THE OMAHA DAILY BEEil | FRIDAY , JANUARY 1 , 1892 ,
RECORD OF A YEAR.
Growth and Development of tlio Metropolis -
( > olis of the Missouri Vtilloy.
PROSPERITY OF THE CITY'S ' INDUSTRIES ,
"Now and Profitable Territory Captured by
Enterprising Omaha Jobbers.
MANUFACTORIES GREATLY INCREASED.
Output of Omaha Made Goods Larger Than
Any Previous Year.
BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
Bplrmllct Showing for 11 Yi-ur of Di-prc
filiiii Pork anil Ili-nf I'll chlni ; Industry
tin ; Third I.iirjrHt In the
World The .Statistic * .
In many respects the year.1891 was the
trost remurkablo ono of the past decade nnd
proved disastrous In both business nnd
financial circles. Many of the larger cities
Of the country suffered most severely nnd
business wrecks were numerous. But dur
ing this depression , Instead of retrograding ,
Omaha forged ahead , more than holding her
own , and experienced a season of reasonable
prosperity nnd activity.
The city has a population of 145,000. The
corporate limits extend over 21 , ' square
miles of territory , within which there nro
148J miles of graded streets , 0-1.19 miles of
pavement , 92.3 miles of sewerage , 425 miles
of wooden sidewalk and moro than 05 miles
of curbing. These expenditures in the ag
gregate have cost the taxpayers $7,120,191 ,
$398,020.31 ot which was expended last year.
The francblscd corporations , including rail
ways , street railways , the East Omahu Land
company , the water worics and the lighting
companies , expended $2,423,000 in improve
ments , making a total expenditure of $2,821-
020 for municipal and corporate improve
ments during the year.
The building record fell somewhat below
that of former years , but , notwithstanding
that , 052 bulldlngo were erected , costing in
the aggregate $2,549,771 , and not Including
these erected in South and East Omaha.
This , added to the municipal and corporate
Improvements , gives a grand total of $5,371-
897 expended during the year.
The commercial growth of the city , as In
dicated by the reports of the Jobbing houses ,
tbo manufacturing interests and the bank
clearings , bus been satisfactory.
The real estate transfers for the year ag
gregated $15,929,821. While this does not indi
cate anything in the nature of a boom , it
. clearly proves that the realty maricot Is in a
healthy condition.
-V The school census taken last Juno , and
' showing an Increase of 3,701 children be
tween the ages of 5 and 21 years , Indicates n
fair Increase In population slnco the taking
of the government census in 1890.
Without a struggle Omaha continues to
hold third place us a packing center , being
outshippod by only Chicago and Kansas City ,
nnd on the latter placosho is rapidly gaining ;
so much so , that undoubtedly before the
close of the present year , this city will rank
as the second pork packing rnarltot of the
world. Thu number of hogs packed during
tbo year wus 1,245,219 ; the number of cuttle
slaughtered , 321,003 ; nnd the number of
Bh-jop , 81,858 ; making a total of 1,018,535
animals.
The assessed valuation of city property ,
real nnd personal , for 1891 and 1892 is S' . > 0-
029,093 , whllo tbo actual value of real estate
alone Is by a conservative estimate not less
than $229,000,000. While the rule of taxation
on the assessed valuation Is 88 mills , the tax
upon the true valuation of the property could
not exceed 5 to 0 mills on the dollar. Even
under the present system of taxation the
rate Is lower than In other western cities.
MANUFACTURING INTEBESTS.
Omnlm'fl Industrie * anil Their Groivth
Id-Halt of Vonr'H Work.
In the history ot the growth of Omaha's
manufacturing Interests the year 1891 must
occupy an Important place ns marking the
time when the prejudice against goods of
borne manufacture was overcome and popu
lar sentiment aroused on the subject of ex
panding the manufacturing industries by
creating a demand for the goods manufac
tured. - "
Notwithstanding the so-called dull times of
the past year the manufacturing Industries
* have been developing rapidly , but the Im-
* * " > provemoat bus been confined almost entirely
ao the last three months of the year. This
improvement has been duo almost en
tirely to n change In publlo sentiment In
favor of local manufacturers. Public
sentiment , however , bus boon aroused for a
sufficient time to allow of the full effects
being felt , and manufacturers confidently
predict great changes for the coming year.
Business men anticipate not only great activ
ity on the part of factories already estab
1 lished In the way of Increasing the output ,
Involving the enlargement of many plants ,
but they also look for tbo location of many
now enterprises which will bring In much ad
ditional capital and many working people.
While the Omaha factories cover a wldo
raugo of manufactured goods already , practi
cal business men point out many Important
lines that might bo manufactured
hero with profit. All , that is
wanting Is the capital and the
men to put the enterprise on Its foot. Now
that public sentiment has assured a market
for the goods It Is predicted that the capital
and men will bo forthcoming.
The question Is frequently asked "How
many und what kind of factories are already
located in Omaha ! " Bradstreet furnishes
the following classified lists of local Indus ,
trios , together with an estimate of the
amount of capital employed in each line ;
No. of Cnpltnl
Class. Ilrms. luvestoil
Jlnrl > c < l wire. . 1sa 150,01)1) ) )
llrlclc * sa Utt.UUO
Carrlnvoii iiuil wagons 8 12SOUO
Cornlcu 3 65.001) )
Orackvra > 1I SoO.IM )
DlHtUlurn I iWO.OOO
Kxtracts. linking powders , oto M.OUI
Foil mid r niul wnclitnv shops. & 2.VI.OUO
l.ln&cecl oil 450,000
Hhot nnil lornl plpu J 1SU.UOU
Maltresa , , , . . , . , ' 01 , ( XX )
50.00) )
' ' ' " '
Hod 11 wiitor'.U' , . < ' 40.0UO
Blruii refiners , I W.OUU
HnioltlnK worki I 3,000.000
Vlnoiiar iiml pickles 3 3I1.UOU
CannlUK anil prfiicrvva I lo.uou
llaskbt nmnnfiicturora , , , , , S ao.uoo
llroonm. . . . . 3 tu.uu
Confoctlonurr mUX )
Flour niul t-urn mills. 3 liu.uou
Han factory. 1 150.UUU
Chairs anil furniture 3 ,
Bash , iloorn uiul ullnds. . U 276,000
Jlroworlos. . . , * B.VIUOU
Wliltu lead. . . . I MU.OU )
Avrnlnus , touts , oto 8 25,000
HOJC factories , elo .1 40,01)0 )
Cltcar manufacturer ! , 37 W.OU )
Cuu | > eraite 3 18,000
Kenco works 3 lu.uno
llout auil slioo factories . . , . . , . . . . . , , . 1 1IIMM )
Know oases. . . . 3 4,000
Yonut , 3 15,000
Tlnnnro. , . , . , . 3 60.UOO
Corn crib manufacturers , l 6.000
Collars unit cults , . . , , . , . 1 3.0UO
Hominy 1 lO.UJU
i.ant rullni'rs , . . . , l IO.UOO
Heaps , , 3 &I.CMJ
1'oarl buttons 3 6.000
1'lanlnK wills . . , . , . , . 6 75,000
riiildlerr , , . . . . . , , , . 1 w.ooo.
Wall plaster. . 1 lo.ooo
1'ccd ooukor I 10,10)
Asphalt 1 w.ouu
IMatlng works , l lo.uco
Uoltur vrorks. , . 3 W.IWO
Total ' . . . . . . . . .T (
In considering the otaovo list of manufac
turers It must bo borne In mind that It Is no
easy matter to always draw the line between
these who nro strictly manufacturer * and
thuso who uro not. The Manufacturer ! and
Consumers association has taken the term
manufacturer in Its broadest sense and In
1 cludes in its list repair shops , laundries , etc. ,
which . . . , . Htnctly - iptmklug , could hardly bo
- -
called factories. There mro also scattered
through the city small shops employing ono
or two nion which would hardly bo recog
nized by a commercial agency a * factories.
