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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1913)
Great Horse frodaclng Suite Sreat Apple Growing State Great Lire Stock State Host Productive Soil fireat Dairying State Great Poultry State Nebraska, With Its Wonderful Resources, the Premier State COMPILED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE NEBRASKA PRESS ASSOCIATION. Omaha, Its Mstrcpij , i Sixteenth Citj in luired States in volume of busi ness, though f ortj - first in population. A stranger traveling about Ne braska wonders if the people of Ne braska have the faintest realization of the enormous wealth of natural resources that lies at their very door. Nebmska, with her 49,000,000 acrea, Is an Integral part of that immense Inland empire lying between the Mississippi rtver and the Rockies, between Canada on the north and Mexico and the gulf on the south. This Immense empire is the mont productive area of its size on tb face of the globe. Here are grown more than seven teuths of the food stuffs exported by Ike nation; more than three fifths ot the cotton and fruits of the tem perate xone raised by the nation; four-fifths of the meat production, a large proportion of the coal oil and other mineral products; nine-tentlia of the beet sugar, and more than ouo half of the cane sugar produced by the nation. No territory In the world of equal extent bas such a wealth of production. Of this territory, Nebraska forms vital part The resources of the state have not yet been uncovered. The possibilities of development have hardly been touched. And yet the average Nebraskan goes about bis ally life apparently unconscious of the untold wealth lying at his feet Halting development. MOST WONDERFUL SOIU The soil of Nebraska is unique among the soils of the earth. Over a (Teat portion of the state extend the great loess plains, marvels of productiveness and of easy manipula tion. This loess soil, whatever its origin, whether It be wind-blown or water-deposited, is the most wonder ful eoll In the world. Its depth sometimes reaches Ave hundred feet, aad over a greater portion of ths area, averages from three hundred to Ire hundred feet. From top to bot tom it is packed with the elements f plant food, furnishing an inex haustible supply for the agriculture f the future. Eastern Nebraska comprises ths Dolling land immediately west of tlx Missouri river, and is what Is called the glaciated portion of the statie. Here in the early geological ages, ths glacier plowed out valleys and heap ed up hills, and thoroughly mixed all different varieties of soil, among which the loess soil is pre-eminent. The same Inexhaustible fertility char acterizes tliis region as well as tin great loess plains, though the soil here is not quite so easy of manipu lation. When one aska the reason why tha average Nebraska farmer does not make more of the opportunities that lie at his feet, the answer is not far to seek. It waa said in the early day that Nature had been so gener ous with Nebraska soil that if on would only tickle it with a faoe, it would laugh with a harvest. The ew settlers in Nebraska found the oil so productive with so little la bor that they saw no need for rais ing the production to the highest possible point. It is said irrigated regions of som parts of the wst are settled largely by people .who live under the Im pression that all that is necessary is ta put the seed into the ground and tern on the water, and that God and Nature will do the rest. The early Nebraska settler bad something of this feeling. For this reason it la Impossible fairly to Judge of what the soil of this state mfht product from what it bas been producing under the lax methods of agriculturs employed. SOIL EASILY RESTORED. No soil In the world is so easily recuperated aud restored to its prim Hive productiveness, after it ap pears to have been partly exhausted of its fertility as Nebraska. Rea sonable application of the laws of improved agriculture in restoring worn-out soils succeed better than in any place in the world. No Ne Nebraska soil haa ever yet been ex hausted. Lax and improper methods of cultivation have lessened prod no. tlou, but as soon as proper met hods are employed on such so-called worn-out soils, they respond as If by ataglc with a bountiful yield. A few yeaj-s ago a farm that bad been subjected to this kind of agri culture abuse wa taken in eastern Nebraska by an intelligent farmer. It was said at the time to be tha most unpromising prospect in the atate. lie knew his soil. He has never spent a dollar for commercial fertilizers. Yet today he has ons f the cleanest and most productive farms in bis section of the country. