Some Interesting Things About the State in Which We Live
\V , MheK IS '^ap\r °"e ^CtteI, acquainted with the resources, climate, weather, crops, the people and the possibilities of the state of Nebraska than Will M. Maupin, the publisher of Mid
West Magazine. Mr Maupin was at one time Secre ary of the State Railway Commission and his activities in and about the state and his desire to make “A Better Nebraska” have made him
skUBitsaita r^Jtlf^iiLTbaa "ttsa
Omaha, Nebr., July 21, 1915.
£ .A. Miner, Sec. First Trust Co.,
Loup City, Nebr.
My Dear Sir: I have your communica
tion of July 19, in which you ask me for
some facts concerning the State of Ne
braska—government, crop reports, banking
statistics, literacy, etc. To make reply in
full, and to the extent that Nebraska de
serves, would exhaust your patience and my
physical and mental strength. Nebraskans
have every reason to be proud of their
jstate, for no other state can equal it in
those things that make for the welfare of
mankind. Lot me enumerate some of the
things of which Nebraskans may, v.iih par
donable pride, boast:
It has the lowest percentage of illiteracy
among the states, and it has thj largest
permanent school fund, figured on a per
capita basis, among all the states. Ic has
more money per capita invested in public
school property—including the State Uni
versit i and the four Normal schools—than
any other state. In other W’ords, no state is
taking more interest in education than Ne
braska.
Speaking of healthful climate, the death
rate per 1,000 of inhabitants is lower in
Nebraska than in any other state, with the
single exception of North Dakota. While
the average of all the states is slightly
more than 15 per cent, the Nebraska aver
age is 7.75 per cent.
Very recently the Agricultural Depart
ment of the National Government issued a
bulletin showing the agricultural productiv
ity of all the states. In total volume of ag
ricultural wealth produced in 1914 Iowa
led. with Illinois, Kansas, Texas and Ne
braska following in the order named. In
other wrords Nebraska was the fifth-dargest
producer of agricultural wealth in 1914.
50 HEAD OF
WESTERN
HORSES
will be sold at the Uuion Pacific
Stock Yards in Loup City on
Saturday, Sept. 18
This stock consists of some
two-year-old, some unbroke
stuff and some thin mares
This Will Be the Big
gest Sale this Season
G. A. KETTLE
C. C. ARLSON, Clerk
AK-SAR-BEN FESTIVITIES
OMAHA
SEPTEMBER 29th to OCTOBER 9th
Bigger and Better Than Ever, for Ak-Sar-Ben Moves Forever Forward
AUTO FLORAL PARADE, OCT. 5. Every past King and Queen of
Ak-Sar-Ben will take part in this parade.
ELECTRICAL PARADE, OCT. 6.
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, OCT. 7. This great musical
organization will appear at the Auditorium.
CORONATION BALL, OCT. 8. The West’s greatest social event
WORTHAM’S COMBINED SHOWS
On the Carnival Grounds every afternoon and evening. Admittedly
the largest, best and cleanest Carnival Attractions in the world.
NEBRASKA’S GREATEST EVENT
Ak-Sar-Ben has spread the fame of Omaha around the world.
Samson decrees that YOU enjoy the festivities of 1915.
Patronize Northwestern Advertisers—They’re Safe
But this is not a fair statement of the real
facts. While Nebraska was fifth in total
production it was first in per capita produc
tion. This productivity is evidenced by the
latest available banking reports, which
show that Nebraska has the largest per
capita bank deposits of any state west of
the Mississippi river, and excelled by not
more than four states in the entire Union.
Incidentally it might be mentioned that Ne
braska produces more wheat per acre and
per capita than any other state, also more
corn and more oats per capita and per acre
than any other state. It is the fourth
largest wheat producing state, and the
youngest of the four. It is the fourth larg
est corn producing state and the youngest
ot the four. It is also the third largest al
falfa producing state, and the youngest of
the three.
The per capita wealth of Nebraska is the
largest of any state west of the Mississippi
river, with one exception, amt that excep
tion—Iowa—must be credited with a dimin
ishing population and Nebraska with an
increasing population. Nebraska’s wealth
per mile of railroad exceeds that of Iowa or
Kansas. Our per capita bank deposits excel
those of Kansas by nearly 60 per cent. The
average value ot Nebraska farms is $14,000
while the average value of Kansas farms
is $10,500.
The total wealth of Nebraska is, accord
ing to government reports, $3,759,000,000,
an average of $3,110 per person. This is
$20,000,000 more than the average of all
the states.
