WATERS OF NEBRASKA. 65 



but it receives so many comparatively large tributaries, that its 

 magnitude at the end of its course is much greater than many 

 much longer rivers. The bottom lands of these rivers are broad, 

 often beautifully terraced, and the bordering bluffs are gently 

 rounded off. The impression left on the mind, after traversing 

 these valleys, is that their beauty cannot be surpassed. The fall 

 -and size of these rivers and their larger tributaries, will supply 

 motive power to an immense number of manufacturing industries. 

 The Little Nemaha is a smaller edition of the " Big Nemaha." 

 It rises in Cass County, flows in a southeasterly direction through 

 Otoe, and Nemaha Counties, and unites with the Missouri near 

 Nemaha City, in Nemaha County. It also has numerous tribu- 

 taries. It is a beautiful stream of water, and with its characteristic 

 wide bottoms and gently rounded bluffs, gives character to the 

 counties through which it flows. 



The Blues are among the most important rivers of Nebraska. 

 The main branch with its tributaries drains eight counties, which 

 are among the best in the State. It is about 132 miles long. It 

 rises in Hamilton County, and after flowing for thirty-six miles, a 

 little northeast, it curves around and follows a southeast direction 

 through Butler, Seward, Saline, and Gage Counties. It enters 

 Kansas from the Otpe Reservation, where it ultimately unites 

 with the Republican. The Middle Fork of the Blue also rises in 

 Hamilton County, and flowing first a little north of east, unites 

 with the North Blue at Seward. Its length is about sixty miles. 

 The West Fork of the Big Blue rises in Hall County and flows a 

 little north of east through Hamilton, then east through York, 

 and then southeast through Seward, and finally unites with the 

 main Blue, five miles above Crete in Saline County. School 

 Creek and Beaver Creek are tributaries of the West Fork of 

 nearly the size of the parent stream. Turkey Creek is also a 

 large tributary from the northwest, which unites with the Blue 

 near the line of junction, between Saline and Page Counties. All 

 these Blue Rivers and their tributaries, few of which can even be 

 alluded to, are remarkable for the amount of water which they 

 carry off, and the great beauty of the bottom lands through which 

 they meander. The uplands between the bottoms are also for the 

 most part gentlv rolling and composed of the richest soil. The 

 bottoms are often terraced, and the materials in such cases are 

 mostly of a Loess character. The bluffs bordering these bottom 



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