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      Douglas county, situated between the Missouri and Platte rivers, covers an area of about three hundred and twenty square miles and contains a population of twenty-five thousand people. It is intersected by the Elkhorn and Papillion rivers and their branches. The general face of the county is undulating prairie with bottom and table lands along the valleys of the rivers. The soil is a deep rich loam with clay subsoil. Corn, wheat and other small grains, vegetables and fruits are cultivated with ease and yield largely. It is well timbered and contains fine quarries of excellent building stone. This county was among the first settled in the State. The lands were early taken up and have been made into fine, large, highly cultivated farms. The lands of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, comprising about nine thousand acres and ranging in price from $6.25 to $10.00 per acre, are located in the western portion of the county, between the Elkhorn and Platte rivers. They consist of bottom and level table lands, admirably adopted to the purposes of dairy, hay-making, and fruit and vegetable gardening. Their nearness to the stations on the Railroad gives convenient access to the Omaha market, where productions of this character are always in good demand at remunerative prices. This county is crossed by the Union Pacific, the Omaha and Southwestern and the Omaha and Northwestern Railroads.

      Omaha, the capital of Douglas county, is the initial point of the Union Pacific Railroad. It is located on the West bank of the Missouri river, on a beautiful plateau, gradually rising into bluffs. The

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      city is regularly laid out, the fine broad streets crossing at right angles, and numbering from the river Westward. The level portion of the city is chiefly devoted to business, while the overlooking bluffs are occupied by elegant residences with tastefully arranged grounds. The population which in 1865 was but four thousand five hundred, now numbers upwards of twenty thousand and is rapidly increasing. Blocks of fine business houses attest the commercial prosperity of the city, and stately churches and beautiful private residences display the enterprise, taste and refinement of the citizens. The city is lighted with gas and the Horse Railway extends through the principal streets. The extensive foundry, machine, blacksmith, car and paint shops and other works, and the General Offices of the Union Pacific Railroad Company are located in Omaha. The office of the Land Department is in the Railroad building on the corner of Ninth and Farnam streets.

      Florence, on the Missouri River, six miles above Omaha, is a small town. Elkhorn and Valley stations on the Union Pacific Railroad are situated in the midst of thriving farming communities, and are important points for the shipment of grain and other products.

      Directly South of Douglas, lies Sarpy county, with the Missouri River for its Eastern, and the Platte for its Southern and Western boundaries. It is an exceedingly well watered and well wooded tract and contains some of the most extensive and best stone quarries in the State. The soil is of a rich alluvial character, the surface, away from the river bottoms, is rolling prairie. This county is thickly settled, fine, large, well cultivated and highly improved farms are on every hand, and splendid crops of grain and vegetables are raised. It is crossed by the Union Pacific and Omaha, and Southwestern Railroads and contains five thousand two hundred acres of the Company's lands, which are offered at prices ranging from $6.25 to $8.00 per acre.

      Bellevue, the oldest settlement in the State, is the County-seat. Plattsford, and Forest City on the Platte are small towns, and Gilmore is a station on the Railroad.

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      This county also lies on the Missouri River and is one of the oldest settled and best farming districts in the State. It is crossed by the Sioux City and Pacific which connects with the Union Pacific at Fremont, and by the Omaha and Northwestern Railroads. It is well watered and abundantly supplied with timber. The greater portion of the county is in a fair state of cultivation. The lands of the Company in this county are among the most desirable in the State. They amount to twenty-eight thousand acres, and range in price from $5.00 to $10.00 per acre.

      Blair, the county seat, Bell Creek and Kennard are on the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad. De Soto, Cuming City, Fort Calhoun and Fontenelle are thriving towns.

      This county lies north of the Platte River in the second tier of counties west of the Missouri, and embraces about four hundred and fifty square miles. The northern portion of the county is watered by the Elkhorn, Logan and Pebble creeks and their branches, and Maple creek crosses the county from west to east. Timber is found along the streams. The surface is bottom land, gradually rising into bench and table land and fine rolling prairie. The soil is a deep sandy loam of inexhaustible fertility, admirably adapted to the raising of grain and to grazing purposes. The average yield of crops is not excelled by any portion of this great grain producing section. The Union Pacific, Sioux City and Pacific, and Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroads cross this county, and other roads are projected. The streams are well bridged and excellent wagon roads extend through every portion of the county. The population exceeds six thousand and is rapidly increasing. Flourishing towns and villages are springing up on the lines of the Railroads and in other parts of the county. Fine well cultivated farms with good comfortable buildings, are found on every hand and school houses at convenient localities. Several mills are now running and the various streams offer many mill sites and water privileges to others desiring to engage in this profitable business. To parties with some capital, who desire to purchase farms and enjoy the advantages of a well settled community, this county offers superior inducements. There are no

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      vacant government lands in this county. Those of the Union Pacific Railroad Company amount to one hundred and nineteen thousand one hundred and twenty-seven acres and are offered at prices ranging from $5.00 to $10.00 per acre.