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS FINE. The climate and meteorological conditions that prevail in Nebraska are of the best A person unao quainted with the agricultural condl tione might question this statement is view of a partial failure of th corn crop thin year tn the southern part of the state. But here are the facts: The annual rainfall range from thirty inches in the eaatern part to fifteen inches in the high table lands In the extreme western part of the state. This rainfall If properly con served is sufficient to mature any crop adapted to the climate and lat itude. Under lax methods of agri culture, a large part of this rainfall Is permitted to run off and is lost. If the soil were so handled as to en able the top of the soil to take aud hold this rainfall until such time as It might percolate Into the subsoil, there would be sufficient moisture for thrifty crop production to carry any crop through the most severe season of drouth that the state has ever ex perienced. . What crops have suffered from drouth In Nebraska is to be charged entirely to the methods of agricul ture employed and not to the natu ral climatic conditions. . Let this fact remain impressed upon every mind. There Is sufficient rainfall In Ne j braska to mature every crop provld , ed the rainfall is not permitted to j run to waste. It is up to the farmer exclusively. Failure cannot be charg ed aqainst natural conditions. Here Is an amazing fact: This Nebraska soil, hampered as it has been by lax agricultural meth ods, has proved itself wonderfully productive, and production has but begun. There is no reason what ever why, with proper agricultural methods, this amazing production might not be doubled. During 1913 the state has produced wheat to the value of more than $50,000,000.00, and it is wheat of the very finest quality. Never before iif the history of the state bas there been such a harvest. The state will during the current year produce hay, alfalfa tame hay and wild bay, to a value of more than $100,000,000. During the year 1912, the state produced 182, C 16,000 bushels of corn, with a value of S109.569.00O. The high table land in the north ern and western part of the state is peculiarly adapted to the production of potatoes. During 1912. the state produced 6,326,707 bushels of the value of $4,746,030.00. The crop for 1913 is already assured. It is the greatest potato crop In quality and quantity that the 6tate bas ever pro duced. If such production ran be secured through agricultural methods at pres ent employed, what limits shall be placed upon the possible production of the future when there shall be the ful'est co-operation between farmer and soil? Who can estimate the val ue of the imperial resources that are latent in this ' wonderful Nebraska soil? The activity of this great inland empire as a producing section is re flected in the clearings through Omaha, Its natural metropolis. In a comparatively brief span of eleven years, Omaha haa grown to be the tlfth primary grain market of the world, chiefly because of the output of Nebraska toll. Omaha ranks as the third primary corn market of the world, all the result of the bountiful yields of Nebraska and tributary ter ritory. As production increases, and that is yearly, Omaha's Importance as a grain center increases. GREAT DAIRYING STATE. No territory could be better adap ted to the highest possible develop ment of the dairy industry than the state of Nebraska. The western part of the state, lies at an elevation of 4.500 feet, and the eastern part of the state, where it borders the Mis souri, Is about 1,100 feet above sea level. Three separate river systems traverse the entire length of the state from west to east. The Nio brara river at tbe north, the Repub lican river at the south, and the Platte river, between, are notable streams. Three other river systems traverse a part of the state; the Elk horn at the north, the Ixmp system, consisting of tbe middle, the North and South Loup rivers, in the center, and the Blue river between the Platte and the Republican. No state is better watered. The valleys of each stream furnish abun dant and succulent pasture. It is an ideal dairy country. The sand hill region of Nebraska which heretofore has been devoted almost exclusively to the growing of Uef cattle, will la tbe future, become the greatest dairy region of the state. All that la need ed is development to make the dairy industry the principal Industry of the state. Nowhere can be found a coun try where so much cream can bs produced at so little expense. The dairy industry is becoming an eco nomic necessity. Its relation to grain growing Is In timate, and each supplements and promotes the other. Already' Ne braska takes a leading rank la the production of dairy products. At a conservative estimate, the total dairy production of the state, which includes all butler-fat