Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-10-29
Ayers Pills.
OAKDALE, NEBRASKA.

Ed. Register.-Before I took my dc
parture for this region, which to m
and my friends seemed so far away,
promised to send you a description o
my new home and its surroundings
l have been here very nearly tw
years, have studied the people an,
country so that am now able to full
fill my promise.
l knew when left left my old hom,
i'll Missouri that Nebraska was strict
~ prairie region, but when I arrived
and had looked around me, l realized
that my ideas of the country and its
people We're altogether false. Life here
Is very active, and ones moods change
almost with every hour.
One hour we are despondent, the
next confident, and later on jubilant
The altitude of this place is 1000 feet
above the sea level. Our pure, thin
atmosphere causes the heart to beat
faster, and has almost an Intoxicating
effect. This thin atmosphere tempers
the heat in summer, and in winter q
temperature of 2Oa below zero (which
makes you shiver to think of is quite
bearabie here on account of the light
air. The constitution That has a reas.
enable amount of vitality is very apt
to grow more vigorous and robust, but
t1e Very weak and frail might be blown
away by one of our brisk gales, NE
braska zephyrs).
My daughter, whom my friends will
remember as thin sickly girl, it seems
to me is now the ideal of blooming,
healthful activity. And feel ever so
much the stronger, and am able to take
a walk of thee miles without fatigue.
1t is hard for me to pescribe this
country to you, for mountainous seem
cry and prairie landscape differ SO
widely. Our railroad runs up the Elk
horn River valley that ascends regu-
larly six feet to the mile, and its road
bed has but very few "cuts" and .'fills.n
The farms and farm buildings have
q new and unfinished look; scarcely q
fence is seen even in the villages. Cat
tie are kept in corral or pIcketed out.
The valley has check er- board look
Here large square OF corn, there an
other OF small grain, next meadow,
rich green in color, and level as a floor.
The view in summer from one of our
high hills is really charming.
Oakdale prides herself in being one
,f the most beautiful villages in Ne
oraska. The Elkt orn valley with it's
liver winding through it is to be adj
nired. From range of high hills
south of town, we can command view
n every direction from 10 to 20 miles.
Three towns can be seen; also, num-
'rous timber claims across the river.
When one can sit down in the centre
# such scene as this: sit there, look
ng, thinking, and admiring for hours
It time, finding something new and
attractive at every turn of the head;
70 you see to give full description
you'd fill up all your columns.
Our river, "Elkhorn," takes tits
lame from the great number of elks'
lorns which early hunters and trap
,ers found lying everywhere over the
,lains. Antelope county takes its
lame from its former numerous herds
+ antelope, but the wild animals are
II gone, except now and then a lonely
volf or wild cat.
Sometimes the plow share turns up
peclmens of rude pottery, and flint ar
ow heads, and reveals the site of an
ncient Indian camp. Now and then
Santee, Souix or Omaha Indian ap-
ears on our streets, but he Is tame
pecimen of his race.
Business is quite active here. At
his time in the year every day long
rocessions Of grain-Iaden wagons come
nto our streets, and later, large ship
nents of hogs and cattle are made
rom here. This indicates soil and
Innate agricultural, and people say
hat both are steadily improving every
ear. The heaviest rainfall soon dis
ppears through this porous soil, aud
he roads are always good. The soil |,
an also endure drought easier than j
nv on the face of the earth. The last
ummer was exceedingly dry, but we
ave had most excellent crops o: all Il
inds.
Our town has population of about /
DO. I found a very intelligent people /,
nd have formed many pleasant &C. /