SI f . • ' .
M ® he' "JHc : d0k. ; : ' ' : Steibmte. '
Up-4 * ' v- • . . _ _ „ _ . _ . . . . _ , _ . - . _ _ . . . . _ _ _ . t _ _ ,
VtT * McCOOK , RED WILLOW COUNTY , NEBRASKA , FRIDAY EVENING , SEPTEMBER 2S 1888 : NUMBER 18.
| | VOLUME . - - " • .r.1 , . . . , . .rlr - -u * m.l.r.m.- , , „ , . . _ . . , . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . , - i , „ . . .1
mtg , , *
| 1 McCOOK !
rR ;
, THE QUEEN CITY OF THE REPUi
W UCAHALLEY ,
K - And the Metrepelis of Southweste >
* * Nebraska.
AH IMPORTAMT DIVISION STATU
§ H THE MAIN LINE OF THE
1 Great B. & M. Railwa ;
* WITH EXTENSIVE ROUND HOUt
AND REPAIR SHOPS.
15 The Third Largest Water Works Sy.
k tern in the State.
m SOUS SLOCKS OF BRICK , WIT
Jf PLATE GLASS FRONTS.
tfX
X The Finest Natural Location in Net
1 raska , with Scores of Elegant
_ Homes , Good Schools , Hand-
5 same Churches and
I WIDE-AWAKK PEOPLE.
Busines Men and Business Interests
|
f ,
f A CITY uF 1MIKNOMINAL C.UOWTH.
P N © station of the country , j > ei
ft haps. Is Ut-\mtx > * ort * prominent !
i lit the to > V s mm I tin * $ ! • * * • • f rl
fcUgraU * * ut rUl tli n Nebraska
i The totUemint and development o
F the state from the earliest [ > eriot
of tetiitehood. a little over twenty
yiexs ago. has be u wonderful i
act pheaouiiim * m it * * character
. Yet , natantitstniidiug the remark
able strides of civilization in th <
pnst , Nebraska offers at the pr s
v ent time. opp rturiti * t the rep
resentatives of eierIegitimat *
business enterprise , such a& can
{ not be found in any other sectioi
cf the great prairie states and ter
f * ritoriftBut a single score o.
v years have passed away since No
braska ententl the sistoihood oi
* stated. At tk t time the entm
i vhit population numbered scaret-
\ iy more than 50.000 souls. It wm
tha thirty-iifth state created , am
at the time of its birth , contained
less than 40 < mil s of railw uy. The
} only towns of Importance at thai
V time were Omaha and Nebraskn
1 Cityanil these even had scarcely
attained tc the dignity of cities.
With the exception of x few towns
situated , near the eastern border oi
the state which , at the time oi
Nebraska ' s juluth-sioii ir.to the Un
ion were mere borniets. th ? hun
dreds of nourishing citi is and vil
lages thai dot th < # Knp of Nebras
ka , lit the present time , had then
n existence. The greater portion
! . of the broad * xp use of beautiful
prairie , exteading from the MLv-
S0ari river on the east to the Cocky
* iltxiti > te > on the we L. was as wild
and free from civilizing IwHiiences
as Tshen the stars of the morning
sang together at nature ' s dawn.
But lH h < . ld the cnangal To-day ,
s nearly a miMion j > eople find happy
. hoars in the ranou iu licatetL and
* aearly six thousand miles of ruil-
k road i operated within its borders.
Thus it wiH be observed that dur-
7 ing a period of twenty years , a
region © t coiintry over four hun
dred miles in length by two hun
dred n width , has been reclaimed
from an almost primative contli-
? ? tioo. peopled by more than a mil
lion inhabitants , provided with
schools , colleges , universities and
railway facilities , equal to any sim
ilar area , of country on the conti
nent la twenty years Nebraska
has advanced from a yery wilder-
aets to a position among the fore-
xsost states o the Union , as regards
material wealth , population , pro
duct * and educatioual advantages.