used by! the farmer for his own use or sold ' either as whole milk, sweet cream or cream for churning purposes, and' which also includes the calves raised,, aud the skim milk used for various purposes on farms and elsewhero, has a value of $29.45i,664. Nebraska's dairy business is in Its infancy. The fanners have not yet learned to care properly for their cows, or to breed up their herds that they may have better cows. The average crnam production por cow in Nebraska Is low. The number of milch cows Is far below what it should be. On the first of January, 1913, there were 607,000 milch cows in the state with a value of $30,107, 000, a value of $49.00 per bead, and a gain during the year of $9 per head, which shows that the demand for dairy cows Is Increasing. These are cows as a rule of Inferior quality and of Inferior breeding. Win n the dairy business begins to develop, there will be four times as muny milch cows, and ten times as much dairy production. The Nebras ka soil and the Nebraska climate, and the beautiful Nebraska valleys, well watered and deep with lush, nutritious and succulent grasses, will bring all this about. The construc tive imagination can see it as clear ly in the future as though it were actually present The time Is com ing when the Nebraska cow will earn for herself a distinctive reputation throughout the entire world. As a creamery butter producing state, Nebraska enjoys the reputa tion of being one of the largest. It bas the largest creamery In the world, while, Omaha, its metropolis, occu pies the enviable position of produc ing more creamery butter than any city In the world. Annually, 20,000, 000 pounds, with a conservatively estimated value of $6,000,000, are manufactured In Omaha and shipped to all parts of the world. Butter with the Nebraska and Omaha label la known In every civilised country. WONDERFUL LIVE STOCK STATE. Tbe live stock Industry of Nebras ka demands special consideration. Livestock production Is undergoing a change of method. Hitherto Hie pro-) duction of beef has been largely con-' fined to the range cattle of the west.' The state is beginning to shift its beef production. It has been found that no one can afford to raise bf cattle according to the method on land whose acre valuation passes a certain point. There Is very little land anywhere now In Nebraska on which anyone can afford to raise beef cattle according to the old method. Another reason for the change la found in the fact that the ranges of the west have been over-pastured, and as a result, their productivity had decreased. The beef cattle of the fu ture will largely be raised from the individual farms. The immensity of the livestock in dustry of the state, while it may be expressed In figures, can hardly be realized without tbe aid of Imagina tion. Let the figures be given and then let every reader try with thei help of his imagination to realize the fact. The number of beef cattle of all ages on the farms of Nebraska on j the first of January 1912, was 2.002,- J 000. Of these the total number mar keted from Nebraska farms during! the year was 816.485. Of this total! number marketed, 653,189 were mar-; keted at South Omaha. These had a value of $39,192,340. The total number of bogs of all ages on Nebraska farms the first of January, 1912, was 4,207,000. Of these, there were marketed 2,693,935. Of the total number marketed, there were marketed at South Omaha, 2. 156.750, for which $43,135,000 waa paid. Tbe total number of sheep of all ages on Nebraska farms, January first. 1912, was 382.000. Nebraska does not ralss sH the sheep that it markets. Sheepmen buy their feeders outside of tbe state, principally in Wyoming, 11 out ana and Idaho. This accounts for the fact that while the number of sheep on the first of January, 1912 in Nebraska was less than 4,000,000. still there were mar keted from Nebraska, Including the feeders that had been Imported. 895, 477. Of thess 71.:!8t were marketed at the South Omaha stock yards for which $3,581,910 was paid. PRODUCTION ONLY BEGUN. Study these figures. Only a little more than one third of tbe total num ber of cattle In the state were mar keted. Two thirds were left upon the farms. A little more than ons half the bogs In tbe state were mar keted. Almost half were left upon the farms. On the first of January, 1913. it Is estimated there were tbs same number of sheep in the state as one year before. And yet there wets marketed at South Omaha alone 716, 382, for which $3,581,910 was paid. It is estimated that of the total amount of live stock marketed In tbe state, 80 per cent only U marketed at South Omaha. The total value of all the cattle, bogs and ahesp market ed from Nebraska during the year 1913, amounts tn the amazing sum of $107,386,562. This takes no account of the 15.047 cattle, 114.653 hogs, . 