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

Courses aud Character of It's Tributary
strcams--settIcment OF Nortbcustern Ne.
braslka-Appearnnce of tho Valley mt West
Peints
Fremont Neb., Sept. %, 1859.
The valley OF the Eikhorn and It's branching vale,
form the ovefiest region OF Nebraska north of tn,
river Platte. should you enter Nebraska from tn,
west ana travel eastward through the Interior nortf
Of the railroad line the arid plans and sand hii
would produce an unfavorable impression OF thu
State; but coming down along the valley OF the Elk
horn you would see how much the beauty and fer
sty OF all that surrounding country contributes Il
atone for the northwestern bleak and barren wastes
Northeastern Nebraska is indebted TO the valley O.
the Elkhorn moro than to any other natural advan
tage for an important share OF the agricultural
wealth that otherwise would be concentrated chiefly
IN the southeastern section OF the State The valley
ecits universal admiration, both on account OF the
beauty OF It's landscape and the richness OF It's SOIL
and s modest loneliness Is quite in keeping with IFS
unqnestonabe worth.
Seeking the rivers source you find 1t far away
toward the northwest In an extensive marshy
basin. fed by springs and surrounded Immediately
by sand hills, and more remotely by semsandy
rolling lands, which are hare and there redeemed
by tufts or grass This grass AFFORDS nne food for
sheep, when thrive upon 1t throughout the year
md keep unusually healthy In that dry, saubrious
light, loamy soil soon SHOWS itself, and the valley
speedily assumes It's OBVIOUS shape; but no timber
yet appears along It's banks. Presently, however.
thin line OF small cedar trees marks the approach
OF Cedar creek coming 1t from the south, and
then, as both the river ana the valley widen, oak
cedar, cottonwood, elm, maple and other trees are
more perceptible at different points, or mingle
together &C others. for nearly 800 miles along its
whole eccentric course. The sand hils have already
disappeared; broad rolling uplands, clothed
With grass. spread away for miles, and
Turkey, Oak and Battle creeks, each in
succession, like Cedar creek, flows into the
Ekhorn from the south. Although this is not,
strictly speaking, an agricultural locality because
she uplands between those several streams are, IN
the absence OF sufficient irrigation too dry for pro-
ductive general cultivation, yet the little valleys
themselves contain more than sufficient soil deep
ana good enough to supply the wants OF the people
who are living there. They employed prlnc
paiiy in raising stock. Quite number OF NTginans
are among those engaged In that pursuit ON this
fno grazing ground hocks OF sheep and herds OF cat
tie may be seen enjoying Inc bounty OF this
hons OF head OF stock with summer and winter food
year after year IN the distant future Through
generations past great herds OF buffalo, more
ous than any herds OF cattle you ever see, fully
satisfied their munger by the spontaneous
product OF these extensive prairies; but now
the bunalo are gradually giving place to
domestic animals There Is an important peculiarly
Ii the nature OF the grass which grows the West
ern prauies. Before tine autumn trosts appear ii
Tpens and cures, standing CD the ground aud by
the same benehcent provision OF nature IL remains
good and nutritious through the winter nor 1t
injured though covered by the SHOWS On these
western plains, however, the SHOWS are not heavy,
aud do not remain so long upon the ground as they
do among the mountains. In this dry atmosphere
they retain their elasticity and are often scattered
by the Winds Thus cattle can easily get grass
In herdlng are in the employ OF people OF
able capital who own cattle Ia large numuers,
Tue herders, with their families occupy rude houses
ana raise food in the little valleys. Much OF the
better portion OF the farming lands, however, is
being or has already been taxen up by actual set
tiers All this negnb0rhood Ia rapidly increasing in
p0pulation for those who have settled hitherto and
are prospecting induce their friends TO JOIN thein
and thus It is that localities when few years ago
had not single inhabitant are transformed INTO
hourisBn2 communities None OF these lands west
Of the sixth principal meridian can be obtained
save from the general government, and only by
those who come 10 live upon them as actual settlers.
To such homesteads are nominaly free. Not an
epeculators The North Fork OF the Elkhorn ilows
into the main stream near that meridian line, and
up lis whole extent Is now being occupied at various
points by homesteads and pre-emptton settlers.
between The Elkhorn and this FORK there is broad
stretcn ql tseleapq winch Is nov free for grazing,
but Il Is available iof general cultivation. As
rule the Rplands are not vet occupied
by farmers; but forthcoming railroad facili-
ties VIII tend materially TO bring them under
cultivation. settlers drst seek the valleys Of lie
streams, where tie Sell deeper aud where there Ia
some timber. on either side or Tie North Fork
WHICH runs up some thirty niles. h0neSteads are
marked by the temporary cabins Of German settlers
whose INDUSTRIOUS ana frugal habits soon transform
native meadows into fields OF gram, and primitive
nuts INTO comfortable houses In view Of the rapid
immigration westward jurisdictions OF government
land agents nave been suDdivded, aud a new ONCE
is about being opened at Grand Island more espe-
cially for the benefit OF immigrants and others VINO
desire to improve unoccupied lands under the acts
OF Congress-. In The Grand Island district million
ana half OF acres have already been surveyed and
are ready TO be occupied.
Below the Noesn FORK and east OF the sixth prn-
mo mir
tributary to the Elkhorn. The valley or this creek
winch TWO years ago was Hninhablted and
untouched, Is now beng occupied and cultivated by
an Intelligent class OF citizens most OF wnom
are from the Middle and Easlern States including
several from New York. That little stream crosses
the line, east OF which lands could be had from tie
government by private entry. In this immediate
vicinity two gentlemen from OHIO in the summer OF
1857 purchased a Whole township, six miles square,
excepting only the two school sections reserved for
future disposal by the State. They paid Tor IT in
College scrip and thus the land cost them ess than
seventy- cents per acre. Iney are planting trees
around 1t to protect IL from the winds, ana are
breaking up the ground and cuitiyatin2 ii.
From bnion creek down along all tue wtndlnrs or
the Elkhorni aud OF Its other valuable tributaries
you see no lands winch are not nch no views which
miles, from the meridian line eastward TO a village
called West Point. the Elkhorn describes, Ia
similar In shape TO tnat which the platte
describes on scale six times large from Its FORKS
70 its mouth The Elkhorn bends so mat Its banks,
hitherto north ana sonth, now lie east and west.
Settlements succeed each other either side About
onet hifd OF the Inhabitants are immigrants recently
arrived from Europe, many OF whom have come to
settle near their friends. They chiefly Germans
Danes and Swedes, with q lesser representation OF
other naGonalities, including some Bohemlans.
During the past year sixty Bohemian families have
settled in one district On tue west side of the Elk
horn the Germans are most numerous, They were
the nrst Corners and having first chosen homesteads
on the west side, naturally German immigration fol-
lowed. On the east side most OF the people are
Americans or adopted citizens the older states
Humbug creek forms pretty and productive valley,
which has settlements for many miles along
Its course. A party OF hunters ia search
OF elk camped one night upon what they
supposed to be the Elkhorn, but in the
morning, when they found that the valley belonged
10 another stream, they calculated .humbug ~
Some OF the Germans now living on its banks have
essayed TO call IT Hamburg, but the Involuntary
answer Is "humbug,n and SO the creek sisteutly
retains that name. Plum creek In mostly settled by
Americans. little stream called Cunning creek
1ntervenes between IL and the Logan. Farms have
been established on both It's banks. The valley oil
the Logan is only second In importance To the valley
OF the Elkhorn ITSELF IL Is unlike any OF the others
In tbis-that the margin OF the stream Ia almost
entirely destitute OF timber; II has broad dat