Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-07-17
HOW is THE GREAT WEST PEO-
PLEDR


wonderful peopllng Of the Western
portion Of our great continent, espe-
eially those regions which lay beyond
the Mississippi River.
Step by step the course of civiliZa-
ton and settlement advanced toward
the Mississippi; but for q considerable
time this seemed to be q barrier to
further progress. A few, however,
hardy adventures, crossed from time
to time some to remain, others to
return and tell their stories, too large
almost for comprehension or belief.
To most Of US, all beyond was q will
derness, the "Great American Des-
ert" then, but tnow it proves to be "the
Garden Of the West" !" which literally
blossoms like the rose"
The census returns Of the United
States show that there never was in
the history Of the world such marvels
Of rise and progress IS are exhibited
in the plain facts there shown eOncer-
ming some Of the recent towns and
cities Of this region, which have grown
up, as it were in q night, almost like
that magic city Of the Arabian story.
Those vast expaDses Of land, for
centuries the hunting grounds Of the
Indians and the home Of the buffalo,
have been in q few months brought
completely under the dominion of
civilization and made valuable and
available for the benefit Of the entire
human race.
And how has this come to pass p
Those wonderful men, editors, re-
pOrters, travellers and newspaper cor
respondents, who see and hear of
everything, who make note of things
and print them, too, have filed the
land with pleasing narratives of the
West in all its natural greatness.
First of all, its agricultural attrac-
tions are prominent, and thoughtful
farmers at the Eeast, who have stJug-
gled lifelong on a few acres, with
three, four, or perhaps six boys to fol-
low them, seeing small prospect OF
profit, or even living for half Of them,
have looked with eager eyes to these
larger fields and this "better land"
one and another have gone forward,
found their antieipatiOns more than
realized, have written home the story
of their experience, and young AmeTi-
ca has followed in their steps, and so
the pioneers Of this great work have
gone. -....-.-
Shrewd business men, who read the
papers, were quick to see the chances
for business in all its variety and ex-
tent which were sure to arise from the
peopling of such region.
Railroads are projected and built,
the great river is bridged, enterprise
is ready and ever pressing on towns,
ViIlagesand cities spring up; trade and
traffic follow; q sehOol-house, church
and newspaper are among the first
essentials; and 50 the tide sweeps on.
Each days events add q new chap
ter to the marvellous story, which the
Press is sure to spread with lightning
speed the world ovel; and soon their
flock from "every nation and kindred
and people and tongue under the
whole heavens'i-adventur to "the
promised land, sturdy men and
brave women who come with q pur-
pose, pioneers IN great work which
imagination fails to picture even in
faintest eolors.
The lands offered for sale along the
various lines of railroad have natural
ly proved most attractive to settlers.
Government has wisely aided these
enterprises by granting Of her land:
to Corporations who have had the
pluck and energy to build Roads throl
her as yet undevelOped fields, and
which have been held for generation.
at a mere nominal price, falling tbs
I while 20 nnd purchasers or develop
ment for lack of means Of transpor.
'tation. She has, In many instances
given alternate sections along the
/ - Ie a. 81 10
and by this seeming liberality has
made the remaining portion quickly
available, insuring for it also a value
greater than that Of the whole before
the generous gift.
Doubtless there have been some un-
wise grants, for there is limit to all
things; but as rule, Government and
the people have been large gamers by
her liberality to the transportation
enterprises.
But how are these enterprises In 8
new land made successful? They re-
quine settlers along their lines and
business over their roads, and in aid
OF, this the printer has his full share
to do. The natural resources Of the
region must be made known, and the
waiting multitudes invited to come
in and possess the land.
A birds eve view shows o rich eoun-
try, varying of course in natural at
fractions; but granting that all were
equally rich and attractive, the dem
sity Of population is doubtless distri-
buted very nearly in proportion to
| the information which has been Civ
en- to the public concerning the vari-
/ Gus lines of railroad, and the region
through which each passes.
Some regions are comparatively un-
settled because their attractions are
unknown; the roads through them
are built but slowly at great disadvan-
tage, and with little prospect of prof.
table returns at present, while numer-
GUS instances demonstrate an entirely
different state Of affairs, as 3 single
prominent case may illustrate.
Published reports state that the Bu-
lington and Missouri River Railroad
Co, whose trunk line Of 40 miles ex-
tends from Burlington on the Missis-
sippi river, across the entire State OF
Iowa, and through that rich portion
of Southern Nebraska bordering upon
the Platte River, to Fort Kearney,
where it makes q junction with the
Union Pacific Railroad for through
traffic to the Pacific Coast, have sold
during the last two years 362, ,826 acres
of land, for something over three aud
q half millions of dollars-nearly all
Of it to actual settlers, and If report
be true, they have never asked q man
to buy! 80 d. -r -i-- '--
By a judieIous system of adverti-
sing they have scattered information
broadcast over the land, in the form
of facts relating to the region through
which their road passes, so that per-
feet tide of emigration has set toward
that particular section, and farmers
call for their lands as children do for
Brandrethis pills. US .li -
Their advertisements are prominent
in all the papers; their large and beau
tiful cards attract attention in every
depot in the land they distribute gra-
tuitously millions Of circulars, maps
and other documents relating espeei-
ally to their lands and passenger In
terests, containing plain facts in which
all are interested, and on which all
may rely. These are published in
English, German, Swedish and Nor
wegian, and distributed all over this
country and Europe. Their mailing
department alone, which is as syste-
matieally arranged as that Of any
newspaper establishment, affords en-
ployment to from twelve to twenty
persons, and all simply to circulate