The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-02-10
For the Palladium.
CozAD, DAWSON Co., NEB., |
February 2, 1875.

Mr.. EDITOR: A word from .Daw-
son county. in the great Platte Valley,
would perhaps be read by your many
readers with interest. Since this
county has been organized its progress
in population and material prosperity
has been rapid and substantial. We
arrived at this point, on the Tooth
meridian, about eleven months ago,
at which time there was not house
within five miles of our location, and
antelope, deer and elk, did roam to
and. fro; but to-day We can stand and
count over one hundred houses, and
more than two thousand acres have
been plowed and ready for crops by
our live, wide-awake farmers, this
coming spring. Our enterprising lit
tie town-located two hundred and
forty seven miles west of Omaha on
the great thoroughfare. the Union
Pacific Railroads. building rapidly.
We have one hotel, hardware, three
groceries and dry goods stores. one
saloon, blacksmith and shoe shop,
coal, lumber and brick yard; also,
6rst-class depot, telegraph and ex-
press Offices.
Our climate is the most delightful
of the temperate zone. 1t is milder
than On the same latitude in the east
ern States. The atmosphere is dry
and pure. The heat OF summer is
tempered by prairie breezes, and the
nights are cool and comfortable. The
autumns are like long Indian sum
mer, reaching into the latter part Of
December. The winters are short,
dry, and invigorating. The fall of
snow is light, and remains but short
time on the ground The healthful-
ness of this country is universally ad-
mitted by all From its central loca-
ton it escapes the long, severe winters
of the North. There are no swamps
nor stagnant waters-the DRAWINGS
being perfect, with fall of seven feet per
mile. Hence. fever and ague, so com
mon to many Of the fairest portions of
the west, are unknown here. The
high altitude, the dry and bracing at
mosphere, render this country delight
full
The soil of this country is of a rich
alluVlal deposit InIAeU With NeSetdUic
mold, very fertile, free from stones
and gravel. Under the pillow it be-
comes loose and mellow; it does not
bake after rain, and deep mud we
have none. The soil of the upland is
similar to that of the valley, projuc-
ing with very little labor all kinds of
crops.
Provisions are as cheap here as in
the east; labor about eastern prices.
Wild fruits grow in abundance along
the streams and are valuable pro-
duct to the early settlers.
Stock RAIsING.-This section of
the country is noted as being the great
pastoral belt, as we'll as for agricul-
ture. The. boundless unfenced prair-
les, including the bluffs on the north
| and south of the valley, will, Cor years
to come, furnish free pasturage, and
| the diseases so common in the eastern
States are unknown here. The grass
cures and dries on the ground, thus
forming uncut hay on which thou
sands of cattle are wintered, and come
out in the spring ready for beef, with
nothing except the natural grass. g
And now. as Nebraska is the last
State Offering cheap land and free
homes, we invite one and all to come
and see fer themselves before locating
elsewhere. Now IS THE TIME, as free
lands for the landless will soon be
only record Of the past.
Yours truly,
E. NJ. RUSSELL.