The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1888-11-24
Correspondence Baltimore county Union.
LETTER FROM NEBRASKA.
On the Loup River-What the Virgin Soil
Will Do-No Trees and no Fruit
Splendid Farms-How Home
steads are Cbtained-Sod
HouSeS-POliticS, etc.
MoULToN. LoUP COUNTY, NEB., |

Editors Union Having located in this far-of
land, three hundred and forty-nne miles up the
North Loup river, or just so far out of civiza-
ton, feel quite lonely without thai welcome
visitor, your very interesting weekly, The
UNION, and would be glad to gaze upon its fair
features again. Therefore Propose, during my
stay here in the land of the Gophers, Buffaloes
and MOdocs, to send you inklings concerning
these Western wilds which you will cordially
welcome and which / hope will be very interest
ing to the many readers of your paper.
The historian, speaking of Naples Italy, said
lit is the garden spot of the world, but he had
never seen the far-reaching prairie plains that
border either side of the North Loup or he would
have said the sun never shone upon better. The
soil is inconceivably rich and the more it is
cropped the better it becomes. In fact the crops
grow spontaneous, little or no cultivation being
required. Drop the corn in the furrow while
breaking up the land and it will produce twelve
or fourteen barrels per acre without ever touch
too. is unlike that of Maryland. Interchangeable
and cOngenial. To-day is like a Maryland spring
day, when the daffodill bursts into bloom and the
rose of Sharon decoys the maiden from her path.
Billiards are scarcely known on the Loup and
snow seldom falls more than six inches deep
Sometimes the farmer is belated by spring rains,
but the rich creamy condition these rains leave
the soil amply repay in quicker and more lux
urient growth In fact these spring rains are to
these plains what the Nile is to Egypt in condi-
tiOning the soil.
One of our poets said there is pleasure in the
painless wood" but that poet was not here when
he wrote that stanZa for there is not tree to be
seen in hundreds of miles: hence we unlike
Marylanders do not possess that pleasure. AS to
l.
cherry producing tree on these plains, but an
over-abundance of wild fruit can be had here of
almost every kind. The most luscious grapes,
ground cherries, plums and ground apples grow
here in superabundance. AS to game the par
fridge, pheasant, flicker and robin redbreaSt that
are considered good game in the East are thought
too insignificant to shoot. The cotton tail (rab-
Bit is also so classified. The buffalo, antelope3
deer, jack rabbit, wild goose, duck, 6he latter
two with which the Loup abOundS) and prairie
chicken are considered fit for game. The North
Loup, which passes through this section of the
State swarms with wild fowls the wild goose
and duck being the principal and large numbers
of which are continually being shot. Trapping
for furs is largely engaged in and many make
a good living at it.
The Loup is majestic stream, clear and spark
ling as crystal, separating the most beautiful
farms the eye ever beheld, rich as cream and
level as a floor, each containing from one hum
bred and sixty to six hundred and forty acres,
many of which would bring as much under the
hammer as like farms would bring in Maryland.
Notwithstanding Nebraska is comparatively
new State yet there is very little of her lands
that is at all valuable but what is taken up either
under the homestead, presumption or timber
claim acts, and if it continues as at present in
very few years there will be none to take in this
State. A few words here as to how the land is
taken up will not be amisS, II man takes up a
tract, puts homestead papers on it and lives upon
it five years he gets deed for it. If he puts
timber claim papers upon it it becomes his III
eight years. If he chooses he can prove up on
either within the specified time by paying $l.25
per acre and get deed from the government
If he puts presumption papers on 1t he can prove
up'' on it and get bonatied title, or let it run
on it and in two and half years it is his. Thus
man can secure splendid farm of one hundred
and sixty acres under the homestead and timber
claim acts for the nominal sum of fifteen dollars,
and is it not very strange that men will rent poor
farms in Maryland and work their lives away
while these far-reaching prairie plains offer
homes to thousands if they will but come and
possess them--hOmes flowing with milk and
honey, where toll is scarcely known and Dame
Nature feeds and clothes her guests from the
bounty of her own bosom.
The rich and poor here live in sod houses, gen
orally one story high, covered with sods. The
stabling is also of sods. The buildings are coy
and far warmer than if built with brick.
AS to the political phase of the people they are
of every creed, the Republicans largely FREEDOM
mating, The recent campaign was the hottest
ever witnessed in this State. The Democrats
tried by sheer trickery to steal a q. S. Senator
but were foiled in the attempt. The Republicans
were aroused by the Democrats bold eHrontery
and meetings were held in every village, town,
hamlet and school house in the State, l4 many OF
which your correspondent took an active part,
And now that the smoke of battle is cleared away
and victory perches upon the Republican banner,
let the exclamation of every true American pc,
"a II hail to Harrison and Morton, the ehleftalns
of home protection" More anon, MoDoc.
JUST THINK of it Forty-Hour babies have
already been named for President-elect Har-
rison. and the returns come in about as slowly
as those of West Virginia.