Extraordinary as the above may
seem is but a simple array of facts
that may readily be verified by re
ferring to the statistical records of
the state. Nebraska is an empire
I witldn itself ; a country tmsurpasa-
f ed ia natural resources and adr&n-
" * ' * fcages. To one who is acquainted
: with the wonderful resources of
the country , the aliaost magical
growth of cities and towns cesses
i to be a matter of surprise , and yet
. the i2 < sst truthful record o the Hp-
bglkliwg of seores of Nebraska's
fair cities , is to nmnr a dis4a t
reader , more like a fairy tile tkaft
. " reality.
1 It is not our province or purpoee
% r however to write of Nebraska as a
whole , but of one of h r yo gest ,
1 as well as one of the most promis
ing citiest within tie borders of the
sttt * If t&e rs dtr will , coaeelfc a (
" ' " * *
"ut' " " "
" " ' ' ' l
* II M "I"
map of Nebraska ho will obser
that the Ivi mbliean river no
from M'eht lo east through t
southern finr of counties , and
will also Hnd that in the thi
county lied "Willow east of I
Colorado line , upon the north
l tt bank of the stream , jVIeCook
situntciL This fact although si
nificant in it nr , is perhaps of t
least impor nce of the nuniero
advnntnges of which this yom
city is possessed , and to which tl
chapter will bo mainly devoted.
Many articles descriptive of t'
western country , are doubtless l
garded by the distant reader
greatly exaggerated or overdraw
and while it may be true in sor
instances , there are many sectio
of country in Nebraska , and ma ;
cHies Mid towns lo gi\e a descri
lion of vhi 'h , ii trouid be almc
impossible to exaggerate. llowev (
it will-be the aim of the writer
rcfening to McCook and its sn
rouialings , to give only facts , plai
solid , &ubstintial facts.
HISTORY.
The history of McCook is i
brief as to be-cmbraccd in the nier
ory of many of the school childn
of the city , and yet its past eoi
prises a proud record to those wl
in anyway parHuipaicd in its oi
gin and suhscqiiuui growth.
It requires but a slight effort
the lncmoiy to recall the inciden
of the past six years which con
prehcmis all ttiyre is of McCook
history. The construction of tl
1 * . & M. railway wnn the cause , ar
the Lincoln Land Company tl
tigeney that consuinnted the orie :
af a town that in six years hi
irrown into a city of nearly thi (
thousand inhabitants. In the sur
mer of 1SS2. the Lincoln Lan
C'onipany commenced the work <
improvement by platting about 14
teres into iots. nc vben a fe
months later , * Iip you 11 .4 , city yj
. • onrf * te l wiib tie c-cisida vor ]
ivitt < twills of sseei , many of ihos
ots were occ-qicd by substantii
buildings. Tbe completion of il
. • ailway to ti-is iv.t was immed
itely followed b the loeatien ; f
livision headip iarters , and ttie coi
itmclion of a round house , U cl
; mith shop , store house , ru.d 1 hi
el and dir.ing hall. The year o
, ,
owing , or in V ' - \ . rie ] Lincol
Land Company commenced th
construction .1 5 system of watc
vorks. which with two exception !
Dmnha and Lincoln , is to-day th
nost extensive in the state. I
rune. 1SSU. the Government Lan
) lliee was located in this city. Dm
njr the : > ast five years numeion
niportant additions to the orisinf
> lat have been laid out , until tc
lay not less than one thousan
.cres subdivided into blocks an
ots , over me-half of which was
r is , the property of the Lincol
jand Company. Among the mor
inportaut individual additions or
he following :
EGAS PARK ,
ocated about four blocks north
. 'est of the original plat and con
isting of SO acres , which has bee :
ubdivided into five-acre tract
rith TO foot streets , all of whid
lave been bordered with shad
rees. IV. the west and north 0
his is found
*
STE2X S ADDITION
f 100 acres , the most of which ha
een platted. About six block
ast of the original is
BROWNS PARK ADDITION
f 100 acres , 90 of which has beei
abdivided. On the west and soutl
re tvo large additions , plattec
arlier in the history of the town , ty
n. c. RIDES.