To get a comprehensive idea of what this
means it must be borne in mind that Ne
braska has been a state for less than fifty
years, and has only been in progress of
development thirty years. As a matier of
fact, no other state in the Union can equal
ROUTE TWO.
H. A. Woody is working at the Wes
cott home.
Albert Snyder’s barn is almost
completed.
Ed Tucker visited at Roy Conger’s
last Sunday.
Miss Churchill is teaching in the
Hawk district.
Mr. Psota had his stack threshing ■
done last week.
Miss Amelia Hansen isboarding at
E. J. Pugsley’s.
The grange met at the home of W. ;
Rutherford this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Howard visited |
at Art King’s Sunday.
Carrier lost a pocket knife the day
of the picnic at the park.
Pete Rowe shingled John Kociem
ba’s new barn last week.
Carrier and family visited at Roy
Conger’s last Sunday.
Walter Rock put up hay on V. T.
Wescott’s place this week.
Miss Adell Mickow is teaching the
Obermiller school this term.
Frank Wagner and Elmer Hand
took the freight east Monday.
Art Haller is now running Fritz
Bichel’s new eight plow tractor.
The carrier has a robe which was
found at the park after the picnic.
Horace Casteel looked after his
father’s farm while he was at Lincoln.
Ernest McFadden has been hauling
hay from out on the divide this week.
The butcher shops have not sold as
much bologna since the route parade.
Clark Allman and son Lloyd helped
Vern Allman put up hay last Satur
day.
Carl Mickow is putting in one hun
dred acres of wheat on V. T. Wescotts
place.
George Wagner and Elmer Hand
put up hay on Lars Nielson’s place
this week.
John Peterson and Will Behrens
were grading north of Spotanski’s
Monday.
I have a few route two papers left.
Anyone who hasn’t one can have one
for the asking.
We are glad that the schools are
running again. Route two looks
more cheerful.
Fritz Bichel went to Lincoln Sun
day, returning Monday in time for
the route picnic.
A jacket was found the day of the
picnic. Owner can have same by cal
ling on the carrier.
Will Mason, Will Graefe and Mr.
Chandler were hunting chickens on
route two last week.
Vic Swanson, Joe Smalley and I.
L. Conger hunted chickens on route
two last Wednesday.
The ball game at the picnic was
won by Johnny Paulsen’s team of the
Upper Wiggle Creek.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Casteel and
daughter Bernicegot home from the
big state fair last week.
Harry Lyhne came home Monday
from Boelus, where he had been vis
iting for several weeks.
Chris Jensen lost a watch fob the
day of the picnic. If you find it,
please give it to the carrier.
The parties who are defacing the
signs in the country had better look
out or they will be in trouble.
Mr. and Mrs. Rainsforth and fam
ily autoed over to Loup City from
their home near Litchfield last Sat
urday.
The Prairie Gem school district had
a well put down at the school house
last week. They have less feet to go
for water now.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Grow and son
visited at Roy Conger’s the past week
Nebraska’s record for either de/elopment
or productivity, and recorded history shows
nothing to equal it when the element of
time is taken into consideration. Agricul
turally, Nebraska leads all the states.
You ask me for some facts regarding
Custer county. As well ask me to write
fully of some European country within the
limits of a leter. A volume would not suf
fice to give all the facts about that magnifi
cent county. In area it is the second larg
est county in Nebraska; in population it is
the third largest. In wealth production it
is entitled to recognition, for in 1914 it
produced agricultural and live stock wealth
in excess of $12,000,000, nearly $400 per
capita and about $2,000 per family of five.
It produced more corn by 30 per cent inl914
than any other Nebraska county. It was
the largest alfalfa producing county. It
produced more oats per acre than the
average of all the state by nearly two
bushels to the acre. It was the third larg
est rye producing county, and the fourth
largest producer of wild hay. This last
item deserves especial emphasis Decause it
shows that Custer possesses a large area
of uncultivated land that is ready for the
hand of the tiller.
I have made a study of Nebraska condi
tions and I am prepared to assert, without
fear of successful contradiction, that Custer
county affords greater possibilities along
dairying lines than almost any other Ne
braska county. With her wonderful alfalfa,
hay and corn production, there is no earthly
reason why Custer county shuold not have a
half-million milch cows giving their wealth
of butterfat for the enrichment of her peo
ple. The number of milch cows in Custer
in 1915 was less than 15,000. Right here is
afforded a golden opportunity for the poor
man who seeks employment upon a little
PHOTOGRAPHS
Owing to steady
advance in price
of photo materials
I am compelled
to make an ad
vance of 25 per
cent on some of
my grades.
