N6V 
774 
OBSERVATIONS IN NORTHERN NE¬ 
BRASKA. 
Topography, Water, Timber, Soili Alti¬ 
tude, Temperature and Climate, 
With Chops, 
MdSsfts. Holies and sweetland. 
(Special correspondents or tile Rural New-Yorkbr. ) 
In an article published in the Rural of 
Augnst 12th, we gave an outliae of what we 
saw upon a flying trip over the SiouX City 
and Pacific R. R , from Missouri Valley Iowa, 
to P*ort Niobrara, Nebraska, and pfomlsdd fct) 
deal more in detail with other topics of inter¬ 
est along the route iu future correspondence. 
Inquiry by letters from interested parties who 
have read the sketch referred to, hastened 
two subsequent articles upon the commercial 
centers and their importance, and prompts us 
Ho longer to delay the fulfillment of our 
promise in Other features. Iu this, we Will 
review the subjects indicated in our captioti, 
and those closely allied, and ere long will 
write again, giving such statistical informa¬ 
tion as our rea ; ers are asking for, that we 
may be able to obtain. 
The surface of the country from the Mis¬ 
souri River just east of Blair is a succession 
of marked, yet gracefully outlined, elevations 
and depressions. A man who had been reared 
in a strictly prairie country, like some portions 
of Northern Dakota, would term this and the 
Elkhom Valley which stretches away to the 
northwest, a hilly country—but a farmer from 
Eastern New York or the New England 
States, would think it remarkably level. It 
is not steep enough to wash or gaily from 
rains, while the varied angles of surface ex¬ 
posed to sunlight and shadow doubtless pro¬ 
mote the best results in the growth of grain or 
grasses, and certainly the relief from the 
monotony of a flat or level country is pleasing 
to the eye and attractive to the home-seeker, 
water and timber 
are so closely allied in this western country 
that they may with propriety be spoken of 
together. There are numerous small streams 
coursing through Northern Nebraska, most of 
which are fed by bubbliug springs of pure, 
limpid water, burstiug from hill sides and 
glens and by tbeir confluence forming the 
streams of varied sizes, which are so valuable 
for stock-raising. Wells of good water are 
easily obtainable at ordinary depths, which, 
with the springs and Cisterns substantially 
and cheaply constructed, provide ad abun 
dance of excellent water for domestic pur¬ 
poses, and occasionally the streams are suf¬ 
ficiently large to provide power for mills 
Nearly all of the creeks are fringed with tim¬ 
ber of indigenous, hard wood varieties, and 
many thousands of acres here and there are 
covered with groves of artificial trees, monu¬ 
ments of beauty and utility to the enterprise 
and industry of the yeomanry. The supply 
both of water and timber is equal to every 
necessity for family and stock purposes and 
the immigrant need feel no apprehension of 
deprivation or want of either. 
SOIL. 
The soil in the Missouri Valley is almost a 
clear type of silieious marl, which, under 
favorable climatic influences, is incomparable 
for the production of wheat, rye, oats, barley 
and vegetables, being warm and quick, ab- 
sorhii g readily, evaporating slowly and drain¬ 
ing well where overlying clay and gravel 
sub strata, as it usually does. Emerging from 
this broad valley, with its bottom and table 
lauds, into the elevations and plateaux of the 
Elkhoru Valley, the characteristics of the soil 
gradually change to an alluvial mold ranging 
fron 10 to 40 inches in depth, rich, friable 
and responsive. The products named yield 
well, and corn often attains the remarkable 
hight of 10 feet, sometimes 11 and even 12, 
with two or three ears to the stalk, large, 
long and well filled. Tame and wild grasses 
grow luxuriantly—sweet, succulent and nu¬ 
tritious in quality, attesting from early Spring 
till late Fall the fertility of their native or 
adopted bed. The proportion of sand which 
this soil carries is that happy medium which 
renders it friable, facilitates draining, aided 
by its undulations, and promotes rapid and 
steady growth. 
Passing out along the line of the railroad 
from the bead of the valley, we come upon 
quite an area of level prairie too sandy for 
profitable cultivation, while so much land of 
superior quality is so cheaply obtainable—yet 
this land is by no means barren; it bears a 
liberal growth of fine, tender grass of low 
growth, well adapted to sheep grazing, while 
the surface itself affords impunity from foot- 
rot. In this section of the State are the first Gov¬ 
ernment lands of any considerable quantity 
along the line of the road obtainable under the 
Homestead, Pre-emption or Timber Culture 
Acts, there being some in Pierce, Knox and 
Antelope Couuties, and a good (leal in Holt; 
blit these ate being rapidly taken up. East of 
here, along the valley, lands can be bought at 
from four to ten dollars per acre and farms 
at from eight to twenty dollars, according to 
improvements and proximity to the railroad. 
