 1859.
This embryo city and capital OF Nebraska is q sort
Of anomaly la Its way. 1t situated in the centre
OF Lancaster county. which Is south OF the Platte
river. 1t hes almost equi-distant from the Platte,
the Kansas border, the Missouri and the sixth pr,n-
cpal meridian. Thus II lies as near as may be IN
tie centre Of the choicest farming region and OF the
present population OF the State for there very
few inhabitants yet any OF the ranges west Of
that MERIDIAN save the settlers along the valleys OF
the Lonp Fork and the Elkhorn When 1t was seen
the meridian were daily receiving additional
inhabitants, 1t was deemed desirable to remove the
capital to more central situation Omaha OF course
strongly objected to Its removal from that CITY, But
the Southeastern and Western influence prevailed,
and three commissioners, OF whom the present
Governor is one, were appointed by the Legislature
to locate the capital. They rode out one day ION
the distant pralre,n and finding what seemed to be
a smooth, inviting spot, they said, "Here we viii
locate the capital and build cty.n When the grass
was cut away the land was found to be not quite SO
eVel as IT al first appeared. Nevertheless, Lincoln
has an eligible SITE on pleasant plateau, with Salt
creek running at the foot and the Great salt basin
within view. The plan OF the new city was lmme-
diateiy laid out-just two years ago. Lots were put
up FOR sale at pabc auction order to raise fuuds
wnereWIth 10 construct the capitol building. 1t as
novel and adventurous enterprise; but the result
exceeded the expectations OF even the most guine
The best Illustration or this is the building ITSELF with
lts lofty dome which you can see long before
you reach the city, The building STANDS IN an en-.
closure OF twelve acres and Is built or limestone
procured in the vicinity Two subsequent sales OF
lots took place, with view OF raising funds to erect
other pubic institutions, ami final sale or 1900
city lots and 10000 acres OF State saline lands situate
within area OF ten miles from town, the proceeds
being devoted to the completion OF the other public
ouhuihss, lns shte Su.erslty, agricultural COZ
iege and LunaIic Asyi nm are now in course OF con.
struction and when completed Will be ornamental
and imposing Then this prairie city, improvlsed
for speciai purpose, will have the finest buildings
In the State. Already It has grown with uuparal.
leed rapidity. It has already over three hundred
houses and many more Will be put up lust as soon
as railroad (Which Will cheapen materially IL CON-
pieted. A number OF shops, by which various
branches OF trade are represented several hotels ana
many boarding houses some churches. few bill lard
saloons, numerous iand agencies, including govern
ment iand otnce swarms or lawyers, many brleliiess
as yet but all expectant and at this present moment
most OF Spectators VINO, Mcawber-like. are await
ing eyentualitiea. No less than six railroads are
soon TO centre here and this present year 10 to see at
least one OF them completed In consequence OF the
unusual activity and prospects lots ana lands are
quoted, and some are purchased, at high prices,
some business lots are sold 81 Co., and sizes for
private houses at $780, Choice farming lands ad-
Joining town are worth per acre from s 0 TO s2OJ
$4,000 was lately paid Tor tract OF go acres
lew miles away, however, lands DE had at ordi.
narty low prices. Stone for blldinx purposes ut
least Tor oundations and the basement stories Ia
found within easy hauiGy distance aud the Is
tfne OF line clay for bricks and other desirable ma
teflals. no otHer interior town III Nebraska has
more brilliant prospects,
Governor Butter, who resides here, and VINO Is
already building a beautiful mansion on the out
skirts Is good type OF those active, Intelligent
western men who ale doing so much TO develop the
resources OF the territory west OF the Missouri river
hne lie Ia alive to everything tending toward the
advancement or the State. OF which he Is Officially
and personally q characteristic representative Tie
educational prospects or Nebraska are UNSURPASSED
by those or any other State within tile Union One
eighteenth part Of all the lands In the State has been
ser apart for the benefit OF educational ENTERPRISES
Two sections Of six miles square have been reserved
In each and every township for school purposes.
AT proper seasons these lands sold, and the pro-
ceeds form q school fund OF munilcent PROPORTIONS
Inc Legislature has provided that they must not he
SOLD Tor less than nine dollars per acre. About
million dollars worth have been sold already at an
average OF eleven dollars per In few years
the sale OF these public school STATE lands will have
realized sulcent TO sustain school in every DIS.
rict AL the yedr round, without any tax upon the
people. In many localities schools are now IN one
ration. =
have never seen In any other state new or old.
such mania for railroads. The Union Pacllc Rail.
ROAD across the continent running IN Its course from
one end OF Nebraska to the other Is the narent nf
many other lines, some only recently proposed and
some being now constructed. There Is scarce " n
town In all the State and Lincoln most OF all that
y not clamorng and man9uvrng for railroads.
Especially when town lots pu. INTO The mari et
every town, even though II may have but few scat.
tered houses 10, according to announcement TO be
Immediately railroad centre OF more or less impor-