THE iiu Official Publication of the City and County Largest Circulation of any Alliance Paper 4 ? V IJ )n 1 k -m VOLUME XI. ti iiiylft WWBiii'ii By Li1 niiii Jar i JPn'Mfitftir Alliance is situated 3G0 miles north west of Lincoln and 238 miles north east of Denver, and is the headquar ters of one of the longest, if not the longest, railroad divisions in the United States. It is on the Billings line of the Burlington, nnd is the junction of tho Denver and Guernsey lines. Nowhere in the West is there a more important town for its size than Al liance. While yet in its Infancy, a mere child, so to speak, for its birth was but sixteen years ago, it is the marvel of all who have witnessed it spring up from an 8x12 depot station in 1S8S to a city of its present size. The appellation "Queen City of the 1'lnins" is no misnomer, as tho pano ramic views of this "Celestial City of the West" will go to prove. The first intimation that a town was to bo built on the present site of Alliance was in June, 1SS7, when the Lincoln Land company, who are closely associated with tho B. & M. railroad company, purchased all of sec tion 3C, township 25, range 47, and platted a townslte. The reason for tho selection of this particular locality was because of the proximity of the large ranching and farming industries and also to establish a division point for the Burlington road, where a round house, machine and repair shops could be established. The advent of the new mccca was widely promulgated by the land com pany, and on February 28, 1888, a public sale of lots took place, which netted the company in the neighbor hood of $50,000, Tho future metrop olis of Northwestern Nebraska was BOX BUTTE COUNTY Mecca of the Potato Industry Cattle Growing Haven of Nebraska. The first settlement in Box Butte county was made by John S. Hughes in 1S79, on tho Niobrara river, in sec tion 0, township 28, range 57. Prior to that time, however, there had been a number of cattle ranches located along Snnke creek, tho first ono be ing established by tho Ogalalla Cattlo company, and by Paxton & Hosier. None of tho land embraced in theso ranches was ever patented to any one connected with either of tho ranches and upon the advent of tho settlers Into what is now Box Butto county, tho herds and tho movable personal property belonging to the cattle com panies were transferred farther west. Between tho years 1879 and 1884 this county wns just one largo cattlo range, and In 1SS5 and 18SC settlers poured in and nearly every quarter section of available land was taken. In November, 1S8C, n petition was presented to the county commission ers of Dawes county praying that townships 24, 25, 20, 27 nnd 2S, in ranges 47, 48, 49. 50, 51 and 52, be separated from Dawes county and or ganized into another county, to be called Box Butte county. Tho prayer of tho petition wns granted, and A. S. Iteed, James Barry and L. C. Dc Coudress were appointed commission ers. Attho first election held the above named men were elected county com missioners; Georgo W. Clark, county clerk; Fred Shonquist, sheriff; Eli Gerbor. treasurer; C. A. Barney, sur veyor; Nathan F. Simpson, county superintendent; James II. Danskin, county attorney; A. L. Field, county judge; nnd Dr. John Blood, coroner. The first mooting of tho county com missioners was held March 23, 1887. At the date of tho organization of the county tho population of tho county was approximately 5,000. Tho boun- THE CITY OF ALLIANCE Metropolis of Northwestern Nebraska Young, Enterprising, Strenuous Always Growing and Advancing Center of Immense Ranches Exports Best Potatoes on Earth Unlimited Hope in the Future Energetic, Prosperous Citizens. then launched, buildings sprang up in rapid succession, settlers swarmed in, nnd in eight weeks Alliance was a nourishing village of over seven hun dred Inhabitants. It was a wonder ful transformation scene. Buildings were moved from other localities and tho spirit of enterprise was re markable to a degree beyond concep tion. On March 2S, 188S, tho board of county commissioners met and incor porated tho village of Alliance, naming Nelson Fletcher, Aquilla Triplett, F. M. Sands, Otto Ketelsen nnd W. G. Slmonson as trustees; F. M. Devore, attorney and clerk; nnd Jacob Stuts man marshal. In 1S03 tho population of Alliance had reached a point when it could be advanced to a city of tho second clnss, and this was consumated April 8 of that year. F. W. Smith was elected