The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-10-16
MI Use SIIa0S GU s. .
Life i'm Nebraska.
TABLE Rock, NEBRASKA, October LIST, IS

Lie Ill NeDTaSha.
TABLE Rock. NEBRASKA, October LIST, 1874.
DEAR OLD lEGIs: Through your columns
wish to address my friends in Hartford letter
composed of facts, about "this, that and the 9th
en-" concerning what l have seen and experience
ed in Nebraska, since my arrival here last April.
| have been here now six months 1t seems
sometimes like SO many years, not that am
"homc Sick" but there has been SO much de-
veopcd, so many changes, and so much ofpush,
pull get up and go, among all classes here, that
really the ''doings" here compel Inc to live about
six years in so many months. 1t wont do to
stand still in this country, unless you want to
be run over and laughed at.
GRAssHoPPERs AND DROUGHT.
Of course you have heard of the terrible raid
of grasshoppers and drought which we have
had to endure here this summer. Nothing that
YOU have read can give you an accurate idea OF
the magnitude Of damage done. The long con-
tinucd dry weather, succeeded by the three days
of shot wind" scorched, wNhered and blcachcd
the corn until the blades would crisp up like
dead leaves. Then came the grasshoppers and
almost utterly devourcd everything else that
was growing l presume there arc not 1000
heads OF cabbage in this (Pawnce) county, and
perhaps not as many bushels of potatoes in the
same territory, and no tomatoes. There are in
some sections of the country, plenty of peaches,
but very small and inferior in quality. We get
apples here, shipped from Missouri, and can
buy them at retail for $l.3O per bushcl. Peach
cs such as they are, for % cents Sl.00 and 81 .25
per bushel.
1t is sad to look at our corn fields. In June
they looked so promising, green almost to black
ness now nothing is left but tall, dry, dead,
black, bladeless, earless stalks. Many fields are
entirely abandoned. The best would not yield
more than five bushels to the acre. The yield
of wheat, oats and barley is fine. Wheat is sell
ING for 80, 55 and 90 cents per bushel oats 40,
IS and 80 cents per bushel. The farmers are not
selling much wheat and oats, for the reason
that having no corn, they must retain their
small grain for their stock rs well as for bread.
1t is supposed here now that by next spring
seed corn will bring s.. 90 per hushel. An album
dance of hay has been secured for stock this
coming winter 1t is worth only So. 80 and 81. 90
per ton delivered and stacked Excellent hay
it is, too.
Owing to the scarcity of corn, not only the
Young hogs, but nearly all the stock hogs, have
been sold out of the county since the first of last
month Seventeen car loads left our depot last
week for Eastern markets.
DRIVEN AWAY BY STARVATION.
| presume you have also heard that many fam
lilies were leaving the State. This is true.
Within the last eight weeks | am sure not less
than three hundred families have passed through
this town going back East. Not on the rail
road, snugly clothed and with plenty of money,
to crafty the demands of the appetite, reclin.
ing on cushioned seats of gorgeously furnished
cars but huddled in wagons, drawn by horses,
mules or oxen, as the case might be; looking
in majority of instances, dirty, sickly and dis
heartencd. They arc from the frontier counties
where drought and grasshoppers left nothing
that was green; and when we consider the mum.
Der of families that have returned through here
uoipr East, and the number of other routes of
travel apart from this one, and of the hundreds
of families we have heard who have gone out of
the State on those other routes, we conclude
that the effect of the damage done will be felt
for some time to come. Many of these settlers
who are now leaving the State came here one
two and three years ago took homestead, got
a team, built a shanty, or dug out" broke out
so or 40 acres, and this spring planted it all in
corn Hence, you see, they now have nothing
save their teams to take them back home.
Their homesteads you can buy for q very small
price. AS you see them returning sad and
forlorn, one can but pity them and feel desire
to render them assistance; but it is more fit
ting to sympathize with those who are compell-
cd TO stay. Many families out in the frontier
counties have not means sufficient to leave with
1t is TO those who now sit in cherries shantics
out on the bleak prairie, with but little cloth
ing or food and no money, we should extend the
| helping hand. 1t is for those, Gov. Furnas has
made his appeal, and earnest efforts are being
made within the State to relieve them.
Take the State of Nebraska as a whole, it will
be some time before she RECEIVERS from her afilic
| ton OF this year. These returning immigrants,
| Especially those who have bid the State a final
good bye,) when they get back to their old
homes will tell some in uriouS tales about Ne.
| bruska Many, however, will return here again
| in the course OF next year, provided they can
| so rs TO secure from government their home.
| stead.
| BETTER PROSPECTS.
| You may wish to know how things are in this
| immediate locality. | am happy to inform YOU
that Notwithstanding drought, hot winds, grass,
| hoppers etc, etc, everything in business
1 -,,,N,a fail
| it this town or Pawnee City, County sea-, } or
| go into any of the old settled ncighborhoods Won
| would see plenty, and of some things n great
| abundance. Hundreds of sleek fat cattle and
horses Craze upon our prairies; wheat, oats and
| barley in profusion stored away on almost ey.
cry farm. Our stores do lively trade. We can
| get ut our market choice beef, mutton, pork,
fowls, butter, eggs, flour, fruits, dried canned.
| or grcen and money seems TO be plenty.
hear but little croaking on the subject of hard
| times but often hear this remark "This wear
| has put me back, but will try it again. |
| think Nebraska farmers have learned one thing
| by their losses of this year. which is, they must
| devote their efforts TO raising wheat, oats bar
| ley, cattle, sheep and fowls, and let corn and
hogs alone; for it is evident that the climate is
| too dry to insure uniform corn crops, and with
| out corn the hog is an expensive creature and
of but little profit.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
| Considering all tho advantages and disadyap-
tages of this country do not like it as home
as well as do Pennsylvania, Delaware or Ma.
ryland; but am sure, Judging from its pres.
| ent developments, its richness of soil, its per.
manent Inhabitants it will in few years rank
| as State second to none in the Union To see
the strides towards wealth, education, good
government, wholesome laws, intelligence and
refinement, that the people of this State have al.
ready made, is proof that she must ultimately
"blossom as the rose" Daring the last three
years sixty one school houses have been built In
this county, including the imposing structure,
| the Public School building at Pawnee CITY,