Then tncro nro quite n number of firms \vhoso
principal business Is the Jobbing of goods nnd
who are accordingly counted under the head
of' Jobbers , although they do moro or loss
manufacturing.
It nil these Interests were Included the
nbovo list would bo swelled materially , both
In the number of firms and capital employed.
JOBBING TRADE.
Omillm' * Wlmlrsiiln Montr * , thn Cniltut | fn-
vrMi'il mid Itnsliinftn Doiio.
The year just closed has barm n remarkable
ona In some/respects ai regards tbo jobbing
trade of Omaha. The short crops in Ne
braska In 1890 caused n heavy falling off In
the volume of business during the first half
of the present year and trade In most lines
was In n most unsatisfactory condition. The
retail dealers In many sections of the state
found themselves In n position in which It
wrs.difllcult.to meat obligations , being forced
either tn sell goods on long credit or not to
soil at all , ThJ money stringency prevailing
nil over the country still further complicated
the situation and produced a feeling
of insecurity that was well calculated to par
alyze trado.
Omaha jobbers made the most of the situ
ation possible and strova to inuko up the Ma
cro us o In Nebraska business bv extending
their trade Into now llolds. so that the actual
decrease In the volume of business for tbo
first half of the year was not so great us
would otherwise have been ttio cn.sd.
As the Indications began to point to an
abundant crop for 181)1 ) confidence was grad
ually restored , nnd when the crop was finally
secured there was a marvelous awakening In
all lines of trado. Kotall dealers who hud
allowed their stocks to run down to the low
est notch possible , suddenly found inonoy
plenty In the hands of their customers and
tno demand for goods most nctlvo. This
necessitated stocking up again and the job
bing houses were Hooded with orders. As
the season advanced the retail dealers were
net only able to buy for cash , but they liqui
dated much o' the old indebtedness incurred
during the early part of the yoar. Tlio last
three months of the year shov nn enormous
volume of business transacted by the jobbing
houses , the business In fact has been so great
ns to not only mauo up for the light
trade during the earlier part of
the year but to oven place the
total for the year above that of 1S90 , in many
lines.
At the present time it can oo truthfully
sal'l that the jobbing trade of Omaha was
never In a more Nourishing condition or had
brighter prospects before It. Collections
throughout the state have Improved wonder
fully , and retail dealers , Instead of being
forced to ask for an extension of time , are ,
many of them , discounting their bills.
Jobbers uro confidently predicting n most
prosperous year to como and nro making
preparations for a larger volume of business
than over before experienced.
As showing the actual condition of busi
ness , In n jobbing way , Bradstreet gives tbo
following carefully compiled summary of the
business done in leading lines , by the Omaha
houses , during tbo past yea' :
No. of Aptfro *
Class. tlrms. irntosnlcn
( ! rocorlc nncl provisions li f3.oll.000
Wines nnd liquors 7 2,70U,000
Dry k'oods 3 2.251,01)0 )
Hoots nm ! shoes 0 2iOO,0 : > > 0
Shelf Imrilirnro 3 1.SOO.OOJ
llenvy linrclwaru 2 250,1'OU '
Shoe. Jo.ither anil llndlimi 2 200.0UU
llnrncss limtliornntl saddlery 3 IitiO.000
Toys , wlllowuro , etc 2 00.000
lints , raps nnd Klovci 2 400.000
Clothing 1 ; I50,000
Hixfcn , locks , oto 2 KS.OUU
1'roiluco , fruits , etc 2S S.PUU.O'JO
Seeds 2 200,000
Hatchers' supplies 1 55.1HX )
UubliorirooilH ' 2 42J.OUO
Printers'supplies . 2 175.000
Paper 2 500,0)0
1'alnls , oil nnd nlss.1 4 415.000
HruKs 3 l.SOO.OJO
Millinery Roods " . . . . 1 110,000
Confectionery 4 MO.OOJ
AKrlculturnl Implements. . . . . 7 3.500.000
Flour a 2,200.000
Lumber. 12 3,500.000
Wnllpnpur I 125,000
Steamwiuor and rMhfns-supplies 0 2,000,000
I'hotOKrnph supplies , 1 100.000
duns nnd nporlltiK irooils 3 175.000
Cluars nnd tobacco Hi 7S5.0UO
Conl , coke , cement , etc U 2JO,000
Scales nnd trucks 2 135,000
Croukory andKlamimiro 2 350,000
Knrnlturo 2 7'.KIUJO
Oysters and tlah , 3 252.000
Stoves 2 21b,000
Jowulry and musical Instruments 2 450,000
Hnrbcra' supplies.- . . 2 115.000
Crackers , etc 2 81X1.000
Notions , etc 3 350.UOO
Twines and cordauo 2 100,000
Spices , extracts , etc 'I 075.WH )
lllumlnatlnKollH 3 450.000
Sash , doors and minds 4 410,000
Hollers nncl mulnes 3 350.UX )
Hooks and stationery 3 185,000
Bradstreet gives the following ns a oloso
estimate of the amount of capital invested in
the jobbing trudo of Omaha In the principal
lines ;
Class. Capital Invested.
Coal , llino , etc $ 255,000
Hntilier Hooils &O.OUO
Hportlutf ROOils 40,000
Heeds 60.001) )
ttnfps , Bcaloi , oto U5O)0 )
Stenm and water supplies 275,000
I'nmps , sasli , doors and blinds 115,000
Wall paper , 45,001)
Druus. . . 455.000
Crockery 170.00U
Fruits nnd produce 220,000
Duller nnd vxga 21,000
Hardware , stoves , eto ' ( ViO.uOO
Harness and leather 250,000
Hats and capn 85.000
Implements and carriages 910,000
Iron , .steel and hoary hardware 170,000
.lewelry 155,000
Lumber , 2,150,000
Million ) 310,000
.Millinery 65,000
Notions 175,000
Oils , pulllts and glass 210,000
Oysters and Msh ; 35.000
1'hoto Hiippllos 20,000
1'aper and printers'supplies 70,000
Artist materials . .0.000 .
Hooks and stationery 40,000
Hoots and shoes I.IOO'OOO
llrmvi-rs 450,000
Teas , cotleos and apices 2i'iO,000
Confectionery 1)5,000 )
Clears and tobucco 255.000
Drynoodl 7VI.U)0
Flour 100.00J
Furniture iiW.OOO
Wliolcsalu urocera 2,4'.k.oOO ' )
Meats 700,000
Sirups 45,000
ClothlnK 140,0'X )
Carpets . - . , 150.000
Dtirbcra' Biippllos. . 20,000
KIcclrlcal supplies' ' . 25,000
Type and prlntlnK presses. . . . ( V,000 )
1'lekles and Tlnexnr 35,000
JleUlllo paekinn lU.OOU
Collars and outls 3,000
TIIK CITY
Omaha U the only city of the metropolitan
class in the state. 'Tho mayor , clerk , troas-
uror.comptroller and polios judge are elected
every two years. The city council Is com
posed of olgbteon members , nine of whom
nro elected from the city at largo , and at the
same time at which the other officers are
elected. The others are elected , ono from
each ward ; they hold their offices for the
term of two years , thus tuldlng now mem
bers each yoar. The mayor appoints , sub
ject to tbo approval of the council , a chair
man and two mombtirs of tbo Board of
Publlo Works , a city engineer , street com
missioner , superintendent of buildings ,
plumbing Inspector , gas inspector , boiler
Inspector , two moat Inspectors , city physi
cian , city vetarlnarlan , license Inspector ,
superintendent of weight * and measures ,
police court clerks and a number of other
minor appointments. '
Tlio officials who were elected last Novnin-
her , and outer upon ttiolr duties uoxt Tuesday -
day , are :
Mayor George P. Qotnls.
