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State Historical Society J
WEEKLY JOURNAL OF CHEER F U L COMMENT
Volume 8
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, MARCH 31. 1911
Number 2
NEBRASKA THE GLORIOUS
Nebraskans who leave this state in the hope of finding a better
one, are framing up bitter disappointment for themeslves.
People from other states looking for new locations and passing
by Nebraska in the search, are missing the golden opportunity of
their lives. t
Today Nebraska Offers to the homeseeker, to the investor and
to the manufacturer the greatest opportunities ever offerd. Its un
titled acres of the most fertile soil in the world will support a million
more families without crowding. It is already producing " enough
raw material to supply hundreds of mammoth factories engaged in
the manufacture, of those things which men and women eat and wear.
It has an undeveloped water power sufficient to turn the wheels of
every industry. It has the finest school svstemin the United States,
the most intelligent and hospitable people in ; the world, unexcelled
church facilities, a climate equal to that of Italy, and a future grand
beyond comparison
Nebraska produces more corn to the acre than any other state ;
more wheat to the acre than any other state; more oats to the acre
than any other state. It is the fourth largest corn producing state
cf the Union, and the youngest of the four; it is the fourth largest
wheat producing state, and the youngest of the four. It has the
fourth largest state university, and it is the youngest of the four.
It has the third largest permanent school fund of any state, and is
the youngest of the three.
Nebraska's corn crop in 1910 was. worth more than the total
gold production of the United States, including Alaska.
Not a state in the Union, or even Alaska, produced gold enough
in 1910 to equal the value of Nebraska's egg crop for the same year.
The total tobacco crop of the nation in 1910 was worth $10,
000,000 less than Nebraska corn crop in the same year.
The value of the butter made in Nebraska in 1910 was almost
equal to the nation's production of sugar in the same year.
Keep these stupendous figures in mind, and then consider the
fact that there are sixteen million acres of fertile Nebraska land as
yet untouched by the plow of the husbandman.
LESS THAN ONE-HALF OF THE TILLABLE LANDS OF
NEBRASKA IS NOW UNDER CULTIVATION, and upon the
16,000,000 acres of un tilled land another million of people may live
and prosper.
The total of Nebraska's .addition to the world's wealth in 1910
agricultural, live stock, dairying and manufactures was upwards
of $650,000,000. This is approximately $600 per capita. NO
OTHER STATE IN THIS UNION CAN SHOW SUCH A
WONDERFUL RECORD. And yet Nebraska is yet upon the
threshold of her development Nebraska's metropolis, Omaha, is
the third largest packing center in the world, and the largest butter
market in the world: Nebraska's capital city is the largest butter
making city in the world. Yet the live stock and dairy interests of
Nebraska are but a tithe of what they may be at the end of the next
ten years. Nebraska wheat fields will produce enough bread to feed
the nation, and her creameries will produce the butter to spread
upon the bread. Her hogs and her hens will provide the nation's
breakfast of ham and eggs. Her orchards and vineyards will sup
ply the nation's dessert. Her wool will supply the nation's clothes,
and her splendid schools and happy homes will supply the nation
with teachers and statesmen and homebuilders.
To be a Nebraskan, however humble, is better than to be a
courtier at any court, no matter how grand. To have the privilege
of singing the praises of such a state is far better than the privilege
of sitting at the feet of kings or being cup-bearer in the halls of the
mighty.
Of all good things. Nebraska has the most; of bad things Ne
braska has the least. Her marvellous development during the past
quarter of a century is but an evidence of what her development is to
be during the next quarter of a century. To sound Nebraska's
praises should be the pleasure of every Nebraskan; to make her.
glories known to the world should be every Nebraskan's duty.
AND HERE IS ANOTHER BIG ASSET FOR NEBRASKA
. The Eastman bill providing for the estab
Kshmerit of a state agricultural school in
southwestern Nebraska was gasping for
breath and showing signs of early demise.
Then Will Maupin's Weekly, being more in
terested in the development of Nebraska's
.tsources than in anything else, took upon
itself the. task of reminding the democratic
majority of the legislature that it was bound
by the solemn pledge of the democratic
platform tr provide fotfy the establishment of
that school. It also called attention to the
fact that in addition to being a platform
pledge it was something that would benefit
the state as a whole. Then this newspaper,
so interested in boosting Nebraska, insisted
that the legislature "make good."
Immediately the Eastmen bill showed
signs of returning animation. Will Mau
pin's Weekly was laid upon the desks of the
legislators on Monday morning. Inside of
the week the bill was dug up, new life pump
ed into it, and it was sent through with fly
ing colors and laid upon the desk of Gover
nor Aldrich. Then Governor Aldrich affixed
his signature and the southwestern .school
of agriculture is an established fact. Will
Maupin's Weekly congratulates the legis
lators upon their wisdom, the democratic
majority upon its fulfillment of a platform
pledge, and the people of western and south
western Nebraska upon this just recogni
tion of their claims. And if Will Maupin's
Weekly contributed in any measure to the
passage it is amply repaid by the knowl
edge that it has helped to develop a vast
agricultural territory .