The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-01-06

EpIron Hrm.Ip:-Among the many :

EDifch nEhALD--AmObB tnc many pat
rons OF your paper. there may be some desir-
Gus of seeing an item from Western Nebras-
ka. Cozad is thriving little town. is To-
Gated 247 miles west of Omaha. in the wild
est part of the great Platte valley. a station
of the Union Pacific Railway. and on the
famous 1c0:h meridian, and has popula-
ton of $50. A fine scope Of country, well
settled for 25 miles north 10 miles south and
10 miles east and west, supports the town,
while there is constant demand for all
kinds of produce from the mountains West.
The town made a good growth last year,
MANY fine residences and business houses
were put up, and is agood and lively busi-
ness place. The people are moral and in
dustrious, and as a matter of fact are pros
pering by the great induceruent that the sur
ronndings afford. We baye had very little
snow yet this season. Cattle are still graz
ing on the prairie. Farmers are plowing
yet. The weather is warm and pleasant for
this time of the year. This is no wood, but
a level prairie country. Timber IS scarce
and can only be found along banks of riv-
ers and streams, but considerable timber is
planted every year by the farmers. The va
rieties mostly are box-elder, ash, maple.
walnut and cottonwood, which all grow
well in this soil. There is vast area of
farming land free from stone and composed
of dark. rich sandy loan, covered with
heavy sod, the same being used extensively
in fba 8 H. arl -1,ale and hx-
some for dwellings Il does make COM
Portable house, warm in winter and cool
in summer. Among these may be found
some very nice and handsome structures,
The more primitive structures were built re-
gardless of taste, some living in holes or ex-
cayations along banks, Tor what we call
dugouts) and are covered with poles, twigs,
and sod. The era of sod buildings is almost
over. Society is improving. Frame struc-
lures are being erected and immense corn
cribs and granaries are being built, in which
to store grain. But many of the farmers
are compelled to throw their corn on piles
similar to stone piles on some Of the eastern
farms. At present corn is worth 20 cents
pei BuSHtls NHlit tDdl iUOul AIt cIiDt.
The former is extensively used as fuel by
many of the farmers The land is not
adapted to corn growing only; but small
grain and vegetables, such as potatoes mel
ons, ETC., are successfully grown here. The
average yield of wheat is %, oats 40, corn
40, and barley 35 bushels to the acre. Prices
of land vary according to quality and loca-
ton. Raw prairie is selling from ten to
twelve dollars, within eight or ten miles
from town, Two years ago this same land
rated at from three to four dollars an acre.
Improved farms are worth from twenty 10
twenty-five dollars an acre. Homesteads
and timber claims are all taken. Five years
ago this country was thinly settled, but now
it is dotted all over or nearly; on every 100
acres there is house or some improvement
From my doorstep can count IA wind
mills. Farming land is not enclosed by
fence, for the herd law is in force here that
Is for every one TO care for his own stock
and not allow it TO trespass. The health of
the country is good the best ever was in,
and is poor place for doctors TO live.
This country is mostly settled up by people
from Illinois, Iowa, and Pennsylvania
Seven miles north of Cozad there is a colony
from Pennsylvania. Somerset County is
well represented in this colony, by four
good substantial farmers, formerly from
Somerset and Lavansyille, viz: Rev. VIM.
S, Larmon, John 5. Larmon, Z. a. Shaulis,
and VIM. II. Barron, all of whom own
large and well improved farms, and are all
good and solid republicans. Mr.. d. A. Bar
ron, ). A. Chorpenning and X. j. Shaulis, of
Waterloo. Iowa, formerly OF Evansville.
Pa, will locate here in the spring. Each
owns 100 acres of land. | wish some more
young men from Somerset county would
take Horace Greeley's advice: "Go west,
young man."
Christmas is over, but all the same the
Pennsylvania colony had Christmas tree
with 3s5 presents on it, valued at from one
cent to one hundred dollars each. How is
that for new country-and in the country?
And l don't want to forget the Editor.
Find enclosed an order for your subscrip-
ton. Yours Respectfully,
W. II. b.
CoZad, Dawson Co. Neb., Dec. % 1885