12 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , JULY 12 , 1891-S1XTEEN PAGES ,
THE GIBRALTAR OF STATES.
An Exhaustive Review of Nebraska's Material
Growth arid Prosperity.
BOUNTIFUL NATURE LAVISHLY REWARDS THRIFT.
Manufactures Marching to the Music of Progressive Husbandry-
Assessed nnd Actual Valuations Stock Raising
nnd Stock Markets Comparatives
Statistics.
Population I8 0. lr , W2 ; In 1890 , 1,053,010.
Increase , ISM per cent ,
Vnluo of real nnd personal property In 1880 ,
t < Vi5inO,000 ; In ISs'JO , $ l,5S5inO , , 00. Increase ,
248 per cent.
Amount deposited In state nnd national
banks. 150,507,013 ; per capita , fi7.
Stnto levy , f yt mills ; nsseascd valuation not
exceeding 1-10 of real vnluo.
Creamery capacity , W,000 ) pounds of butter
per day.
Capacity of flour mills , 10,000 barrels per
dav.
Capacity of sugar factories , 10,000 pounds
per day.
Inhabitants to the square mlle , II.
Improved land , l.'l.fi'l.lbOncres.
Average value of Improved land , $21 per
aero.
aero.Railroads
Railroads In Nebraska in 1891 , 5,314.03
miles.
Grain raised in 1889 : Oats. 29,003,000
bushels ; barley , 3.15515 ( ! bushels ; wheat. 10- ,
8 8,000 bushels ; corn , MD,04.1,000 bushels ; an
Jncroaso of 5 0-10 per cent In ono year.
Cattle and hogs marketed In 134 , 88,701 ;
In 18'.X ) , 1,230.01(1. ( Increase 3 , ! 0 per cont.
Value of public schools , $4,03,2SO 48. Ex
pended In support of schools , $4,177,224.54.
Cattle In feeding sheds and ranees , 200,000
bead.
Output of canning factories , 15,000,000 cans.
NMIKAHICV Kt'lXOMIZUD.
A Brief Itovlow of the Great Pros-
purity or tlio State.
In 1654 congress named the vast region
west of Minnesota and Iowa , north of the
line of Kansas , east of Utah and the summit
of tbo Hocklcs and extending to the British
possessions , Nebraska , and provided for a
territorial government. There were in all
this vast region hut 4,000 white people.
These were huddled for the most part along
the Missouri river. Since 1854 out
of this territory have boon created
the states of Colorado , Wyoming , Mon
tana , North Dakota , South Dakota
and the present tate of Nebraska
with a total population of moro than tivo
millions.
In 18C7 Nebraska practically as now out
lined upon the map was admitted into the
union. Her area was 70,185 square mllos.
She was the thirty-seventh star In the union
and for nine years continued the baby sister ,
when Colorado was horn.
J lor population in 1870 , three years after
admission , was 122.000.
Today she numbers over a million souls
nnd ranks twenty-sixth In the states of the
union. Ten years ago her rank was thirtieth.
This rapid growth of Nebraska is illus
trated most graphically by the census re
turns given below :
1SV5 4,49t
181V ) 28.841
1870 12J.OM
1R8 < ) 4Vr ! > l2
1890 ] , OJflTUJ
In this connection it may bo of interest to
detail the popular vote for governor during
the years ot statehood. In 1800 , when the
first election WAS hold , the vote was 8,0(1 ( ;
lbC8 , W..KJfl ; 1870 , 10,771 ; 1873 , 27,770 ; 1874 ,
80,019 ; 1870 , 52,2f4 ; ; 1878 , 52,417 ; 1880 , 87.H45 ;
1882,89,008 ; 1884 , iru.oSi ; 1880 , 133,239 ; 1883 ,
202,803 ; 1890 , 21J.07J.
ftobrasica's udvanco In the material re
sources tins kept pace with her increase in
population. In 1803 , the year following her
admission , the state hud an assessed valua
tion of KU.OOO.OOO. In 1891 the actual value
of her real nnd personal property roaches the
magnificent aggregate of $1,585,100,300 , an
Inoroaso slnco 18SO of 8955.150,300.
There nro on deposit In the state banlcs
$19,810,790 , and in the national banks $30,087-
247 , making n total of 153,507,013 , showing a
per capita of $47.
The state levy for 1890 was 6J.f mills.
Taxation is notonerous , being much lass than
$1 on the $100 actual value tbo assessed
valuation rarely exceeding ono-tonth of the
real value of taxable property.
There uro 13,074,180 acroi of land still un
improved nnd n very large part of this is
both smooth nnd nrablo. It will mn'to ' homos
and farms for 100,0JO additional farmers ,
During the last ton years the state has devoted -
voted n grout deal of attention to creameries.
