Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-27
The Niobrara Country.

CnAwFoRp. Neb., Feb. 17.-lCorrespond-
rnce. of The BEE. Leaving the railroad at
Alliance, the present terminus Of the b. &
NJ, / started in a northerly direction across
Box Butte, one of the finest counties in the
state of Nebraska. At noon l reached the
Niobrara river, but the oldest inhabitant
there did not know it by that name, it is
called Running Water" Its source is a
spring but a short distance west, and we see
in 1t here but little to suggest the immense
body of water that it pours into the Mis-
souri, 400 miles east.
On the north side of this stream begins the
ascent to Pine ridge, a strip of rough land
horseshoe shaped, extending about one hun
dred miles to the northeast and the same dis
lance to the northwest. 1t is Sparcely CoV-
cred with pine and although the surface is
very rough the soil IS first class and being
rapidly taken up for farming.
The Is. & M. is now building a tunnel
through this ridge and has now nearly one
Thousand men and teams at work upon it.
From the summit our attention Is called TO
Crow Butte, which is on the north edge Of
the ridge and towers above all other points.
The descent from the ridge is down q rough
and rocky road called Devils neck" fit
tingly named, for it leads into Crawford, one
of the toughest places in the west to-day. 1t
is located on the White river, adjoining Fort
UODllSOH, duu Wltfc II -. ~ Il ~
sect the Fremont, Elkhorn 81 Missouri Valley
railroad. All the toughest element of the
country is there congregated, ana the saloons
have never been shut since their doors were
first opened. IL is in a good farming district
and has many substantial citizens; the rough
ness will gradually be overshadowed and
finally eradicated, and We predict
a future for Crawford that is in store for
few other western towns. 1t was at this
point that Mrs. Langtry was met by the
Enn1ich cunppintpuHnDt nf the Anplp-A mpr-
lean Cattle company, and escorted to their
ranch forty miles to the northwest in a tally
no especially imported for the occasion. This
officer received n salary OF S24,UOO u year Tor
his services as manager or the cattle com
pany above named, in which James Gordon
Bennett is one of the heaviest stockholders.
L am told that the business has not been
profitable and that IL is 10 be closed out the
coming season. Possibly they see the hahd-
writing on the wall and move to make way
for the army of settlers that are to inhabit
that country almost Immediately. The route
was directly across their range, which IS IN
Hot Creek valley, just over the line IN Da-
kota. l have never seen a more beautlful
valley or a finer tract of land than that which
is tributary to it, and here is the object OF
this letter. want to advise those who are
looking for homes on government lahd 10
first see this. / have often been asked the
question, Where is there a good place iora
man to locate with his family' i have never
answered IL before. Now / do with e%nthusi-
asm. There is one disadvantage: Tn land
is unsuryeycd, and cannot be entered at the
United States land Office. Blu the occupant
by continuous residence and improvements
has a ''squatter's right and there is no bet
ter title. When Fort Robinson was located
there was one lone s%quatter in the way, hold,
ing down his claim OF 100 acres with q sod
house and a we'll. He asked and OBJ
tanned $1,000 for simply moving OIL;
l think that a survey will soon be ordered
and that in the meantime there VIII DE l'ooo
farmers invade that territory within SIX
months. became acquainted with two very
intelligent gentlemen IN Hot Creek yaliey
who live but six miles auart and who would,
no doubt, answer any inquiries OF nome
seekers. Their names AMI addresses are ~
Matthews Fall, River county, Dakota
and ID. Anderson, Montrose, Sioux county
Nebraska.
| continued my journey along Cheyenne
river across southwest Dakota into Wyo,
ming. Thence returning along the base OF
the Black Hills, we proceeded northeast
toward Dsadwood. Az Rapid City ! OK,
pressed my astOnishment at its size ana
prosperous appearance and asked for me
cause. The reply was mining ia the hpis