From the day of the first sale oi
> \Sj there has bees , a steady in
rease in population ar.d improve
tents. School houses and churches
ere built , streets graded , residen
* s erected , and grounds beautified
ntil
McCOOK OF TO-DAY
; c beautiful city of nearly three
: ousand inhabitants , sad still rap
liy growing. There is nothing
t a speculative or ephemeral char
* iez in its
maks-up ; vsrything
1 the way of improvement bearing
io impress of the most substun
al permanency. Situnted upor
10 genile slop si a hillside , ex-
> ml ng down irto the broad and
cautiful valley through which
> we th * clear waters of ths river ,
ily the trees and shrubs and
; cks * ro lacking to give to Mc-
otk iiw ? appearance of < - , New
nglaml eify. Sitnding upon
me ele/aivm overlooking the citv
gesna preeentednew. . that
would enthuse the soul of an in
ist. The broad valley stretchii
awiiv uj ) and down as far as tl
I vision extends , wiiii Mtebuoj.bus
ling citj rnsti g ijrncofuliv iipc
• is fair bopom , titw nw eatic inrv.
of the grand and beauiru1" laoi
scapo 8urrotindingii , with ' ero aii
there n glimpse of the silver wate ]
if the dye glistening in iho sui
light , forms a panorama of nature
handiwork , such oven as no artist
hand can Jmi'aie.
With such ? • location , niagnii
cent in its natural state , the adde
attractions of tree and shrub , t <
gather with the numerous embe
lishments suggested by an inspiri
tion born of a love for home , wi
a few years hence , make of McCoc
one of the most beautiful cities <
the state.
The town is peopled largely ] ;
native born Americans who i
gathered hero from various sei
tions of the eastern stateo , v.nd v/1
are imbued with the common pu :
pose of building up a city tin
will be an honor to the great con
monwealth of which ii ; for/ns
part.It
It is a nevtown in a no ? ' com
try , but all the valuable resource
that a lavish nature can bestow i
aid 111 Hie upbuilding ot n town r
city are generously blended in M <
Cook's surroundings. It is impoi
sible for any man to look for tli
first time upon this prosperov
young city , and then upon tli
grand country by which it is sm
rounded , without being deeply in
pressed with the thought that
splendid future is before it.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There is nothing , perhaps , thr.
more fully indicates intelligent an
moral tendencies in a communit
than good church and education !
facilities. In the matter of schoc
and educational advantages M <
Cook presents a fair example of on
of the proudest features cf th
slate. There is no state in th
union , perhaps , that can bonst of
more thorough and perfect schoc
system than Nebraska. The pub
lie schools of the state have attain
ed a high grade of proficiency , inn
the educational system ranks wit ]
that of the foremost states of th
Union. McCook's present facili
lies consist of a central or hig ]
school building , and two war <
schools , but the rapid growth o
the town has made necessary mon
room and increased advantages
which will soon bo supplied by tin
addition of another building , i
handsome bri. k structure , alreacb
begun , and which will cost whei
completed about twelve thousani
dollars. "With ; i graded systen
8mder the 3tr.uagcment of a corpi
of experienced and efficient teach
ers , the public schools of McCool
oiler at all times educational ad
vantages equal to towns of similai
izc in the older eastern states
The city already contains
rivn church i-s
all provided with good substantia ]
buildings , as follows : Methodist ,
Congregational , Catholic , German
Congregational , Lutheran. C thei
societies have etlected oriraniza-
tions. and for whom edifices will
soon ! > - erected.
CIVIC AND IHJXKVftLEXT SOCIETIES.
The following societies Iiave
strong and activeorganizations :
Masonic , Knightsof Pythias , T'ji
iform Rank K. of P. , Odd'Fellov s
Ancient. Order of UnitedXorV
men , McCook Chapter TJ. D. , Con
ilaiitiiie Commandery U. ] ) . . Mod
ern "Woodman of America. Grand
Army of the ilspublic and iBroijb-
irhood of Lpcotioliv3 3'wiginQers.
Hocknell Hose Company eom-
irises a well organized : ncl well
equipped fire depailmeiit.