ELSNER STUDIO
and several prairie chickens suffered
during their stay.
Miss Belle Vance got her finger
bodly bruised and the finger nail torn
from one of her fingers with the
stacker rope last week.
Cal Brown, Alvina Blaschke, Elsie
Oltjenbruns, Vera Wilkie, Russel Wil
kie, Lloyd Allman, Cecil Draper and
Fred Daddow are attending school
at Loup City this term.
Fritz Bichel and Art Haller plowed j
over fifty acres of ground last week.
After watching Mr. Bichel’s tractor j
work, several other farmers on route ]
two are talking of purchasing trac- j
tors.
Hans Deitz has traded his farm to \
Robert Dinsdale for the farm east of j
John Kociemba’s. Mr. Deitz will
build a fine home near where the old
buildings were. We would like to
see him build closer to the road.
Be sure and put your indian suits
away for next year. Fold them up
and put them away now before they
are spoiled. I have a part for you to
take next year. All of you who pur
chased bunting and plumes should
also keep them for next year.
I have the program most all arang
ed for next year. So many liked the
fifty years ago scene. I have some
thing as good or better for next year
all planned out now. Be sure and put
down your thought for next year’s
float. Hang your thoughts on a nail,
districts on route two: Will you
please burn the tall weeds and grass
on the sides of the road on route two
before the snow comes. Hundreds of
dollars were spent last winter for
shoveling snow through the country
and a great deal of this could have
been saved had the weeds been cut
or burned. The best way is to burn
them.
The carrier has a fine rosewood
piano case organ for sale. It is al
She was a young lady dressed in style
With a charming face and a friendly smile.
She wanted a hat that was up-to-date
To put right on and wear early and late.
She went down town and the very first pop
She. found it in Mrs. Mathew’s shop.
patch of God’s footstool Intelligent and
intensive farming, coupled with dairying,
will not only develop Custer county, hot
will enable thousands of people to build
homes of their own and lay by a compe
tency against old age. Too muJh empha i
can not be laid upon this especial phase of
opportunity in Custer.
I know that many people are obsessed
with the idea that Custer is in the “sandhill
country,” and that it is deficient in rainfall.
Custer has 2,600 square miles of area, and
it is only natural that in such an immense
area there should be some waste land. Rut
I know, from personal knowledge, that
Custer has less waste land in proportion to
area than almost any other Nebraska
county, while the fertility of the whole is
far above the average. This is proved by
the statistics of crop production. As to
rainfall, the twenty-year period ending with
1014 shows the average annual rainfall of
the state to be 23.33 inches, while the an
nual average in Custer county for the same
period was 25.35. It should be impressed
upon the mind of the average homeseeker
that it is not the amount of rainiall per
year that counts so much, but the actual
conservation of the rainfall itself. Modern
methods of farming—and Custer county
farmers are in the front rank—make it
more easily possible to raise good crops
now on a minimum annual rainfall than it
used to be to raise them with a maximum
rainfall.
Climatically Custer county is ideal. Two
thousand feet above sea level, it escapes in
large measure the torrid heat of lower
lying states, and enjoys the average winter
conditions.
Of social conditions there is much to say
in favor of Custer county. It has the larg
est rural school population among Nebraska
most new and cost $G0. If taken at
once will sell for thirty dollars. The
reason for selling it is that the party
has bought a piano. This organ has
not been hurt five dollars worth and
is easily worth forty dollars.
The Wiggle Creek farmers, insti
tute will be held at the Wiggle Creek
church on Saturday, November 13th.
Let us begin to work and make it a
good institute. We would like for
the committees to begin to study on
this. We would like to have a good
display of school work from three or
more schools. We are going to have
a display of cooking and fancy work
from girls under sixteen years of age.
Let us begin to work. Mrs. Fannie
Burt, president. Mrs. Alice Jorgen
son, secretary.
The third annual route two picnic
and parade are again history. What ■
I said last year I again say this year. !
I appreciate from the bottom of my
heart what you have all done. I ap
preciate what you all did this year
more than in years gone by, because
you were all up to your necks in work
and at least one month behind. I
want to thank all who took part and
assisted in making the day a success.
The Jenner brothers certainly had the
park in dandy shape and were always
willing during the day to do what
they could to qlease everyone. Har
old Chenoworth is the best and liv
liest moving picture man in the state
we will bet. If the pictures fail to
be good it will not be his fault, for he
worked hard all day. The success of
the day in a big measure belongs to
the county papers. It surely pays to
advertise. Everyone on route two
were in love with Chenoworth, even
the ladies. The amount token in at
the ball park was $20.25. Of course
all route patrons and the ladies and
children under twelve years of age
were admitted free. The dance in the I
evening made twelve dollars clear,
$32.00 in all being taken in. I took
$30.00 of this and paid for the band,
leaving two dollars and twenty-five [
cents for good roads. It was under
stood that over and above any ad
ditional expenses, all mones were to
go to the good roads days we are to
have the latter part of October.
