The Columbus journal., 1880-02-11
Nebraska.

To q casual observer OF maps; sc
we'll as to the traveller by rail, very
little correct knowledge a be &C
quired OF the rich soil, salubrious
climate, pure water advantages aud
resources of a state like Nebraska.
The soil must be examined by scien-
tiic analysis or cultivated by the
farmer to know what character OF
crops it will produce. Both these
tests have been applied, and the fact
of their richness and durability is
no longer doubted it has been pro-
nounced under q careful analysis,
approved by the authority of the
state, to be the richest soil in the
world, and ranging in thickness
from 5 to l5O, and even 200 feet.
This investigation shows that over
eighty per cent. of the formation is
finely comminuted silica, so fine that
its true character car only be de-
tected under a microscope. Ten per
cent. of its substance is made up Of
carbonates and phosphates OF lime.
There are some small amounts Of
alkaline matter, iron and alumins !;
the result being a soil that can never
be exhausted until every hill and
valley which composes it Is entirely
worn away. The richer surface soil
overlies the sub soil. and it is from
Is inches to 8 and 4, and even 6 feet
thick. --
The next evidence of the richness
Of Nebraska soil is obtained from the
crops raised by actual cultivation.
1t lie not unusual with the corn crop
to produce from 70 pounds of ear
60 to 63 pounds Of shelled corn, or
four to seven pounds over the stand
ard, the general average of produce
ton, with average fair cultivation,
being 80 to 60 bushels per acre.
Great varieties of wheat are grown,
the yield being Is, 25 and the Polish
variety yielding sometimes 80 to 81
bushels per acre; of barley a fair
yield is 80 to 40 bushels; Of rye, 25
to 80, oats 40 to 80 bushels. Flax
produces IL bushels per acre.
The area of the state comprises
1886 square miles, or 46,625,SO0
acres, and is about al large al all
the New England states, OF all of
Pennsylvania and half of New York
Its length Is 412 miles, and it's width
about 200. The land on the eastern
boundary Is about $40 feet above sea
level, on the western, about 5000.
1t is between the parallels Of 400
and 43o north latitude, placing the
state in the latitude of Pennsylvania,
and southern New York, and north
ern California, and southern Ore
gon. From the eastern to. the
western boundary OF N Nebraska there
is a gradual rise in the land of about
seven feet to the mile in eastern
Nebraska, and from that to ten feet
in the west the eastern boundary is
go feet above sea level, and the
western about 5000.
The coming spring bids fair, at
the present time, for a large emigrs-
ton from the older states and for
eign countries to Nebraska, where
cheap and good lands can yet be
procured, either directly from the
government or improved lands from
those who want to make larger in
vestments In stock. It is Of the
utmost importance to persons In
tending to locate in Nebraska that
they should receive reliable and
truthful information regarding the
state, and especially the richness and
productiveness OF it's soil, and in
what we haye written and what we
may hereafter write, most Of our
facts are taken from q publication
issued by the State, approved by
Gov. Nance and F. M. Davis, Land
Commissioner, and any person de-
string further information by apply
ing to s. ]. Alexander, Secretary of
State, at Lincoln, Neb., will doubt
less be furnished with the publica.
ton which treats Of Nebraska and
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