The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-14
Nebraska-The Windtesf, II NOS the
easiest, Country In the World
Views Of q Disguised kanuck.
From The Toronto Globe


We have lately had a terri1c storm of
wind in Nebraska. Many houses have been
blown down in Fremont, Omaha, Schuyler,
and other places. The old inhabitants aver
that the like Of this storm was never seen
before in Nebraska. l hope they speak the
truth, but don't believe them. have not
been here three months yet, and 1 know
that we had another of these wind
storms in March; and indeed we have
furious winds here every week. 1t is the
windiest, If not the easiest country in the
world. The land is good, but lumber costs
from $35 to SIS thousand; coal SIT per
ton: and everything else at least double
what it can be bought for in Canada. House
rent in Fremont is vastly higher than in To-
ronto OF Ottawa. ! was offered IN elegant
brick house last fall in Ottawa for SIG .
month. 1 pay $40 here for o wretched
cabin. Yesterday was conversing with
person who has come here from London,
Ontario, and he told me that several farmers
in TINT quarter are thinking OF selling
out and coming here. Very well. II they
have mortgased their farms let them come.
But would say this: q farmer who can't
live in Canada will be poor fellow here.
He will get good land j but the summers are
too dry to give good crops. He will have
hardships he little dreams of. A good team
of horses will cost him $500 at least wagon,
500; house, don't know how much and
everything else will make his cheeks pale
when he hears the price: Taxes are enor-
NOUS. He will be out on the wild prairie, far
offfrom neighbors, and in winter will have
dreary time of it no school near him no
church. If he wants to turn heather, If be
wants to see his children heathens, let him
come. To me, ut least, the desolation OF
these prairies is awfully oppressive. He
will have the pleasure of selling his wheat
at thirty cents per bushel. That is what it
is going at now in Nebraska. No class of
farmers in Canada are to be pitied us these
poor Nebraska fellows are to-day. / have
heard of money here bringing from thirty to
fifty per cent. / write this because know
that men who have come out West,
like myself, to better Themselves, seldom
send the truth home to their friends. I am
not ashamed to speak the truth, even should
be laughed ut for coming here. There is
no Sunday here. Stores are open rs usual,
and every man thinks of just one thing
namely: how to get rich Us soon as possible.
Canada, with all her faults, is the country
for me. Nature has done much for us out
here, but that is all can say. No doubt
this is destined to become fine agricultu-
raj country In time but the scarcity of
fuel, house, and fence timber, the
high price Of provisions, clothes, and agri-
cultural implements, and the grossly
irrehgious lives of the great mass of
the people, not to mention the dirty slough
Of politics and the unbounded productive
ness Of speculative lying, render it most
undesirable country to live in-at least for
Christian people. Still, if Canadians will
come; II they are sick of the old flag; if
they are prepared to hear that flag inslllted
every day, let them come; let them ex-
change their comfortable houses for fimsy
shells Of pine boards at SO a thousand, or
fora stdug out" IN which they can live us
do the gophers and rattiesnakes. Land,
however, Is cheap and good.
Yours, truly, STEPHEN N. SLOGAN.
Fremont, May Is, 1870.