14 PREFACE. 



homes and wealth ; where the poor professional young 

 man, flying from the over-crowded East and the tyr- 

 anny of a moneyed aristocracy, finds honor and wealth ; 

 where the young politician, unoppressed by rings and 

 combinations, relying upon his own abilities, may rise 

 to position and fame; where there are lands for the 

 landless, money for the moneyless, briefs for lawyers, 

 patients for doctors, and above all, labor and its reward 

 for every poor man who is willing to work. This is 

 the West as I have known it for twelve years, and 

 learned to love it because of its grateful return to all 

 those who have tried to improve it. Its big-hearted 

 people never push a young man back, but generously 

 help him on, and so, by being great themselves, have 

 learned how to make others great. "Where had I best 

 settle?" "Where can I buy the cheapest and best 

 land?" "Where will I be safe?" "Where can I 

 raise the best stock ?" These are questions asked every 

 day by people all over the East. In vain do they look 

 into books and newspapers for answers to their inqui- 

 ries; they are not to be found; at least, riot truthful 

 ones. I do not suppose I can supply all the informa- 

 tion required, but I can give my impressions, which 

 shall at least have the merit of being honest. I believe 

 Kansas and Iowa are the best unsettled farming States; 

 Nebraska is the best State for farming and stock-raising 

 combined ; Colorado is the best State for sheep-growing, 

 farming, and mining; Wyoming is the best Territory 

 for cattle-growing alone; Montana is the best Territory 

 for cattle-growing and mining. 



It does not matter where the emigrant settles in the 