      The County-seat of Dodge county, is on the Union Pacific Railroad forty-six miles west of Omaha, at the junction of the Sioux City Pacific and Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Roads. It is also connected by stage lines with Lincoln and West Point, at which places United States Land Offices are located. The town is situated on a beautiful, gently sloping bottom at the junction of the Platte and Elkhorn Valleys, which, in this vicinity, are from three to ten miles wide. The city contains about twenty-five hundred inhabitants. All classes of business are represented and well sustained. There are some forty stores of different character, one flouring mill, two brick yards, four lumber yards, plow and wagon manufactories, blacksmiths, photograph galleries, two livery stables, two grain houses, the pioneer elevator, three hotels two public halls, a fine brick court house, six church organizations, viz.: Methodist, Baptist, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Roman Catholic, four schools, one weekly newspaper, one bank and the legal and medical professions, real estate and Insurance offices are numerously represented. Elegant private residences grace the suburbs and the surrounding country is exceedingly fertile, much of the land is well cultivated and improved.

      Fifteen miles west from Fremont is North Bend, a telegraph and passenger station on the Union Pacific Railroad. It is a thrifty town of about four hundred people, situated near the river bank and rounded by a fine agricultural country, where abundant crops give evidence of the fertility of the soil. It is destined at no distant day to become an important town. It contains three stores, two hotels, one lumber yard, two churches and a good school house. The Platte bottom in this vicinity is about five miles wide. Excellent brick material is found in abundance.

      Timberville is a post office station near Ketchum side tract, on the Union Pacific. Logan, containing a flour mill, saw mill, blacksmith shop and store; Pebble Creek, with store, hotel, flour and saw mills,

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      two blacksmith shops, and school house; Jalappa, Monroe, Oaksprings and Galena are post office stations in the midst of flourishing communities.

      Colfax county lies on the north side of the Platte, and adjoins Dodge county on the West, to which it is similar in surface and soil. It contains four hundred and thirty-two square miles, with a population of about three thousand. It is watered by Maple and Shell creeks and their branches, which afford fine water power sufficient to drive a hundred mills. The surface, consisting of valleys and uplands, comprise an agricultural country unsurpassed in beauty of scenery, desirableness of location, variety, depth and richness of soil, and purity and healthfulness of climate. Timber is found along the principal streams, and excellent brick material is abundant. This county, although but recently organized, is rapidly settling; many of the Government sections contain from six to egiht families each. A large colony from Nova Scotia has located here during the past season; mills have been erected, and churches and school houses are located at convenient distances. In the Northern part of the county a large amount of vacant Government land is still found, which may be obtained by actual settlers under the Homestead and Pre-emption laws. Good wagon roads cross the county in different directions, and the streams are well bridged. It is crossed by the Union Pacific Railroad, and contains 107,266 acres of the Company's lands, ranging in price from $3.00 to $10.00 per acre.

      The County-seat, is a telegraph and passenger station on the Union Pacific Railroad, seventy-six miles west from Omaha, with an elevation of 1,335 feet. It is a new town, having been laid out in April, 1869, and contains a population of six hundred people, which is fast increasing. Good buildings have been erected, and the various branches of trade are fairly represented. A large business is done in lumber and agricultural implements. The Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic Church organizations exist, and several church edifices and a good school house have been built. Schuyler has recently been selected as the point of concentration and ship-

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      ment to the East for Texas cattle. Extensive yards have been built for their accommodation. It is believed that a very heavy cattle trade will be conducted from this point.

      This is a large county lying North of the Platte river. The southern portion is crossed by the Loup Fork of the Platte; and Cedar, Looking Glass, Beaver, Shell and Taylor creeks flow through the county in a southeasterly course. These are all living streams, well stocked with fine fish, skirted with large bodies of timber, and offer excellent water privileges and mill sites. The surface of the country is slightly rolling, with rich bottom and table lands along the Loup and Platte rivers and in the valleys of the numerous streams. Here are found some of the oldest and best cultivated farms in the State, which for thirteen consecutive years have been tilled without a single failure to realize a bountiful crop. The population numbers four thousand, with a good prospect of doubling within the next twelve months. A large amount of Government land is still vacant, and may be secured under the Homestead and Pre-emption Laws. Good roads and well bridged streams rendering traveling easy and safe, and a hospitable people, ever ready to welcome and assist the industrious settler, make the rich, fertile valleys and table lands of Platte county among the most attractive and desirable locations in the West. The soil is a rich, deep, sandy loam, and good water is found at a reasonable depth. This county is crossed by the Union Pacific Railroad, and contains one hundred and eighty-one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight acres of the lands of the Company, at prices ranging from $5.00 to $8.00 per acre.

