Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-05-04
Letter from Nebraska.
OuAuA BAnRAcKs, April 2stb, /

| Mr.. Editor II hepe that am not by any
means intruding by sending to your most
valuable Journal communication from the far
West. While | write ] must say that this
thing of corresponding with a newspaper is
entirely out of my latitude, and while hope
that my correspondence will not prove unin-
terestng to the readers of your valuable
paper, | hope that you will give such COM
municat;cns space in your columns, although
should it prove unsatisfactory 10 most OF your
readers, hope at the same time 10 give some
facts concerning the growth of Nebraska. AT
present my location is at Omaha, Nebraska.
This is my first experience west of the Mis-
sissppi river, and had any person have told
me the difference of the lands, their rich
ness, the lovrliness Of the country ! shonld
not have believed him but ms | have been as
far west, or rather northwest, as old Fort
Laramie, have had chances to see what vast
country ii is, unoccupied only at intervals
from fifteen 10 twenty miles. These are ranches
kept by men of great bravery, for this rea-
son, that in each rancho, situated as they are
isolated from any civilization where anything
counts bnt revolvcrs and shot guns for the
wandering bands Of Indians from Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail Agencies out on hunting
expeditions, but instead they lay in the can
yon waiting any small party that should pass,
such as mail or dispatch carriers and there
occasions as they do not wish to be held re-
sponsibe or identified with the murderers but
do this in order to plumber. They take horses
and all vauables available and return to the
agency, disposing Of such animals as they get
at the ranches. When they find rancho that
is weak for want of the requisite number Of men
they will make raids upon these places at
night TO steal horses and such other plumber
as they see beneficial to their wants. ] will
state that these ranchemen board and keep
several herders. These herders receive their
board and from forty-fve TO sixty dollars per.
month from the owners of the stock, who
principally reside in Chicago, New York and
ST. Louis | must say that this is the greatest
grazing country that ] have ever seen, and
while the cattle are perfectly fat and ready
for any market in the world during the sum-
mer, they can well su6sist during the extreme
cold winter without food being garnered for
them. In the winter these herds are driven
in the ravines, sheltered by the buttes Of the
plains and there keep in good order during
the winter, although the grass of the plains is
in dead state, nevertheless il retains suffi-
cient amount of substance TO keep the stock
in good order.
will now give you a little description of
the land Of Nebraska; Omaha, where | am
at present, is situated upon the Missouri river.
Opposite TO Omaha are the rugged bills Of
Iowa. Here lies Council Bluffs, which well
deserves it's name, and is beautiful city, with
about fifteen thousand inhabitants. Omaha
is, AS have stated, on the Missouri river and
extends north along the river, and is perfect
level bottom with soil from four TO six feet, OF
a jet black color and contains So much ammo
mia that the sun has no effect upon 1t the
land is perfect level and while there is no use
for Guano, as in the old Eastern States, aud
and there is no chance for the land to wash,
but to remain there and moi become unproduc-
tive by being washed by the rains, and is a
perfect basis for the farmer. I must repeat
that I have never seen such land in all my
travels
Now there is one obstacle well to mention,
that is the plague OF grasshoppers but have
heard reports from Scientists that it is not
thought that the grasshoppers or locust will be
so disastrous this year, as they say that the
few fine days in March caused great many
eggs TO hatch out and at the time the sudden
change that followed served to kill great
portion Of that numerous army. Whether
this is the case ] cannot say, as ii il a mat
ter of time and if their suppositon is correct
ii will be quite help, and otherwise pleas
ant surprise 10 the agriculturist Of Nebraska.
There is gentleman here who has FIVE
thousand acres Of land for sale at distance Of
four miles from Omaha, il ranges along the
Missouri river above and joins Florence, it is
a perfect level and is the same as have de-
| scribed. lie will sell to suit purchasers both
as to size and price of lots, from $40 up to
$l00 per acre Florence, must mention, is
but village with two stores and as many
whiskey shops and also blacksmith shop
Ii is only nice little village, still il npholds
its dignity as a visiting place for travellers and
tourists, for the reason that il was the first
established place of Mofmonism under the pro-
lection Of Jos. Smith when their tabernacle
was broken up and they were driven from
Navaoo, Illinois. There is a part of Brigham
Young old temple still standing at Florence
which serves the curious eve Of pilgrims look
ing into the euriosites and customs Of the
West.
| will now give farewell word 10 my friends
of old Maryland by saying that il there are
any young men in my old State who wish to
profit by Horace Greely's text of "young man
go West" hope that his courage will not
fail him, bat that he will try his fortune for
better or worse and make good use OF that
maxim. Iadvise you TO make a struggle to come
West and if you desire you will have no trou-
BILE in joining companies which are organized
and QUILTING every day here for the Black
Hills. As for gold there is no reason to doubt
that the precious metal will he found in abun-
dance when the Indians are driven out and the
Black Hills andBig Horn mou ,ains are proper
y developed. will also advise all my old COM
rades who are at present blessed with single
blessedness 10 come West and get a good as
well as handsome wife, for not saying any
thing against the fair sex Of old Maryland, !
must say that In my estimation the ladies of
Omaha are the most perfect for beauty and for
intelligence have no superiors. ! will close,
Mr.. Editor, hoping in my next to give you a
more interesting letter.
Very respectfully, CALVIN H. KING.
DEATH OF Ex-Gov. BRowNLow. William
G. Brownlow, a journalist and politician OF
some note, died on Sunday last at his home in
Knoxville, Tenn, after long illness He was
born in Wythe county, Va, in 1905, and
learned the trade Of crrpenter. In 1926 be
entered the Methodist ministry, and laaored
Cor ten years as an ilinerant minister. In 1897
he became editor Of the Knoxville Whig, a
political paper, where he achieved the reputa-
ton OF violent partzan but trenchant
writer He strongly opposed secession, and
in December 1861, was arrested for treason
against the Confederacy, and detained until
| 1862, when he was sent within the Union
lines. In 1864 be returned TO Tennessee, Of
which he became Governor in 1865 and in
1869 he was elected TO seat in the United
States Senate, where he was chiefly censpicu-
Gus for his unforgiyiDg course towards those