In those , ns n rule , only homo capital 1ms
boon Invested , The number of these now in
successful operation is llfty , giving employ
ment to IIX ) men witli about 350 teams nnd
with an estimated capacity of 50,000 pounds
of butter per day.
The interior of the state Is also dotted with
flour mills , mainly of the roller pattern.
There nro 400 of these dally in operation , re
ceiving tholr power from tha excel
lent running streams of the state
orbysto.xm for which coal may bo procured
from Wyoming , Iowa and Missouri at very
reasonable rates. These glvo employment to
about sixteen hundred men and have a dally
capacity ot 10,000 barrels.
Nebraska has two of the largest
sugar boot factories in America. It
has boon demonstrated that her
soil is particularly well adapted
to the cultivation of the sugar beet , and this
has led to the establishment of the two fac
tories , ono at Grand Island nnd the other at
Norfolk. These give employment to 500 men
during the growing season nnd the work of
manufacturing. They represent nn outlay of
$2,000,000 nnd have a capacity of 40,000 pounds
per day.
i Nebraska has 20,000 moro square miles
thnn lown , 12tVJ ! square mlles moro than
the Now England states. She lacks only a
tow squura miles of being twlco the size of
the state of Ohio.
She has fourteen Inhabitants to the squnro
mlle , and can support 75 or 100 or 2,10 ns well
as In New York or Mnsiachusotts.
Nebraska has 110,000 acres of cultivated
timber on which are growing 48,000.000 trees ,
nearly 2,000,000 npplo trees , 1,800,000 poaob ,
87,000 cherry trees , 218,000 , grapevines and
Til.OOOjmlles of hedge fences.
In 1874 the grain product was 10,000,000 ,
buahols , In 1871) ) , 100,000,000 bushels. In 1883
there were raised 144,217,000 bushels of corn ,
14,603,000 wheat , 20,177,000 oats. In 188'J the
yield was as follows : Oats , 29,003,000 ; barley ,
3,555,850 ; wheat , 10,818,000 ; com , 149,513,000 , ;
bushels , showing an Inoroaso of 10,452,000 ,
biuhela or & 0-10 per cont.
This year , however , farmers nro paying
moro attention to the cultivation of iwhoat
and the showing will bo much higher both
as regards the yield and the average. Tha
prasout Indications warrant tha belief
that the products ot Nebraska's
corn floldi will roach the band-
oioo aggregate of 00,000,000 bu hel
Boron years ago there was not a cow or
bV ) slaughtered In Nebraska , except for do-
< ae Uo consumption. She now has the third
largest hog packing market In the world nt
Omnhn nnd In another year Omaha wilt bo
exceeded as a packing center only by Chi
cago. In 1&34 this market rocolvod 30,803
cattle , 1SOU hogs , 1,188 sheep.
Last year It received 000,009 cattle , 1,073-
311 hogs , 15 < ilSO sheep , and 20,003 horses and
mules.
In 1884 this market shipped 81,055 cattle ,
500 hogs , 1,273 shcop , nnd 117 horses nnd
mules.
In 1890 it shipped 1,107,592 , cattle , 1.189,200
hogs , 309,775 sheep , nnd 21,023 horses. This
Is the most rapid increase on record.
Thcso cattle , hogs and sheep were for the
greater part raised on Nebrnikn farms.
Nebraska's educational system , hrespec
tive of the university , compt scs 5,740 school
houses , valued nt $4,072,2&0.13 , with sites nnd
apparatus valued at $1,155,059.83 , making n
grand total of & 5,127UO : 81 , with n total ox
pcndituro of $4,177,224 54 per year.
Cattle raising in Nebraska is carried on by
n number of people , and there uro never fewer
than 200,000 noad on the ranges and feeding
barns outsldo of these which are fattened by
farmers. The nutritive grasses of the prai
ries sustain thousands of these cattle during
nil seasons of the year , whllo somn of the
larger dealers provide shelter during summer
and winter for their stock. Thcso cattle find
a ready market at South Omaha. Among the
principal feeders are tbo Standard cattle
company at Ames , which feeds about nine
thousand head ; the Bay State company
which takes care of 3,000 ; Hurshey
with 4,000 near North Bond , together
with Molsnor & Sheldon at Columbus ;
Alton & Glover and Tsnac Albert , near Grand
Island : N. B. BorgroenVahoo ; M. Butter-
field , Crolghton ; Hake & Uothwell , Wood ,
Bancroft & Co. and tlio Standard breeding
company In Stan ton county ; J. D. Spearman
In Sarpy county ; Ormsby at Wood Hlvor ,
and Forbes & Columbus at the same place.
There nro twenty canning factories which
glvo employment to 3,000 people during the
season and put up yearly 15,000,000 cans of
com , peas , tomatoes and beans.
TJIK COUNTY IJXH1IHT
Shows tlmt Prosperity nnd Wealth
Dominate Throughout the State.