192 sheep that died of disease during the year. This proves the capacity of Nebraska soil to produce meat for , NOTED FOR IT8 APPLES, the markets of the world. Eastern Nebraska bas known for a in tbe last analysis, the source of ollK , tnat frult of ,hn flnpst ,,liai. the meat produced by the sUtc must ty mhl be produced there. Steps be traced back to the soil. An old hRve DPn toRea wnlcU wm ini(Ure breeder of international reputation tiie importation of this knowledge to says: "You must not give me too lne y.orld. The Southeastern Co-op-much credit for the quality of the live eratlvo Fruit Growers' Association stock I produce. Nowhere else could hnB l)Pt forniP,i to gVe ti,e Nonrua I have produced such live stock. The ha ap,,le production a commanding quality of Nebraska soil Is reflected ptace ln 1he marketB of the world, in the grass and bay that it produces. This association takes charge, of the and these are in their turn reflected who0 matter 'of production and mat in the quality of the live stock placed keting. There will be a uniform pack, upon the market. It all goes back to j Hitherto the apples of eastern Ne ttie soil, and this matchless Nebraska braska have been bought by specula- sou can uo ror live stock v,nat no other soil on the fate of the earth can do." Nebraska has made South Omaha the second primary live stock market of the world. In 1912 nearly 7,000,000 head of live stock were received on tbe South Omaha market and four and one half millions ere converted into meats. South Omaha moved into second place among the world's mar kets for total number of bead of stock received, replacing Kansas City as the second string to Chicago. The value of the packing output in South Omaha runs well above tbe $100,000,000 mark annually. The South Omaha market also enjoys the dis tinction of being the greatest feeder sheep market in the world, as well as tbe greatest market for range horses. Tbe South Omaha market furnishes employment to mope than 7,000 peo pie and pays out annually $7,000,000 for their labors. IDEAL HORSE RAISING STATE. No territory Is better adapted than Nebraska to the breeding and grow ing of fine horses. The state is awakening to a realization of the in creased revenue that may be derived from this source. There Is a great market demand for heavy draft horses, and better prices are now being paid for drafters of weight and quality. Heretofore the state has been sat isfied with breeding only a medium grade of horses. The lUht, native range mares have been used to a large extent, and for sires, attention has been turned to horses of the heavy draft breeds. This course could not possibly produce a horse of the weight required by the market. Tbe drafters that command the high est price in the market weigh from 1,600 to 2,000 pounds. Farmers are beginning to realize that it costs no more to raise a good horse than It does to raise a medium or a poor horse; that much more profitable work can be derived from a certain amount of feed by the use of a heavy animal than by the use of a light one or inferior breeding. They can keep their heavy draft mares, and work tbe heavy draft horses until they arrive at the age of maturity, and then place them on the market at an advance p.lce. In order to accomplish this end, two things are Indispensable: First, there must be steady, persistent, in telligent application on the part of the fanners of tbs principles of right breeding. It Is not enough that a horse be bred well. He must be well fed In sddltion. Blood helps, but blood does not do everything. The man that would raise heavy drafters for ths market must be a generous feeder, and he must Intelligently select the kinds of feed that mill produce the largest and the best growth. Ne braska furnishes ths feed. Alfalfa. native wild grass find oats, when fed In the proper proportions and in the right amount, will produce the de sired growth. And Nebraska fur nishes these of superior quality in luxuriant abundance. Tbe time Is coming when horses will be growu in Nebraska according to the plan known as "com in unit) breeding." According to this plan tbe horse breeders of a certain com munity, whether It be a township, a county or a still larger area, co-ope,--ate in breeding uniformly to horses of tbe same distinctive type. All thut is needed to accomplish this end is for the farmers intelligently to co operate for this purpose. It should be borne ln mind that In order to produce large, heavy, typical drafters, large, heavy, typical dams must be secured. By breeding up tbe native horses through pure bred sires, In time, such dams may be se cured.' Then with dams snd sires of the right quality and type, aud with a thorough knowledge lustilled into the farmers as to how they may best grow their foals. Nebraska will be able to lead the world In the quality of horses that she will produce. HENS ALWAYS WORKING, Tbe Nebraska hen Is doing her full share In increasing the production of tbe state. Ths total poultry products for the last year, including both pool try and eggs, amount to more than $40,000,000. The Kebraaka tea is soma producer. Ia Omaha, alone, mors than $10,000. 