Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-06-16
STORY or SCOTS
BLUFF, NEBRASKA

0cOLl y. DluIIp NeUst WAS WFlttsA4 Uy
Forrest Stuart, who is at present To-
Gated there. He is in the office OF
the district counsel for the United
States reclamation service, and he
writes that he is kept very busy.
SCOTS Bluff is a thriving Little
city, situated on the northern bank
of the North Platte river, in SCOTS
Bluff county, Nebraska, about six
ty miles east Of old Fort Laramie,
Wyoming. Though but fifteen years
old, the town has a population OF
approximately 5000 and is strictly
up-to-dRk@ and progressive. The
place was named after a huge, bar
rem, precipitous, flat-topped hill ly-
ing just across the river, and known
as Scott's Bluff. Before telling how
this bluff got its name shall at
tempt to give brief description of
q view obtained from its summit on
a clear day.
The bluff is about half mile long
and rises to height of 800 feet
above the river. At its base, on the
north and west, covering an area Of
several acres, are innumerable
gulches, basins and mounds of Brule
clay formation, all jumbled together
in haphazard fashion. These are
known as the bad lands" Wander
ing westward, the observers gaze
skins over grassy slopes, thickly
dotted with cattle, and over a great
checker board OF flourishing farms
and fields. Here and there the white
walls Of coy rural cottage peep out
from a grove Of cottonwood trees.
Down through the fertile valley the
North Platte the river that
Mark Twain described as being a
mile wide and an inch deep-wends
its way. One pauses a moment to
admire all this and then resumes his
visual flight on and on, over sand
hills and table lands. Suddenly he
is brought to q halt and gives vent
to a gasp OF surprised wonderment
as he beholds what never fails to
send thrill through those who look
upon 1t for the first time, view that
never becomes tiresome to those ac-
quainted with 1t. It is Laramie
Peak, $50 miles away, but standing
out so plainly that a person unfam-
iliar with the deceiving character Of
the western atmosphere would guess
It to be not over fifty. Away beyond,
a range of rugged mountains, barely
visible. roll off into the Northwest
and disappear back OF the horizon.
Somewhat reluctantly we leave this
scene. Turning to the right, we cast
a glance over the towns OF Mitchell
and Seottsbluff, across the river, and
incidentally make q quick survey of
the homestead and project lands that
stretch off to the north as for as the
eye can reach. No doubt Rev. VIII
s. ]. Dumville was right when he
said, 1T you were to climb the ex-
allied bluff, while your eye is not yet
dim or your natural force abated,
and see the promised land, even to
the uttermost sea OF Laramie Peak,
you would instantly conclude that
Moses made mistake in the geo.
graphical survey OF the land that
flows with milk and honey"
We now take look at the coun-
try that lies to the east OF us. Mes
Ting at the foot of the Bluff is the
new country club house, surrounded
by extensive golf links. Automo.
biles are darting back and forth over
the roads that lead from the neigh.
boring towns to the club. Next VIZ
pass over the town OF Gering, out t.
the most conspicuous natural phe
nomena of this section. Chic
among these is Chimney Rock, stand
ing like mighty sentinel at the en-
trance of the North Platte Valley. AL
those old-timers who Travelled tn,
Mormon and Oregon trails will re
member Chimney Rock, and win b,
perhaps interested to learn tina
within the past fifty years much OF /
has been worn away by the san,
billiards. which occur SO frequentl,
on these plains. Probably within
few years now this old monumen
which has withstood the wear an,
tear of the elements for ages, viii
have erumbled to pieces. Not Ia
from Chimney Rock is an enormou
mound, known as Courthouse Rock
Many years ago. a band of Pawne
Indians, while engaged in battle witt
the Sioux for the possession of thes
velleys, which were then the grea
buffalo pastures, were driven to tn
top OF this rock. Night came on
The refugees were hungry and thirs
ty, but had neither food nor drink
ole ~