Omaha daily bee., 1882-12-06

OF tno ulbplaCeu WhtotS s 7"
lower level is q subject more for
imagination than words. After the
first tremendous deluge had swept by,
resistless fl ,ods would continue, pull.
verizing the rocks, ploughing up the
soil, leveling forests, carving out can
ons and carrying TO immense distances
the fertile portions of the soil and de-
posting instead debris and sand
The railroad Is not in running or
der beyond Thatcher, seven miles this
side the Niobrara, and the fort 30
named, directly north, must be reach.
ed by stage. After riding three or
four miles v e q country similar to
that already described, the cliffs Of
the Minicadusa suddenly rise into
view, extending east and west for
miles, their white and g~listening
fronts relieved here and there by the
dark green foliage of cedar and pine.
From the fort l walked to Valentine,
four and o half miles west. This
town site, named in honor OF Hon. Il,
X. Valentine, Is exceedingly beautiful.
1t Ia nm extensive level plateau at the
junction of the Minicadusa aud Mo.
brara rivers. To tho south is an
extensive view Of river, valley and
sand hill ranges, while not over q mile
north Of the station, the cliffs of tho
Minicadusa form a picturesque back
ground. Here l met, for the frat
time, with Mr.. Dave Mears, n of
tho manifest of men, From him |
learned that the prospect for havirg a
good town was encouraging, though
much depended upon whether the
road stopped there awhile or pushed
right ahead. "Supposing the latter
to happen, what, then, would create
and support q town." The reply in
substance was, that rs the nearest
point to the fort and to Rosebud
agency, all the freighting for those
places would be done at Valentine;
that while the fort remained occupied
there would be a trade from there;
that along the rivers and creeks many
settlements have already been made,
while immigrants are arriving fast;
that Valentine will probably be q
division station and that the new land
Office will probably be located the'e.
There are now v r a dozen buildings
completed and the immediate wants
of the town are a hotel, a black
smith, a harness maker and a shoe
maker.
A walk out to the banks of the
MipicadusA will well reward the visit.
or, and as before suggested may ex,
plain the presence and general features
of the Sand hill region. The aouth
bank of this stream is rounding and
sloping, the north boundary is a per-
pendicular cliff, cut through, here and
there by canons, but all with walls no
foot can scale. The valley itself is a
narrow and deep channel. The river
bed is at least one hundred and fifty
feet below the point of observation,
while tn. .opposite cliffs rise to an
equal distance above. Standing here,
talking in the whole scene, the
conviction is inevitable that
at some time q hundred
Niagaras poured themselves into this
abyss and after churning and boiling
for awhile in It's depths, rose and
poured over the southern bank cut.
ting it down and carrying it away, the
lighter and fertile portions being
transported far beyond their original
position, while the rocks, pebbles and
sand were strewn along the course of
the mighty food and received their
present shape and general direction.
It will be noticed that as q general
thing the escarpment of the sand hills
points q little to the north of
west and that their slopes are in the
other direction, showing the course of
the waters by which they were de-
posted. The petriied trees indicate
the same thing; whether found above
or below the surface they lie with
their roots up stream, which was west
and lightly to the north. Taking a
sketch of the wild and rugged scenery
characteristic of this locality, l
returned to the fort and made the
acquaintance of Thatcher e. Co.,, post
traders, whose long residence gives
value to their opinions of the country.
To Maj. Gentry, the new commander
of the post, 1 am indebted for the
most polite and hospitable attention.
He is q gentleman who will make a
host of friends in his present position.
DR.. Macgillicuddy and his Indian
police were here from Pine Ridge
waiting to receive and carry to the
agency $10,O 600 of silver currency.
The Sioux City & Pacific railroad
company are entitled to the highest
praise, not only for opening up this
vast and hit herto neglected portion of
Nebraska, but for the manner in
which they are building their road. 1t
is first class in every respect. The
road bed is solid, the sand and iudu.
rated matter before spoken OF, max.
Ing Of good a foundation for the rails
as the broken rock on the Penn
.sylvania Central. All the stations,
section houses and water tanks are
well and solidly built and neatly
painted. Nothing indicates negligence
or n~iggardliness ON the part of the
company, and wen to stations where
no town or village exists, except upon
paper, these remarks are applicable.
What will you do with III 1t is no
longer upanswerable In regard to
Northwestern Nebraska. On the
magnificent table lands and along the
canons and creeks crops of all kinds
can be raised in abundance. On and
around the sand hills tens of thous-
ands of cattle now find summer pas
turage, and there is room for hun.
dreds OF thousands more. The vast
hay fields offer a tempting opportunity
for a branch of industry, which is
comparatively untried In the state,
the baling and shipping of hay; and
thus divided between farmers, stock
raisers and hay makers these thous-
ands of square miles will soon be &C.
oupied, and an immense local business
be furnished to an enterprising rail-
road which will ere long take rank as