Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-07-05
IN THE ElknORN vAllfy
Cuxurian Mt Fields and Pasture x,n.
y . Sight This Time al ths -

I~5s4t - ri
Guxuriant Fields and Pasture L,n,.
: Sight This Time OF the Yes. 4
! A trip UP the Elkhorn vail.
any season OF the year, will H.
inspire the visitor with a ra., a;lYayl
bf Its great agricultural res nma
But at this period in the growina N
son, when the entire stretch of usi sea \
lowland, hill and slope. as far ~
eye will carry, brings to view noth! .as "
but the grazing herds and flocks als "
ted here and there among the ns SUl,s4s
green Of pasture, meadow. erou.ns
crops. orchard and grove, one is donh,
impressed with the beauty and era.
eur Of this district Of country. wha a.
| wealth of soil resources has scaro.ss |,
an equal in all the agricultural a..
tricts Of the world. 80 80
The Elkhorn valley comprises
large district of rich and beautiful = 4
ricultural lands, extending more tbas
200 miles northwest in the state, whara
the agricultural and grazing lana'a
gradually blend together, forming nns
of the greatest combined live stoo,.
districts Of country, to be found anm
where. The great advantage of an a.
ricultural or corn raising district =,
country and distinctly grazing dis.s
tr1ct, lying side by side, is readily an
preciated when the cheapness of grow
Ing stock on the low priced lands M
the range are coupled with the feed.ns3
advantages Of a nearby corn country
where the animals are finished for tn
slaughter at the least possible g.
pense of transportation and change ~
climatic conditions. These are the,
general conditions which confront thu
live stock grower Of Western Nebras.
ka, and the stock ;eeder, in the corn
country Of the east side of. the state.
The Elkhorn valley is not a wide
expanse Of low swamp bottom or I'M.
tillable lands that are adapted only
to pasturage or hay purposes; on tina
contrary it is comparatively narrow
valley where the Elkhorn flows, vary-
ing in width from mile or two miles.
and exceptionally well drained, leay.
ing almost the entire area of river bot
tom lands admirably suited to culti-
waited crops. "The Elkhorn valleys
used in it's broadcast sense of meaning.
comprises all that district in North
and Northeast Nebraska drained By
the Elkhorn and its tributaries. This
embodies hundreds of thousands Of
acres Of the richest prairie lands to ba
found in America; lands with every
conceivable feature Of surface, usual
to the western prairie, from the almost
level prairie to the gently undulating,
the rolling and the hill lands, all Of
the highest agricultural merit in soil
properties for live stock and farm pur.
poses.
In no portion of the state has there
been more rapid advancement made in
farm improvements and land values
during the past five years. Yet there
are tens Of thousands of acres of un-
cultivated lands scattered throughout
this district, held by non-residents,
that sooner or later must be turned
into improved farms. These lands, if
purchased now and started with the
ordinary western farm improvements
will double in value within the next
ten years. At no time in the history
of Nebraska since the east side of the
state was open to homestead entry
has there been better opportunity
for speculation in farm lands tLAal
now. The good agricultural lands o
the east half of Nebraska are just al
sure to advance to $50 per acre as tina;
a succession Of favorable crop seasons
for the past twenty-five years in this
state.
The present indications for a good
general crop over the Elkhorn district
could not be more encouraging, unless
the growth Of corn were advanced
about two weeks beyond present condi-
tions In stand and color the present
conditions are all that could be de-
sired. The influence of a late spring
and the cold weather, after planting,
is apparent here, as in all portions OF
the corn growing country of the Mis-.
souri, valley.
The Elkhorn country, especially that
portion dividing the corn lands and
the buffalo grass range districts to the
northwest, known to the commercial
hay trade Of the country, as the great
hay flats of North Nebraska, is in a
most prosperous and encouraging con-
dition of hay crop. The heavy rains
which have visited this portion of the
state during the past spring, and up
to the present time, have been ample
to keep up vigorous growth OF tho
hay grasses on the valleys and hay
flats; not alone on these distinctly ma
tive hay meadows, but also over the
adjoining sand hills and table lands,
where thousands Of tons of hay can
be cut of excellent quality and in pay
ing quantities.
The great growth Of pasture grasses
all over the range portion Of West
and Northwest Nebraska, will guaran-
tee better general condition Of all
classes of cattle this fall. It will also
encourage the carrying over Of larg-
er number of young cattle and feeding
stock, than would have been possible
with short hay crop and scant pas
turage conditions on the range. It Is
also reasonable to believe that the
marketing season for the grass fat cat
tie will commence sooner and continue