There were a few more additional ex
penses, but we thought we would keep
the $2.25 to start the good roads days
with. The parade was claimed to be
the best ever held. The prizes do not
go toward the road days, and the
cash has already been paid to those
winning. The judges for the day
were Prof. J. H. Burwell, J. F. Nic
oson and County Superintendent L.
H. Currier. The moving pictures cost
me over $450.00. Be sure and come
to see them. I will have several
thousand feet of pictures were taken
besides these. Something over 1800
feet were taken.
Better buy a few sacks of White
Satin flour while you can get flour
that is made from old wheat. All
merchants handle our flour. Every
sack guaranteed.—Loup City Mill &
Light Company.
A SPECIAL FAIR
ATTRACTION
DADDOW THEATER
3 NIGHTS STARTING
Wednesday, Sept. 22
THE POPULAR
BYERS
STOCK
COMPANY
PRESENTING THE BEST OF PLAYS
OPENING WITH
“Behind the Scenes'7
A RIOT OF LAUGHTER
Special Scenery - Feature Vaudeville
Prices—25--35--50
Seats on Sale at Swanson & Lofholm’s
FOR THURSDAY NIGHT
“THE GIRL AND THE TRAMP”
FOR FRIDAY NIGHT
“THE MAN OF TODAY”
DEER CREEK NUGGETS.
Leon F. Lubash went to Plembecks’
Sunday to take some pictures.
Thos. Lubash finished ids house
last week as lie needs room for ids
family.
Elmer Koch is busy plowing west
of the Loup river where he rented a
50-acre piece of land.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Fletcher of west
Loup City, spent Sunday with Mr.
and Mrs. Elmer Koch.
Tony Weczorek and wife attended
the YV’eczorek-Melozenski wedding at
Ravenna Wednesday.
Mrs. Mary Sleczlewski and Mrs.
Miefski of Omaha, are visiting at the
home of Mr. and Mrs, John Miefski
this week.
A team composed of veterans, re
cruits and stars, representing Deer
Creek, journeyed overland to Paplin
counties, and more rural schools. Church
conditions are ideal, and from a somewhat
cursory investigation along religious lines
1 am inclined to believe that Custer has a
larger church going population than any
oilier county, total population considered.
With ample school and church faeilitiies,
telephones everywhere, rural mail delivery,
ample transportation facilities and a num
ber of good market towns, Custer holds out
to homeseekers splendid inducements. With
these things coupled with a fine climate,
fertile soil and resources as yet only
scratched upon the surface, I unhesitatingly
recommend this particular section of the
great west to those who are seeking farm
homes or opportunities for investment.
It has been my good fortune to know
many Custer county people, and to have
been the recipient of the hospitality of
many Custer county homes. Settled by
men and women who had the courage to
brave the frontier, and coming up through
great tribulation, they may he termed the
"salt ot the earth.” and I know from per
sonal knowledge that a better or more lib
eral-minded people may not be found any
where.
\ on will pardon me for answering vour
communication at such great length, but if
you knew how much 1 have in mind to say
ol Custer—and of all Nebraska—you would
wonder at my moderation. Of all good
things Nebraska produces the most; of all
evil things the least. And this splendid
average is due in very large measure to
the up-standing, God-fearing, intelligent
and industrious citizenship of good old Cus
ter.
Trusting that I have in some measure, at
least, complied with your request, I am,
Very truly yours,
WILL M. MAUPIN.
and played a game of ball. Although
being defeated by the score of 11 to T,
it was a good game throughout, al
though a few errors being chalked on
both sides. We hope for a return
game in the near future and there
will be a different story to tell. The
batteries for Paplin were Tesmer and
Zocholl, for Peer Creek, Stobbe and
Maciejewski. I'mpire Gappa, and
scorerS. J. Kranee,the Fairview farm,
er.
NOTICE.
On the 18th day of September, 1915,
at 2 o’clock p. m., we will sell to the
highest bidder for cash, the old school
house, size 18x28; also some seats and
other articles.
Sale will take place on school house
grounds, section 12-13-14, Bristol
township. By order of School Dist
No. 19.
Anton Bugno, moderator.
Anton Hajek, treasurer.
37-4 Frank Novy, director.
