Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-11
ALL ABOUT NEBRASKA
BY nm Old Citizen of Grant.


To The Editor Let me congratu-
late my old friend and now welcome
visitor, the Grant County HERALD,
with many wishes for success and
prosperity, under the new manage
meDt.
i In compliance with promise
made when leaving Lancaster, to let
them know through the HERALD my
opinion of Nebraska's merits and
dement's, | sit down upon this Christ
mas eve to pen few hasty thoughts
and ask small space in the herald
for the same. [ have deferred writ
ing to see as much of the climate and
the various seasons as possible, that
[ might the better form my opin-
ions. | have now witnessed the
elements, and seen the Storm King
behave himself in all months but
January, February and March, and
must say they have done well. ( We
are less subjected to violent winds
than you are in Wisconsin, although
greater portion of the time we have
gentle breezes or even what might
be termed windy weather. We new
er have winds that uproot and twist
into splinters large oaks, as have
witnessed in Wisconsin, perhaps for
two reasons; first, because we
haven't the oaks, and second, when
the wind gets on a spree here it
doesn't confine itself to marrow paths
centering all its energies upon sim
gle point, but spreads out over our
broad prairies aud thus does but lit
tie damage.
From April to September, the time
when rain is needed, we have about
the same rain fall as in the States
farther east; but from September
to April we have no rain and gener-
ally hut little snow. So far this win
ter we have had, once ortwice, snow
enough to partially whlten the
ground and it was entirely gone in q
day or two. Two degrees below zero
is the coolest weather we have had,
and but little of that. Only very
few times has the temperature been
so low as ten degrees above. When
we hear of thirty below, with foot
of snow in Wisconsin, it calls to
mind the severe winters endured
there by the writer. for the last thirty
years, hnt which he expects to en-
dure "nevermore."
Our roads are dry, smooth and
dusty. and have been so every day
this winter
Nebraska is situated in the midst
of the great agricultural belt, extend
ing acoss the continent. Far enough
south for short, mild winters, and far
enough north for beautiful climate.
Winter sets in about a month later
than Wisconsin and sets out month
earlier, thus giving to the former
about two months more for work,
which, with the advantage Of the
smooth surface ADD mellow soil, ena-
bles him to accomplish nearly double
the work he can 80 far north as Wis
consin, while his stock is wintered on
far less feed.
Nine out of every ten of the quar-
ter sections [ have seen-exGep.
along the Missouri and Platte rivers
may be plowed in a single ':land"
scarcely breaking furrow and the
''rols" are so gradual that the furrow
turns one way about as we'll rs the
other, (some places even better).
"Side HILL" or Swivel plows would
be at a discount here. The soil Is
very deep and rich. and never 'bakes'
as most soils do. On the smoothest
lands the pillow may start as soon as
the rain stops falling. The sub-soiI
Is so porous that any surplus water
is Immediately carried down where
it remains till dry weather, when by
the same porosity it is drawn back
again to the surface as by huge
sponge.
There are but few springs or small
streams here, but excellent water is
found by digging or boring 20. 40, 60
or 80 feet. Wells are mostly bored
by hand; two men being able to
bore Is to 80 feet per day. There is |
no gravel or rock to impede the au
ger, so that we'll digging is a small |
item Friend Ketner's business would
be a poor one here. In many parts |
of the State ii is difficult to get |
enough rock for building foundations
and cellar walls. Wells are often
left unwalled, standing for many
years without crumbling or caving
10. We have no swamps and con-
no missma. Instead IF
swamps, as found in Iowa, Illinois
and other States, we have many
ponds which appear to be fed by un-
Ter ground streams. They answer
we'll for stock, and many of them
contain fish all the year, and around
hem mosquitoes are more plentiful
han desirable in the early fall
For many years | was subject to
Ievere sore throat in Wisconsin but
rave been free from it here. | have
alked with many who were similar
Y affected in the eastern States but
rave been entirely cured by ehort
esidence in Nebraska. [ do not be-
ieve that throat and lung diseases
YER originate in the pure. dry air Of
his country, but, except in extreme
asses may be readily cured
Although the country is quite nav
or several wears our fruit has car.
led off the FIRST premiums at all the
ational exhibitions whenever