The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-21
cuARAcrER OF THE SOIL.

| IIlt bEkklluk Va bAAAn SSAhA -
in the history of any new State otthe new
world.
CHARACTER OF THE SOIL.
The soil isa rich; black, sandy loan,
and easy to cultivate. Any ordinary. team
of horses will break two acres per day Of
the raw prairie. 1t is free from that mud
DIV nature of Illinois soil and produces
far better than the lands Of that State, as
many old farmers Of Central Illinois, now
my neighbors, will bear witness, espec-
| tally in small grain. In 1874 the average
OF heat in tais county and Of Clay, on
our south and York, on our east, was 70
bushels per acre, barley SS, oats 50, corn
about 10. This last year not quite so good
on account OF the grasshoppers visit.
Wheat averaged about IS bushels, barley
81, oats 80, corn fully as good as in. 1874.
STOCK GRAZING. o." 4
Especially is this country adapted TO
grazing stock. Nine or ten months OF tie
year they are herded by men or boys, who
do nothing else, for 81 so o$2 90 per
head for the season. We have no fence
law here, all stock must be herded or
kept a. the end OF a rope at home. But
the cheapness Of herding is eagerly tsken
advantage Of. Sheep do excellent. The
climate. the bracing dry air, seems to be
peculiarly suited to them. An old Scotch
neighbor has l40 head of fine Ewes that
roaIu the prairies, guarded by his little
boy and Shepherd dog, doing without
shelter thus far. Merely to show the
wealth OF our township, consisting almost
entirely OF stock, tno land beingyet taxed,)
l will mention that for 1875 it was
S17,Gl7.
A MODERATE WINTER.
lam now passing my third winter here,
and while the other winters have not
been excessively severe, the present ono
exceeds any winter in moderation ever
passed during my life anywhere. No
snow, winds or storms have come yet.
Our farmers have plowed right along
with scarcely IN interruption, and are
still plowing. ] plowcd on New Years
day. Spring, Summer and Fall are in
deed delightful here. Our rains come in
May, June and September, and, save &C.
casionally slight showers, we have dry
weather the rest OF the year. The melt;
ing OF the snow puts our ground in good
shape for sowing our Spring grain, which
is done in February and March. Spring
wheat is exclusively sown. ID
FIRST WINTERS EXPERIENCE.
NV first and second winters here |
thought very severe OH account OF scarciI
ty Of fuel, and poverty Of the settlers,
who had not the means to fix up COM
fortably, so as to guard against sudden
storms. Those winters, however, did not
last over six or seven weeks, and my
honest opinion is that our winters here
arc much milder and pleasanter than
among my old native hills OF West Va.
I have never seen. sleet fall here, nor
chilly winter rains to make everything
ICY utdoors. We are exempt from those
sudden "thaw.outs" and muddy roads like
they have on the dear old Short Creek
hills or in West Liberty streets. Whenit
SHOWS, il SHOWS the right way-copes
down in wagon loads. Occasionally then
we have drifting snow storm which is
indeed terrible, which man nor beast dare
face. They DO not last long, however,
which is great satisfaction. Instead OF
covering your stake and rider fences they
fill the hollow places IN our land. 80
that We have got to "sot down" in our
homes, with our big and little cares, while
they last. '
Fuel has heretofore been our greatest
drawback, but this "bugbear" is vanish
ing, -Four or FIVE acres oil. corn will fur
nish fuel for one year and makes . de-
lightful fire. Somesay it is sin 10 burn
corn. They can buy coal at 81 90 and 81
per ton at any railroad station. | have
hauled my wood from the islands Of
Platte river this winter, fifteen miles, as
most Of my ncighbOrs have, done, and
have plenty 10 last until after harvest.
Wood can be bought at from 50 so to 81
per cord from those who have been SO
fortunate as 10 get timber lands. ..-
Considering all things, good and bad,
all over our county, my honest opinion
is, there is no part Of the West that
offers grander opportunities for success
in agricultural pursuits, especially for
grazing stock, than these rich and beau
tiful prairies OF Central Nebraska.
have seen nearly every county OF the
State that Ia settled. This county was
and Is yet my choice for the lay and rich
ness Of its lands and freedom from the
sand or alkali that Is found west Of
Platte river or towards Republican
river. The climate consists Of dry,
bracing air; none OF the sudden changes
that bring diseases. II is unusually
healthy, and the climate, to express 1t in
few words, Is delightful-all that any
man could desire, ] care not from whence
he comes. II any Of my West Virginia
friends are contemplating "ho for the
Westm l believe they can do no better
than TO come here. Come and see for
yourselves, and l know you will be con-
WINGED, just as have been, that no better
country can exist for the beginner, the
man Of moderate means, and grandly SO
for tho man Of capital. There is a little
band Of us West Virginians here who
will welcome you into our midst and aid
you in every way, possible to secure
cheap lands and easy homes.
Any one wishing information in re-
gard 10 this country will always find me
willing to give it, with feelings Of pleas
ure, and with no railroad land sharks
or lawyers fee attached.
WILLIAM D. PENDERToS.
P.S.-Our railroad facilities are abund.
ant. The Burlington & Missouri River
Railroad is twelve miles to the south,
the Union Pacific on tho north, and n
new road now finished TO within ten
miles Of the eastern border Of this coun-
to, intending to cross through thenorth-
east corner Of the county and strike the
Union Pacific at Lone Tree. The work
is being rapidly pushed forward, and will
be completed during the summer.
". DIP.
The New York IIsh World prefers
Blaine to Giant. It says Grant Is sup.
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