000 worth of poultry and eggs are handled annually, her ship ants go ing to all parts of tbe east. a, ,tnXmmmmmmmamiim4m ,or, ln ,k( have been regraded, and ,h cnolce grndeB have been put upon the markets as Washington and Ore gon fruit.. Soon, Nebraska apples will be known as extensively And as favor ably in the markets of tbe world aa the apples of any other locality. No region Is more favorable for such production. It Is the fruit growers' paradise and the fruit growers are preparing to take possession of their own. The Nebraska apple has quality and a flavor peculiarly Its own. It needs no artificial method for pro duction. Nature's water in the choice fruit producing soil of the wo.ld sup plies the Juice and Nature's sun sup plies tbe flavor. A Nebraska Jona than sets the standard for the world, both ln flavor and. in quality. Soon the Nebraska quality will be accepted as the standard in the jnarkets of the world. HAS VALUABLE DEPOSITS. Nebraska can hardly be classed among the states that are known as mineral-producing states, and yet she has beneath her soil what might be called geological resources which must be noted in making an account of the assets of the state. She has a practically inexhaustible supply of material for tbe manufacture of the beet quality of Portland cement. The extensive and valuable de posits of the best qaulity of sharp, gritty building sand, the ledges of limestone rock which are being brok en up and quarried on a very large scale for use in the manufacture of concrete, place the state among the leaders In this kind of production. With materials at hand within her own borders for concrete work, the concrete business Is sure to develop in ths near future to an amazing proportion. Near the western border of the state, is practically an Inexhaustible supply of partly crystallzed limerock, invaluable tor agricultural uses.. It contains 85 per cent pure carbonate of lime. Ita half crystallzed condi tion makes it possible to reduce it for agricultural purposes at tbe very lowest possible expense. Potash for agricultural and Indus trial uses forms another valuable asset. It has been discovered near the western boundary of the state. A company bas been organised to de velop it. Experts are searching for ths bed of potash from which the water leaches Into tbe lakes to form a strong potash solution, so strong tbat it may be profitably evaporated so as to make a potash of commerce. It was said at the beginning of this story that tbe resources of the state hsve not yet been uncovered, that tbe surface of them bad been merely scratched. These last three items are proof of this statement. No Portland cement is yet manufactured, but one of the largest and most up-to-date factories will be ln operation before thf fir8,t ,?f J" The agrl- is not upon the market. It simply awaits Industrial development. A similar beginning has been made with potash, but as yet he manufacture bas not been undertaken on a com manding scale. Other resources in all probability are yet to be discovered. Tbe state is on the edge of a tre mendous agricultural, commercial and industrial development. It has the resources required for this develop ment. As soon as tbe people of the country become aware of the oppor tunities that Nebraska offers for the profitable investment of capital in the development of its resources, this development will certainly be under way. GREAT POSSIBILITIES HERE. As has already been stated, " ths state slopes from an altitude of 45i0 feet at its western boundary to an ! altitude of 1100 feet at the Missouri river. Three great river systems tra verse this entire distance. The pos sibilities for tbe development of water power in the state for mechanical, industrial, aad domestic uses excites tbe eavy of everyone, who knows th facts. There Is mater power enough going to wasts to furnish all the light and all the beat and all tbe mechani si energy required by tbe stats. As yet very little attempt bas been made to turn to practical usee this Immense amount of waste energy. A company has recently been organized which will seek to tarn to practical use ths water power tbat may be de rived from ths Loop rivers asar C himbns. The Niobrara river In ths northern part of the stats for most of its course cuts through bluffs, and furnishes any number of Ideal sit for the construction of water power plants. The rail of the river ta m