Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-07-24
corslsR CORRESPONDENCE.

-
C0CRlER CORRESPONDENCE.
Thc Crops in southern iowa and Ne.
braska-Pleasant Farming--1n Incidents
ofTrayeI.
DEAR COURIER Nebraska letters,
Of which you had a good supply in
the spring, seemed to have failed an
tirely with the hot days Of summer,
so here goes for an occasional =
A run through Southern Iowa and
scventy-five miles In Nebraska just at
harvest time, gives one some idea of
the state of the crops, especially with
what he is able to gather from farm
ers by the way. As nearly 10 can
Judge, the wheat and oat crop in SOUTH
ern Iowa and Nebraska, is fair; in
some places below the average, in
others much above. In some Of the
river counties of Nebraska, for exam
pie, wheat has been affected by the
blight, but toward the interior the
wheat crop will give much larger
yield than ever before. Barley and
fax are returning generous harvest.
In the low lands of Iowa and Nebras-
ka both, corn is backward, owing to
the wet weather of thespring, but for
the most part corn promises well.
In all this region of the Big Blue
Valley in Neb., of which Crete Is the
center Of trade, the crops are abundant.
1t is rare treat to 60 over some Of the
large farms. sHere is one, for in stance,
just outside the city limits of Crete,
owned by Col. Thomas Dosne, Chief
Engineer of the B. Il NJ. r. r. in Ne
braska, There 10 large acreage q
cannot say just how many, the reaper
is at work in, the wide wheat fields;
barley and fax are cut and "put up !"
corn is nearly ready for tasssling;
Early Rose potatoes are full grown and
ripe. You see on such farms a. this
the benificent operations of the Herd
Law, which has done 90 much for Ne
braska. No fences are required and
roads running through the farm and
crossing at right angles, divide it up
like the blocks Of city, only much
larger; and you can ride from the
house to any field Of the farm. The
tasty cottage on the hill yonder, over
looks the whole farm.
Col. Doane is not only prosperous
and progressive farmer, but he is q
man of public spirit and large benev-
olence. He is helping on its feet in .
most vigoro1s way, the young College
here which bears his name. BY the
way, I doubt if there is . better farm
ing region in all the land than the Big
Blue Valley, The other night mount
ed pony owned by friend of mine,
and made q tour Of inspection. At
one point on the bluff the view was
delightful. The sun was just setting
and turned my pony's head towards
the west and halted to admire the
scene. Between me and the effulgent
western horizon lay the young city,
the river winding around 1t; for miles
above and below along the wide val.
ley, the eye took in wide prairie, patch
es of timber, farms with their broad
fields of growing corn and yellow
grain. The floating clouds above the
western horizon, FURNISHED with pur-
pie and gold, gave the finishing touch
es to the charming scene.
At this point we are about midway
between Chicago and the great mining
region Of Colorado, and when the
Texas system of railroads. 10 extended
here, there will also be competition
between the eastern aud southern
markets, SO that the abundant crops Of
this rich valley are not likely to 60
begging for market.
No State in the Union elbows 80 rap
id increase in population, nor SO large
an extent of land sold for two years
past as Nebraska. The Colony enter
prises of the State-of which those on
the line of this road are In the hands
of Rev. D. E. Jones--have done much
o forward settlement.
The B. & NJ, in Nebraska, under the
energetic superintendence of F. B.
Morse, Esq, is characterized by the
same enterprise and liberality that
have marked it's work in southern
Iowa. The Saline County journal,
published here by two enterprising
young men, Hoyt & Wells, is 9 spicy
sheet, and is thriving. The herd law,
OF course, leaves village homes, as
well as farms, unfenced, and SO with
out gates; and / and this hit on the
style OF things at Crete In the Journal :
"There 10, doubtless, counting in Crete,
as we'll as in towns further east, but
there Is no kissing over the front gate"
At the Iowa Central Junction, near
Abba, the other night, sheriff from
some point, had boy in charge for the
Reform School. "Where are you 60.
ing with your boy7" aome one asked.
ITO Eldorado," was the prompt re-
Spouse then recollecting himself, "no,
to Eldora." Probably the youngster
will not think it quite an Eldorado.
All along the railroad here we see evil
dences of Ottumwa enterprise in load
ed coal cars, marked 81. G. & NJ. Co.,
passengers remark occasionally, and