Litchfield enquirer., 1870-03-24

was Pawnee Station. We here cross Wood river, the banks of which are we'll wooded. 3 little distance, of and one beholds beau 1 tiful farms and the log cabins of early days bearing traces of terrible strife with the In dian. The roofs are covered with turf, loop holes at the sides, and in manyIcases turfed to prevent the intrusion of the bullets and flaming arrows of the s'dusky warriors"
 We have now passed over some 164 miles
 of beautiful prairie. well wooded along the rivers, and presenting pleasing prospects
 for the future, when the stately mansion shall take the place of the rude log huts of to-day. Surely, this is great country; and still we have hundreds of miles to travel ere we reach the Pacific. As it is dark, the gentlemen crowd into the smoking car. where some time is spent in pleasant and enjoyment. At last, some one cried out, " New York, Ohl New York! See the prairie fre!" looked out, and saw the prairies on fire for miles and miles. It was beautiful sight, in the gloom of night, particularly as we were assured
 twas only the home of the wild beast, thousands of which could be seen and heard as they fled from the "fery de-
 mon." The track had been burned free
 from grass, and consequently, no danger
 to us. We are now beyond the bounds of cultivated farms. Civilization is behind
 us; churches, school-honses, &c., &c.,, we left at Grand Island, and will not see again
 till we reach Cheyenne. The intermedi- ate stations are mere railroad necessities,
 the inhabitants, employers, U. s. troops; and few venturesome hunters. On re-
 turning to our touches, we found our beds
 prepared, and retired to as comfortable
 touches as can be found in any first class
 hotel. l was awakened early by cries of
 New York, see the prairie dogs!" made 8 hasty toilet, and on looking out, found the country literally alive with prairie dogs who were scampering away for dear life, at the approach of the train. On ar- irving at their dwellings, which consist of 8 mound of earth about two or three feet high, with hole in the top, they would squat on their launches or stand on their hind feet. barking very impudently as we passed. We soon arrived at station call ed Prairie Dog City, and here examined their homes. We found the dogs to be of the size of large squirrel, and were told that in their nests they live in perfect har- mony with owls, snakes, Sc. They live on roots and grasses, and are by some consid- cred good eating.
 l now, on examining my guide, found we were 44O miles from Omaha, and from enqui- ring, found we had been travelling through prairies all the time. The country here was one vast plain, the grasses presenting 3 different appearance, and of much finer texture, than elsewhere. am told, that, by irrigation. the lands will produce splen- did crops, and that no drought which has been experienced here, has ever seriously affected the pasturage, owing to the pecul- jar qualities of the gra sses indigenous to the country. The stati on is called Ante lope, from the fact that thousands of those animals feed in this coun try. This grazing section extends some 700 miles north and south, on the eastern base of tn 6 Rocky Mountains, with an average width of 200 miles. The valleys are we'll supplied with water, and the day is not far distant when this section will become one of the great pasture lands of the country. The grass is always green near the roots, winter and and although sometimes covered with snow, is ca silly removed by the cattle. They need no shelter, the dryness of the causing the snow to roll from their backs, without chilling them through. This by the "plains'' men was called "the best grass country in the world" I was told that cattle could be raised and fatten- ed here. and sold with profit at three cents per ID. gross.
 With Bushnell. another unimportant station, we leave Nebraska, and enter the young and "fast" Wyoming territory. Here We find the same unbroken and level country until we reach ' Pine Bluffs," 473 miles from Omaha, and at an elevation of 5,O26 feet. This was noted place during the construction of the road, and famous for the amount of "tangle foot" and /" chain lightning compounds, sold at twenty-five cents per glass. The bluffs are quite near the road, and crowned with small cedars. It was a pleasant sight to behold once more even small rocks, so mo- notonous had been the country since leav- ing Council Bluffs. After traversing along this plain some thirty three miles, we now rise on the table lands and catch our first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains directly ahead. On the right, we can see the Black Hills, stretching their cold, dark rugged ness far away to the right, being an i'm penetrable barrier in our way. The air was very clear and cold, and with glasses we could see Longs Peak, one of the high est on the continent, it's white sides gleam.