|
Chase
County is located in the extreme western part of the State.
There
are only two streams of any great importance, and these can only be utilized
for stock raising purposes.
Stinking
Water Creek flows across the northeastern part of the county. This has a
tributary entering it from the north.
Frenchman's
Creek enters the county from Colorado and flows across its entire length, in
nearly an easterly direction.
The
bottoms of those streams are level, after which comes a bluffy region, intersected by numerous canons, and
then comes the broad and gently rolling lands of the divides.
The
bottom lands are composed of very fertile soil and are covered with a heavy
growth of tall and nutritious wild grass.
The
bluffs afford some of the finest grazing lands, besides affording a partial
shelter for cattle in time of storms.
The
uplands afford some of the finest and best pasturage, being covered by a heavy
growth of the nutritious buffalo grass.
The
only occupation carried on here is stock raising, and immense herds of cattle
roam at large over these beautiful prairies. No care whatever is given them,
except at the time of the annual round up, either late in the spring or early
in the summer, when all that can be found are driven into the different ranges,
an the herding grounds of each owner are termed, and there the cattle are
corralled and branded, then turned loose again.
The
land nearly all belongs to the United States Government, and the ranches are
selected and occupied only by a law of justice understood by themselves.
The
soil of almost the entire county is rich and fertile, but the climate is so dry
that the raising of grain is rendered impossible. The bottom lands, however,
could be easily irrigated, and would, without doubt, by this means produce
large crops.
The
county is unorganized and is attached to Frontier for elective, revenue and
judicial purposes.
It
exists only as a precinct of Frontier and only has governing and elective
powers as such.
The
population of the county is not more than seventy five, and these are all men
engaged in raising and caring for cattle.
There
are a number of cattle ranches on both the Frenchman and Stinking Water Creeks,
but these are only temporary in their character.
There
are two post offices in the county—Frease and Wanneta, both located on
Frenchman's Creek.
History
of Nebraska, 1882
|