The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-05-06
Letter from the West.

lJ,l
Mr. EDITOR:-Leaving Dixon, Ill, the Omaha
Express, (Which III consequence of the RAPID in.
crease of Western emigration, has added five or
SIX passenger coaches to its usually heavy traiu)
arrived at the Mississippi in two hours At this
point the river is three fourths of mile in width
and the train is thirteen minutes crossing the main
bridge. Beneath the bridge the river is quite tur-
bulent and rapid, but from the car windows its
broad surface seemed calm and unruffled as forest
lake. Studded with numerous islends, which are
mirrored on its bosom with all their rle ged vesture
of tree, shrub and boulder it flows maiesticalv on
through section of country vast IN resource, un-
equaled in fertility, literally the garden of the
world
Reaching the Iowa shore change in the atmos.
phere is at once apparent The snow, which in
northern Illinois lay in many places four inches in
depth, is here no longer visible. The verdure of
spring begins TO manifest itself, the broad eXpanse
of brown prairie grass is relieved BY fiequent plat
OF green, and cultivation is in its advanced stages
Throughout Eastern Iowa, the land is rolling
and the most eligible for agricultural purposes; In
the central part of the State it is flat. rreuous
and less arabic, and in the Western portion hly
and almost mountainous. The high lands are coy
cred with buffalo grass and afford superior pastur-
age. These vast tracts of land, unsurpassed for
richness and vegetation. so emnently qualified for
culture and tilage, cannot remain long as they are
almost untouched. The West, replete as it is with
everything requisite and desirable for the designs
OF husbandry, is destined to become the farming
region of the world. Central and Western Iowa
are extensively timbered, but in the former
spces Of granite rock, lin western parlance ''hard-
head" predomnates.
The habitation of the farmer is constructed on
the most provdent and frugal principles, usually
consisting of small. isolated building, which everY
watt of wind threatens to demolish: but oftimes
the more secure but less pretentious mud hut,
which nestleS peacefully beneath some little bluff
its wreath of smoke ascending gracefully upon the
placid air, and its cheerful faces peering forth to
see the ''iron horse" hiss by the only connecting
link with the world!
| Oxen are used here to break the new land. three
yoke being used upon enc plow. Prairie fires are
kindled to burn the decayed stubbe and give new
start to vegetation, On every side they are slowly
burning, creeping along the track, and fillng the
air with smoke and cinders Cattle and horses
browse upon the ncipient buffalo grass, but sheep
are almost unknown.
few miles west of Boone, commences a range
of lofty bluffs, or sand hills, beneath which the
road winds to Council Bluffs. The scenery here s
sublime. Vast trees whose scabrous trunks are
clothed with the moss of ages, grow from the hill
side, and threaten every moment to crush the rush
ing train, while streams of water gush down the
rugged sides, and focks of birds sail grandly from
peak to peak Reaching Council Bluffs you find
yourself I'D city Of eight or ten thousand inhabi-
ants, situated four miles from the Missouri river
and Omaha. In many respects 1t is superior 10 the
latter city, especially in its society. Thence cross
ing the foaming turbid Missouri by ferry you are
fairly in Nebraska.
Ten years ago but one temporary shantee mark
ed the spot where now stands the city of Omaha
At this time it was a mere trading post, whence
the adjacent tribes of Indians, the Omahas Pot
towatomies, Oto4s Punchas, Pawnees, and Kick
apo0s brought their frs and rude articles Of mech
anism, to exchange for trinkets and 'fre water"
The eminent a. j. Poppleton, attorney for the
4 Union Pacific Railroad, fourteen years ago lived In
cave aear the cite of the present city, carrying Oh
traffic with the Indians.
Omaha at the present time contains eighteen
thousand inhabitants, of whom moiety are Scan
danavians. Its population has increased many
hundred per cent within two years. The mush-
room like rapidity with which it has grown, has
been little conducive TO its commercial interests,
for ii contains inhabitants than it possesses
1t owes its rapid advancement, and upon that is ii
dependent for its sustenation.
The default OF that company III paying Its
ployees, has been exceedingly detrimental to the
present business prosperity of the place. Money
readily commands twenty-five per cent, but there
is none in circulation. Property is rapidly depre
ciating in value. crash is inevitable ifthe Rail
road delays payment two weeks longer
Two hundred and fifty persons arrive daily non
tie East, in search Of employment, the return
trains being nearly empty, but where they go to
remain is lnexplicable, for cities west enjoy no
immunity, from the general stagnatiou. Not many
Indians remain in the city, except few hall
breeds expatrated from their tribes Occasionally,
however, some itineran band of braves pause here
few hours from their almost ceaseless peregrina
tions to view the wonders of the 'pale face town
To day | saw two Pawnee warriors fresh from
the West, vino were ON the war-path, belonging
to an expedition of that tribe for the determination
OF the Sioux, their inveterate enemies They stood
upon the pier silently watching the removal of the
cargo of ] Missouri steamer, and among the NOV
ing mass Of human beings who jostled and hurried
unheedingly by them, they presented a wierd and
fanta site spectacle, with their tall war feather.
floating in the breeze. They Were nearly nude
with only blankets OF piebald colors thrown about
them in "careless ABANDON" and short skin leg
gngs and n occastns, to protect them from the cold
/ chill wind which has been blowing all day. Their
countenances were plentifully besmeared with
ochre and vermilion, and their heads shaved close
ly with the exception of the '.scalp lock-"
several negroes who were at work upon the
deck OF the steamer seemed to be objects of great
curiosity TO them and the good natured ''yah yah :"
:. OF the former, provoked them to such merrment
is an Indian does not often indulge in.
of the agricultural character of the state of Ne.
braska will say briefly. that the lands along the
line of the Union Pacific Railroad for two hundred
miles west of the Missouri river, have fertility
almost unequaled in all the rich productive fields
of the West. These are situated in the valleys of
the Platte, Elkhorn. Loop Fork and PapiIiion
rivers. Owing to the looseness of the soil, the
farmer need not suffer from drought or excessive
rains, as in dry weather evaporation draws moist
to the face and the loose frable soil absorbs
excessive water IN rainy seasons.
| Oats produce from sixty to one hundred bushels
1t is said the wheat Of Nebraska commands in the
st. Louis markets ten cents above any other wheat
The average crop is twenty-six bushels to the acre
and forty are not uncommon A nnlos ouf po,oho,