The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-05-05
LETTER FROM VIM. CRAIG.

with copious tears, to near aud dear rel
atives, bade warm-hearted good byes TO
a host OF kind neighbor friends who very
regardfully gathered at the railroad
station at our departure, and started for
the far off State of young Nebraska.
None but those who have had like ex-
perience know what il is TO undertake
such far away MOVE with family of
children, thus seYering them suddenly
from such relations, and especially an
aged grandmother, to whom their fire.
quent visits or presence Of the past was
a great source of pleasure and satisfac-
tion. There is q sadness that seizes the
heart for the time which can be seriously
felt but not expressed. Looking how
ever to the future interests of our boys
and girls, ,and the benefit of our shattered
health as parents that we might derive
in the change, are the principal reasons
that induced us to take this step, and
deny ourselves of I'LL such comforts for
the time being that the East affords above
the West. A SAFE, pleasant and unde-
layed journey of four days, brought us
to our destination. Our car of house
hold goods which we had dispatched two
weeks prior to our leaving, to our very
agreeable surprise reached the station
here just the night previous to our ar
rival. This was perfect God-send Of
fortune to us, and in day we wer snug
" ersconced in our Nebraska (small)
house, which we had engaged several
weeks ahead. The extreme West is
proverbial for small houses, miserable
custom we do not mean to lapse into. as
well as we shall endeavor to adhere to
all else that is good which we were ac-
customed to and practiced in the old
Keystone State. This includes besides
all else "war to the knife" and whole
sale determination of bed-bugs, cock.
reaches and all else of the kind. indigen-
Gus to western soil and spontaneous to a
goedly portion of western habits.
The past winter was an unusually se-
we're one for Nebraska. The thermome-
ter standing several mornings 20 degrees
below zero. Having heard, while in
the East, of the severe blizzards in this
treeless coantry, we had the opportunity
of going through number of them this
past winter and can now speak from ex-
perience. While they are not as intense
in severity as we imagined from reports
received, they are nevertheless sharper
than the sleet storms of Pennsylvania,
which is the blizzard storm here. The
ladies muffie up the face and neck at al
most any time during the winter, much
more than we ever saw it before. AL
though there are occasional colder days
here in mid-winter than in Penna., we
have interspersed now and then pleasant
sunshining days not customary in Penn.
sylyania, and then cold weather does
not seem to set in as early, and spring
weather opens up much ahead of my ma
tive State. While you have been having
snow and cold rains and awful roads in
March, we have been having mostly
pleasant weather, generally good roads
but an occasional day of high wind. Il
is not at all unusual for farmers here te
SOW their spring wheat in February
One of the pleasant winter features o.
Kansas and Nebraska is the almost en-
tire absence of rainfall. Plenty of stoel
is kept with no more roof than the oper
canopy of Heaven, and straw protec
ton, supported by stakes set deep in the
ground, to shelter from the north winds
This town of Blue Springs is nicely loca
ted on elevated ground and overlooksBlut
River. 1t derives its name from bub
bling spring close by. Has population
of 1900 according to this Springs census
and has steady healthy growth of bright
prospects. The river affords an excel
lent water power at this point, and 6
grist mill of moderate size has been il
operation for several years. The Unior
Pacific Railroad, which strikes thi,
place with north and south RR.. and
which is about to be extended to Lin.
coin, the capital of the State, have pur
chased this mill property and site and
intend erecting a new mill of immense
capacity, costing about $4,000. Thi:
water power is unexcelled by any in tn,
State, as the river has a good fall ant
the dam is built on rock foundation, an6
will prove to be of invaluable sdvantag,
to the town. The great @. B. & @ R.R
in Its through line west to Denver, Col,
PASS at Wymore, one mile south of here
These two places will eventually grow
together. although there is brisk spiri
of rivalry between the two towns now
There is every probability that Blue
Springs will at no distant day become
railroad centre and the county seat of {
new county This county of Gage is al
present double the size of neighborinf
counties. The county seat is Beatrice. {
stirring town of about 1000 inhabitants
north of Blue Springs. The IndiaI
reservation in the southern part of thii
county, comprising an area of 40,00C
acres, commences about miles soutl
of this place. The Indians have moved
to Indian Territory and these lands will
be thrown on the market ere long. Al
soon as this vast farming area is disposed
of and occupied, efforts will be made TO
division of the county; in which even
Blue Springs, the second largest town T.
Beatrice, will be located in the geograph
ical centre of the new county, and can
: not fail, on account of its additiona
other advantages, to become its count,
seat. Gage county, is stock county il
the main. Corn is the chief cereal raised
and grows luxuriantly. Wheat doe
: ordinarily we'll, but corn stands at tn,
head, and where corn is king, pork anC
heaf will thriva The suafaaa of ih,