City Cleric Jouu Groves.
Treasurer Henry IJolln.
Comptroller Thcodor Olson.
Police Judge Louis Uerka.
The counclluion.ut-Iargo whoso terms ex
pire January , 1891 , are ; PotorM. Back ,
William P. Heuliol. A. G. Edwards , Edward
E. Howell.Georco P. MonrooJohn MoLoarlo ,
Sol i'rlnco and John Steel.
Too ward councllmen , whoso terms oxpira
January , 18U3 , uro : T. J , Lowry , Peter El-
sassor , Klcharu Hurdlsh , T. K Tuttle , T. J.
Uonwny , ChrUtlan Speoht , U. L. Ohaffeo , C.
E. DrunorandE. P. uavls ,
Ttio Board of Publlo Works is composed of
throowombors P.W. Qlruhauaorchairman ;
John B. Furuy and A. A. Egbert.
The terms of all other city officials expire
with the term of the outgoing mayor , U. 0.
Cashing , and will bo filled by Mayor-elect
Bonus.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tllli CITY'S I'lNAMJKS.
For the year 1891 tlio assessed valuation of
property , both real and personal within tbo
corporatollmlts was placed otfJO,020,093. The
actual cash vnluo of the roul estate a ono is
conservatively estimated at f > 00'J9tl,0Xtosay (
noUiInu of porsonul property which Is uoarlj
half us much more. The levy last year was
:1S : mills on the dollar on tlio aisosscd valua
tion. Had the property boon assessed at
anything like Us ival vnluo , the rate of taxa
tion would bo tlio lowo.it of nay city iu the
western status
City Treasurer Jotm UusU furuUbes the
following statement which shows the affairs
of hl.i office during the past your.
Total valuation . . . I20,07. > , GU3
Total lOTjriW mills.
Total amount of tar. . . . . . . . 781,119.11
Tax lorr itl tr1liitcil an follo-sl
tlenernl fnnd. H mtlli. . . . . . . . 23D.II5.70
Curblnx , OutterlnK and Cloanlni fuml ,
i min . . . , to.on.ro
Rowpr. Maintaining fund.H mill . . . . IO.OI4.H- .
Pollen fund , ft tallH . , . . IOU.II .47
Kirn fund. 4H mill . W.IXI.in
Hlnklnt ? fund..1m mill . , . 70lim
Water llont fund , 4 mills . KO.IIS.77
Library fund , 1 mill . , . . , . 2).07J.IW
School fuml. 3 mills . W.OS'.i.OS
1'ark .fund , I ! { mills . 30.0II.SI
Totnl . fil,12S.l | : )
llctfiilnr tax collections.
Ccm-ral filnil . . . . . . . . . . . .f2ilM7.l.1 )
Slnklnif fund. . . . VU.SKB.M
Water llcnt fund. . . , . , . 7Ji5t.fi7 |
Honor fund . . . , . , , , 2.4'J
.tudKincnt fund. . , . . . . . ROH.O.i
Hcliool fund . . . noO.V.57 !
Library fund . . . . . . 18-V.il.7U
Flro fund. . . . . . 3l.IHU.ti ;
I'olleo fund . vrV.WU7
Ciirblnit , ( JntterliiK and Clcanlm ; fund , . , . , 20,8l3.7rl
Viaduct fund . . . 32.19
I'nrk fund . , . . 2S.4IS37
Huwi-r iiinlntatnlnK fund . U.2i .31
Don Mconsa fund . 2,212
Total . "K2Z.8H.aS
Special tax collections
Bldewalk fund . t . m.717,41
District pavlmt funds . . . . 2S0.5I8.85
District curblni ; and Kiittcrlni ; funds . 40,273.73
Hewer fund . . . . . RiI.ITU.II
OraillnK fund . VJ.V.H.tU
Kleventh street , vlii.lnct . fund . I5.ii2
.sixteenth strui-t viaduct fund . 13.IIJ
Tenth uln-pt viaduct fund . SUI.07
Hloplnifof banks fiinil.- . . I 'Jill
Total . {
( leneral i-ollectlons
From nllscolllineoiH nourcci . . . t 40.212.50
I'roceeds of IOIIK tlmo bonds sold . 100,00000
Total amount of premium received from
mile of loin ; time bonds . 1,153.0.1
Amount collected nnd transferred to
Hoard of Kdncatlon
Licenses of nil kinds . i IW.TWM
Flues In police court . ll.81l'.W
Htntu apportionment . 32,022.117
From mlscollancous sources . 21I.7H
Tax collected . WO.V.57 !
Total . $ 4I3.'IOI.5'J
Tlio total tnxcollcctloni amount to . lU8'JlD3.li3 '
Total rovulnr bomled Indebteilncss of tbo
City of Omiha. January I. 18'Jl . 2.W. ( 100.00
Tbu annual Interest on these bonds Is. . . . 100,752.00
Till : CITY'S KXPUNDITUIIKS.
Comptroller Goodrich furnishes the follow-
In ir statement showing tbo dlsbursonionts of
the city funds during the olovan months and-
IIIR Dacomber 1. The bills for last month
will not bo passed upon by the council until
about the middle of the present month. They
will amount to about $150.000 :
( lonornl fund t 2i3,204 ! 43
Klro lund ' . 811.845 4' )
Police fund . . . 6S.W5 75
Sewer mti ; . fund 9,123 * !
Curb , nutter , etc. , fund 2.,20 < l 01
I'nrk fund 45.71X ) 03
Library fund 17.IIU 13
Judgment fund 14.375 07
I'lumbero" mttf , fund 3(15 ( 21
City llnll fuml . ' . . . . 123.334 75
1'oflco pension fuml SH2 40
Hpeclal street railway puvliiK fuml 4.01S 15
Water rent fund 3liUiii : 80
Dox fund 813 10
Special danmiro fuml T.V.Ij 20
Klro unglno house bond fund. . . . . 3li,243 67
Viaduct $ 1.3SOB7
.Sidewalks 4Z.W3 S3
Sewers , district / 4tSti ) 27
Omaha newer. . . . . . 7S2I 4'.l
North Omaha Sewer 2'J ' DO
Curbing district ll ! , 55 C9
I'arlnK district 114'JIO 81
1'avlnn Intersections 15,327 55
I'uvlnt ; alleys . . U.2.V ! 01
( iradlnK 152,42351
$ 'i'J3,82ii 31
$ l,1C0.5'ii ' 2.1
During the some months of the year 1890 ,
the expenditures from the ponoral fund were
$279,847.97 , and $1,330,270.70 from all other
funds , making a total of $1,010,118.70. The
past year the expenditures have been So'Jl-
939.35 loss than that amount.
ST1U3KT AND J.'UltMC lail'JtOVEMENT.S.
O wlnp to the fact that , no bonds were
voted last year for the purpose of carrying
on the work of improving the streets , the
amount of money oxoondea for this purpose
was somewhat loss than during the yoarlSUO.
Notwlthstanalnc this , enough was done to
enable Omaha to hold the position of being
ono of the best paved and graded cities In the
land.
During the year 65,511 square yards of
pavement was laid at a cost of $140,711. The
material used was as follows : Asphalt , 18,3.)4
square yurds , $17,219 ; stone , 32,419 square
yards , JfiO.lioO ; brick. 14,733 square yards ,
$ 3,80(1 ( , This addoa three miles , which now
gives the city Ot.19 miles of paved streets.
The total pavement In the city to date has
cost $3,799'J50.
The grading during the same period cost
$128'J49.73. Tboro were 803,142 cublo vnrds
of earth removed. This work added 14.4 to
the street mileage , thus giving Omaha 140
miles of graded streets and alloys.