      The capital of Platte county, is a telegraph and passenger station on the Union Pacific Railroad, ninety-two miles West of Omaha. It is pleasantly located on a beautiful wide plateau, where easy drainage and good dry cellars are secured, and possesses many advantages from its geographical position. It is an excellent business point. The country North and West for a distance of from sixty to eighty miles, including the rich valley of the Loup, is tributary to this town; it also derives an extensive trade from the country South of

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      the Platte. Columbus is one of the oldest towns in the State, and contains about one thousand inhabitants. There are many good stores, a steam flouring mill, several lumber yards, three hotels, a fine brick court house, one weekly newspaper, and good schools which are well sustained. The Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Congregationalist and Roman Catholic organizations exist. The three last named have church edifices. The first bridge across the Platte is located at this point, and several projected railroads will here form a junction with the Union Pacific. The adjacent country is exceedingly fertile, and embraces some of the largest and best cultivated farms in Nebraska.

      Jackson and Silver Creek Stations, on the Railroad, and Genoa, and Monroe, on the Loup Fork, bid fair to become places of importance.

      This county, lying immediately West of Platte, is bounded on the South by the Platte river, and crossed by the Union Pacific Railroad. It is watered by Platte river and Prairie and Silver creeks. The land from the Platte to Prairie creek consists of bottom and gently sloping table; from Prairie creek to the Loup it is undulating prairie.

      Timber is abundant on the Platte and Loup rivers. The soil is a dark, sandy loam, of the best quality and very productive. The water is of excellent quality, and can usually be obtained at a depth of from eight to twenty feet. This county was first settled about 1859, and was organized in 1863. Some of the finest and best cultivated farms in Nebraska are found in this county. Stock raising has been extensively followed with great success. The average yield of wheat is from twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre; corn, from fifty to seventy-five. Root crops are easily cultivated aud produce very largely. Several flour and saw mills are located at different points. The lands of the Company in this county amount to one hundred and thirty-one thousand one hundred and sixty-six acres, which are offered at prices ranging from $3.00 to $5.00 per acre. There is also a large amount of vacant Government land, which may be secured by actual settlers under the Homestead and Pre-emption Laws, presenting great inducements to colonists. These lands are rapidly settling by a class of thrifty, enterprising farmers.

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      The County-seat, is a passenger and telegraph station on the Union Pacific Railroad, one hundred and thirty-one miles from Omaha. It is situated in a level, productive region, possesses fine natural advantages, and is fast becoming a point of importance and influence.

      Clark's and Chapman's are also stations on the Railroad.

      Hall, in which is situated the town of Grand Island, and Buffalo, containing Kearney Station, are large counties, intersected by numerous streams, abounding in fish and wild fowl, and skirted with timber. They are crossed by the Union Pacific Railroad, and embrace three hundred and seventy-nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-three acres of the Company's lands, at prices ranging from $3.00 to $5.00 per acre. These counties are watered by the Loup Fork and its branches—Prairie creek and Wood river. The latter rises in the bluffs and runs South until its waters unite with those of the Platte. Along the entire stream and its many tributaries, the land for agricultural purposes is unsurpassed. The banks of the river are well wooded, and the country adjacent supplied with game. This valley is rapidly settling, and already contains many well cultivated farms, which produce splendid crops of wheat, corn, oats, barley, etc. Good flouring and saw mills, are located at different points. Timber in large quantities is found upon the Platte and Loup rivers; brick material is abundant, and excellent building and limestone have been discovered on the Loup. These counties offer the very best facilities for stock-raising, and, as a location for colonlies, cannot be surpassed in the United States. Extensive tracts of Government lands are vacant, and may be obtained by actual settlers under the Homestead and Pre-emption Laws. The adjacent Railroad lands cam be purchased at low rates, and upon easy terms of payment—thus enabling communities to obtain land in a compact body, or to make choice selections of timber, mill-sites, etc., while the stations on the road furnish all the advantages of communication, telegraph, express, and markets for stock, produce and supplies.

