The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-08-18
Correspondence of tho News.
LETTER FROM LINCOLN, NEB,

From PlatlsmOUth 10 Lincoln
- Lincoln State Buildings -
The Salt Works Papers ,
Schools and Churches - Bea-
trice-Its Quarries-Its Rail-
road PrOspects-The Soil and
Climate-Other Items.
LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. 5, 1870.
EDITOR NEWS: - Before leaving
Hillsboro we were requested to give,
through your columns, our impressions
Of Southern Nebraska, in and around
Lincoln and Beatrice. On last Tues
day we arrived here by way of the
Burlington & Missouri Railroad, which
is now finished to this place. The
road in this State runs from Platts-
mouth along the banks of the Platte
to Ashland, and thence over the prai-
rie to Lincoln. The land along this
route is, away from the river, a fine
rolling prairie, interspersed with tim
ber and streams.
The soil is very fine and yields large
crops of Corn and the smaller grains.
Iti is not as yet thickly settled, but is
dotted with the cabins of homesteaders
and pre-emptors. The country south
of the Platte, and for two hundred
miles west of the Missouri, is of an
excellent character, and contains less
waste than a like area in any other
Western State.
Nebraska has not been like Kansas,
written about and pufed to an undue
degree. Her people prefer to progress
more slowly but more surely, so that
the anticipations of visitors may be
more than met. The State is out Of
debt, her taxes are moderate, and her
prosperity substantial.
The city Of Lincoln, the Capital, has
made wonderful progress in the past
year. A year ago her Capitol was
commenced, and the sites selected for
the other public buildings. To-day
the Capitol is finished, and its dome
can be seen for miles in every direc-
tlOn. The State University, the Lu-
matte Asylum and the Penitentiary are
situated on eminences in the city, and
are rapidly approaching completion.
There are several good hotels in the
place, two of which are larger and fin
er than we usually find in second-cIass
towns in Chic. The Public Schools
are in a good condition, and eight Or
nine Churches are already built or in
progress of erection. 1t is said that
thirteen different denominations hold
worship in Lincoln every Sabbath, so
that any one coming here need have
no fears of not finding a church to
suit his peculiar notions.
Among the elements of prosperity
Of Lincoln we mention the Salt Works.
A few miles north, but in sight of
town, are situated the Salt-basins.-
These are ponds or small lakes of
brine, that Oozes up through the
ground. The water overfows the
land and leaves a deposit of pure salt,
from one-fourth to one inch in thick
ness. This is scraped up by the peo-
pie of the neighborhood, and has for
years yielded large supply. A short
time ago the Salt Works were erected,
and arrangements are being perfected
to boil and evaporate the brine on a
large scale. The supply of brine is
inexhaustible, and salt enough will
soon be made to furnish this and the
neighboring States.
Around and in Lincoln real estate
is selling at very high prices. Town
lots on the principal streets bring from
800 to 5000 a front foot, and land in
the neighbOrhood from S25 to $3.50 an
acre. Fortunes have been made in
less than three years by the purchasers
at the land and lot sales of 1867-68.
Just now the railroad and real estate
excitement is at its height, and lucky
speculators are coming money.
Lincoln has Daily paper and two
Weeklies, with a population of $500,
which is increasing rapidly.
From here to Beatrice we travelled in
an old-fashioned stage, over as beauti-
full a prairie country as the sun shines
on. The land is held to a great ex-
tent by the railroad and by spectators,
but must soon become the home of a
prosperous people. The town of Bea-
trice has more than doubled its popu-
latiOn since our visit last year. Busi
ness houses and dwellings have gone
up here in this western town, that
would be creditable to Hi1Isboro or
larger town. The place is delightfully."-
situated on the Big Blue, and is sur
rounded by one of the best sections of
country in the State. The Blue af
fOrds fine water power and the town
is destined to become a great manu-
featuring place. Land in the neigh
borhood is ready sale at prices one
hundred per cent. greater than one
year ago.
Near town are quarries of very fine
stone, which when first taken out is so
soft it can be cut with a common knife,
but hardens in the air as hard as gran
ite. Many of the buildings here are
built Of this stone, and a great deal of
it has been used in the public build
ing5 at Lincoln. At the District Land
Office we learn that settlers have to
on 90 miIns IN Uof IN en- oorn homo.