Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-25

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together for dancing and other amusement
or hilarity. Old Red Cloud Indian agency
was at one time near to where the fort is
built, and crimes Of the most terri
BILE nature were OF frequent oc.
currence. 'rhe section Immediately
tely surrounding the fort is pregnant with
reminders of romantic incidents and associa-
tons, and of awful crimes committed by In
dians, cowboys or desperadoes. IL some pa
tent scribe could gather up the records OF
those early years of life and death at Fort
Robinson, the results of his labors would be
perused with lively interest.
AS before intimated the industry of the
country at that period was the production of
stock, principally cattle. This was for a
few years carried on upon large scale, only
few parties comparatively beng engaged
in IL, but their herds numbering thousands
of head. Some of the cattle were brought
overland from overcrowded Texas, and
l have seen thousands of the big
horned, ungainly-looking cattle. They
roamed at will summer and winter, un-
sheltered at all times, and were rounded
up'' once year for the purpose of branding
the calves Except in the extreme western
portion Of the territory, being described in
the county of Sioux where the stockmen by
banding together have been able to secure
and maintain free range the business OF
holding immense herds of cattle has passed
away with the absence of settlement and
agricultural pursuits which made it possible.
The business was very profitable to those
engaged in 1t up to the spring of 1854, when
the land seekers began to arrive and the I'M
mense herds of cattle at the same time began
moving westward. BY the beginning of the
following season, except in the county men
toned, they were all out of the country, and
in their place were hundreds OF smaller
herds, the beginning of new and better sys-
TEN OF stock raising carried along together
with the natural assspciation of agricultural
pursuits and cultivation of the soil.
In the early summer of 1884 the writer first
visited this section, coming into 1T from the
east and passing over very large portion of
it. 1t was then a country almost desolate of
human habitation, except as above noted.
There were some land seekers exploring the
country with a view of possible future set
Element. Occasionally a family could be
found that had made more or less permanent
arrangements to remain. Near the center of
tho territory a small colony from Missouri
was located on Bordeaux creek, and away
east on Antelope creek was small colony
from Indiana. During the season of 1884,
however, hundreds of people came into the
territory, not few to remain permanently
and others to stake claims" of government
land and return east for their families In
the winter of lsSi.5 several well-informed
parties estimated the population of the coun-
try beyond the sand hills, aside from the sol
diers and attaches ut Fort Robinson at about
four hundred souls. The Fremont, Elkhorn 81
Missouri Valley railroad extended west to
Valentine, and next west were ninety miles
of almost intermiuable sand hills, and be-
yond them country filling the heart of the
agricultural land seeker with delight. Those
who came in 1884 and returned east went
telling almost everywhere marvellous stories
OF Its beauty and worth. 1t is doubtful
whether the immigration that followed in
the seasons of 1886 and 1886 was ever eX-
celled in proportionate volume to any purely
agricultural country. In the summer OF
1885 the railroad was extended west into and
nearly across the section to White river, and
thousands of people came, and spreading
out over the country, began to make then-
selves homes, erecting houses and barns,
and breaking the land and planting crops
and doing the thousand and other things in
cident to pioneer life. All, or nearly all,
were content, and the almost universal ex-
clamation was 'Surely, this is Gods coun-
try!" The most enthusiastic anticipations in
reference to the country were aDundantly
realized. The clouds delivered the "early
and the later rain" and the soil yields to the
farmers touch the full rich measure of its
garnered fertility. Towns sprang up, local
governments were organized, churches were
built, schools established. Rapid, wonder
fully so was the development of the country
in the ways of enlightened civilization. The
old landmarks were IN many instances oblit-
Grated, the old trails were broken up, the
grand and beautiful picture of lonely desola-
tion passed away and in Its place came
more grand anu beautiful panorama of happy,
contented and prosperous homes and busy
industries.
It is not the purpose of this article to trace
in detail the history of the county, nor to tell
indeed, all that has been accomplished in the
four busy years of its development, but
rather by brief contrast OF the then and
as we'll as by recountng its natural
advantages and its pristine beau
ties Four years and a half ago the
writer crossed the level plateau where Chad
situated, and the nearest house, was miles
away. Now there is a city of about three
thousand population-perma city with
great, massive brick, stone, marble and iron
buildings, and hundreds of prosperous bust
of it are the villages Of Gordon, Rushville
and Hay Springs; south those of Alliance,
Heningford and Nonpareil, and west those
of Whitney, Crawford and Harrison, pros
porous and busy villages all of them, and
around them an equally prosperous and ra-
pidly developing country. These things
could not be and remain If the sturdy set
| tiers were not satisfied of the worth of the
country. Permanent prosperity must ever
| ly agricultural country, and for four years
| the farmers have sown and planted
in confidence and gathered and har-
vested with satisfaction, not infre-
| quently wondering at the bountiful produc-
| tions Of vegetables, corn and grain. Tho
| cultivation of wheat has especially been
proven profitable, both by reason of the su-
perior quality produced and the often nearly
been wonderfully prolific Of her favors to
these deserving people who are changing
| the country beyond the ''sand hills" into
| prosperous homes, and there has been and
remains a constant stream of immigration.
| But beyond the ''sand hills" is big country,
there being over seven thousand square
miles of it, and a large amount of excellent
| government land Is yet vacant and open to
| settlement, especially in the western
portion, and openings for successful
business enterprises occur right along
| with the increasing population and
| consequent growing necessities of the
| country. The Burlington g. Missouri rail
| road is now building across tho country from
| southeast to northwest and it is confidently
| expected that the coming season will be one
| of busy DEVELOPMENT and that it's close will
witness the addition of many hundreds to
the population.
The future Of such country as has been
briefly described can only be grand and
| glorious. A country with beautifully fash.
ioned surface, fertile soil, graced with fair
streams, enriched with timber having o
| beautiful climate, tried and not found want
ing, rapidly filing with an enlightened
people, such Is northwest Nebraska. beyond
| computation is the distaincd development of
| mighty treasures of wealth and worth in the
| country beyond the "sand hills"
| A NitiiLiST.
| Cincinnati Enquirer: 'The Cossacks
L u.