The sewerage system was extended by
addint ? 7.3 miles of sewers at a cost of $00-
5IS5. Omaha now nas 92.3 miles of sewers ,
which have cost $1,400,039.08.
The curbing was extended by setting flvo
miles of material at a cost of Slb'.fil'J.
Wooden sidewalks were put down along
20.2 miles of streets , at a cost of $37,174.04.
This Increased the wooden sidewalk mlloago
to 425 miles.
Permanent side walks were constructed by
property owners at a cost of < (13,000 ( , while
the city constructed 10,120 feet of the same
kind of walk at a sost of $1,720.40. There
were 9,55(1 ( foot of crosswalk constructed ut a
cost of $2,591.15.
The cleaning of paved streets cost the cltv
$15,272.
The street repairs were as follows : Uo-
palrini/ , $1,402.05 ; sewer repairs , $3,433.77 ;
sidewalk repairs , $1,351.81 ; filling lots ,
50,512.49 ; repairs on paved streets , $1,374.20 ;
street commissioners pay roll and material
used , $23,432.77.
In iiUtlttion to this the city expended $120-
000.93 on the now city hall nnd $30,17.1.75 In
the construction of the now lire engine
houses , making a total of $090,712.82.
UDUGATIOXAI. FACIiaTfES.
In all of the schools of the city including
the public , denominational nnd business col
leges , 18,180 pupils wore Instructed during
the past year by 457 teachers.
Tbo public school system which Is regarded
by prominent educators of the country as the
most complete , has kept puce with the pro
gress of the city. The year that has just
closed has been u successful pno and shows a
marked Improvement In the way of attend
ance , diligence , discipline and good behavior
of pupils. The public school buildings now
number 57 , of which 21 aro19 brick and 30
frame. The brick buildings contain 191 and
frame 05 school and class rooms. The school
property , including buildings and sites Is
valued at $1.229,250.
The school finances are In a most excellent
condition. The funds for moating the cur
rent expanses of the schools are , to a largo
extent , derived from the liquor licenses and
police court lines , a provision of the
Nebraska high license law. A largo sum Is
received each year from iho state apportion
ment , derived from the sale nnd loaslntr of
the state school lands. So far as direct taxa
tion Is concerned , the school expenses are
light upon the taxpayers of the city.
Tno following shows the receipts and dis
bursements of the general fund for the last
fiscal year , as taken from the booka of the
treasurer :
IIKCEII'TS.
llalancoon hand | 23,534 I'J
lleeelved from
Licenses t2H3)31 ! ) 00
TIIXOB lU.il.ni ul :
Hlato apportionment 32.0.1. ! U
Fines I7ti-.i Bl
Delinquent taxes 1,0152,1
Tuition from non-roildentn , Mia
Loss and damuKU to property , . , 2132
Material Bold. , 21 a )
Total I [ 30,218 42
The oxpondlturos for the year were $372-
' 820.IO ! , leaving a balance of f03,3'J2.0Q , In the
'treasury.
For 1690 the receipts were $372,078.07 , and
the expenditures $314,894.48.
During the uast your 287 teachers , ton
males and 277 females , were employed , an in
crease of Hvo over the year 1890. The amount
paid out for salaries to superintendent , prin
cipals and toachora was $218,791,08 , an increase -
crease of $14,211,90 over 1890.
There wore enrolled during the year 14,093
pupils , as compared with 13,279 during 1U90 ,
an Increase of 821. The dally attendance was
U.715 , as against 0,095 during 1890 , a gain of
020.
020.Tbo
Tbo school census taken by the Board of
Education , in accordance with tbo state law ,
shows a largo and Muttering Increase over
that of last yoar. Ttiero were 27,281 children
between the aijon of 5 and 21 years returned ,
of which number 13,531 were males nnd
13,743 femalus , The census of 1893 showed
S 1,5'iQ parsons of school age within the cltv.
of which 11,891 were males and 12,02(1 (
females.
During thoyoar a stxtoon-roora building ,
costing flA,000 has been erected on the Paul
street site , known as the Kollom school , a
tour-room building in Clifton Hill at n cost
of $5,000 and u two-room building , an annex
to the Sherman school.
The coming year will no doubt witness
many Important changes In the schools of
the city , owing to tha friat that n number of
now buildings are to'titf erected , which In a
measure will necessitate n complete reorgan
isation and an extension throughout tno
cntlro systoii.
At the Novombjroldetion bands were voted
tha proceeds to bo used , . In the construction
of the following named brick school build
ings :
" ' > Hoonn.
AiMltlon to Mali school ID f 10.000
West ( ( malm ( Chant 10 .TO.OOI )
Franklin school. , , , 10
renter solmol ' . . ' . .i , 10
llartmnn * chool.i/j | rti Ill
1-onK school. . g
I.nthrop school ( U.I. . . . . 10
Wlnil.ior school . , H
Hickory school . " . . . ' . ' . 8
' '
Total i'.ir. M J7iKK ( )
It is the Intention to have
the buildings completed and ready
for occupancy en or about September 1 , the
opening of the school year.
"Tho Normal school , a feature that has boon
added to the public school system durinp the
past year , has proved very successful. It Is
conducted upon the same plan as the State
Normal school , and Is for the purpose of train
ing those who may desire to become teach
ors. Although yet in Its Infancy It has ac
complished n great deal. The school occupies
ilvo rooms , has twontv-fivo pupils or cadets ,
and gives employment to throe teachers.
( Jraduatns from this department will bo
given certificates , which will authorise them
to teach In any of the public schools of the
stato.
The management of the publlo school sys
tem of the city Is vested In the Board of Edu
cation , consisting of fifteen members. At the
present time the officers of the board are :
President , C. F. Goodman ; vice president ,
Samuel Hoes ; secretary , Charles Connoyer ;
usslstant secretary , Emma Monzlngo ; super
intendent , F. A. b'ltzpntrlck ; superintendent
of buildings , Edward O. Hamilton.
The parochial schools nnd Catholic col
leges of Omaha have grown with the city ,
nnd ns Institutions of learning they are unsur
passed. They are all supplied with excellent
teachers and are the pride of the Catholic
church of the city and state. These
schools are , the school of the
llolv Trinity church , the parochial school
nt Twenty-seventh nnd Decatur streets , St.
Wonselaus' , St. Joseph's , L5t. Agnes' , St.
Mary's , St. Parick's ' , St. .lames' . St. Peter's
und the parochial school at Eighteenth and
Cass streets. They employ 47 teachers and
instruct 1,002 pupils.
St. Peter's academy has 300 pupils and 13
teachers.
The Academy of the Sacred Heart has 125
lady pupils nnd 10 teachers.
St. Catherine's acadomya.school for young
ladles and boys under 10 years of ago , has 120
pupils and 10 teachers.
Creighton college , is under the direction
of Father Fitzgerald , president , and has an
attendance of'noarly ! ! OU students.
Brownoll Hull , an incorporated school for
girls , is under n Board of Trustees , of which
the bishop of Nebraska of the Episcopal
church Is nn ox-ofllcio president. The school
is under the immediate charsoof Hov. Hobert
Dohozt3' , who Is assisted by a corps of nblo
instructors. At the present time the school
has nearly 200 pupils. The building and
grounds nro valued at $175,000.
The Omaha Commercial college , the Kath-
bun Business college , the Standard Business
college and the Short Hand institute together
have aa attendance of 715. Each of these
schools enables pupils who attend tu
obtain a thorough business education
The Deaf nnd Dumb iustlMite , a , state Insti
tution is located 3 in , the northwestern
portion of the city. The building , n
three-story brick 'structure , will ac
commodate 175 pupils. The enroll
ment reaches 150 who are instructed in all of
the branches taught'children who attend the
public schools. Prof. J. A. Glllesplo , the
originator of the svstom of teaching has boon
in charge of the institute for fourteen years.
