Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-04-03
LET TER EROA NEBRASKA.
HASTINGS, ADAMS COUNTY,
NEBRASKA. March 81, 1873.

NEBRASKA, March 81, 1873.
Editor Belmont Chronicle
For the benefit of those desiring to
know the facts relative to the kind Of
country, soil, climate and productions
of Nebraska,I L offer you this for publica-
ton, hoping thereby to answer very
many letters Of inquiry that 1 have
received, which call for the same in
formation, without farther preliminary,
permit me to come at once to the work
and save space and time:
Nebraska no longer exists wholly
in the immagination of the American
people, or the people of the world
Every school boy can now locate it
among the individualized members Of
the sisterhood of States. Every
middle aged man knows the great
American Desert, ;,and so at least our
presence is recognized upon the face of
the earth and the questionRof merit or
demerit, alone remains to be solved
The soil of Nebraska compares favor
ably with that of Iowa or Illinois, be-
ing an admixture of clay, loan and
sand, varying in depth from eighteen
inches to six feet and even more. This
rests upon fine clay subsoil beneath,
furnishing at once one of the most i'm.
portant prerequisites known to the
agriculturist, and one first looked after
by all intelligent farmers, upon this he
chiefly depends during seasons Of
drough or protracted rains, upon it he
depends more than his applied skill,
in rebuilding his worn soils from rea-
sons most obvious. The surface Of the
country is not level, and yet to an Ohio
man would SO seem, but sufficiently
rolling to secure perfect drainage for
all surplus water. The productions are
those usual in all agricultural districts
for some latitude, yielding most abun-
dant harvests. could adduce numer-
GUS sworn statements, and many more
just as good, relative 10 produced crops,
but until assailed we insist on being ac-
credited with truthfulness. This slight
precaution Is deemed expedient, as we
expect to be questioned by some of the
old Ohio farmers, who have toiled over
their we'll worn hills for half a century,
realizing but little compensation for
their toll. In the eastern districts of
the State, when the land has been cul-
tivated for several years, 80 to 50 BUSH
els are filed ir the .Secretary's Office, as
the yield .of wheat per acre, ranging
from good to best, while Is to 30 BUSH
els per acre may be considered ordinary
among careful farmers. Rye, oats and
barley yield proportienately well, while
root ops:rival the world. If 1 felt
the least fear of successful contradiction
should be more modest in terms, but
wishing to indulge facts rather than a
fancy sketch, 1 hope to have my way
for it now, and let the future determine
the matter. Corn was never more at
home than in Nebraska soil, its yield
ranging from sixty to eighty and one
hundred bushels. am perfectly aware
of the reputation of Illinois as corn
country, and how well she deserves
and sustains it. But I certainly dis
claim the right of any agricultural dis
trict to superior merit over this, the
Infant Of the iRepublic. Strange as it
may seem we are fruitcountry too, as
/, 1 wish to prove all 1 can conveniently;
I refer you to the Worlds Pathological
Fair, held at the City of Richmond,
last year, when was awarded to Ne
braska the merit of producing, not
only the finest apples on exhibition,