Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-11-25
The nlkhorn Valley.

evening, the 10th inst, on visit to
relatives IN the vicinity of Oakdale,
Nebr., but owing to limited time
was only able to gain comparative
glimpse Of the far famed Elkhorn
Valley. The impression received
from an introduction to Nebraska
by the country about the Big Mud
dy where it is intersected by the
Elkhorn road is unfavorable, as the
bottom land of grimy sand therea-
bouts looks more like the sediment
from the Flood than the gateway to
a broad and fertile valley that 1t is.
After crossing the Missouri river,
however, the eye is pleased with
the many signs of prosperity and
plenty everywhere apparent. All
towns along the road for the dis
lance of $50 miles which we travelled
are thriving and enterprising, and as
comparisons are most comprehensive,
we might say that the Elkhorn road,
for the distance named, passes
through better towns than does the
Milwaukee road in its course through
Iowa. The largest town along the
route is Fremont, with a popula-
ton of 1900, and second in size is
Norfolk with $500 inhabitants. An
asylum for the insane, within two
miles of Norfolk, has just been COM
pleted by The state. 1t stands upon
a beautiful prominence OF ground,
and though three miles from the
railroad is plainly visible from pass
ing trains. 1t is a massive and
handsome structure of brick, but
when one briefly reflects upon the
misery and misfortune soon to lac
confined within its walls, its attrac-
uvencss is entirely lost. But if COM
Portable and beautiful surround
ings can in any measure mitigate the
horrors of thi, unfortunate condition,
which to the victim is the death Of
all human happiness, then the state
Of Nebraska has provided wisely
and humancly.
Fremont INDUCES in many met.
ropolitan airs, not the least of which
are her numerous wholesale jobbing
houses which derive most Of their
trade from points on the Elkhorn
line. These enterprises have to
compete with more substantial
houses at Sioux City and Omaha
and can only meet with a limited
measure of success. The towns
mentioned, with Stanton, Scribner
West Point, Oakdale and Neigh,
have all attained prosperity quite
surprising to those aware OF the
short time that has elapsed since
they were located. The country
about them is very fertile and pro,
ductive and well adapted to agricul'
ture. The harvested crops would
fill the Egyptian store houses ane
are a handsome sight. Much land
however, is yet in wild grass, which
is now stacked in endless ricks tina
become almost tiresome to the view
This seasons crops have dcmonstra
ted the true worth Of that country
corn having yielded from 90 to 7:
bushels per acre and all the small
grains i'll proportion.
All along theV alley arc unmistaka
bic evidences Of the prosperity en-
joycd by those who have taken NJ
land and have SO soon overcome TIT
obstacles of pioneer life. For thei
superior advantages the credit /
largely due to the Elkhorn railroad
which by its enterprise has furnished
, everything enjoyed in localities Ion:
settled and which twenty-five year
ago were unknown to adventurer
in the west. The road has steadil,
kept in advance of the car of civil
zation and has at all times been abb
TO transport settlers to undevelopet
counties and cheap lands. Thous
ands have taken advantage of tn
f unequalled opportunities here at
fordcd to secure homes III the grea
Northwest during the past year, ant
at this late season elegant trains O
six and seven coaches each are dali,
filled with adventures in the man,
f business enterprises now rapid.
developing in that highly favore'
E country. The road is now extended
through Nebraska and is pushin:
into Wyoming and Dakota. Atoms
its lines are millions OF acres of un
improved lands aflording unequalle'
opportunities for people to secur
homes, and especial advantages 70
Young men to embark in bushes
avocations upon an equal footin'
with their surroundings.
The town of Oakdale is near tn
center Of Antelope county and con
tains a population of nearly thous
and souls, of social standing seldom
equalled in a populace gathere'
from almost every county and stat
in the west. All branches of bust
ness are well represented and ar
conducted in substantial buildings
. while the residences compare witt
those of any Iowa city of an equa
size. The public school buildin!
, affords accommodation for $50 pupil
anL is most beautifully and conyen
, iently located. The schools are il
very prosperous condition, unde
the management of Prof. Higgins,
t young man from Mills county, thi
state. There are three church socie
ties, the last organized being of tn
Baptist faith, with between fort,
and fifty members. The Elkhor'
, river at this point affords excellen
mill privileges which will doubles
be utilized by some enterprising
, musty miller ere many years. Abou
: four hundred graders at work on
t line which the Elkhorn folks ar
building from Scribuer to Oakdal
now have headquarters at the latte
place and with the carpenters engag