Still further west than the prairies de¬ 
scribed, is found a heavier, richer soil, with 
a more Varied topography along the bottoms 
Of the Niobrara River, a stream of swift, 
pure water ( with well defined banks, and 
frequently possessing marvelous beauty and 
along most of its course bordered with timber. 
altitude, temperature anP climate. 
Taking the entire scope of country under 
consideration, the altitude ranges from 1,500 
to 2,500 feet above sea level, and the atmo¬ 
sphere, free from miasmiC taint, is pure, 
healthful and Invigorating. The temperature, 
as might readily be inferred, is mofe equable 
than In either a very high or uniformly low 
Section; and as the Fall and Winter winds are 
largely divested of their moisture before pass¬ 
ing east and southeast of the Black Hills 
Range, the climate is salubrious. “ The Sum¬ 
mers are long and the Winters shoit,” is the 
Common way of expressing it out West, giving 
an opportunity for early seeding, followed by 
an ample, well distributed rainfall during the 
growing season, with usually a dry, pleasant 
Autumn; and it is frequently the case that 
stock can graze the larger part of the Winter. 
As we stated in our letter of August 12th, the 
supply of natural aDd cultivated grasses is 
only equaled in quantity by their remarkably 
fine quality—an incentive for raising large 
herds and flocks, and, though nearly every 
farmer is giving more or less attention to this 
interest, the Elkhom Valley would sustain in 
grazing and bay twenty head for every one 
now owned here ;■ and, what is more, the 
increased number Would yield a proportion¬ 
ately larger profit to the farmer, as the sup 
ply is by no means equal to tbe demand in 
open market. 
It is an established fact that stock-raising in 
Northern Nebraska will pay a net profit of 
from 30 to 35 per cent, per annum, averaging 
one year with another. Certainly as an ele¬ 
ment or factor in diversified agriculture, this 
should satisfy any of our Eastern farmers 
who now content themselves with bond and 
mortage investments at six per cent, annual 
interest or less. 
CROP OBSERVATIONS 
in this letter must of necessity be cursory and 
general. The products of the year are prin- 
cip< lly harvested excepting corn, but as only 
a small proportion has been marketed, statis¬ 
tical information's necessarily deferred until 
a later date. We asked an old farmer in the 
Elkhorn Valley (and, by the by, a five years’ 
residence makes a man an old farmer in a new 
country) how his crops had turned out this 
year. He answered: 
“ My crops have been enormous in wheat, 
corn and all small grains, and I can say the 
same for all of my neighbors as far as I know. 
Why, sir, in this valley thousands of tons of 
hay have been put up, which cost us about$1 
per ton in the stack.” 
“ How's your wheat ?” 
“ It is not generally thrashed yet, but the 
yield is unusually large.” 
“ Do you do anything in stcck ?” 
“ Well, sir, I begin to see that stock-raising 
in this couutrv is just what we need. Many 
of my neighbors are getting in sheep, and I 
tried some this last j ear. There is no doubt 
that we can make a profit of from 50 to 60 per 
cent, with ordinary care.” 
“ Do you raise many hogs ?’ 
“ Well, there are a good many bogs raised 
iu tbe valley, and when we have such big 
crops of corn as this one, with high price of 
pork, it pays well to put our corn into hogs 
ana cattle.” 
“What does it cost you per head, per year, 
to raise cattle for the market?” 
“ Well, you know the grazing is abundant 
most of tbe year round, aud I have just told 
you about my hay, so with a small amount of 
feed necessary cattle can be raised for $3 a 
head per annum, or $9 actual expense for 
three year-olds. They are worth now—that 
is my three-year old stock—from $85 to $50.” 
This one conversation will give a general 
idea of the sentiments of quite a number of 
experienced farmers whom we met in this 
region, aud who are all rejoicing in well-filled 
barns aud granaries and a certainty of ple¬ 
thoric pocket-books. The carrying capacity 
of the Sioux City aud Pacific Railway will 
be taxed to its utmost this Fall, to market the 
stock and produce of tbe Elkhorn Valley. 
We have received some inquiries regarding 
the most direct route to this region, and al¬ 
though we have given it before, will again 
make mention of it. A favorite route from 
Pennsylvania and the East to those who are 
near, is the Pennsylvania and Pittsburg, Fort 
Wayne and Chicago route to Chicago. From 
that point there are a number of lines leading 
to this region. The Chicago and Northwest¬ 
ern, Marvin Hughitt general manager, is the 
most; direct, connecting with the S. C, and St. 
