The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-02-13
Nebraska Correspondence.
MINDEN Nrn Feb G 1870

nebraska Correspondence.
| MINDEN, NEB., Feb. 6, 1879.
Minden, the County-seat of Kearney
County, made somewhat notorious by
the trial and conviction of Richards
also the place designated for his execu.
ton on the Goth of April, is town that
has recently sprung into existence, and
is making rapid strides toward devel-
ing into a frst-class frontier town. II
is located eighteen miles southeast
from Kearney Junction, on one of the
grandest prairies 1 have ever seen. All
that is necessary to transform it into
an earthly paradise, is patient industry
and well developed muscles. It has a
large and comfortable hotel, where its
guests are provided with all the neces-
sary Accommodations and comforts de-
sired by a travelling public, at rates
that would make an Eastern landlord
blush while remembering his exorb-
liant demands. A live newspaper,
owned and edited by Elder A. w. Olds,
(formerly of Trumbull county, who
also dispenses the Gospel to, the SUR
rounding community. With the ex+
ception ofits politics. Elder Olds' paper
deserves success, but L fear even the
moral influence of his preaching will
not cOunteract the bad effect of the
politics he teaches. The merchants
carry a full line of goods, from q pull
back OK yoke to violin string, which
they sell at a TRIFLEabeve cost. There
is also wagon shop, mot so, large as
Merits & Riddle's) but where they, turn
out In good style every kind sofvehicla
known among men. The County ed
ifices do not resemble the, Centennial
buildings, nor the Capitol at Washing
ton, ,;but we have more ground for d
park, and when the country is again
under good old Democratic rule, and
prosperity returns, we will move aside
this first effort at county architecture,
and erect one. more imposing in its
grandeur. We have, also, a good COM
Portable school building. where about
twenty five young Nebraskians con-
gregate daily to absorb ideas of future
greatness, and receive their allowance
Of Elm and Ash, applied ex(stern)ally.
The sensation caused by producing
friction with Birch rod is unknown
to the youths of Nebraska. The school
Is taught by young lady who thor
oughly comprehends her duties. The
trades are mostly represented here ex-
cept the man who deals out liquid
death, called by some, sod corn whisky.
He has not come, and as there are sew
eral wells being bored, I do not think
he will have the courage to appear.
The Government land has been
mostly taken up in this locality that is
desirable for farming purposes, but
there is still plenty of railroad lands
that can be bought for what you would
pay per acre rent for farm in Portage
and one acre will produce as
much as three would there. A man
thinks nothing Of cultivating from 60
to 20 acres of corn, and will do it we'll,
In Ohio he would think twenty would
keep him busy, and it would. Why
is it that men will pay such rents year
after year, when the amount they pay
would secure them 100 acres
of land and a comfortable home, or at
least u place to live until they were
able to have a better one?
Many have an erroneous idea of this
Western country. They think to come
here is to sacrifice every comfort, soci-
ETY., and even civilization, to endure
privation and poverty. The truth is,
people are to be found here just as well
educated, as refined, and little bit
sharper. They do not wear as fashion
able attire. A calico dress, provided it
is disinfected occasionally with soap
and water, and smoothly ironed, is,
am proud to say, always fashionable,
always considered respectable. A mans
coat may have long or short tails, if it is
it excites no comments
the women adore him just the same.
This new country has given a good
many people who came here with exalt-
ed ideas of themselves, what they had
only limited supply of before-good
sound practical sense. In a short time
they realized that about nine-tenths Of
their wants are artificial, that their
ideas of economy were absurd, and that
they are just as happy on the prairie as
they were in their vain endeavor to
keep out of debt back East.
There are no tramps here, no loafeas,
all are struggling, toiling and happy.
Considering the accounts I have
read in the PRESS of the extreme cold
weather you have been having, I pre-
sumo if my veracity was not known to
you, should hesitate to inform you
that most of our farmers have been
blowing and sowing wheat for q week
past, that the weather has been warm
and beautiful for the past three weeks,
but last Friday night there was sud-
den change, and snow fell to the depth
of. eight or ten inches, and have no
doubt that before this reaches you, it
will have disappeared and the farmers
will be up and at it.
The trial of Olive and his gang for
the murder of Mitchell and Ketchem
near Plum Creek, will take place in
Kearney this week, many will await
with anxiety, knowing that Olive has
a {" bar'l" of money to assist him to
evade Justice. We shall see. -.
SALEM PRATT.
Al. DITMAN,the enterprising Drug
gist, corner of Barclay Street and
Rrood wav NV ,uouu "a cturor oud |