Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-10-08
Omaha correspondence.

" " ~ i4shih-,-N
Perhaps your readers would like to
know something Of the truth concerning
our late grasshopper pest. | say truth be-
cause, as matter Of course, during the
progress of any great calamity the ex-
citemont ii creates naturally leads to ex-
aggeralion, and many who have an object
TO attain take advantage of the opportu-
nity and designedly misrepresent ths facts
So that the real truth is never known out
side of the vicinity OF tie calamity.
Of course Kansas is entirely eaten up
There is nothing left of it! | shall not
attempt to deny this fact, because the pa
pers say it is true; but do deny the ter
rihly exaggerated accounts of the devas-
tation of Nebraska. The grasshoppers
have really done considerable damage,
bat the dry weather did more. This has
been an unusually dry season, and crops
have suffered greatly in consequence; but
this misfortune is likely to beall any
country. A few Of the frontier counties
have suffered from the ravageS of grass
hoppers, bat not To the extent indicated
by the press. The wheat and oat crops
are as we'll as could be expected consider.
ing in fact they are good and there will
be an average yield throughout the State
On. farmer alone has raised tire. thou.
sand bushels of corn. and 1t was upon the
corn crop that grasshoppers committed
their greatest depredaiions; in conse
quence of this great solicitude was felt
for the stock it was thought they woald
suffer tor want of fodder; but now, even
in many of the devastated districts, they
are happily disappointed, for they find
that the leayings of the grasshoppers will
make ample fodder. This is not univer-
sally the case, for in some of the counties
the corn crop is entirely destroyed.
There is an organized relief committee,
who are extending aid to those who need
it. Many generous donations have been
made, and the actual suffering will be
comparatively light and of short dura-
ton.
Omaha is fast assuming the character
OF a metropolis. One great step toward
attaining that end is the proposed erec-
ton of system of water works. Bonds
for that purpose to the amount of four
hundred thousand dollars will be voted
at the coming election. II is proposed to
secure supply sufficient for general use
in the city, including fire and manutac.
turing purposes.
Credit Mobilier Davis, the Independ.
ent candidate for Congress, opened the
campaign the other evening at Pappill
ion. Thirty five sturdy Independents sal
and listened to this fountain OF corrup
ton expound political virtue, and still hs
is not happy.
Our county fair has just closed and thu
State fair commences tomorrow, and il
promises to be success. The city is al
asiir with preparations for the event
Notwithstanding the destruction of ths
crops. most OF the counties have helt
their annual fairs, and with few excep
tions they have been successful. A new
feature (ior this State) in the line of fairs
called district fair, took place at Lincoln
and was the joint effort OF three or foul
counties. 1t did not terminate as success
fully as was hoped, but being the first
and the State fair so close at hand, it was
perhaps ali that could be expected.
Nebraska votes for Q constitution a
conveniion this fall These constitution
ial conventions are rather expensive At
fairs, ard it is 10 be hoped that the labori
of this one viii, meet with more gener
al approval than that of 1871.
| shall visit the State fair, and in my
next try to give your readers an idea o
Nebraska's producliveness, and of he
prospects as an agricultural State.
SPENCE.