The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-28

tDrOugH phoSoDboI MoAS' 80 -,
Diy and Pacific Railroad, which runs
from 9t.Johns, Iowa, connects AZ Ihis
point with the U.P The Fremont anu
Fkhdfn Valley Railroad runs from here
norlk flfty miles-trains run regularly
ana through a rich productive country
fhe Platteis crossed with a wagon bridge
al Fremont, costing over $50 600, a-
North Bend, so miles, population 500
about hundred dwellings and stores
grain elevator, etc. Schuyler, ~ miles
county seat, population 800, six churches,
three school houses, grain elevator,
court house, etc.
Columbus, 92 miles, county seat, popu-
lation 1000, six churches, two BANKS
three school houses two weekly news
papers. etc. In 1867 Columbus was at
the end Of the u. P. road, then pushing
forward westward at the rate OF from
three TO FIVE miles per day. What vast
and mighty changes have taken place
since then wrought by the progress and
completion of this great through route
to the Pacific.
Silver City, 100 miles, is an unimpor'
tant town, northeast of this town Is the
Pawnee Indian reservation, l2x9O miles
in area The tribe numbers about 2 0O0.
In 1867 when the writer was in com
mand of Fort Kearney, several comp
anies were formed among these Indians
nv the United States Government for
services against hostile tribes and bands
of Indians, and were called Frank
North's Scouts" The physical condi'
ton Of the Pawnee Indian in that year
was not of the best by any means-the
scouts we're thoroughly equipped at the
post named and mounted as cavelry---
the writer having vivid recollection OF
the many amusing scenes and incidents
to the swimming of their ponies, pur'
chased by the government for them,
across the Platte river, then swollen to
h5od-height, and about five miles In
width, with immense trees aud fragment
stumps, brush, and other floating timber
and material covering seemingly the
surface of the whole stream, 1t seemed
as though no one could or would venture
a crossing, yet these Indian scouts to
the number of about ono hundred,
mounted on their ponies and started
promiscuously on the north side of the
Platte. succeeded without seeming diff
cult to reach the south shore, amid the
soldiers and others gathered on the shore
for the special occasion. -,
The Pawnee Indians are provided by
the government with agricultural lmpIl
ments, etc, and have under cultivation
about 1000 acres of land. Lone Tree
1872 miles. county seat, population 6OU,
and country dotted with farms, The
road at this point runs for about forty
miles an air line or as near as 1t is possl'
BILE to construct one.
Grand Island, l54 miles, population
1,5OO county seat, has court house, Jail,
banks, many churches, school houses,
stores, two weekly newspapers, steam
Touring mill, etc. Here the train west
bound stops for supper, and the train
bound east for breakfasr-30 minutes
Kearney Junction, 1876 miles, is named
for old Fort Kearney, the latter ut the
time situated on the south side Of the
Platte nearly opposite, now abandoned.
The Burlington and Missouri River Rail-
road, and the Denver and st. Joseph
Railroad here join hands with the Union
Pacific Both reach the station from the
south over the Platte river by the same
bridge and track. In 1875 when the
writer was stationed at Fort Kesrney
the improvements all told at Kearney
station, now Junction, consisted OF one
small railroad Office and wareroom, Ii
was in that year the terminus Of the
Union Pacific Railroad and almost every
passenger who got off at the station was
either n.route for Fort Kearney or vi
cinity on the south side. Now the juno.
ton has a population OF 1900, one daily
ne wspaper The improvements did not
commence until 1873. 1t is the county
seat. The court house, Jail and other
public buildings are constructedof brick;
has two banks, six churches, stores, etc.
In 1860 immense herds of buffalo cover
ed the plains around toe Fort extending
for distance ofover two hundred miles,
and, in instances, emigrant trains were
STONED while the herd5 were crossing
the overland trail. About that year
however, they seemedto have abandoned
that country and were not seen again
in that locality until in the fall of 1865
when they again appeared as numerous
seemingly, as ever. Would otter hDd
their way into the Post but their stay
on this latter occasion was not OF long
duration, only for several months, and
they rapidly found their way south to
the Republican river and west to better
grazing grounds and away from the rapid
progress of civilization along the valley
of the Platte river. The writer in comp
any with several British officers, his
guests az the time and who had large
experience in hunting buffalo in India,
found no difiou ' with the aid OF fast
and trained horses, in killing eleven
young and choice buffalo during one
forenoon within three miles Of the Fort,
and all belonging to the same herd. Had
the meat properly cured and used
Fort Kearney was very old Post, and
rebuilt by the late Col. Charles May, Sd.
Dragons in 1858; abandoned in 1872
PUN Creek, 230 miles, county seat;
population 500; has brick court house,
churches. school houses, usual number of
stores and weekly newspaper. This
point in early days was looked on with
dread by the emigrants. 1t VAS the
strong holds Of eeYersl powerful tribes
of Indians-the Republican river only.
1S miles distant. The Sioux, Arapa-l
hoes and Cheyennes here, on many oc-
Casions, surprised and murdered large
numbers of emigrants. si1m
North Platte 201 miles, county seat;
population 2 600. In November 1866 the
road was in running order TO this point.
The city contains numerous fine build
ings built of brick, churches, county seat
buildings, dwellings of no inferior order
two weekly newspapers, etc. When the
terminus of the road was here the popu.
lation and improvements consisted
chiefly of dance.houses. prostitutes,
gamblers, ronghs, horse thieves murder
ers. ETC., the hotels, restaurants and 9th
er houses and tenements were princi
pally constructed ofcanvass.
have referred as briefly as possible
to the principal improvements along
the line of the Union Pacific with a
view Of conveying to the minds Of the