Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-02
ThesStricken Frontier.

GREELEY, COLORADO, Feb. GA CORE
spondent in an Eastern journal makes three
serious charges in regard to the suffering in
Kansas and Nebraska. He says that the
restitution is much exaggerated; secondly,
that part of the money and goods got into
the hands of those who do not deserve them,
and who do not need them; and, thirdly,
that large proportion of the settlers are
naturally so inefficient that they ought to be
forced back to the places whence they came.
Now it is probably true that there are beg
gars travelling in many places on their own
account who are swindlers, but nobody needs
give to them, for there are trustworthy
agents who will see that every dollar reach
es its proper destination; and up to the pres
ent time no local complaints have been
made of perversion of funds, nor even of
mismanagement, though of necessity some
must exist. Whether the restitution is eX-
aggerated may to some extent be ascertain
ed when we come to know what it is to set
tie new country, wherever it may be. For
the last five years the settlement Of the west
ern portions of Kansas and Nebraska has
been extremely rapid, and during the last
two years pioneers have reached the one
hundredth meridian and pushed beyond.
This meridian is 200 miles west of the Mis-
souri, River, and it is the dividing line be-
tween the two climates of North America
namely of the moist and the arid, though
each partake much of the other, since there
is n gradual blending. In ordinary seasons
good corn crops are raised on the western
I. I,,,N Nln ff,N,
must be thorough. Two years ago | saw
fine sod corn 100 miles west of this line, but
here properly is the boz der of the great stock
ranges, where the grass cures rs it stands,
furnishing excellent winter feed. The best
crop along these borders undoubtedly is
wheat since this grain needs but little moist
ure, and my impression is that in the future
immense crops will be raised here, equal in
the aggregate to the whole product of Cali
forna, while the quality will be equal to it.
Besides, apples and most other fruits will
flourish, while millions of cattle will feed on
the nutritious grasses short distance west
ward. This is in the heart of the great
plains and close upon the buffalo ranges, ex-
tending north and south. Timber is never
found except in the valleys of the streams
and the cold winds of winter blow with ter
rible power. During the last two years the
immigration into this region has been SC
great that perhaps ~ counties haye been set
tied and organized, having II population Of
about 5000 each, and it may be said that
there are no neighborhoods more than two
years old. In such q country lumber is scarce
and dear. Most of it is cottonwood which
warps beyond ones conception, and it is o.
this material that the houses were built, of
ten by mailing the boards up and down, barn
fashion, and strapping with strips two inches
wide. Wrapping began Immediately, how
ever, letting in both the sun and wind, the
only remedy being to stuff the cracks will
mud or rags. Generally such houses have
only one room, though there may beapartitior
for bedroom; and bed or so is in the loft
reached by ladder. The warming is done
by "a stove-of course it is a eook-stove, anC
the fuel burned is cottonwood and elm, and
perhaps some ash and black walnut. have
never seen man more industrious thar
when on one occasion was wind-bound TO
aday, he unde rtook to keep the room warm
Another kind of building is the "dug-out,
which is really comfortable. The side of |
bank is dug into for the proposed house, anC
upon such n level that the wall on the bacl
side will be or 10 feet high; then poles o
logs are laid along on the sloping sides, anC
poles are laid for q roof, over which is plac
ed thick bed of grass, and the whole
covered with earth from one foot to two feel
deep. The front is made of lumber, poles
or of sod and with n window or so. Anoth
er good material is sod cut from bottom
land, generally turned with n heavy pillow
and divided into blocks with n spade. Tn
thick grass roots hold the material together
and construction is comparatively rapid
Such house is lmpervious TO the wind, an,
where sod can be had this is the best wa
for a "homesteader" to build OF cours
dwellings of this kind will not be neat, 70
dirt and dust will constantly fall, and aite
two or three years tho sods decay and ar
likely TO fan, but sometimes the whole WI
stand 10 or Is years; and have seen som
that were plastered and papered inside look
ing really neat. The greatest objection to
"dug-outn ana sod house is that they aiiOr
refuge TO such vermin as usually abound /
small dwellings; 1t is impossible to exp6
them.
The crops raised two years ago, being Of
sod. We're corn, buckwheat, and vegetables
and last spring wheat and oats were sown i
addition, and they who were able plante
fruit trees. To large extent the settler
were "homesteaders that is they under
took to occupy 80 acres of Government Ian
within railroad limits for five years, whe
they would get title of 100 acres beyon