Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-31
of the Bulletin.
Nebraska Notes.

Correspondent OF the Bulletin.
Nebraska Notes.
LINCOLN, NEE, Der, 1873.
The great "dcsert state" like all
others, has passed through the busy
scenes of harvest time, and the gol.
den leaves of autumn are beginning
to fall; the broad sea OF prairie, but
few days ago SO rich in its YER
dancy, is now field Of gray; the
frost-bitten vines are dying, and
the flowers are gone; this is the Ian
guage Of autumn,and its plea for the
advance of winter. But we shall
make no resistence-the people of
Nebraska have gathered plentiful
harvest, and in the main, are pre-
pared for winter, the king of sea-
sons. She has held her State and
numerous county fairs, and made a
creditablc exhibition generally. A
vast amount Of interest has been
manifested in these fairs, especially
in this and Douglas counties. The
fair of the latter county was held at
Omaha, its real seat of government,
on which occasion the first dity of
the State drew multitudes, and
made itself still brighter star
among the ranks of western cities.
1t will be remembered that Nebras-
ka took the National premium at
the Pathological fair held at Bos-
ton this season, on fruits. 1t is the
youngest State in the Union, but in
fast gaining an enviable prominence
in this, as in many other direc-
tions. On the occasion above re-
ferred to, the Boston Adoertiser
spoke of Nebraska's fruit in high
praise, asserting that ga critical in-
spcction will doubtless show a
splendid display for the youngest
State in the Union, an exhibition
that the western settlers may well
be proud off, The number OF va.
ricties placed on exhibition by Ne
braska at that fair, was five hun.
dred. Fruit raising in this State is
beginning to receive considerable
attention, and efforts in this direc-
ton are meeting with splendid sue
cess.
Nebraska is developing in other
! respects equally as fast. New dis
coveries are being made in the min
eral kingdom, which deveIope the
fact that she is rich in this class of
her resources. Numerous locali-
ties in the State bear evidence of
the existence of coal, and in
many, it is discovered in respecta-
bic veins. The fact that it is bounti-
fully supplied with coal will be es-
tablished without doubt, in a very
few years. Rock also exists here
in large quantities, and in different
varieties or kinds. There is a
sandstone of dark brownish color,
with about the same soliditv as
brick, that is convenient for build
ing purposes, and is easy of access.
Several of Lincoln's finest blocks
are built Of this material, and the
supply is great. Blackstone large
ly abounds in some parts of the
State, and makes good building ma
terial. In localities where timber
is scarce, this Blackstone is used
altogether. There is plenty oflime-
stone-in fact, the State is well sup
piled with these various kinds of
minerals, SO much SO that practi-
cal man scarcely misses the timber.
Whether the future will discover
for Nebraska much gold, silver,
iron and lead, is matter Of doubt.
Still, with the development Of her
present discoveries, she must GER
family rank foremost among the min
eral States. Her resource of salt
is SO great that parties boring
IN the earth are as liable to strike $.
vein of salty brine as anything
else. On the west Of the city Of
Lincoln are located the basins of
three salt lakes. During the mid
die of the day these basins are per-
iectly dry, but at the rise Of the
oceans tide, salty water oozes up
into them bountifully, and disap-
pears with its ebb. This is evil
dence that the quantity Of salt wa
ter in this part Of the State is very
extensive. From Salt Greek, run
ming near the city, salt is mauufec-
tured by the Lincoln Salt Works in
respectable quantities, four barrels
of brine being necessary to produce
one barrel Of salt. From this it
will be seen that at least twenty-five
percent Of the liquid is pure salt,
But our temperance ideas tell us
We should drop this subject Of min
erals--it's getting too salty for us.
A little of this article for seasoning
purposes is agreeable enough, but
when you come to slap in whole ba-
sins OF it, as NJ. Twain says, is too
many for us. We will add that
peat is also being discovered.
Let us take a glance at the rail
roadside interests Of the State. BY
a comparison we readily see that
that princely company, the b. & M.
r. r. is in advance of all others in
this State, as far as popularity is
concerned, if not in financial point
of view. To be sure.there is anoth
er important road, spanning the
State and hurrying millions to the
territories and Pacific coast; but
when once on that route a person is
seldom heard of within the limits of
the State. Still this road is work
ing wonders for the State by open
ing new stations and towns along
its route within the State, and
bringing ready capital and immi-
grafton into it. But the b. & NJ.
Il. II. is very popular with the State,
and W orks many times especially in
its interests. Its present terminus
is Beatrice, in the northeastern
part of the State, but there is n
proposition t" extend the road on
southwesterly to the north line of