Prof. Glllosplo was the first man in the his
tory of the country to'Inaugurate ' the system
of aural training.
The Omaha Medical colloco now ranks
well with other institutions of its kind. It
owns its buildings and grounds , valued at
$75,000. The course is , complete nnd every
attention is paid to practical and hospital
work. The faculty "consists of twonty-flvo
Instructors. At the < presout time there uro
fifty students in the college.
A number of kindergarten and select
schools are maintained by residents of the
city , nil of which report a largo attendance
and are In a prosperous condition.
The iriVslcal ful6iltis'not nosloctedas there
nro two schools , the Omaha Conservatory of
Music with 150 pupils , and the Omaha School
of Muslo with 125 pupils , where both vocal
and instrumental mujic are taught. There are
also a number ot private instructors who de
vote their entire time to the profession.
OMAHA'S HANKS.
The banking business'of Omaha Is repre
sented by nine national , two state aad ulno
savings banks.
These banks have a combined capital of
$5,575,000 , with' deposits of nearly $ J2,5'JO,000 ' ,
or $1,000,000 moro than on January 1 , 1891.
The national banks are as follows :
Capital.
First National f 500.000
Omalm Nntlonal 1,000.000
.Merchants Nntlonal fjOO.WO
United dtatcs .National 400.000
Commercial National 4UO.UUO
Nebraska National 400.0111)
Union .National 100.000
American National 20J.UOO
National Dank of L'ommorco 6'JOUJU
BTATB HANKS.
Cltlrona bank 100.030
Midland bank IW.'JWJ '
SAVINOS HANKS.
Nebraska Savings bank 12.1,000
Oruiilm Savings Ifti.OUO
McCiiKiiu Suvlnici uO.oOO
Cormiin-Ainorlciin .Savings SJO.OOO
( ivriimn Saving 1UJ.OOO
( Jlobo Loan umlTrust Company Savings , , 00,000
Umiiha Loan anil Trust Company Savings , lUJ.UOO
American Savings 100,000
Dime- Savings
The Omtihu Clearing House was established
In 1SS4 , during which time It has since been
under the management of W. H. S. Hughes.
The clearings for the year 1891 were $214-
147,187.85.
TIIK COUNTY" GOVUUNMKNT
Douglas county. Including Omaha , South
Omaha , nnd a number of small Incorporated
towns has a population of 105,000. Tao fol
lowing are the county officers.
Clerk'of the district court Frank E.
Moores.
Treasurer H. B. Iroy.
Sheriff George A. Bennett.
Register of deeds T. A. Mogoath.
County clerk F. J. Suokctt.
County Judge J. W. Ellor.
County surveyor George Smith.
Coroner M. O. Maul.
Superintendent of instruction George W.
Hill.
Hill.Board
Board of commissioners . S. Berlin ,
George W. Timmo , C. L. Van Camp , J. W.
Puddock , E. M. Stouborg.
The expenditures for the past year were as
follows :
Court homo and court expenses ti,5'JO :
lull ' .UOOO
County nmlctty poor. . , , ( 80,000
CounLjr million , . , . , . , . . . . . is.oou
1'rlntlnir , books , cto..mV K.OOO
Coronor. . . . . . . . . ( vf. , , umj
Tax lint assessment . , . , , 13.0M )
County attorney t&U 7.vio
Klectlon Jjj suoo
Agricultural society. . . . . ' 4,000
Advertising IlJfi ; ioo )
Jju ' fun.t . n"i | W.OO. )
iiricigofund , . . : . ; so.ouo
Innnnu fuml It } ! , ' 60,000
.Sinking- fund . , . . , .1. , 40,0)0
BoMlurs'roller fund. . . V. , -j
Total , , { 102.000
The expenses for tho.i-yoar IS'.h ' ) amounted
to142,000. . "r .
The total bonded Indebtedness of thu coun
ty amounts to $510,000fr ,
U. H , CUSTOM IIOUN 1C.
The following com'puVatlvo table shows a
creditable growth itiihuslnoss transacted at
the custom house at jtlds port , since tbo pri
vileges of immediate , transportation were
conferred , In 1883. "Prior .to that date ap
praisements were made at the original port
of entry , and goods were forwarded fordo-
llvor.y with amount of duty indicated on the
transportation papers.
The fiscal year lioglns July 1 , aim ends
Juno HO. thus taking half of two calendar
years !
The remarkable increase lu free goods dur
ing the last fiscal yeas was caused by the removal -
moval of duties from re-IInod sugar , under
which provUIon nearly4,000,000 pounds were
released ut thU port on April 1 , 1891 , and
greatly increased the importation of tea bv
our Jobbers. A co'ispldoutf Item In dutiable
goods received at this port during the year
oMSlRMUwfM lead ere from Mexico , thu
Omaha-Grant Smelting and Uofiiiiiit com-
puny having arranged for the transportation
of several thousand tous to Oiuuhu direct ,
through special Instructions from the secre
tary of tno treasury to the collector Of CJ3-
torn * at Eagle Puss , on the Mexican border.
During the last fiscal year n commodious
bonded warohoiiso has been established , n
convenience long needed and now liberally
used. MrV. . H. Alexander Is the collector
for tlio district of Omaha , nnd to his Intelli
gent and poI'M 1 tout oiTorts the rapid development -
ment of customs business Is largely duo.
I'OSTOITIt'i : STATISTICS.
By reason of n considerable Increase In Iho
clerical mid carrier force of the postoftleo ,
which now number 42 clerks and Oi carriers ,
the business was transacted during the past
six mouths with much morospocd mul prompt
ness and with much greater satisfaction to
pntrons than over before. After January I ,
1892 , the registry nnd inonoy order depart
ments will bo ro'movod to commodious qimr-
tcrs on the second floor of the building. The
general delivery will bs removed to where
the stamp and registry departments are now
located and the stamp department will go
into the present money order room. The
changes will give ono-thlrd moro room for
the carrier department and will double the
sl/.oof the matllnir and distributing rooms ,
thus It Is hoped , giving enough room for the
transaction of the rapidly growing business
until ilia new building Is completed.
No. of rarrlorsntfl.OJO 4t
No. of curriers at fi-UO 2 !
IIRI.IVKIIIK.STllll'S DAH.r.
Fourteen carriers make 4
Seven carriers make !
Thirty-three carriers make 2
Four carriers make- I
cot.i.Krrio.Ns TIIIIM IIAII.V.
Klro carriers m.iku A
Kliibt carriers miiko .1
Thirty-three carriers mnko 2
Knur carriers make 1
UKCKirm
1690. IS'JI.
Hates of stamps (2iXi9l ) : 18 JWJ.II3 01
Ilex rents 2,0:10 : 00 2.17025
Total * .1J2,42I 18 J2til.MS 23
Increase over IS'.H ) 2liil , 11
n.\i'iNsis. : :
I8W. 1391.
Salaries. Including clerks and
carriers 17(1,131 ( III m5OT 05
Incrtfaso over ISM 112,02111
JIONKV OIIIIKIl IIBPAIITMRXT.
IIUIAS domestic money orders paid J 4lWi ! 95
KMO.I postal notes paid 1(1,10.137 (
571 International money order.s paid. . . 15,738 78
Total , t 671.41M 10
Money orders sold , . . . * 218.UH W
Remittances received loin,8iv 15
Handled In money order dcpt. . . . ; | , SH : > ,5I5 91
IIKniSTItY DKPAIIT.MEXT.