Paul at Missouri Valley, and it is the only 
line running west from Chicago that sells 
cheap tickets to land-seekers on their way to 
this Northern Nebraska country. Should a 
person desire to go via Council Bluffs, he has 
the choice of the C , B, and Q , C., R. I. and 
P., or fcheC., M. and St. P. The latter route 
would, if desired, lake the immigrant, through 
Northern Iowa via Sioux City, connecting 
there with the Sioux City and Pacific. 
THE STORY OF STONY BROOK FARM. 
HENRY STEWART. 
CHAPTER XV. 
tContlnueU rrom page 755 ) 
“ My heart aches for that poor girl; she is 
bearing some great sorrow,” said Emil, to 
her brother, as they slowly returned home. 
“ I have heard something of it from the com¬ 
mon gossip of the place, but fear the half of 
It has not been told Who knows but I may 
be able to lighten some of tbe shadow which 
has fallen upon her life? George, we don’t 
know what it is to suffer. Our lives have . 
been without a cloud; and to see that lovely 
girl, so well informed, so cultured, so well 
disposed, pining in evident misery, makes my 
heart bleed ” 
“ Ah, Emily! we never dream of the wretch¬ 
edness around us; indeed, we never see a 
tithe of it: we can never even suspect the bur¬ 
dens which are borne by people who appear 
to the world as possessing everything desir¬ 
able. What stories the doctors and lawyers 
could tell if they would—of hidden and con¬ 
cealed misery, aud strife and wretchedness 
and suffering in families that are accounted 
happy I The old adage, 1 there’s a skeleton in 
every closet,’ is far truer than it is thought to 
be. In my short professional experience, I 
have come across more of it than you could 
dream of.’ ‘ Man is horn to trouble, as tbe 
sparks fly upwardbut the most of it is caused 
by selfl hness and obstinacy, and some of it 
by very cruelty. We wonder at the cruelty 
of brutes—how the strong oppress and crush 
the weak; how one creature lives at the ex¬ 
pense of another; how each would rather rob 
its neighbor than forage for itself. Yon have 
seen a cow stand by the water trough after 
her thirst has been slaked, merely for the 
pleasure of preventing the others from getting 
their share, and mankind are no better than 
these lower animals; they have the same in¬ 
stincts, and unless thev are restrained by prin¬ 
ciple, to some extent, their very reason helps 
them to accomplish their instincts so much 
the more effectually and cruelly. And at the 
best it is only with us, as individuals, that 
moral principle—we may call it morality, re¬ 
ligion or Christianity, as we like—raises us 
above the brutes. As communities we go to 
war, we make oppressive and destructive 
laws, and justice even—truly blinded—is made 
the engine of oppression and wrong. Millions 
of men have been slaughtered, and woe and 
wretchedness have swept over nations like a 
flood time after time, by tbe selfish and croeL 
acts of men. Iu fact, animals never had the 
ability to make their fellow brutes suffer as 
men have made their fellow men. I am very 
sorry to have to think that, Emily.” 
I fear something of this, George, is at the 
bottom of the misery of Patience Bartlett; I 
don’t give much credit to gc«sip at any 
time, but the poor girl's appearance corrob¬ 
orates it all. Why, her beautiful eyes were 
swollen with weeping, and such gentle, tender 
eyes she has. Oh, I can love that girl on sight.’’ 
“ But, Emily, you forget that we are to have 
a visitor on Tuesday; you know that Dr. 
Noble is coming from Boston to see us to¬ 
morrow evening. ” 
“ To see you, I believe, sir; I was not aware 
he was coming to see its. Of course, George, 
I am very glad to entertain your frieuds 
when they come to visit you, but I think it 
would be just as well that you should enter¬ 
tain your friend Dr. Noble at least at lunch, 
and that I should keep my appointment with 
Patience Bartlett.” 
“Just as you say, Emily, but I must say 
that you girls are curious creatures. Now 
mark my words, Emily, when I say, that be¬ 
fore Dr. Noble returns yon won’t run away 
from him.” 
“Of course not; why should I ? I should 
not think of it. But if you mean to say that 
—that—” 
“Well, Emily, what?” and George laughed 
outright. 
“Oh, George, you are mean, and scandal¬ 
ously mean. I won’t stay with you another 
minute.” And Emily fled into tbe house, then 
close at hand. 
On Monday morning Jabez came to the 
house as soon as tbe milk was put away and 
George had gone to the field, and knocked 
gently at the dqor. Emily answered bis 
knock. Taking off his straw hat and bowing 
in an unusual manner he stood and looked at 
Emily. 
