Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-11-06


makes hard, smooth surface. The
"dug outs" arc dug partly or wholly
into the ground, and, like the others.
covered with sod. OF the latter
class of dwellings is the story told
of the Nebraska land hunter, who.
installing one for a natural mound,
drove his team upon it, and as on
ly apprised of its real character by
the occupants sticking bis head out
and asking what he was driving on
his house for Milford, on the Big
Blue, and Beaver Crossing, near the
Beaver, in Seward Co. are growing
towns at the latter of which we met
Mr.. George Winterstein, formerly of
Animation add by whom we were
kindly furnished with late copy of
the Herald. A man of his energy
and capacity will make his mark
there. He has "proved up" ard got a
little to his homestead in Fillmore
Co. and is now selling goods at
Beaver Crossing.
From Seward Co. we enter York,
!the garden of the world" Three
or four years ago, the buffalo, elk
and antelope coursed at will across
her beautiful prairies, now dotted
with as pretty farms as one can
wish to behold. All the government
land is covered by homesteads, and
the railroad lands are being bought
up rapidly. Away, away to the
westward, now stretch the long lines
OF covered wagons, to where new
counties are being organized, and
where they hope to find the from
tiers.
Clay and Fillmore counties are
now competing with York. Sutton,
the county seat of Clay, though held
in check by dispute between indi-
viduals and the railroad company in
regard to the title of the town site,
and the consequent refusal of the
company to build depot, will now
compare favorably with your town
as to the number of its business
houses. They have at least made a
compromise, the company are erect
ing a depot, and the town is receiv-
ing new impetus. Fairmont riv.
al railroad town in Fillmore county
about the same age, keeps pace with
Su ton. York Center, the county
seat of York Co. is also a flourish
ing town, though lacking railroad
facilities.
There are no fences around the
farms here, though some are setting
out hedges. This has strange look
to one from the older states, where
so much is expended in. fencing,
though | am now inclined to regard
it as blessing to the farmer rather
than otherwise The cattle are herd
ed during the grazing season. The
herdsman becomes responsible for
their safe keeping, corrals them at
night, salts them twice a week, and
receives $3.50 per head for his
trouble. Taking all things into con.
sideration, | regard this as better
for the owners of cattle than to turn
them out on the commons as we do
at home, paying for their depreda.
tiGns and for keeping and adj
vertlsing estrays.
The great objections to the count.
ry are the scarcity of timber and
consequent high winds. But these
are not regarded as serious draw.
backs by the Inhabitants. Wood
can now be obtained along the
streams at from $3.50 to $500 per
cord, or at S1.00 per load if the per-
son chops it himself. Coal can be
bought at the railroad stations at
80. TO $40. per ton. But the main
dependence Tor fuel is corn, which
many contend is preferable to coal.
Timb.r grows rapidly here, and al
most every farmer is setting out for.
est trees. But a few years will
elapse before the prairies here will
be covered with fine groves of tim.
Der.
Through Cass and Lancaster
counties there is some of the finest
building stone l ever saw, but here
there is no stone to be found; wells
being, in places, bored to the depth
of hundred feet without reaching
the bed rock.
Prairie fires are now one of the
greatest breads OF the set.
tiers, as they are driven by the high
winds through the tall, matted grass |
with irresistible force, sweeping eve
rything before them. The burning of
several school children last week is
one Of the many melancholy Incl,
dents of its ravages. Most, however.
prepare for these visitations by pillow
ing "fire breaks" though some seem
Indifferent to its dangers.
The people of Nebraska belong to
that energetic, enterprising class of
pioneers, ever to be found on our
neutrality-suspicious., free hearted hos.
pitable-whose impress will be lett
upon the country and her institu.
lions. That class who sit around
stores and groceries during the week
and street corners of Sunday, talk.
ing their low scurility and obscen,
ty, insulting every person of com,
mon decency who happens within
bearing distance, seldom emigrate.
20 there are few such in Nebraska
.hus far. A person willing to work
and to submit to the privations ip-
,ident to pioneer life for a few years
will find this good place to secure
home, but the chronic grumbler
Ind gentleman loafer will find other
places as well suited to their ocou
ions.
There is glorious future IN store
or Nebraska. Possessing. "a abe
Ices, healthy climate, fertile soil
md little or no waste land. her re-
ources will be speedily developed
md IN few years she will rank in
wealth and population with many of |
be older states. HSR
York, Neb., Oct, %, 1873. [,