Letters and parrels registered 22..1U2
Letters anil package * delivered S.M1KI
Iti'Klstcrcdpnckuees handled In transit M'.UOO
The following are the heads of the various
departments ;
T , S. Clarkson , postmaster ; J. I. Woodard ,
assistant postmaster ; J. E. Cramer , superin
tendent of mails ; M. Fitzpatnnk , superin
tendent money order division ; II. Phtunix ,
nuporintondunt registry division ; J. H.
Plat/ , superintendent carrier division ; W.
Vf. Comiorin , chief of mailing division ; L.
S. Mole , chief of distributing division.
TIIK PA lilt SYSTHSI.
Ornaha fools a pride in her park system ,
and it is only a question of a few years when
the city will become possessed of a number
of the most beautiful parks in the country.
For many years the city has owned
llunscom park.'a beautiful tract of sixty
acres in the southwestern portion of the
city. It was allowed to grow up us unkopt
woodland until the park commission law was
enuctoa three years ago. Soon after the
passage of the law , Dr. George L. Miller ,
Ueorgo B. Lake , Alfred Millard , G. W.
Lininger anil Augustus. Pratt were appointed
members of the commission. The next sea
son witnessed a ohantjo. Attention was de
voted to making Hanscom park ono of the
most beautiful spots in the west. Driveways
wore graded , the underbrush was cut out ,
sewerage was established , an artificial lake
was constructed , and many other striking
improvements wsro made. Last season the
commission expended $17iS1.2S ; upon the
Inko , and upon the construction of a band
stand and a pavilion. Elmwood park on
west Loavonworth street came into the cos-
session of the city two years ago , nnd from
woodland it is rapidly being transformed
into a beautiful nark. In this park the sum
of $18,52. ! was expended last season in the
construction of bridges and driveways ,
Spring Lake park , Bomls park ,
and Jefferson snuaro ore popular
resorts during the heated term and nro being
improved as rapidly as possible. Last season
$ .102 was expended on Jefferson square and
$223 on the Capitol avenue parks. Aside from
carrying on the improvomonts.last season the
expenditures were as follows : Olllco ex
penses , $ j'W ; concerts in Hanscom park , $931 ;
salaries , $3,325.
At the last election the city voted bonds In
the sum of $400,000 for the purchase of addi
tional parks. It is the intention of the com
mission to secure a tract of land in the south
part of the city , another near the Bolt Line
in the vicinity of Druid Hill , another neat-
Fort Omaha , nnd still another in the north
eastern portion of the city. When the land
is secured , the levy for the coining -year ,
$ liOOOi ) , will ho expended In the construction
of n boulevard connecting the entire park
systom. This boulevard In time will become
a continuous park , as it is the intention of
the commission to grade and plant it with
trees , with a graveled roadway on either
side. Tbo levy will bo used for this purpose
and as soon as tbo roadway is completed their
attention will bo divided to the improvement
of the now parks.
KICH IX MltltAKIKS.
The Omaha public Horary , which is sup
ported by a tlirooc tax nnd managed by a
board of directors appointed by the city
council , occupies quarters in the Paxtou
block and contains30,201 volumes. It Is open
every day In the year , excepting Sundays ,
from 9 o'clock a.m. until 9 o'clock p.m.
Last year there were 101,397 books Issued
for homo use ; 25,00(1 ( issued for reference
and 39,000 books used for reference , making a
total of 219,397 books useC. There were
10,000 magazines used In the reading room ,
making a total of 330,407 books , magazines
and newspapers used.
During the your 5,037 books were addoa ;
4,153 book borrowers' cards were issued ;
$757.20 In fines were collected , nnd catalogues
amounting to $02.93 were sold. Tbo visitors
to the reading room'numbored 107,100.
The expenses amounted to a trifle less than
$31,000 , which included the books , the buildIng -
Ing , tbo.salary and the supply account.
Tha officers nro A. J. Popp.loton , president ;
William \Vollaco , vice president ; Lewis S.
Rood , secretaryMiss ; Jessie Allan , librarian ,
nnd Misses Margaret O'Brien. Edith Tooltt.
Blanche A. Allan , Theodora M. Burstall and
Motta Munuccke , assistants.
The law library in the Now York Lifo
building contains 8,000 of text books and re
ports. It Is kept up by the company owning
the building. Five hundred volumes havq.
been added during the year. Ills free tu the
tenants of the building.
The Omaha Law Library association , or
ganized In 1877 by Judge Waiceloy , Judge
Siivngo , S. A. Stricicland , A. M. Henry. . ! . M ,
Thurston\V. J. Connell , Judge Doano.Frank
W. Wessolls , Hobort Townsend , , T. W.
Klchards and C. F. Mundorson , now has
forty members , all of whom are joaillntr at
torneys In the city. The rooms are lu the
Paxton block , The library contains 3,000
volumes.
Aside from these , most of ttio civic and ro-
llglotiH societies have growing libraries , af
fording their members opportunities of gath
ering much useful knowledge.
WOIMC or TIIK COUNX ) ! ! , .
The city council hold 52 regular , 32 ad-
lourucdandlO special meetings lust vonr.
The work that passed through the hands of
the clerk was as follows : 2,500 communica
tions , 1,50J resolutions , 700 ordinances read
a first and second time and 451 ordinance ?
passed. The reports made by tbo commit
tees were ; Judiciary , 40 : finance , 200 ;
claims , 30 ; grades and grading , 300 ; streets
and alloys , IK ) ; police , 100 ; publlo property
and bdlldings , 75 ; fire and water , 00 ; gas
and cicctno lights , 70 ; sidewalks and bridges ,
200 : printing , 10 ; sewerage , 90 ; paving ,
curbing and gpttorlnir , 130 ; viaducts and
railways , 30 ; boulevards , 1 ; pints mid addi
tions , in ; special committees , 40 ,
TIII ; mriii > iNO uicuoitn.
Owing no doubt to the condition of the
money market during tbo early months of the
year and the partial failure of the crop of
Ib'.K ' ) , Omaha fulled to have a bulldinp boom
last year. In this respect she was not alone ,
as the records of most of the western cities
show the same condition of affairs. Whllo It
Is true that thu building record foil behind
thut of 1890. enough was done to furnish con
vincing evidence that Omaha unoyod } a
healthy growth.
During the past twelve months 052 build
ings , aggregating un expenditure of $ ' . > ,5IO-
771 , were erected In the city. Of this num
ber thorn were 511 tenement bouses , rosl-
deuce * and cultures ; M stores and bulno
blocks ; ? churches ; 10 hotel * ; 13 factories ;
7 warehouses and \ ! > : nl < collancous .struc
tures costing from > 00 to f 10,000 each.
The records In the ofllco of the superinten
dent of buildings are IticomplotP. no far in
the cost of buildings Is concerned. Accord *
Ing to the ordinances of the city , builders
are onlv required to furnish the superinten
dent figures showing the estimated cost.
This estimate is Invariably from 2T > to 50 per
cent below the actual coU. Thl < Is brought
about by tlio fact that the superintendent' *
fees for permits nnd Inspections an > baiod
upon the cHtlmntod cost of structures M
plvon by builders. The plumbers' foes and
all bills of extras hover enter Into the 01-
tlnmtes as figured out In the office of the
superintendent of buildings.
TIIICAIII'II : : AND riii.r.rnoxi : .
The telegraph , telephone and district nios-
soncor companies of the city , In caring for
tbo wants of their patrons furnish employ
ment to nearly two porsoiM.
The Western Union Telegraph company
has Increased Its business 20 per cent during
the past year nnd at thU time has 200 persons
on the pay rod.
In this district the company has put up
4,000 miles of wire the past sca.son.
The Postal Telegraph company , formerly
thu Pacific has built B.ooo miles of now lines
It now roaches nearly every state In the
union. The company gives employment to
100 persons In this city.
The American District Telegraph company
does a messenger service. It uUo has n night
watch , burglar alarm and delivery system ,
Lmploymont Is furnished to sovnnty-ilvo
persons and during thu your nearly 75,000
calls were answered.