"
150ARB OU TRADr. ' * '
Thi = organization is riada p oi
he leading busi"ess and profes-
uonal men of the city , having for
ts object the encouragement and
tid of all public and private ontor-
_ i " ses that tend to the general ad
vancement of the interests of ths
own. It is through the pwo"- ,
lEsuch orgnnixatiotfs that the many
mblie improvements rendered ncc-
ssary by tlso rapid growth of n.
ity are secured , and the McCook
loard of trade have been unusually
dive in the promotion of ihc city's
; rowth , and heralding abroad tlio
lumerous advantages that this city
ffers to mon of all professions and
cenpations.
UILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS
nvobeen organized , and aro an
npoi-tnnfc agency iii the work of
ovelopment and upbuilding the
ity , inasmuch as they enable peo-
lo of small means to build and
possess homes of their own.
THE PROFESSIONS
of law , medicine and dent
surgery are all well represente
and the town can justly boast po
session of men of talent , many 1
whom aro graduates cf some of tl
loading colleges and universities 1
the land.
THE PRESS
comprises three weekly new
papers : The Tribune , Gazette an
Democrat , all of which bear ev
deuce of being well and liberal ]
sustained , one of the surest indici
tior.s of intelligence and enterprh
on the part of the inhabitants.
CENTRAL PARK
is situated in one of the most sigh
ly portions of the city , consistin
of an entire block planted to beai
tiful shade trees , and will in a fe
years become one of the most a
tractive features of the city. Th :
park was planted with trees , and :
maintained by the Lincoln Lan
Company for the use of the publi
THE SOCIAL ADVANTAGES
of McCook are not one whit ir
forior to the towns of similar si2
in the older , eastern states. Th
stranger who visits this regio
will observe the same degree of rt
finement and intelligence amon
the people , that ho would look fc
in the cities andillages ofth
Middle and New England State *
A commodious opera house , an
several smaller halls , provide mean
for social amusements , or for th
presentation of all ordinary tiieatri
cal or operatic performances.
WATER WORKS.
As stated elsewhere , with two ex
ceptions , McCook is provided wit ]
the most extensive system of wate
works in the state. This syster
was established in 1883 , in th
second year of the town's existence
and about four miles of piping o :
mains laid that year. The systen
has been extended from year t
year , as the town expanded i
growth , until every street is sup
plied with pipes , and aggregating
at the present time thirteen mile
of mains. The system used is th
Holly , and embodies a Bumpin <
capacity 01 about 500,000 gallon
of water every twenty-four hours
although less than half that amoun
is required to meet tho demand
of the city at the present time
The water supply is furnished fron
ihree huge wells , and is inexhaust
ible. These wells are located nea ]
'he river , aro eighteen feet in di
imeter , thirty-two feet deep , am
valid with a stone curbing eigh
[ eon inches ir. thickness. This stoni
mrbing and tho sand and grave
xi the bottom form a perfect filter
tncl the water which is nearly ai
soft ; as rain water is presented t <
he consumer throughout the cit ]
is clear and pure as crystal. Th <
mgine and pump house , which is
1 substantial brick building , pro
rided with modern engines anc
Machinery , is located near the
vc-lls , and forces the water througl
1 twelve-inch main to a largo res-
irvoir located on a hill in the
icntor of the residence portion oJ
ho town , and about three-fourthf
) f a mile distant from the works ,
Cho r-servoir is * sumoiently elevafr
xto \ atlord a direct pressuro strong
enough to carry the water to ths
i > p .f nerti'ly every huLding ia the
sity. The system hits already cost
ho company about $75i'00 , and
fc is the intention of the. eomi.any
0 e--entnally erect a large .stand
i'pe , which will ift'ord a much
tronger pressure and insure the
u -evauee of water to the top of
he higher-t buddings that may in
he future bo erected and to am
lortion of the citv. This sv stem
3 not oiky a perfect fire protection
ait furnishes all the water used
y tho railway company , and is
Imoat universally used by tLe cit-
53ns in their dwe-jlings , places of
'itsinOBS. ' an.1 , for fountain pur-
oses. The McCook vafcr works
ystetn is one of its most metro-
olitan features , and an acquisi-
ion that cannot be too highly
riz''d by the inhabitants.
RAILWAY INTJ' .RVK VS.
