The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-05-22
For tie 1Egis d MtelHgencer.
Letter from Nebraska.


visits and still find it interesting to read the
news of old Hartford, Notwithstanding near tif-
teen hundred miles lies between lis and the office
from which you come, yet our interest is not the
least abated in anything pertaining TO the pres
ent or future prosperity Of Maryland, my Mary
land"
In my last communication, promised your
readers to inform them, through your columns,
concerning the soil, climate, people, morals,
schools, etc, of this part of Nebraska, and now
to the task.
''wHAT KNOW ABOUT NEBRASKA"
"What know about Nebraska" have learn
cd since the I'd day of this month, and of course
l don't know everything as yet, but there are
many things about this country that any one
who will look can see at glance.
First the soil is excellent, landscape beautiful,
rolling prairie and as rich as could or should be
desired. Stone enough along the rivers and
creeks for all practical purposes, but none else
where To travel over the public roads is pleas.
ure, indeed, and can be accomplished rapidly,
without injury to the animal. The soil seems
TO be well adapted 10 wheat, corn, oats the
finest We ever saw,) potatoes, rye, and all kind
of fruits. Spring wheat is the only wheat sown
here; fall wheat does not do so well, but the
spring wheat is success. The soil is easily cult
waited A gentleman residing nine miles from here
has sown this spring 1000 acr, s in wheat and
intends planting $50 acres in corn, besides herd
ing large droyes of cattle, and conducting large
grain mill, and only has employed seven work
men; but let me assure you, those laborcrs work
nc DtSt HORSES, lluTllCSS wagons, blows, rcaD-
crs, ETC., and it's go right along and no foolish
ness.
How much the land will produce am not in
formed toa certainty, but enough to make farm
ing lucrative where it is well managed, without
any expense of "bonc dust" or its equivalent.
The climate is anything but agreeable to me-
The wind is source of discomfort Be-
fore came here | often heard that the wind here
was bracing and SO it is, it blows so hard at
times that if you are not energetic it will brace
Inwpypr "a n " rnsi cto,,p nt,1l
be in vain the best thing one can do is, to let
it blow. My friends here contend that the eli
mate is more disagreeablc just now than at any
other season of the year, which undoubtedly is
true.
This is q very backward Spring, all through
the West, and in this locality lung fever and sore
Threats are the prevailing maadcs. However,
rs l write, hear the sweet song of the lark har.
binger of spring and flowers. Pretty bird sing
on, and provoke, ifyou can, the early approach
ofnature S warmest smiles, forwe long to see the
delicate roses, and daisies, that make beautiful
the wild prairie. Sing ON, sing on, you lovely
warbler, and cheer the heart of the man of toll,
who on yonder hill see is scattering his grain in
hope of bountiful harvest.
THE PEOPLE.
What kind of people reside here is an impor-
tant question. In order to know rs much as
could about the people by whom am surround
ed here, have visited the principal places of
business in this town and elsewhere and find
that the people generally are the kind of PEG.
pie to work up q new country and TO make for
themselves homes and independence. Whilst
they are polite, and entertaining you may al
ways see this sentiment cropping out, II mean
business
FREE SCHOOLS.
The free Schools are the best | ever knew any
where of their kind. The public school building
ofthis town was recently erected at cost of near
four thousand dollars; large convenient, two
story building, seating room for 800 pupils. Has
now over one hundred scholars. The principal
h.r,
and good instructor, whilst the assistant is
well qualified to manage the Primary Depart
ment The public, or free school building at
Pawnec City, (our county seat,) cost, | am told,
$4,000, and has m able corps of teachers
The interest arising from the sale of school
lands of the State, creates a large revenue for
the employment of teachers, and the people vote
almost solid for extra taxation, by which to erect
crcditable and convenient school buildings.
These schools are opened not less than eight, nor
more than ten months in the year, giving all an
opportunity to educate their children. Not only
are the towns and villages favored thus, but the
country districts are well supplied with good
schools.
The Methodist, Presbyterian and Christian
Churches seem to have the ascendancy, though
there are some scattering Baptist and Eplscopa-
lians, all doing good work; but in some loculi-
tics are being annoyed by sect calling them
selves by various names, "Church of Goo, ;" "Soul
Sleepcls," etc. The aim of the teachers seems to
be to sow discord into other ranks, by all man.
ner ofartful reasoning, wholly at variance with
the voice Of Divine inspiration
AS soon as the weather becomes warm, and |
can release myself from my professional duties
/ intend to make a visit to an Indian reservation
81 miles from this place. and should learn or
see anything OF interest will communicate the
same for the pleasure ofyour readers will slso
describe infinitely the general appearance of tho
country, &c.
There is, just now, through this section of
country great talk among many Of the people
about "going West" and some are taking up
their all and marching off. l am not in the
crowd.
sons after living here awhile learn to like it, but
the stranger takes to it Slowly it is cold and
very clear Wood for fuel is quite low in price,
considering the scarcity of it. The rivers and
creeks are beltcd with wood, but on the up land
prairies there is no timber for miles and miles,
except fruit trees and maple groves planted by
the settlers Good wood can be bought at this
town for $500, s.. 90 and $500 per cord, accord
ing to quality. Oak and black walnut are more
abundant than any other kind there is some
hickory, elm and cotton wood. | have frequent
wished that friend Klug, at Fallston, had some
OF the black walnut to work into furniture, that |
have seen slaughtered into stove wood here. Why
is wood SO cheap, and yet so scarce? For this
son. There is but little timber here that would
make good fencing, or building material; be-
sides building lumber is shipped here from diff.
ferent places cheaper than it can be had in Bal
timore; and as no one here, or scarcely one man
in hundred, wants any fencing around his land,
there is but little or no demand for the wood of
this section. Coal is also shipped here in large
quantities, and fuel either wood or coal, is quite
cheap in this country.
There Is no system in this letter. but trust
it may be OF interest to my friends in old Har.
ford. LATE OF FALLsToN.