The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-09-19
a Letter from the West.


North Dakota is it? Is it on one Of the
mighty tributaries of the Mississippi as
it flows downward to the Gulf of Mexico,
SO as to send its products to every cline,
or is it situated in the interior? Is not
this town nearly in the centre of this new
State? Ne, it is not on one Of the branches
OF the noble river, but the little Cheyenne
flows through it's borders. What has
built it up 50 rapidlys Some twelve years
ago but one single hamlet could be seen
in its limits. Soon the tide of emigration
began to blow in from the east and the
little place began to thrive.
Many of our best men of push and
enterprise sacrificed all to leave for that
EldoIado. The northern Pacific railroad
extends through here, SO the people can
send their cereals to other States. This is
great wheat country. A fortune has
been made and lost in season on that one
article Of produce. Man is never satisfied
with his lot He is ever restless, like the
waves of the mighty ocean - eager to
amass more. He is known to have made
$40, 600 on his crop of wheat in one sea
son, but the following year lost as much
as he had gained previously.
The farmers have to look out for the
early frost and tie summer hailslolms.
The LAND is already fvr the seed as soon
as ii is plowcd, without any dressing.
Ilele are other draw backs sometimes.
NeallN cyels thing in this new country is
Eeayily moNgaged. III hopes to pay them
sometime But does that day ever come?
sume eager to know more Of the coun-
Try may ask where are the wild animals?
There are very few now; they are almost
extinct Once in while you can see few
goIhels, a species of the squirrel tribe,
but not many. Where are the butfalos
that used ia roam in vast herds over the
llailies9 One has said In my stay
thel, ] lave seen but "a very few; they
have neally al been captured and slaugh-
tered ~ tho hand Of man and robbed of
theil skins. which are very valuable.''
There ale very few trees on these IN
dulating and rolling plains, and they are
found only in the cities and towns Of the
west | have read about cyclones nproot-
inc tlees. shatteling dwellings, killing
people. etc. hut these stories have been
great exaggerated
AL important industry in this State is
SleeJ raising. and it is a favorable region
for flat purpose. Some time age
Io1son here bought fifty sheep ard in
four Sea1s had sold wool and mutton
enough TO come to a thousand dollars,
besides having 200 sheep. 1t is better for
one who intends to make that his bust
ness to begin in small way and gradual
y work up
What If the schools and colleges? Are
these neglected? Does the east take the
lead here SO as to be in advance Of the
west? The schools are much better than
Gle would imagine. They are not neg
leeted Int are fostered and cherished. In
1889 the first Normal school in the United
States was opened at Lexington, Mass.
Now these schools can be found in nearly
every new State of the west and there are
also many colleges.
Is the cause of religion forgotten In
this village various denominations are
found-the Baptists, Congregationalists,
Metlodists. and many more, and the Lu-
thelals must have conspicuous place.
How about the laws These must be
enforced III one violates them there will
lie something severe TO follow 1t is
always letter TO be On the right side Of
everything. for there are two ways, the
right and wrong, as surely as there is
night and day. 1t is necessary in new
country like this to be as rigid with the
laws as one possibly can. Some Of them
are enforced to greater extent than they
are enforced elsewhere.
Where is the tribe of Indians known as
the Cheyenne? Are they extinct now?
Has this noble race beea obliterated for
ever? Can a black man and white man
perform tile same office? No, nor will
they occupy place in social life with any
one. As the whites enter these new
States With enthusiasm, enterprise and
zeal, the Indians will be sure to leave. 1t
must not be thought by anyone that they
have been driven from place to place, for
that is mistake. In a stay there of
several months one saw with her own
eyes caravan Of Indians enter the place
drawn by ponies, some OF them very
handsome, and closely followed by dogs
Of every description. These were appar-
emily harmless; they had brought many
shrubs, herbs, ETC., from afar, to trade
for the delightful beverage, rum Perhaps
another picture of life in the West may
he different, for we cannot all think alike
The main facts in this letter We're given
me BY one WHO had lived there many
months, but formerly resided here for a
number Of years. B. G. TowLE
Searspolt.
Cong galional Conference.