Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-02-21
For the SPECTATOR.
Letter from Nebraska.
xEN1A. NEBRAsKA. Feb. a 1890

AENIA, NEBRASKA, Feb. 4. 1882.
If the SPECTATOR will favor me will
a space in its columns, will send few
items from Nebraska.
The writer has now been q resident o
Nebraska for seven years, and Is some
what acquainted with the country and
the msodus operondi of the people.
Some people in the East and South
still have the idea that Nebraska is 8
wild country, abOunding in buffalo, &C.,
and that the Indian is as ready to take
the white mans scalp as ever, but moi
so. We are surrounded by fine, fertile
country, and an intelligent, enterprisinR
people. The visitor no longer sees q
bare, unbroken prairie. but we'll i'm
proved farms, with good buildings and
large groves of cotton and maple tim
ber, which can be seen for many miles.
Every year sees larger population and
better improvements, real estate ad-
vancing, and a bright future for Ne
braska: Owing to the drouth, last year
crops were short, and it was thought at
one time that there would not be q half
crop, but it turned out much better than
expected, and in some places crops were
almost an average-better than they
were either East or West. The potato
crop was almost an entire failure in
most places. Corn is now worth 40 to
As cents per bushel; potatoes, 80 cents
to 81 25; wheat, 80 cents to ST. 10.
Though the crops were very short in
some localities, and produce gone up in
prices, there does not seem to be any
suffering in any part of the State for
want of the necessaries of life.
We have bad very pleasant winter,
with but little snow or severe weather.
At present it is quite warm, but we are
liable to have very sudden and severe
change in "a hours.
We now and then see the "noble red
man." They (the Indians) come from
the reservation to the lakes and Plat
river to trap and fish. They camp on
an island and stay for several weeks
We saw party of them few days ago
and they were carrying along with
them dead Indian that had died two
weeks previous, and they were keeping
him till they returned to the reserva
tion, where they would bury him. They
offered to show him for Is cents. These
Indiana are the Pawnees and Omahas,
and their reservation is at Blackbir
Nebraska.
There are couple of Mormon Elders
here holding meetings and exhorting
the people that theirs is the "way, the
life. and the TRUTH" and the only way
to become saint and join in that great
battle which is to take place in Missouri
through the inspiration of Joe Smith
These claim no fellowship with the
Salt Lake Mormons, but when they
leave here they 60 to Salt Lake. They
meet with opposition wherever they 60,
yet they find some weak minds who
are ready to follow them and embrace
the Mormon faith.
Our schools are in q prosperous con
dition, and will compare favorahly with
those of other States. We have fine
school-houses, not only in the cities and
towns, but IN the country districts. We
have good talent in the school room,
and there never was a greater demand
for good teachers. The people and
school officers are awak enipg up to the
fact that we need good talent in OuI
schools, and that it pays to have good
experienced teachers. Teachers get
better pay here than they do in many
places In the East. Schools run from
four to six months In the country dis.
tricts. and nine months in the cities
and towns.
The health of the country has been
good. No epidemics till recently. when
the small pox struck Omaha, and.whicE
has been declared epidemic in the Uni
ted States. There has been quite 8
number Of cases, but the death rate il
not large.
The question of the day is, "Hav'
you been vaccinated ?'
Generally speaking, Nebraska is quite
healthy, and the doctors often find ,
good deal of time in which to study
Diphtheria is the worst disease we have
and it sometimes prevails to an alarm
ing extent. and is very fatal.
Very truly, G. n. II.