mayor; It. C. Nolcman, clerk; It. M. Hampton, treasurer; E. Cotton, city engineer; James II. II. Hewett, at torney; John Snner, marshal and street commissioner; Thomas Beck, J. R. Sexton, George L. Mllllken, It. B. Hamilton, councilmen. In 1890 tho population of the village of Alliance numbered nearly 900 peo daries of tho county havo never been changed since tho (Into of its organi zation. In 1SS0 what is known as the Pan handle of Nebraska, being that por tion of tho state which extends west on the north of Colorado, was em braced In two counties, Sioux nnd Cheyenne. Sioux county, In tho early '80s, was subdivided into three coun ties, ono of which retained the orig inal name, the balance of tho terri tory being divided Into Dawes and Sheridan counties, Box Butto being subsequently carved out of Dawes, as heretofore stated. The county de rives its nnmo from a largo grass covered butto located in tho north east part of tho county nnd which tow ers about 150 feet above tho surround ing territory, and which, on account of its peculiar shape, has always been called "Box Butte." Who first gave It this namo is not known, as it has been called that ever since Buffalo Bill hunted tho buffalo on the plains surrounding tho butto. The county is destitute of lakes of any size or Importance, except Bron cho lake, which covers nearly a sec tion of land and lies nbout two miles west of Alliance. The Niobrara river just touches tho northwest corner of the county. Snake creek, winds a serpentine course through the south ern part of tho county. A good deal of water (lows down this stream In tho spring. It dries up in tho sum mer months, but whon autumn ap proaches, from some mystorious sou.ee, it Is ngaln filled with wator, .and that, too, in tho absonco of any rainfall. Tho county Is ono vast platoau, In area 30 x 30 miles, with its surfaco gently undulating. About 95 per cont of the land In this county is per- ALLIANCE, BOX BUT1E COUNTY ALLIANCE IN 1904. Bird's ple, nnd six years later had increased numerically to 2,200. It was n rapid stride for this fair young city, but tho Incoming tide of home-seekers had by no means abated. Onward it marched until to-dny Alliance enn boast of 4,500 population, and a city in structural appearance second to none in tho state. The city Is supplied with all mod ern conveniences, prominent among which nro Its electric light plant and telephone- system, both of which are of ample capacity and managed on economical basis, both for tho owners and the patrons. Its importance as a stock feeding point is known everywhere, having stock yards of 125 car loads capacity tho laigest between Lincoln and Bil lings. A thoroughly equipped flro depart ment second to none in the state attends to tho protection of nil prop erty from destruction. The Alliance Land District, which comprises the counties of Sheridan, Dawes, Sioux, Box Butte, Deuel, Cheyenne and Scotts Bluff, has its sent, or United States Iand Office, in Alliance, and is still transacting a largo amount of business. fectly level, and water is obtained only from wells that furnish an abundance of water at an nverage depth of 50 feet. Good brick is manufactured In tho vicinity of Alliance in considerable quantities. The soil is principally a black, sandy loam, rich In phosphates, and where irrigation Is possible immense crops of cerenls and roots can bo raised. The rainfall Is very uncer tain. The- average altitude being over 4,000 feet, tho nights are always cool. Taking one year with another there nro at least 300 days of sun shine in each year. In no county in the state is there a greater per cent of its total area adapted to agriculture than in this county, and when there Is sufficient rainfall most abundant crops of grain and vegetables aro raised. Thero has never been a year since tho nrrival of tho first settlers In which tho farmers have fallt to raise a fair crop of potatoes without Irrigation, nnd in favorable years tho yield has been enormous. Box Butto county po tatoes havo established a reputation for excellence that extends over sev ral states. Whllo at tho present time more roll anco Is placed In tho business of stock raising than in fanning, it is certnln that as moro and more of the country Is put Into cultivation tho rain fall will incroase and In time It is be lieved that sufilcient annual rainfall will bo had to Insure abundnnt crops. Where any attention hns been paid to raising small fruits, plums and chor rlos, tho offort oxpendod has boon