The telephone system of the olty , owned
and operated by the Nebraska Telephone
company , Is the most complete of any sys
tem In the northwHst , Us lines extend to
most of the towns in oils tern and coiitnil Nebraska
braska and western Iowa. The subscribers
In the city number 1,701 , a nice increase over
any previous yonr. The company carries 2t5 ;
persons on the pay roll nnd last year paid out
? 70.300 in salaries.
1'ho nlant was Improved by the expendi
ture of $ l ! > , .WO , asldo from building a line
from Dunbar to Talinnpo , u distance of ten
miles. A motnlie circuit was also con
structed between this city anil I'lattsmouth.
This year the company will builu Its now
four-story fire proof building at KiKhtoonth
and Douglas street and have It ready for
occupancy by December 1.
The work of building conduits and putting
the wire In the central portion of tlio city
underground will bo completed this year.
I his , with the now building and the expense
of moving the office , will cost ? J35,000.
OMAHA'S STIIKKT ISAIMVAV.
The street car system has kept pace with
thi < rapid erowth of the city until it Is n con
ceded fact that Omaha's street car facilities
are unequalled.
During the past year the Omaha Street ,
Railway company has oxt-cndod its Walnut
Hill litio threo-quurtors of a mlle , to Clifton
Hill. Us Sherman nvumiolino from Thirtieth
to Thirty-sixth street , its Eleventh street
line from Vlnton to Valley streets , besides
changing the Thirteenth street from a horse
to an electric lino. Last yoi.r thu comnany
oxpotulod200,000lu the way of adding * two
and three-quarter miles of oleotrlc line nnd
in building and equipping a largo addition to
the Nicholas street power house. The com
pany operates 90 miles of road , nearly all of
which is the electric system.
The pay roll amounts to 525.000 monthl'-
and 500 moil nro furnished with steady em
ployment.
Moro than 200 cars hro In dally use
and It is estimated that the various
lines carry an uvorago. of 20,000 persons
daily. Since the beginning of last year the
Benson & Halcyon Helzhts company has con
structed two miles of electric line from Clif
ton Hill to the west line of Benson Place ,
This , together with the equipment of the road
represented an expenditure of $1)0,000. ) The
company cmplo.vo.-i eight men and has a
monthly payroll of $340.
The Dundee Street Car company has ex
tended its horse car lines from Fortieth and
Furnam streets to Dundee Place , a distance
of ono and three-quarter miles , at a cost of
$10,000. Horse cars are run at regular inter
vals , and ilvo men are employed. The pay
roll Is S'225 per month.
The Omaha aiid Council Bluffs electric line
outers the city over the Douglas Street
bridge. It. runs west as far as Fourteenth
street , south to Howard , east to Twelfth and
north to Douglas , thus forming a loop around
a largo nortton of the business center of the
city. It affords Council Bluffs people with
excellent facilities for reaching the Omaha
stores , hotels and depots.
A .IIAMH-'AUTUKIN" SUIIUHH.
East Omaha a manufacturing suburb lo
cated just outside the east city limits is at
tracting consldorablo attention and is rap
idly becoming a llttlo city. The land Is
owned by the East Omaha Land company ,
most of the stockholders of which are busi
ness men and capitalists of this city.
During the past year the company has paid
out to the laboring classes the sum of40 , -
000 , whllo that expended by the manufactur
ing industries In the construction of now
buildings nnd other Improvements will
'amount to $15,000 moro.
A street car linn running in connection
with the city lines has been ( mill on Locust
avenue from Sherman avenue to a point two
and one-half miles oust. The material nnd
equipment cost &J5OOt ) and every thing Is
nrst-cla s. A fifteen minute service Is main
tained.
The East Omaha Land company has estab
lished a system of sewerage In "conformity
with the grades established. In addition to
this eight and one-half miles of streets have
boon graded nt a cost of $175,000. Avenue II
has been curbed and oiived with red Colorado
sand Htono for a distance of ono and throe-
eights miles at a cost of $53,000. The paving
of this street gives a continuous pavement
from Omaha to the heart of the manufactur
ing district of East Oimilin.
The land company has constructed thirly-
six cottages , at a cost of SHO.OOO , wnlch nro
routed to people employed in East Omaha.
A school house costing $ l,5lh ) has been
built and furnished , a teacher supplied and
all of the expense Is borne u.v the company.
At the present time thirty-four pupils uro
enrolled. The building is also used as a
church by thu people of the Methodist de
nomination. Services are held ovury Sab
bath , the Uov. Mr. Van Huron of Albright ,
officiating. - *
KAIMIOAI ) FACILITIES. '
Omaha may justly bo termed the railroad
center of the west , as thirteen of the great
trunk * lines have headquarters in this city ,
their bands of iron extending out in every di
rection llko the spokes of a great wheel , tap-
pint : the rich mining districts of the west ,
the gram fields of ttio surrounding states and
the stock railing regions of the south. Wyo
ming and Dakota. It Is on the direct line be
tween the two oceans nnd every pound of
freight passing across the continent payb
tribute to Omaha.
Whllo the facilities for handling the pus-
songor trallki uro not what they should bo ,
owing to the noncomplotion of the union pas
senger dobot , especial attention has been paid
to trackage and other features for the ha'nd-
llntt of freight.
These railroads furnish employment to
3,000 , peruons , whoso yearly earnings amount
to moro than fi.OUU.OOU , the most of which Is
spent In Omaha , During the past year it Is
estimated that the roiuU have expended
$1,500,000 In Improvements within the incor
porated limits of the city in the way of now
tracks , enlarging their yards and upon via
ducts , of which the most Important ono Is
that built by the Missouri Panlfio company
on the line of Hamilton street In Walnut
Hill.
Hill.The
The Pullman Palace Cur company has Its
western headquarters In this olty and
furnishes employment to 200 man.
UHUIKJHKS.
The religious interests of the city have
navor been allowed to suffer and at the proi-
out time there are an oven 100 churches whore
the citizens may worship. It Is estimated
that these churches have ut least 30,000 mem
bers and communicants.
During the year , 1891 , ton church buildings
were erected , besides four missions.
Thu Unitarians built and completed au ele
gant bousu of worship at Seventeenth and
Cass streets , costing 10,000. The MethodIsts -
Ists expanded * 100,000 In the completion of
their church at Twentieth and Davenport
streets and the UnlvorsalbU orootcd a f'.i.OCK ' )
church at Nineteenth and Lathrop strouts.
O.VS AM ) iiDC'TIHO : LKJIITH ,
The corporations ougagod In the business
of furnlshlnu' light uro the New Omaha
Thompson-Houston Electric Light company ,
the Oinuha Oils Manufacturing company and
the Ohio Street Lighting company.
During the ynar tlio eloctriu light com.
puny has expended $100,000 in Improving Us
plant and extending lu circuits. It now
supplies Hunt to 1,000 ciMtomors. The
monthly pay roll foou up to liWO auJ 100
men are glvon otnplormont ,
The Omaha Has Manufacturing company
has oxiiomlod f.t,000 ) during the year In add
ing to Its plant. Flvo tnlle.s of now mams
have boon laid. The company has 100 men
on the payroll , and pays out t" > , f > 00 In solurloi
monthly.
The Ohio Street Lighting company U en
gaged In the business of supplying light to
the Miburbt. Twenty tnon nro carried on the
payroll. Their monthly suhtria.t aggregatd
cl.-OO.
Tha expense ot tlghtine the strcols of the
city during thu past twelve months hut boon
no small hem , ns It has cost * lt,3,17.'Jil. ( ThU
amount was paid for 129 uro lights ,
the service costing $ > oir > 3,12 ; Ml gus Hunts ,
* I.,3S7.2H , and 551 gasoline lump * , $10,70.1.31) ) .
