The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1877-04-19
Correspondence ofthe News
Letter from Nebraska.

DAVID NlIEr NcO-, A DFll 2 lott-
DEAR News After a months absence from
home in old Highland, rambling from place to
place in No. Kaus and Neb., find myself So
j urning for the present, in the beautiful and
thriving village of David City, the county seat Of
Butler county, Ncb., among as good a class Of peo-
pie, and in as fine a country, be found in the
West.
( David City is a Young, but prosperous place,
having at present a population Of 800 or 400 in
habiiants, with a bright future before it. It was
located in the center Of the county, little more
/ than two years ago, on a quarter section, owned
and appropriated by Mr.. Miles, of Iowa, for that
purpose. The town site is a beautiful one, out on
the prairie, away from the sight of timber.
/ Butler county is located in the eastern part Of
the State lying about so miles west of the Mo.
river, $50 from the western limit fof the State and
about midway north and south. Its northern
border is washed by the celebrated Platte river,
which separates it from COlfax and Platte counties
It is bounded on the east by Saunders county, on
the south by Seward, and on the vest by Polk.
ClimaticaIIy considered, it is rather south Of the
central portion Of the temperate zone, on the foot
of the great Missouri slope of the Rocky Noun
tain system, afording a climate mild enough for
the growth of the tender vegetables and fruits and
coarser cereals Indigenous to southern localities
and yet cool enough f,r wheat and other northern
productions.
a healthier country does not exist than Butler
county and the counties adjoining it. lis altitude
is 1900 feet above sea level, aud the contiguous
ness Of the great plains guarantees the continual
presence Of clear, pure, and constantly moving
atmosphere, thus rendering the existence of ma
laria and stagnant conditions impossible.
Butler county is watered by the Platte the Blues,
Oaks, Bone, Skull Plum, Deer, Wilson and other
minor streams, together with their numerous |
branches. Well water is generally attainable at a
depth of 10 to go feet, and the construction Of
canals and mill-raCes from the main streams into
the bottoms is a question of time, capital, and
public spirit
Butler county is one of the most thickly populated
cOunties-cOnsidering the time it was organized
in this young State, as well as being one Of the
most prosperous. lis first settlement was about
the years 1861, but the general rush into the
county did not occur until the years 1850.
The skimish line of the permanent settlers pen
etrated this region about the last-named years,
and as usual with first COmers, they a7oided the
high broad prairie, tables and benches, preferrng
to distribute themselves along the valleys Of the
various streams-smugging into the little groves
and hooks, under the protection of the hills in the
vicinity of those prime necessities of frontier
lHe-wOOd and water, each new arrival venturing
a little further up the stream to the next thicket
or spring.
Not until August, 1858, was Butler county or
ganized permanently, and the first election held,
showing poll Of about 20 or IS voters, indicated
a population of about 200, for it must not be for
gotten that at this early day large per centage of
the inhabitants we're young, unmarried men.
At this time the county scat was located at
Savannah, on the banks of the Platte river, but
since that time its seat has been located by the
Uor popUH, at election held for that purpose, |
near the center Of the county, on the Iabe-land
ab6ut midway between the Platte and Blue rivers.
The county seat is rapily building up, notwith- |
standing the apparent hard times, and the probable
approach of the ever-to-be-dreaded ''grasshop- /
pers," which viii undoubtedly come, as sure as
Spring must follow winter, for the ground is liter
ally filed with their eggs.
In addition to the scientific action of the Gov |
ernment Commission, the farmers here intend to
institute practical measures to harrass and ex-
terminate the pests, by firing the dead grass in a
month or so. after they hatch out. In this way /.
they hope to destroy immense quantities Of hop
pcrs before they cut their teeth.
I shall leave here tomorrow or next day, for Nc. |
to remain there until next fall or spring, when I
shall, peradventure, return. There will be a
branch Of the U. P. r. R., called the Omaha & /
Republican Valley R. R. through here by the LIST I
of August, which viii give us good outlet to |
cheap fuel and markets.
For fear of prolixity, will close for the present. |
Yours, &c, GEORGE E. SNITHSON.