Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-07-12
IN THE flkHORN VALLEY.
Luxurl mt Fields and Pasture Lands Are
Sight This Time of the Year

or its great agricultural resources.
But at this period in the growing sea-
son, when the entire stretch of valley.
Iowland, hill and slope, as far as the
eye VIII carry, brings to view nothing
Dut the grazing herds and flocks dot
ted here and there among the living
green or pasture, meadow, growing
crops, orchard and grove, one is doubly
impressed with the beauty and grand
eur or this district Of country, whose
wealth OF soil resources has scarcely
an equal in all the agricultural dis
tricts of the world.
Inc Elkhorn valley comprises a
large district Of rich and beautiful az
rlcultural lands, extending more than
2OO miles northwest in the state, where
the agricultural and grazing lands
gradually blend together, forming one
or the greatest combined live stock
districts OF country, to be found any
where. The great advantage of an ag-
ricultural or corn raising district of
country and a distinctly grazing dis
trict, lying side by side, is readily ap-
preclated when the cheapness Of grow
Ing stock on the low priced lands of
the range are coupled with the feeding
V.
where the animals are finished for the
slaughter at the least possible ex.
pense of transportation and change OF
climatic conditions. These are the
general conditions which confront the
live stock grower of Western Nebras.
ka, and the stock FEEDER, in the corn
country OF the east side of the state.
The Elkhorn valley is not wide
eXpanse OF low swamp bottom or I'M
tlllable lands that are adapted only
TO pasturage or hay purposes; on the
contrary it is comparatively narrow
valley where the Elkhorn flows, vary
ing in width from a mile or two miles,
and exceptionally well drained, leav-
ing almost the entire area of river bot
tom lands admirably suited to cult
waited crops. The Elkhorn valley"
used in its broadest 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 be
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
or Nebraska since the east side of the
state was open to homestead entry,
has there been a better opportunity
for speculation in farm lands than
now. The good agricultural lands of
the east half Of Nebraska are just as
sure to advance to $50 per acre as that
a succession of favorable crop seasons
follow, such as represent the average
for the past twenty-five years ia 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-
tons 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 Oh
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 fats 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 a vigorous growth of the
hay grasses on the valleys and hay
fats; 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 guaraD
tee a better general condition Of all
classes of cattle this fall. 1t will also
encourage the carrying over of a larg-
er number of young cattle and feeding
stock, than would have been possible
with a short hay crop and scant pas
turage conditions on the range. 1t is
also reasonable to believe that the
marketing season for the grass fat cat
tie will commence sooner and continue
longer than usual. that the stock to
be marketed will come more uniformly
as the demand requires and better
prices be maintained for this class of
range cattle.
The small grain outlook from one
end of the Elkhorn to the other indi-
Gates that the usual reputation of a
satisfactory yield will be realized.
There is no insect damage reported
over this portion Of the state and
/ growing conditions are favorable for
harvest even il there should he No