TIM : xi-\vsp.ipiits. :
Tlioro are three dally papers published In
Omaha , two In English and ono In Curinan.
Tun BID : for years has boon the loading news
paper of Omaha as well as the twiiinilssourl
country. It is published dullv , Sunday and
weekly by 'I HI : BKI ; PuiiiUhltiK company.
TIIK BKH was established In 1871 by Edward
Uosowatcr , who U the owner of a controlling
lntoru < .t In the pnper ns well as In the building -
ing frotn which It is printed , The
equipment of Tin : HRK cannot bo
excel toil bv any paper In the west.
ItsJ two Webb purfcctinit presses have a
capacity of 23,000 complete olght-pago papers
per hour , or 50,01)0 ) fuiir-pupo papers per
hour. lt.s telegraph fni'llltlo.s nro not excelled -
celled by any of the dallies outside of Now
York , Chicago and St. Louis. It receives o- "
tha full Western Press report byspoelu1'
leased wlro. Among its many special features -
turos nro the Now York Herald and Associ
ated Press cubk-prani.s. Special correspond
ents nt all of the principal news con tors
cover thu cntlro field. Special news bureaus
mo maintained In Chicago , Washington ,
Council Bluff ; ) , South Omaha and Lincoln.
TIIK BBI : Is the only tmpor published In iho
city that keeps before the public sworn state
ments of dally circulation. Dut-inir the past
five years the nvorngo circulation of Tint
D.MI.V UKI : has been as follows :
1SS7 14,5112
1S3S 18,000
1889 18,9111
1S90 20,709
1S91 25,7"0
TIIK Wnnui.v Dun circulates nil over the
United States , and particularly among the
farmers of the northwest. Its average circu
lation closely approximates 40,000 copies per i
week. J
The various branch offices of Tup. ! : : are I
located us follows : I
South Omaha , corner N nnd 2iHh Streets.
Council Bluffs , 12 Pearl Street.
Chicago Office , 317 Chamber of Commerce.
New York , Itoom.s 13 , 14 nnd 15 , Tribune
Building.
Washington , 513 Fourteenth Street.
The magnificent homo which TIIK BIIC :
occupies was commenced In August , 1887 ,
nnd completed two years later. It Is tha
largest newspaper building In America. It
occupies the bloclc ut the corner of Seven
teenth nnd Faruam streets iiutl has u lloor
area of 17,424 square feat. The building Is
a sevoii-stot'v structure , built of granite and
pressed brick ,
The World-Herald , dally and weekly , Is
published by G. M. Hltchcbnk.
The Gorman dally , the Nebraska Tribune ,
is published by the Tribune Printing com
pany.
There nro twenty weekly publications , be
sides twelve mouthllrs. These papera have
their respective fields and ndvocnto the
interests of the factions and organizations
that they represent.
UNION PAt'II-'IC SHOPS.
The largest mechanical establishment tn
the city Is the Union Pacific railroad shops.
They cover fifty-two acres of ground and
represent an investment ot moro than $ ) , -
000,000. Lust year these shops furnished
steady employment to 1.400 sullied mechanics
nnd laborers , bosltlos 200 engineers and fire
men in the motive department. The payroll
amounted to $111,000 per month. With the
execution of a few weeks during tha summer
months , the foundries , cur and othur shops
were run to their full capacity.
The monthly avoragn of work turned out
will approximate as follows : Seven hundred
nnd filly tons of castings ; UOO repaired and
repainted cars , and forty-llvo repaired or re
built locomotives.
Last year moro than 5150,000 worth of ma
terial was used niul manufactured , besides
nearly $100,000 that wus miinufiicturcd mid
sent to other points on the system.
J. IT. McConncll is superintendent of mo
tive power and machinery , with .1. H. Man
ning division master mechanic. David Pat-
tcr.-ion is foreman In chat-go of the locomotive-
works ; A. M. Collctt of the c.irshopi ; l-jil-
ward Hlclilheii of the foundries , and A. A.
Gibson of the blacksmith shops.
WAT Kit SUPPI.V.
The plant of the American Waterworks
company , situated at Florence , just outside-
the north city limits , Is undoubtedly ns flno
and complete as can bo found In the west.
Prior to this year the company had expended -
ponded 50,500,000 upon the system. During
the past year n high pressure engine with a
capacity of 18,000,000 gallons daily has been
added. This enormous machine cost $130COO.
The engines now in uao give the plant a
pumping capacity of 45,000,000 gallons dally.
The reservoir system Is the largest in the
United States , having a capacity of 350,000-
000 gallons. Last year the company put In
four now boilers , costing S150.000 ; "laid Ilvo
miles oT mains nt a cost of $ . ' ! . ' > ,000 ; lowered
oicht miles of mains previously laid , nt a cost
of $15,01)0. ) Besides this the sum of $15,000
was expended In making repairs.
In this city , South and East Omaha , the
company has about 7,500 water takers nnd
the dally consumption Is close to 20,000,000
gallons.
There are 1,139 fire hydrants In Use that
nre paid for by the city.
The company carries IfiO men on the pay
roll and pays out in salaries about $0,000 pur
month.
li.VPKKKS HUHINKSS.
For years Omaha has boon the western
distributing point for the great express com
panies of the country.
The Pacific company has Its general head
quarters in this city and owns Its magnifi
cent building , wnlch cost $1(5,000 ( , located at
Fourteenth and llarnoy streets.
The other companies , the United States ,
the American , the Wolls-Fnrgo and.thu .
Adams luivo division headquarters hero.
'Iho ilvo companies uivo employment to 100
men and In salaries paid amounting to near'/ '
$3,000 per month. Without an exception the
office * report a good business during iho year ,
with an Increased traffic of 25 per cent.
TIIK AII.UV.
The Department of the Army of the Plutto
embraces the states of Colorado , Iowa , No-
hriska und Wyoming , excepting the post efFort
Fort Yellowstone , in thonnilonal park , Wyo. ,
the territory of Utah ; so much of the state
of Idaho as lies east of a line formed by the
extension of the western boundary of Utah
to the northern boundary of Idaho and nil
that portion of South Dakotu lying south of
the forty-fourth parallel of north latitude ,
also the post of Fort Meade , S. D , , for pay
ment only.
The headquarters of the department uro at
Omaha In Tin : BISK building with Brigaalor
General John H. Brooke commun < llng.
HOTKr. AUUO.HODATIONS.
The hotels of Omaha will compare favora
bly with these of other oltlo-s of Its size nnd
among tbo loading ones may bo mentioned
the Paxton , the Murray , the Millard , the
Arcade , the Dollono , the Merchants , thu Bar
ker , the Brunswick und half u scorn ot
others. Besides these there are u largo num
ber of family hotels and boarding houses.
The loading hotels of the city can care for
at least 2,000 guests , whllo un ovorllow of
twice that number can bo comfortably cared
for , A number of schemes are on foot for
the erection of a mammoth hotel , but as yet
none of thorn have materialized.
P1.AUK.S Ol'1 AMUHKMKNT.
Omaha U well supplied with umiuomont
halls , having six , Boyd's theater , the Fur-
iiuui street theater , the Urnml opera house ,
the People's theater , the ColUeum , and the
Eden Musoo.
Boyd's theater which was completed dur
ing the pastyear. Isoi.o of the finest play
houses in the United States and has u sealIng -
Ing capacity of 1,800.
ItKAI. USTATi ; TKANSI'KHH ,
There was but llttlo speculation In real
estate during the year. Whllo the number
of sales was not as great us dun in soina
former boom years , property has hold Its own
und values have remained firm , notwith
standing the depressed condition of the nut-
orn money market. The transfers for the
your have amounted to f 15/
