Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-18
Western Letter


lETkkEaTING FACTS FhoA ENEBhASAA'
Observation and experience since my last
to the Journ.l have contributed not few
notes of interest to my diary, some of which
may be of interest to your readers, though
while reading they do not sit as ! do while
writing. BY corn fires, thi. time in Nebraska.
The CITY OF OMAHA.
1t has been my privilege to be guest at
the city of Omaha. and enjoy the freedom OF
that Western metropolis. study OF this
CITY through The facilities so literally fur
nished the travelling public leads one to think
that il 10 the city Of the U. P. This OPINION
Is we'll sustained, too. after no little scquaint'
ance with the factors composing it. For
many years the franchises OF the Union fsci-
fic Railroad have given this great corporation
decided advantage over all its rivals In en-
tering and manipulating all that is Of interest
10 railroads here, and while it has always held
open big sack at this place it has not been
disappointed in geiIiog lame Its agreement
with certain other great railroad corpora
tons not TO go east Of the Missouri river If
they would not come West may or may not
have been a wise one for the railroads con-
cerned in it, but it now seems of no little dir
advantage 10 the city of Omaha that che
cannot invite other means contributing to her
greatness TO come within her domains
Omaha has grow great In wealth and popu-
lation quite rapidly. Numbering $4,000 in
population without any manufacturing inter-
ests, outside railroad material, worth the
name the city yet presents an aspect OF thrift
and luxury more than common. At this time
the city is all excitement at the great find.
At the bottom of hole on the bank of
he Missouri river, within the city limits
above 700 feet from the surface where it has
been "discovered," a great ''blsnke" of coal
seven feet thick lies, thought to extend to
great distances. This, if true, is the most
important coal discovery on the continent
Nowhere in the land could it be more appre-
ciated. 1t will prove to be the lacking boon
that shall complete the list of c0mmiserstions
for this otherwise commiserated land. was
invited to visit this ''hOle." which | felt
I waited to do. IT brought back to my MEM
DRY a dream had when a small boy in which
| was chased by bear, and while running
came suddenly upon great hole or crevice
in the ground, and in the extremity the inter-
est at that moment all collapsed in my wax
ing. | could not see the whole hole, but
thought if the whole is true that is said of
that hole, ere long this whole Missouri valley
will be holy place. 1t is proposed to go
above 2000 feet in search of gas.
THE BLIZZARD.
The late blizzard-or more properly said,
the early blizzard-proved to be a most de-
structive storm resulting in the loss of great
numbers Of cattle, swine and sheep, and some
human lives 1t came on four weeks sooner
than farmers were wont to believe winter
would set in, and was perhaps the earliest
fercely cold storm remembered for this lati-
tude. IL continued for three days and nights,
and brought the mercury to 20 degrees below
zero In some i'm tances a hundred and more
head OF cattle persisted from a single herd.
To describe one of these storms would re-
quire graphic pen. 1t so surpasses any
Imagination YOU may have had of it that you
feel disguised with your previous opinion.
The velocity of the moving fakes armored at
every angle with frozen pixies fitting as tn,
shadows Of kaleidoscope, casting dazzling
light, yet in utter darkness, amszes you. The
merciless, ceaseless petiDg of these millions
of missiles that seem to drive their shivering
shafts to your very bones, soon s.rik-s terror
to the bravest heart. There is no coping with
such storm. 1t is provided with means to
accomplish destruction against the most saga
cious alert. Ii is abnormal in its appearing.
Ii seems to have been created on the spot and
out of nothing. Almost without warning.
from ambush springs upon you the devourer.
You are away from home, II NAV be but
short distance, and you merge into the white
aerial sea, thinking the mist will soon dlsap-
pear, but your deluslon is soon apparent, and
b.ltyt
associated with the dread fact that you don't
know where you are-lost! Nor Is the sense
OF sight or hearing of any use. The clsmor
and din of the storm monOpolzes all sound.
No call can be heard, nor ringing of bells.
The moving of the storm is SO tickle that you
cannot trust the leeward. The atmosphere
may be pleasant, but the advent of the storm
changes it. and, however well dressed the
chill OF the bowling winds makes you feel
nude. At times the sncw seems moist and
then will attach itself to you in sheets of ice,
aud soon your face is so frozen over that your
eyes are closed up. Thu in its merciless
endeavor it sometimes continues for days and
nights. when a calmness aud innocence OF
ma ure pervades everything again, while the
land is in mourning | have had a good many
personal experience in these storms told me
here, and all, yea, more than you can imag-
Inc, w0ulu DetAil ptople III suCH stoTm
have been the facts. That n man should
perish in his endeavor to reach his house
from his barn involves some strange and
startling facts. II these buildings are de
tached and are 100 feet apart it is a forlorn
hope to attempt it unless you have line or
fence to guide YOU Horses, with their in-
siinct, are the safest guides in these storms.
The snow pnurs down, perfect cataract, Is
caught in the surface current of wind and
carried upward and circling. and then again
bv other blasts, the dense yet radiated sheets
OF fall ing and drifting sccumulail IN dash on
ward, finding no resting places except in the
eddy currents around standing obj jets, where
it banks about level with fence or building or
pushes into the gulch, which, though some
times 20 feet deep, it fills up and smooth'
over. Farther than this the deponent sayetf
not
Corn FOR FUEL.
Yes. have enj ,yed the luxury OF corr
fire. Corn is used here as a fuel by good
many farmers 1t makes good fire. Ii i,
something of a strange sensation one feel.
who is not accustomed to this kind of econo
nv when he sees a bushel of golden ears OF
corn turned into a stove. We thought how care
full we used to be when we counted out The
ears at morning, noon and night for old Dob
bin, and with what gratitude he would seen
to look us in the face when the music of 8
few more ears than common falling into hi,