“ Well, Jabez, what is it V 
“Miss Em’ly, I’ve sufcbin’ to tell you; I 
want to get your advice enter it. It’s suthin’ 
about Miss Bartlett too: and I don’t know 
what to do. It kinder weighs on me.” And 
he fumbled in the pocket of bis jacket and 
brought out the bundle of letters which he 
had received from his brother Josiah. 
“ R^ad them, please, Miss Em’ly, and then 
ask mcawhat ye’ve a mind to.” 
And Endily read the letters. “ Well, Jabez, 
what have these to do with Miss Bartlett ?’ 
“ Ah, that brings it to the pint. Miss Em’ly, 
right off. Young Barley Merritt was kinder 
promised to Miss Patience, Miss Em’ly; and 
she takes it hard that she don’t hear from 
him; and the stories as is goin’ about too 
worries her; and she doin’t know nothin” 
about this, nor no one else but me, and you 
now, Miss Em’ly, an’ I duniao what to do 
about it either. I was thinking;, Miss Em’ly, 
if we could only get a doctor from Bosting to 
the boy he mought be saved, and then things 
ud come right tu onst.” 
“Ah Duw I see Jab^z. Well I am very glad 
you told me of this. Won’t you leave these 
letters with me until my brother comes home 
and I will show them to him and consult him 
and yon come and see me in the afternoon. 
My father wiil conm up this afternoon, and 
when you get the wagon ready for my brother 
to go to the station, you come and see me 
Jabez.” 
“Thank ye kindly, Miss Emily, I ’lowed 
you’d see a way through it, better’n I could. ” 
And Jabez went off to the field much relieved 
and Emily poured out the whole story to her 
mother. “Why my dear,your father iscoming 
home t his afternoon and we expect Dr. Noble 
with him; and I believe it is arranged that 
they should go to Michigan to visit the Iron- 
burg furnace with the rest of the company 
and then of course Dr. Noble could operate 
on this young man.” 
“Do yon think he could succeed mamma?” 
“I don’t know about that; that we can 
learn from him. George and your father will 
consult him about that this evening no doubt.” 
And when the consultation was held Emily 
was of course a party to it, and it turned out 
that her brother’s prognostication was verified 
for Emily in her anxiety for her new friend 
Patience devoted much of her attention to 
the young doctor and listened with a great 
deal of interest to his learned descriptions of 
the brain; and followed very closely his draw¬ 
ings of the cerebrum and the cerebellum, and 
the cerebral convolutions, and his statements 
of the evil effects of pressure upon certain 
portions of the brain; and it cannot be denied 
that he took evident pleasure in the interest 
which Miss Emily evinced in his lengthened 
explanation The upshot of the consultation 
was, that this was by no means a rare case; 
that several similar cases were described in 
the books and that although he had never met 
in his own experience precisely such a case 
yet he had very great hopes that a simple 
operation might remove the trouble and re¬ 
store tbe young man to his former condition. 
And then he recounted to Emily some cases 
in which partial or complete loss of memory 
had occurred from various causes; and how 
life had suddenly become a blank; and how 
when memory had been restored the old life 
had all come back again but the intervening 
period was all forgotten. 
“ And you will promise to try and restore 
this young man when you go up, and go pre¬ 
pared to do it, will you? That is very good 
and kind and generous of you, indeed. Now 
George, you see all mankind are not alike, 
and that some persons do really have some 
regard for their fellow creatures. What a 
grand thing it is to be a doctor, to be, as Ovid 
says, * known through the world a help-bear¬ 
er,' to relieve the sick and distressed and re¬ 
store happiness to wretched persons and fami¬ 
lies; to rescue people, in fact, from the very 
grave!” 
“ Yes,” replied the doctor, “ and to be called 
out on a cold wintry night at 2 o’clock A. M., 
when the wind howls and the sleet and rain 
drive through every crevice!’ ’ 
“ And to get no pay for it,” added George. 
“ Why, that’s the very glorious part of it,” 
rejoined Emily; “and that doctors do this 
without murmuring year alter year, and with¬ 
out hesitating, in spii e of all the disagreeable 
part of it, makes their profession the most 
noble one in existence. ” 
“ Thank you very much, Miss Emily. To 
have a general recognition of our services of 
such a kind as that, would indeed be very 
grateful and encouraging.” 
And le6t any hopes might be raised that 
might prove delusive iu case of a failure of 
the operation, it was decided that nothing 
further should be said about it until the result 
was known. 
And Emily Bates counted the days which 
would yet intervene until the arrangements 
were made for the proposed journey of hep 