abundantly rewarded. Whllo no grent portion of tho county Is susceptlblo of irrigation, because of tho lack of sulllclont running , K NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1904 - Eye View Looking South. The city erected, in 1S90. a beauti fully appointed brick school building at a cost of $25,000, and to which a substantial nddltion was added two years later. In 1903, another largo, two-story, brick school building, to cost about $10,000, was commenced, and Is now Hearing completion. Both of these buildings are two-stories and basement, commodious, well-lighted and modern in every respect. A splendid nnd adequate water sys tem Is ono of tho proud features of our city's institutions. It was in stalled In 1894 at a cost of $18,000, but since that time many Improve ments have taken place by extend ing tho water mains nearly two miles, erecting a largo power house, con structing throe Immense wells nnd equipping same with two of the most modern pumps that could bo pur chased, so that at this timo tho wnter system Is worth fully $50,000. Tho water is elevated Into a stand-plpo to a height of 110 feet, which gives It suf ficient force to throw a stream a great distance, thus furnishing ample lire protection. A year and two years previous, how over, to the construction of our water system, two dovasting fires visited NORTHWEST NEBRASKA Its Yaricd Industries, Fine Climate, Soil, Towns, Schools, Churches, Etc. streams for a water supply, yet some ditches havo been tnken out along Snnke creek and tho Nlobrnra river, and tho results produced are suf ficient to enable us to safely say that were tho surfaco of tho county so situ nted that It could be irrigated no country on eartli could excel It in the" production of crops ndapted to this latitude. in the enrly settlement of this part of tho state, and In the organization of most of tho counties, it was thought best to at once issuo tho bonds of tho county and erect expensive public buildings. However this county has never assumed a bonded Indebted ness for such purpose. Wo havo a court house sufilcient for the needs of tho county for years yet to come. A new jail Is nearly completed, and when done wo havo tho money with which to pay for it. Our county war rants nro a cash item In tho hands of tho holder and are paid dollar for dollar upon presentation to the county treasurer. A good, commodious brick houso, for tho accommodation of the poor. Is located about six miles northwest of Alliance on a farm of 320 acres belonging to tho county. It has only two inmates. The assessed valuation, based on one-fourth nctual valuo, of all classes of property In tho county in tho year of 1903 waB $044.00(5. In nddltion to this amount tho distributive share of tho railroad valuation apportioned to this county waa $170,250. Innsmuch ns there aro 1,080 square mllos of territory In tho county it can bo readi ly soon that tho taxos imposed on tho pooplo aro vory light. The rato of taxation for county nnd stato pur poses Is only 21 mills on ouch dollar of assessed valuation. Tho county our growing young city. Tho first oc curred on August 7, 1892, which com pletely laid bare tho south Bide of Wyoming avenue, destroying an en tire business block, nnd entailing n Iosb of $25,000. The second ilro oc curred Jnnunry 11, 1893, when a greater loss was sustained, tho best business blocks In tho city thou going up In finnios. The loss from this fire wns estimated at $50,000, and at least 25 business houses and dwellings were consumed in this contlngratlon. All this, however, is now buried with tho past and lingers only in tho memory of those with retcntlvo minds. Phoenix like. Alliance rose again fairer and grander than over. Tho future of tho city at tho pres ent timo is fnr more promising than at any other period of Its enrccr. If tho "writing on tho wall" signifies any thing, it means a progressive and substantial advancement. Among the possibilities could be mentioned several factories, which, If sufilcient inducement could be brought to bear to persuade them to locate here, would undoubtedly prove profita ble Investments. Among which we might mention a starch factory to util ize tho Immense potato crop, so suc has no Moating Indebtedness nnd but two or three school districts owo nny bonded indebtedness. Tho school dis trict of Alliance hns property worth, at a conservative estimate, $40,000, and only owo $12,000 of bonded in debtedness. The bonded indebted ness outstanding