Tsafc tho railway is fcho great
ivilizc.r or the present age , non
-ill deny , and to this agency Ha
underfill development of tho as !
ecade in the great prairie west iV
tainly due. Notwithstanding tin
ast and grand natural resource.
id advantages that surround Mc
00k on every hand. notwilhsind
ig the presence of th * broad and
sautiful plains of agricultural
ealth and beauty that now eon-
ibute to the growth and prospcr-
y of the town , it is none Iho less
true that to the railway it owes
existence , and a largo share of ps
success. Tho presence of the rti
way made possible the rapid dov
opmanfc of the beautiful count
that lios tribitary to McCook ; t .
hanced greatly its valuo , ancl li
and will contribute to tho wealth
tne agricultural clases as wc 11 as
tho city. McCook is situated up
tho main line of tho L. & M. ra
way system about midway before
Omaha and Denver , and belwe
Denver and Kansas City. It
one of the most important divisi
stations on its lines in Kobrasl
being tho home and the headqui
tors of an assistant general sup <
intendent and a full corps of su
ordinate officials as well as hn
dreds of the omployes of tho coi
pany. The company aro tho ow
ors hero of over 800 acres of lan
upon which their buildings a :
yards aro located. Tho numl
and dimensions cf which will
largely increased during the coi
ing year. The 'property of l
company at iho present time co
sists of several miles of side trac
a large depot and office buildin
a large hotel and dining hall , fo
large ice houses , a brick rom
house with twenty stalls to whii
is now being add < d ten more ,
blacksmith shop , store house , lod
ing house , coal sheds , bath horn
etc. They are engaged at 1 ]
present time , in addition to t ]
round house extension , in buildii
a coal sluite , 32x75 feet , with tre
tie approaches of about eight hu :
dred feet in length , and a stoi
and brick oil house about Iwem
feet square. Tho iniprovemen
already made have incurred an e :
pendituroof several hundred thoi
sand dollars , but are a mere drc
in the bucket in comparison ;
what is to follow. The materi :
is already being accumulated f <
the beginning of a system of sLoj
for repair and construction pu
poses , that will bo when compk
ed , the most extensive owned b
tlio H. it M. company 111 the stab
and will ultimately require a fori
of about three thousand men t
operate. Next year will wilncs
the construction of a machine sho
285 feet long by 125 feet inwidtl
two stories high , an iion houa
200 fest long by 75 wide , boside
I largo blacksmith sLop , slor
house and other bu 'icHngs of le
impci-rance. Thc&o buildings ar
all to be oonstrncled in the mr > ;
substantial manner , A\ilh Coh'i.-il
sand stone foundations , while tli
superstructures will be of brie
and iron. The completion of tli
company's works here , means a
addition to McCook of four or fiv
thousand people. The city at th
present iimo is tho headqnarlei
of nearly forty train crews , andth
number of men now employed i
all departments amounts to nearl
500. The monthly disbursement
of the railway company at th
present iimo amounts to nearl
§ 25,000 , and Avilh the complete
of their works two or three yeai
hence , the amount paid out eac
month will be increased to nearl
• > r quite two hundred thousan.
lollars. The business of the B. t
M. company alone will be sufiiei : 1.
.0 maintain a city of eight or ic
housand inhabitants. Bui ther
s eveiy indication that other lim
rill soon build to this city. Sur
. 'eys have already been made , ni >
here is every indication that Mi-
2odk will soon become a raihwv
: enter. The conditions and cir
uimstances at the present tim <
ully warrant the above prediction
McCook is now , and always Avill bi
he metropolis and chief mnikc-
> lace of Southwestern Nebraska
. section of country unsurpassei
II beauty and fertility , the bror.i
cres of which teeming with hogs
orn and cattle , forming too rich 1
irize to be left to the quiet posses
ion of any one or two railwa }
ompanies.
