The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-25

It is believed that over all this vast re-.
gion once rested an immense lake, compar-
ed to which Lake Superior is a mere pond.
Over the bottom of this lake were spread
through the ages lacustrine deposits of
soil from five to two hundred feet deep. A
small area on the north side of the state
seems to have emerged first, for the soil is
entirely gone from it. But it must have
been at one time a trOpic isle of marvellous
luxuriance of vegetable and animal life.
In the hardened clay of its low hills are
to be found vast numbers of fossil animals
that have no existence outside the tropics.
Here were immense numbers of Thinoceri,
horned and hOrnlCss, some with two horns,
some with one, and others with none.
Here ranged the hippopotami and vast
herds of carniyorous animals; here are
found petrifed turtles, one specimen, per-
fectIy preserved, being seven feet across.
There are several species of fossil monkeys.
at requires but little imagination
says Bishop Warren, ito cover the region
of the mouth of the Niobrara with abund-
ant forests, through which meandered
great rivers, full of the hugest animals,
while above them chartered the monkey,
and few the gorgeous bird of paradise"
AfterwaTd the surrounding country, COW
cred with the richest soil, arose above the
waters the climute grew more severe, and
the tropical animals and birds gave place
to those of a colder cline.
One race of men lived here and disap-
peaTed another took their place, but have
passed away, leaving but little trace a
third, now known as Indians, luxuriated
in the abundant meat of the buffalo, but
they are nearly as extinct as the two
races that have sunk beneath those waves
of land, "unwept, unhonored and unsung."
1t seems to be a hard matter for men to
conquer this continent. Whether the
fourth race has gathered strength enough
from allying all kindreds and bloods under
the whole heavens for its conquest, is yet
TO be seen in the coming centuries.
The part now called Nebraska is two
hundred by four hundred miles in extent,
and contains fOrty-eight million acres. On
the east flows the Missouri River; irregu-
larry, through its whole length, flows the
Platte, receiving all its tributaries ON the
north side.
The state has a slightly undulating sur
face, and has so rich a soil that aiter-crops
have been removed for thirty years from
some places. 1t shows no sign of needing
fertilization, nor will il show such need
till the one hundred and fifty feet of soil
has been turned into wheat or other crops.
The soil most nearly resembles that of the
Nile Valley, in Egypt. 1t is perfectly prod
igal in the production of fruit. The state
has twice been awarded the highest pre-
MUM of the United States Pathological So
ciety, and thereby been declared from
competing again. One apple has been
grown that weighed twenty-nine and a
half ounces, and ono man raised in a year
$4,000 bushels of peaches.
The state was admitted into the Union
in 1867. All the carly inhabitants came
into Nebraska in the so-called prairie
s~chooners-a covered wagon containing
all the family and their earthly effects.
Finding land to suit, they first erected a
house of sods, with places cut for a door
and window, which made them n comfort
able abode. Many happy homes were
whitewashed on the outside for n very tri-
ding cost.-PAild. Sat. Niqht.