I *
4 Conservative.
Slocum law. This statute provides ,
among other regulations , that the people
of this state who drink shall have abso
lutely pure beer , pure liquors and pure
wines for their destruction or delecta
tion , as the case may be.
The recent election indicates that the
Liquor Dealers' Association is not satis
fied with present conditions , nor forget
ful or forgetting as to those who in
former years seemed to have , in their
judgment , favored a prohibitory amend
ment to the constitution. More than
any other organization , outside of the
Silver Smelters' combine , the Liquor
Dealers' Association determined the
recent contest for n position upon the
supreme bench of the state of Nebraska.
The quotation from the democratic
platform of 1884 , reproduced in this
article , remained good until 1889 , when
it was given up for a milder statement
and a lot of bosh relative to ' 'sumptuary"
laws which was proposed and insisted
upon by Colonel Bryan upon the ground
that it would catch more votes than a
straight avowal of anti-prohibition
doctrines.
The Liquor Dealers' Association ,
judging from their latest political move ,
apparently desires some action taken
relative to its affairs and the busi
ness of its members. It is quite
certain that the chemical test
provided for all stimulants by the
Slocum law might now bo applied by
the friends of good drinks , pure drinks ,
and temperate temperance , with most
satisfactory results.
The combine of the silver syndicate
and the liquor dealers' brotherhood in
behalf of Holcomb & Co. is worthy of
an investigation.
RECOLLECTIONS OF NEHltASK A CITY.
The Overland Freighting liusineHS in the
Eurly OO'H.
In September , 18GO , the writer sold
his profitable interest in business located
on 4th street in the city of St. Louis ,
having decided to make a second flight
from Now York towards the setting sun ,
Nebraslca City having been the place
selected for his resting place.
He purchased a good stock of groceries
and outfitting goods , suitable for the
wants of the plains-trade , and shipped
them , by steamboat , for Nebraslca City ,
714 miles up the Missouri river from
St. Louis , paying freight at the rate of
§ 2.25 per hundred pounds.
He landed here on the 15th of October ,
I860. Having a store room already pre
pared , located in Kearney ( now a part
of Nebraska City ) , ho was soon in
shape to supply the wants of the over-
laud business with such supplies as were
needed for making the long trip to Den
ver , Salt Lake and military posts.
Nebraska City at that time was con
sidered the most favorable point oil the
Missouri river for the transportation of
freight to the far western points. It
was the headquarters for the great com
pany of llussell , Majors & Waddell ,
who freighted nearly all the government
supplies destined to military posts from
the Missouri river to Salt Lake.
Nearly all other than government
freight was carried by freighting firms
and individual parties.
The Great Fire.
On the 12th of May , I860 , previous to
my arrival , there occurred a disastrous
fire in Nebraska City , destroying nearly
all the business part of the town north
from Table Creek , the only business
firms left being Hawko & Nuckolls ,
between 3rd and 4th on Main street ,
and Robt. Heflloy , on the corner of 9th
and Main. During the years of I860
and ' ( > l the greater part of the business
of the city was done in Kearney , be
tween North Table Creek and the Levee ,
but after that time , as the city rebuilt
its burned district , the business gradu
ally moved back to its old quarters , and
then extended farther west.
The business of the "Wild and
Woolly" little town ( called city ) on the
extreme borders of civilization , depended
for its support almost entirely upon the
transportation of freight westward.
It was then considered the only 'busi
ness that would build up our town and
add value to its near vicinity , as it was
the general opinion that the country a
few miles west from the Missouri river
border was valueless for agricultural
purposes. With that idea nearly every
business man was ready to do all in his
power to advance the interests of
Nebraska City as a freighting point.
The Old California Trail.
Previous to the year of 1861 all west
ern freight followed the old California
trail , running northwest from Nebraska
City , striking the Platte river 30 miles
from its mouth , then following up the
Platte , running north , making a big
bend around what is now the counties
of Saunders , Butler and Polk. A few
of the business men of Nebraska City
decided it would advance the business of
our city if the old route could be
shortened between Nebraska City and
Fort Kearney. With that object in
view , they met and agreed that , if pos
sible , the route should be shortened.
Wm. E. Hill was chosen as the one who
should go over the country and locate
the route on as nearly a direct east and
west line as possible from Nebraslta City
to Fort Kearney. An outfit was made
ready and Mr. Hill started on his ex
ploring expedition. Upon his return ho
reported that a good route had been
found running nearly due west to the
Blue , crossing Salt Creek near Saltillo ,
a point about eight miles south of Lin
coln ; from there running a little north
of west to the Blue river , crossing that
stream near the mouth of Beaver Creek
and running on the high grounds on the
north side through the southern part of
what is now Seward , York , Hamilton
and Hall counties , striking the Platte
river forty miles east from Fort Kear
ney , making a saving in distance of
forty miles over the old trail , and
a shortening of time for ox trains of
over two days. After giving the report
due consideration it was decided the
road should be opened , each one present
pledging himself to stand a just proportion
tion of the cost.
The lloiul Opened.
The new route was opened by build
ing a strong , substantial bridge over
Salt Creek and Blue river , and plough
ing a furrow the whole distance from
Salt Creek to the Platte river , that the
first ones over the route might follow ,
a route free from sand , over which a
team could haul its load the whole dis
tance without help.
The route soon became the favorite ,
the old trail being abandoned by all
starting from Nebraska City.
Wagons Used.
The freight wagons used were the
Murphy and Espenshied , made in St.
Louis , and the Studebaker , made at
South Bend , Ind. These wagons were
constructed especially for the plains
transportation business ; made of the
best timber , wide-tracked , strong and
tight , high double box , and heavy tired ,
and covered with heavy canvass over
the bows. More of the Murphy make
were used than either the Studebaker or
Espenshied , though many claimed the
Studebaker the easiest running.
7,000 pounds was the load drawn by
five yoke of good cattle ; six yoke if
cattle were light. A good team con
sisted of one yoke of heavy , well-broken
cattle for wheelers , a good second best
came next ; two pair in the swing could
be made up from partly broken cattle ,
with a good pair of leaders. The Texas
steer made , when broken , the best lead
ers , holding his head high , with his long
horns and soft wild eyes , like those of a
deer , quick on his feet , quarters light
and tapering , limbs clean cut , could run
like a horse and quite as fast when
alarmed.
The Train.
A full train consisted of twenty-six
wagons ; twenty-five freight and one
mess , in charge of a wagonmaster and
assistant , who generally used mules for
their riding ; then there were with every
train three or four plain's ponies for
herding and extra riding. Sixteen to
eighteen miles a day was made in two
drives , one from early morning to about
11 o'clock a. m. , and the second from
about 1 o'clock to 0 o'clock p. m. Some
times the drives would vary in making
water and grass.
In making camp at the order of the
wagonmaster , the lead team would
circle to the right , the team following to
POTWS