The foregoing brielly sketches
lie main features that have con-
fibuted to the growth of McCool
1 the past , but there are Humer
us other advantages scarcely less
nportant , some of A\hich we de-
ire to present to the notice of ihf
saders of this pa.or. In iho first
lace McCook is the natural trails
suter of a section of country am-
ly capable of maintaining 50.00(1 (
eople. The country is being rr.p-
lly developed , and already con-
dns sonic of iho finest dr.ek aid
rain farms in the state. The JIo-
nblican river otters opporiuniiics
ir cheap manufacturing scarcely
ccelled in tho western country ,
ho peculiar course of tho stream
inders tho construction of a
WATER POWER
racticable and comparatively in
tensive. And an outlay inlhut
• firection' could not fail to yiehi
handsome return for the mon
expended in such an oiilerpris
What the J lock and Cedar rive
aro to Illinois and Iowa , tho H
publican is lo Nebraska , and t
day is not far distant when its a\
lers will bo utilized as tho prope
ing force for the wheels of mime
ous industries. There aro nunn
ous manufacturing industries tli
could be operated here with ovo
assurance of immediate and co
tinued profit. A ilouring mill ,
paper mill , an oat meal mill , am
canning factory aro among I
various enterprises for which 11
locality oilers exceptional oppc
tunities , any or all of which wou
bo welcomed by tho people , m
would be encouraged by a libei
bonus of money and real estal
There is not only a large and ra
idly increasing homo market f
tho products of such enterprise
but tho rapid development of I ]
surrounding country will so <
mako tho presence of such indu
tries absolutely necessary.
SURROUNDING COUNTRY.
A few words in referenco lo t ]
country embrac-d jn McCook's ii
mediate surrottrtdtugs may be
interest to the iisiant reader
this chapter. Jied "Willow coun
in which McC'cok is situated , co
tains 720 squatc miles , or < 1G (
800 acres of as fine agricultur
land au tKe mcu ovei * smiled dov
upon. Tho enintv consists of
'
series . . \alleys u u.l table land
with a variety of soils adopted f
the growth of all the cereal (
root crops known to a lemperal
latitude The country is fine ]
watered by numerous streams , th
most important being the Eepubl
can , which ilows through the cei
tral part of the county from wes
to east , tho Beaver in tho souther
part of the county , the Bed Willo'
in tho northerly portion , logethr
with tho Driftwood , Medicine , Dr
Creek , and numerous other stream
of greater or less importance form
ing a water supply equal , if in.
superior , to that of any other coun
ty in the state. The large amoun
of bottom or natural meadow lain
makes this county exceedingly val
uable to the stock and dairy ma
and industries that aro ahead
quite well represented throughou
the county. Bed "Willow count
is a fair example of half a score <
nore of others forming tho south
vvestem portion of tho stale , sonn
f which contain extensive tract ;
> f government land. All this sec
.ion of country is being rapidb
jeeupied and improved , however
tnd in a few years will be all dot
ed over with towns and village :
which will depend largely upoi
McCook as a supply depot fin
many articles of merchandise , am
I market for the surplus products
if the farm and herd McCook i\
possessed of
CLIMATIC ADVANTAGES
) f tho most desirablo character
Che idea entertained to a certaii
extent by some of tho people of th
nore easterly states , that this sec-
ion of Nebraska is a drought-
itrickcn country is entirely erronr- -
us. Tho magnificent crops oi
: om , wheat , rye and oats of tin
> resent season effectually gives tin
io to any such declaration. Tin
ain-fall is not only sufficient , but
s a general thing comes at tin
eason whon most desired. The
ndications at the present time ,
September 1st , are favorable for
most bountiful harvest in all the
arious products of the soil. The
limatc of Southwestern Nebraska
5 perhaps , all things considered ,
lie most d" . * : able of any portion
f the "Western Stni < v. McCook
5 situated in latitude 40 \ and with
II elevation of about 2.000 feet
bove tho love ] of the sea. a mild
limatc combined with a dry. pure
tmosphere , insures the utmost
• cedom from malarial or fever
roducing causes. This is a coun-
• y of almost perpetual sunshines
here the extremes of temperature
ro rarely known. The winter-
l-o mild , while the summers with
30I evenings in the hottest sea-
> n. are delightful , and from sta-
stical somces wc Jcnrn that Neb-
iska is one of tho most hoalthful
igions in the Union. To tin-
inner 01 small or ample moans ,
lis country offerunparolloJod
ipoiiunilios. To the man who in
Jcsessed of a few hundred ih liars ,
lis country presents better op-
ntunities for securing a home
id a competency than it is possi-
0 for any government land dis-
icfe Avith its fron lands to oiler.