of nil other school districts in tho county will not exceed $1,000. NORTHWEST NEBRASKA. What Is now known aa Northwest Nebraska 1b that portion of the state lying north of Colorado, or, in other words, tho Panhandle of Nebraska. This vast expanso of country, of which Alliance is tho metropolis, Id composed of the counties of Sheridan, Dawes, Sioux, Box Butte, Deuel, Chey enne, Scotta Bluff, Banner and Kim ball, comprising an area of about 13, 500 square miles. Several important streams traverse this exceedingly fertllo region, name ly: The North Platte, tho Niobrara nnd tho White rivers, besides numer ous creeks, each of which makes Its possible to Irrigate thousands of ncres along Its course, thus assuring tho production of abundant crops of all klndB of cereals and vegetables. Not near all the Panhandle Is sus ceptlblo to Irrigation, but tho non irrigable portions aro not tho leaBt valuable by any moans. All over the high tables and tho snnd hills may bo scon thousands nnd hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and horses tho sleekost In tho land, except those that are fed corn, or beets, or other choice food. Indeod, connois seurs pronounco this soctlon the host cattlo country In tho Wost, and to con vince tho roador of this fact It is only necessary to stato that stock graze NUMBER XV cessfully grown here, and thus furnisl a homo market for this product. Othe Industries of a llko character coul thrive and prosper here, tho unlimltc field to draw upon being ono of th Inducements for tho location of fat torlcs at this point. Tho location of Alliance ns a dh trlbuting point for tho groat nortl west Is not surpassed by nny othe city In Western Nebraska. This fac was recently recognized by the Intel national Harvesting compnny, win have recently established headquai ters hero for Western Nebraska, Soutl Dakota, Wyoming and a part of Cole rado, and at this timo thero are whole! Bnlo grocery firms looking over thl field with a view of establlshlnt branch houses here. ItB railroad fa cllltles givo .quick servlco to tho west ern portion of South Dakota, and Mon tana, Wyoming nnd tho whole north western country. Alliance Is a division point on tlu Burlington & Missouri Hlver railroad which mulntnins a largo round hous nnd mnchlnoshops.nnd which gives em ployment to a grent number of work mon. Tho pay roll for theso shops am tho trainmen nnd office forces exceed $10,000 a month, which Is a very im portant factor to tho city's welfare Tho total vnluation of the rallroat property In Alliance is said to b about $100,000. Thero aro seven churches In thil city, tho denominations of which anl as follows: Episcopal, First Preaby terlau, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist! Lutheran and United Presbyterian, all of which havo largo congregations! nnd commodious houses of worship. tho wild pralrlea tho year round ami keep fnt winter and summer on tht native grass, which cures on foot, cx cept when tho ground 1b covered wltt sovoral Inches of snow. Tho climate Is all that can be de sired, for either health or comfort. Taking one season with another, tlu sun shines fully 80 per cent of the time, which Is surpassed by very few sections of the United States. Each county in tho Panhandle of Nebraska supports ono or moro goodj live towns, most of theso situated onl one of the three great lines of railroad! traversing It the Burlington, tho ElkJ horn and tho Union Pacific. Sheridan county has the towns of Rushvllle, Gordon, Hay Springs and Lakeside; Dawes Chadron, Crawford, MarB- land, Whitney and Dunlap; Sioux Harrison; Box Butte Alliance and Hemingford; Deuel Lodge Polo and Big Springs; Cheyenne Sidney, Bridgeport and Bayard; Scotts Bluff - Gerlng, Scotts Bluff and Mitchell;! Banner Hnrrisburg; Kimball Kim ball. All these are prosperous audi growing towns, situated either in fer tile valleys or in great cattle centers,! nnd afford good markets for whatever the surrounding country produces. The soil, on tho tables or divides,! is very much tho same as in Box I Butte county, which is described inj another article. Tho valleys that are! irrigated produce anything and every thing adapted to this latitude, while! tho sand hills, which are everywhere! dotted with fertile meadows of vari ous sizes, produce an abundance of! hay, of which thousands of tons are! shipped away evory season. Northwest Nobraska holds out I many Inducements to men of energy! nnd capital, with promises of large returns. u