rapid that the sume water may be) dozen timeB as tt make Its way from the rise in Wyoming to where It emp ties Into the Missouri. Tbe Othe streams in tbe sUto furnish almost equal opportunity. The immense wnste of the water power of the state awaits only development to malte It available for agricultural, commercial and industrial uses. , THE NATURAL METROPOLIS. It Is a well known law in coinntetv rial and Industrial operations that other things being equal, traffic foU lows tha line of the least resistance. The operation of this l.iw ban mad) Omaha and South Omaha the me tropolis of the empire and account for their wonderful growth and devel opment. Omaha and Smith Omaha be come the gateway to a mighty, sub sidiary, agricultural inland empire, The products of this empire, of what ever hind, find th'ir natural outlet to the markets of the world through this gateway. This inland empire sells its products ln the world's mar kets, and In the same markets buys its necessities, and both product and necessities must according to the operation of this law, In large proportion, pans through the gate city. It Is this mighty inland empire that has made Omaha. A metropolis cannot be artificially built. It coin, s and It grows as the result of the oi era t Ion of certain, inflexible, eco nomic laws. ' Omaha anderstands this fact anf builds upon it It realizes Its debt to) the subsidiary territory. It knows tbat its future growth ia dependent entirely upon the development ant growth of Ihe country tributary to it. It will work for the development of this tributary territory, because It knows that tn no other way can Ita successful "and permanent growth and influence be firmly established. Oma ha Is not, and in the very nature of thlnga, cannot be a city for itself. Its future 4a wrapped up with the fit J tore of Its great subsidiary, commer . clal empire. Already this great territory served by Omaha has made the Omaha grain market the fifth primary grain mar ket of the world. During the last ( year, it received 51,685,100 bushels of cereai grain, oi wnicti is snipped to other markets, 42.480,900 bushels. Thsj operation of the law referred to b;ul made. South Omaha the second pri mary live stock market of tbe world. Last year, Omaha through tbe stock; yards at South. Omaha, received 6,. 979,008 head of live stock, and of the . packed 4 ,$85,272 bead. The position In which K ia placed bas made Oma ha the third primary market for corn In the world. Of this cereal during the last year. It received 20,536,800 bushels. Omaha bas the. second largest smel ter for fine ores in the world, and tbe value of its annual output or these. Is $32,270,000. The gate city is the sco ond largeat distributing point for agricultural Implements in tha world, and tbe output of this industry dur ing tbe last year amounted to $IL- 995.172. Omaha Is the greatest creamery butter producing city in tbe world, and Its annual output of creamery butter amounts to more than 20,0O 000 pounds. South Omaha ia the ' greatest market for range horses, aud for range feeder sheep in the world. WONDERFUL BUSINESS ACTIVITY. Omaha is the forty-first city ia population In the. I'nlted States, but, ; note this remarkable fact, it is the j sixteenth , city In the I'nlted States in j bank clearings. Bank clearings last ; year amounted to $M:0,781.5o7. . Its per capita clearings make it tbe : fourth city in the United States, the bank clearings of the city per capita being $6,021 Aud this remarkable volume of tanking business is dona t on deposits of about $45,000,000. i Because of lis excellent railroad : facilities, Cuiaba bas risen to a point ; in the commercial world, where It j attracts enviable notice. As a mauu- facturing city, he turns out products . to the value of $19.!.256,O00 annually, t while as a distributing center, whole saling and Jobbing, tbe annual ouU put aggregates $159,691,813. Commercially, Omaha la knowo as ; the beet e!ty rt its size In the world. tbe natural result of being the uie ; tropolis of the greatest empire tn the ; world. Omaba also combines all the ' necessities for a good home city, ' which fact ia reflected in the bappf- ucss and contentment of Its peopla, aa it is in those who live in other parts of Nebraska. Omaha is proud of this record. 11 exults ia It, but it Is not selfish exultation. It is the exultation of the oommerekal capitol city of an in inense tntand empire, and these fig ures denote merely the degree ot d velopment of the empire, and the ex tent of its growth. Only a small mind would slafca the results for Itself. The larger mind gives credit whore credit ia dee, and that credit belongs to the thrift, the energy, and the bust tnees that la making Omaha's sub sidiarr empire tbe most remarkable territory oa the face of tha earth, j