Omaha daily bee., 1883-12-05
sIoUx CITY AND PACIFIC II, Il.
The Fertile Coun p es Opened to I'm.
migration 10y tn Line. Do
cline in Traffic Rates.

Chicago Times.
The lines of the Sioux City and Pacific
Railway now comprising a total of AIS
miles, extend south from Sioux City to
Missouri Valley Junction, the point of
connection with the Chicago Il North
western Railway, thence west to Ere
mont, Neb., there connecting with the
Union Pacific. This carrier section of the
Sioux City Il Pacific was completed in
1869 having been constructed with the
exception of a few miles between Califor-
mia Junction and Missouri Valley jun
elton, under the act of Congress charter.
ing the Pacific railroads. The line above
Fremont west was built by the Fremont,
Elkhorn n Missouri Valley railroad com
pany. 1t is leased and operated by the
Sioux City n Pacific. 1t was completed
to Wisncr in 1871, and has recently
been extended to Valentine, near the
boundary of Nebraska, west of the
Tooth meridian, and distant from the
Missouri river 300 miles. A branch
to the north ia built from Norfolk Jun
elton to Creighton. From Valentine
the surveys of the company have been
carried to the west boundary of Nebras.
ka and beyond. The branch from
Fremont west follows the wide and
fertile valley of the Elkhorn to its origin
and meets the Niobrara river at Valen.
tine.
The slope of northern Nebraska is
from the Black Hills of Wyoming east
and south to tho Platte river. This two.
fold inclination is at the average rate of
six feet to the mile. The courses of the
various rivers are thus indicated. With
the exception of the Niobrara, which |
forms n portion of the Dakota boundary
until it meets with the Missouri, the
rivers of northern Nebraska empty into
the Platte; but few streams join the
Platte from the south. The entire region
between the Niobrara AM Platte rivers
is exceedingly well watered. The chief
intermediate water-coursos are the Elk |
horn and the Loupe rivers and forks they |
have many important tributaries which
with their frequent atfluents ramify every |
portion of these great agricultural and
grazing regions. The ultimate sources of
these numerous streams are fed by great
numbers of living springs. The width of
tho valleys vary from a quarter of a mile
to two miles along the lesser streams and
WV w v liz uioiS Nv |
more important river courses. Back of
the water-course stretch the booad UNI
dulations of p~rairies, sweeping away to n
meeting summit between two waters,
everywhere atfording by their incline
thorough natural drainage.
The soils of Northern Nebraska are,
without doubt, among the best native
soils in the world. They are superlm-
posed on the true material of the glacial
drift found generally in the form of i'm.
beds of blue clay. Above these
are gravel and clay or sand and gravel.
The surface soil is vegetable mold finely
mixed with modified drift material and
s~ilicious matter powdered clay and sand
thus forming a rich calcareous loan,
Astounding in those elements which enter
into the growth of the cereals and grasses.
Its advantageous position and decomposition
favor the crops both in seasons of undue
and of scanty rains. Its sandy admiXture
affords immediate drainage from the most
copious rains on the cultivated surfaces
while its spongy sub-soils and clays yield
moisture in dry seasons by capillary at
traction.
The country of the Elkhorn and the
INlODTuTd III NeDTuSku lleS DetWcSn VIC |
41st and AID parallels, and mostly below
the AID. These are the ATTITUDES of the
best climate, and those within which the
three great products of the West-grass, |
grain and live stock-thrive best. From
the Missouri river to the western termi-
nus of the Sioux City Il Pacific railroad
there is a gradual rise in the altitude from
800 feet at the Missouri to 5000 feet at
the Niobrara. The atmosphere is clear,
pure, and rare-the number of days of
clear sunshine being a notable feature
of a climate neither excessively cold in
winter nor excessively hot in summer.
The elevation and pure atmosphere of
these districts guarantee exemption
from malarial epidemics and diseases
among its inhabitants, and render the
climate exceptionally healthful in all re-
spects.
TEe-later commencement and hereto
fore slower progress of general settlement
of northern Nebraska than in the central
and southern parts of the state have not
been due to a recognized inferiority of
the north half to any portion whatsoever,
but to the tardier event Of railway trans
p~ortation. In these outlying regions, re-
mote from export markets, the railroad
alone car pioneer general settlement.
The earlier building of the Union Pacific
and of the railroads which now compose the
system of the Burlington a Missouri in