1 is unnecessrry for us lo say
hy tho aliovc slatomeiit is true ,
r a little thought on the part i >
iy intelligent iaimer will convince
mm ot its accuracy. Tho man who
has experienced the hardships in- j
cidont to tho homesteader's or pro- :
emptor's life , in a country reiuoto
from railways , markols , schools
and society , tho increased expense
for provisions and fuel , will find
that at tho end of fivo years' resi
dence , that ho has exponed more
than tho purchaso money for a
quarter section of land , where all
tho conveniences and advantages
referred to above aro ready at
hand. There are others , and to
J e farmeroic important reasons
itv c ings , rich in all tlo beauties
of nature , stands + lns beautiful
young c ty of m gicnl growth ; the
pivot , tho center , in itself magnifi
cent , n"d from which , a fow years
hence , will rad'al" railway lines lo
almost every portion of thisasfc
empire of agricultural wealth and
beauty , establishing an inter
change of commercial in tores t , that
.ill aid in theork : of general de
velopment , n"d greatly multiply
the industries and business enter
prises of 0110 of the fairest of Ne
braska's fair cities.
THE LINCOLN LAND CO. ,
Thomas Colfor , resident mannger.
why this section should bo prefer-
iblo to the untried goeminent
'and ' districts further north and
' .vest , and which are contained in
wo words , "water and soil. " To
tho stock farmer especially , good
water is an all-important considor-
ition when selecting land. A pro
ductive and durable soil is also a
very elesirablo feature , as it will
require less expense to maintain
productive qualities.
Many a renter in the states far
ther east , pays out every two years
in rent alone , money enough lo
purchase outright , a corresponding
number of acrosMin this country ,
where the natural advantages are
in every way superior , and where
market and social advantages aro
equally as good as in the older
states.
Tho elements here exist for the
upbuilding of a large city , and to
accomplish which only requires the
united and persistent eiforts on the
part ofHhoso who are interested in
tho growth and welfare of the town.
The eslimato of future growth and
development is not in any sense a
matter of speculation. The cheap
lands of this section of the country
fire being rapidly settled and im
proved , the development of which
will also add greatly to McCook's
prosperity.
McCook presents a degree of
-olidily that is rarely found in tho
new towns of a newly settled coun-
ry. Business and residence build
ings are constructed in the most
substantial manner , and of pleas-
ng architectural elesigns. Ther"
ire numeruos brick blocks upon
he business thoroughfares that
vould be a credit to any city how
ever great , and several otheis that
tre in course of construction.
The town embodies all the mar-
cot advantages of an old settled
wintry. The business men and
iierchaniri carry largo and com
pete stocks of goods , three solid
tanking institutions , all doing an
xtensi' .e business , indicate a most
ealthful financial condition. Ac-
ive competition in all departments
f trade insures low juices for all
ommodities. while the constant
emand for all the j roducts of the
trmgives to the agricultural
lasses of the surrounding coun-
: y. a most satisfactory market for
very thing that i hoy have to sell ,
[ any of the merchants of this city
re already doing a jobbing trade ,
ml it will not be long until the
holesale trade in certain lines of
terchandise will become a di tim-l
ud important feature.
To the cajntalist. manufacturer ,
leehanie or laborer , this locality
tiers the most desirable opportun -
ies. . McCook is the growing
ty of Nebraska , to-day. and the
an who invests his money hoj 1
3w , will reap the benefit of ; .
ipidiy augmented valuation.
Our limited spice will admit of
tl a mere glance at the nunieroii. .
[ vantages here offered , but that
-cCVik and its surroundings com
ite more elements that are calcu-
ted to contribute to the success
all classes of business than al-
ost any other locality in ihe great 1
• airio wes * , h a fact that can be
adily deni : < Lr : > d by investiga-
311. Good wr.L-r-r , v. healthful cli-
ate , good rabw and churches.
) od society v.m ] excellent market
cililies are all elements that coin-
end this city and country to that
arid of immigration that is con-
mally moving towards the setting
The center of such grand and !
ible resources , with landscape sur- I