      Grand Island, the County-seat of Hall county, is a beautiful town

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      named from an island in the Platte river, about two miles distant. It occupies a high plateau, where good drainage and dry cellars are secured, and is among the most desirable town sites on the line of the Road. It contains a population of about eight hundred, which is rapidly increasing. This is one of the regular eating stations on the Union Pacific Railroad, and here are found the first Roundhouse and Repair shops West of Omaha. The United States Land Office is located at this point. The town also contains four dry goods stores, three groceries, a drug store, furniture store, bakery, brewery, wagon and blacksmith shops, lumber yard, an agricultural implement store a first-class steam flouring mill with a capacity for turning out one hundred barrels of flour per day, three hotels, a Masonic lodge, one newspaper, and a full supply of law, real estate and insurance offices. The Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists have church organizations, and a fine school building is in process of erection. Grand Island is an excellent business point; an extensive grain trade has already been established. The County has appropriated $15,000 for bridging the Platte at this point, which will open up a large trade from the South Platte country. Large inducements have been offered to the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad to make this town their point of junction with the Union Pacific. The country in the vicinity is settled by thrifty farmers, mostly German. The soil is exceedingly fertile, producing fine crops of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, etc.

      Grand Island, from which the Station receives its name, is the largest island in the Platte River. It is about sixty miles long and three miles wide. It is well wooded and very fertile.

      Pawnee, Wood River, and Gibbon are stations on the Road. Kearney, in Buffalo county, one hundred and eighty-one miles West of Omaha, is named from Fort Kearney, on the South side of the Platte, opposite the Station.

      These counties, lying along the Platt river, on the South side, are fertile, well watered tracts, with a sufficiency of timber for fuel. They are easily accessible from the stations on the Union Pacific Railroad. The surface of the country consists of bottom and table lands, and rolling prairie. The soil is deep, rich and productive, affording

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      excellent facilities for stock-raising, and no section offers greater inducements to colonists. Government lands can be obtained under the Homestead and Pre-emption Laws at $2.50 per acre, and the lands of the Union Pacific Railroad Company are offered to purchasers at the same price, in six annual payments, with a discount often per cent. for cash. Settlers are filling up these counties, which will soon be crossed by a branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. From the cheapness of these lands, and their superior agricultural qualities, these counties may be classed among the most desirable tracts now placed in market. They contain four hundred and eighty-seven thousand six hundred and ten acres of the Company's lands.

      Clay and York counties, South of the Platte river, are fine fertile lands. Surface chiefly undulating prairie, watered by branches of the Big Blue river. The soil is of an excellent quality, well adapted to agricultural purposes. The Company has forty-five thousand and fifty-seven acres of lands situated in these counties, at from $2.50 to $3.00 per acre.

      Butler county, lying on the South side of the Platte river, about fifty miles West of the Missouri, is a fine agricultural county. It embraces about six hundred square miles, and is watered by Scull creek and Bone creek, which flow into the Platte, and the North Fork of the Big Blue, which flows South. Along the Platte the surface is bottom, but gradually rises into table land. The southern portion is bottom and rolling prairie. The soil is deep and productive.

      The greater portion of the Government land is occupied by settlers. Excellent mill-sites are found on the larger streams, many of which are improved. Some of the best ferries on the Platte are in this county, giving easy access to the stations of the Union Pacific Railroad. Butler county is within twenty miles of Lincoln, the State Capital. It contains one hundred and twenty-nine thousand four hundred and seventy-two acres of Union Pacific Railroad lands, ranging from $3.00 to $7.00 per acre.

      Savannah, the County-seat, Linwood and Ulysses are small towns in the midst of thriving settlements.

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      This county lies South and West of the Platte river, and contains about seven hundred and fifty-six square miles. It is remarkably well watered, being intersected by the Wahoo, Cottonwood and several smaller streams, on which many good mill-sites are found. The surface is chiefly rolling prairie, with fine bottom and table lands in the valleys of the Platte and Wahoo. The soil is of great fertility and productiveness, with no waste land. The lands which were not reserved for the Railroad have been entered, under the Homestead and pre-emption laws, and are occupied by thrifty settlers. Six or eight families are often found on the same section. No portion of the State is filling up more rapidly than Saunders county. Good ferries, at convenient distances, connect it with stations on the Union Pacific Railroad. Extensive quarries of very superior building stone have been opened at different points, and excellent brick material is abundant. This county contains one hundred and eighty-six thousand three hundred and fifty-four acres of the lands of the Company, ranging in price from $3.00 to $10.00 per acre.

      The County-seat, is a town of some eight hundred inhabitants, situated on Salt creek, near its junction with the Platte. It is an important station on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, contains several fine brick buildings, and is rapidly growing in size and influence. Benton and Cedar Bluffs, in the northern, Headland, in the eastern, and Eldred and Wahoo, in the central portion of the county, are post-office stations in the midst of thickly settled communities.