The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-31
NEBRASKA LETTER.

NEBRASKA LETTER.
DEAR COMET 1t has been u long
time since wrote u communication
for newspaper, but l have seen and
heard so much in the last few days
that Icannot withstand the temptation
to write you.
Ten days ago Miss Mamie Edwards
and Mr. j. G. Hodges, bound for Colo
RADIO, together with Miss Lutte Sexton,
my wife and myself, enroute for this
State, left your beautiful little city to
spend few weeks tout West" We
procured our tickets from Mr.. r. S.
Patty, who gave us the best rates, and
thanks to him, sent us over the best
roads and through the finest country
we ever saw, and as he was not able to
attend our party, put us in charge OF.
one Mr.. Kuster, who was untiring- in
his efforts to make our trip pleasant.
AT Chattanooga, Mr.. Judson Ed
wards also bound for California joined
our party, We made close connection
with the Cincinnati Southern and ear
ly next morning we were in the Riot
Gus City. Then without delay we
passed through Ohio, Indiana and IL
inois, arriving at st. Louis, Mo-, in less
than 80 hours alter leaving J, c.. Here
we spent the night, and at 8 Il. m. took
the G. B. & q. Road for Council Bluffs
We reached Burlington about sun
down, passed through the state Of
Iowa during the night, and arrived at
| Council Bluffs at 10 II. m. At this
point the California party left us, they
taking II through train for Ogden.
Here we changed car for Columbus,
Neb., where we arrived at p. m.
Changing cars again, we arrived at
Norfolk at T p. III. We were then
within.l4 miles of the place, and as
we would have to wait 20 hours for a
train, we determined to como by pri-
vatc conveyance. This we did after
so long time, but not until we had
gotten lost three time, and wandered
over the prairies miles out of our way.
And now that we are here, must
tell you something Of this country,
climate, customs &c. God never made
a finer, broader, more level, and fertile
country than this. For three hun
bred miles in length and two hundred
in breadth it stretches out like grand
sea of water before you. For miles
and miles you travel on, ever expect
ing to reach the summit of hill,
which seems to rise in the dim dis
lance, but up to date I have never
found the top. The soil is black Joan,
from three to ten feet thick, and to
say these are the richest lands | ever
saw would be no exaggeration. From
| 60 to rs bushels of corn per acre is con-
sidered an average crop, while from &c
to 60 bushels OF wheat per acre is no
extra yield. Potatoes, oats, hay and
flax seem to be scarcely adapted to
the soil. Thousands of bushels of corn
are burned in stoves here every win
ter. They tell me it makes very hot
and durable fire, and is about as cheap
as coal. suppose, from what | have
seen and heard that $4,000 bushels Of
corn could be bought here to-day al
from 25 to 30 cents per bushel.
The finest lands in Carter co. are
not comparable to these, either fol
beauty nor fertility, and yet thousands
OF acres are for sale here to-day at from
SIS to $15per acre,
The finest water is readily obtained
, here at from Is to 80 feet in depth. i
, is drawn up by means Of wind engines
attached to pumps, and by the way
: the engine never stands for the wan
, of motive power, for brisk winC
: blows nearly the whole time. Thi
would be my greatest objection to thi
J country.
| could write whole letter abou
, the customs of these people, but | for
bear, suffice it to say, they are kind
genial, progressive in the extreme, ant
wait for nothing nor anybody. Sun
r day is fine day here, making brick
building mill dams, playing base ball
having picnics with music and dane
ing together with many other "pas
times" were witnessed by your scrib
! last Sabbath.
But l must close. A letter just re
ceived from my friend G. K. Lide ell
quires how vegetation is in this coun
try. Say to him that it is the fines
l grass country | ever saw. More amor
( w. P. DUNCAN.