The following is a review of the situntion
by counties ns regards the finances , agri
cultural resources nnd manufactures of the
stato.
Antclopo County.
This Is ono of the most prosperous and best
watered counties In the -state. It contains
from southeast to northncst the Elkhorn
valley and nKo the Cedar , Willow , Antelope ,
Voraleris and Bazillo crook valleys all fer
tile nnd with the purest water.
The soil is composed of clay nnd sandy
loom with little , if any , waste lands.
The county has nu altitude of 1,500 feet
above sea level nmUltig the air pure , light
and unusually healthy. The annual rainfall
being over 30 inches gives ample moisture to
produce cereals and grains as well us vege
tables In abundance.
Our whpat grades with that of the
famous Hod rlvor of the north.
The markets of the county are mostly west
ern , to the Innra stock ranches , the Black
Hills and Wyoming uilnliig districts. The
Noligh mills , with a daily capacity of 'JOO
barrels and tbo Oakdalo mills with a capacity
ot 150 work up immense quantities of grain
raised in or near the couuty. Two custom
mills , ono nt Clear Water and the otnor at
Jossup supply farmers in the northwestern
part of the county with near milling facilities.
The North American catMo company and
Messrs. Rollins & Huffman at Ncltgh and
the Converse cattle company at Tllden give
the best of markets for rough grain , fodder
and produce. The first company being pre
pared to feed from 3,000 to5,0 > X ) head of cattle
lu n season.
The Elithorn Valley railroad traverses the
county from southeast to northwest and also
from Oakdalo to Albion in Boone county
giving un eastern outlet by way of Omaha
nnd Cblcago.nlso west to the Black Hills and
Wyomlnu , whilst tbo Pacific Short Line from
Sioux City to O'Neill passes through the
north side of the county giving that part an
outlet to the east through Sioux City.
The Duluth & Pueblo railroad is now sur
veying nnd expects to build to Noligh this
fall , Noligh having accepted the railroad's
proposition by wbich .sho gets the freight
division nnd repair shops.
This road will glvo the county nn outlet di
rect to Duluth nnd also southwest to Pueblo ,
Col.
Col.Noligh
Noligh , the county seat , has n population
of 1,300 , a number of largo brick blocks , line
stocus of goods , a 200-burrel roller mill und n
creamery milking over ouo thousand pounds
of butter per day.
All trades are well rcpioscntod and thcro
h no lack of good hotels.
Nellgh also bos exceptional advantages for
education , having n complete system of pub
lic and hUh schools with a corps of eight
teachers , whilst Gates college under the
auspices of the Congregational church of
noithorn Nebraska , the only largo Institution
north of Omaha or the Platte valley , is fast
becoming the most popular institution of
learning in the state , over 150 students hayIng -
Ing been In attendance during last-year.
TliLOO bunks the Flcst National , Com
mercial Stnto and Moiohants each uiivo a
good substantial business.
Arrangements are being made to put in a
sugar fuctoryhomp mill and flax and oil mill.
A line system of waterworks with an
average pressure of seventy-four pounds andover
ever four miles of mains supply the city with
water.
The churches nro represented by Congro-
gatlonnl , Methodist , Episcopal und Chilstiaa
societies each with a Roodsubstantial odillco ,
the Congiugatlonal cost in c over $5,000 , An
opera house with a seating capacity of IKXJ
complete the public buildings.
Oakdalo , Clour Water nnd Tildon glvo good
markets and business facilities on the Elkhorn -
horn valley , whllo the now towns of Bruns
wick , Savngo nnd Orchard on the Short
Line help the farmers to a near market in
the north and Elgin on the Albion branch tea
a market on the south ot the county.
The assessors' reports show that there are
In the couuty 8,219 homos , 20,337 head ot cattle
tlo , 140 mules , 01 sheep und 15,731 hogs.
The growing crops are : 0,870 acres in wheat ,
50,687 , acres In corn , 17,411 acres in oats , 230
acres in barley , 2,072 acres In tame grass , 218
acres In rye und 200 acres In millet. The
county has no bonded Indebtedness.
AtlnniH County.
This county has three ( louring mills out ,
sldo of Hastings nnd a cheese factory nt Ayr-
Hastings , the county sent , has the follow
ing Industries ; Hastings carriage works ,
employing 5 men ; book binding , employing a
men ; Klmball laundry , employing ! ! 0 men ;
City laundry , employing 5 men ; bottling
works , employing 2 men ; J. H , Honey & Co. .
'harness and saddle factory , employing is
men ; marble mid granlto works , employing 4
men ; planing mill , employing it men : sash
und door factory , employing 5 men ; National
cornice and ornamental works , omploving
7 men ; Hastings foundry , employing 12 men ;
Novelty works , 2 men ; proprietary medi
cines , & men : three brlok yards , U5 men ;
eight cluur factories , 45 men ; Queen City
roller mill * , 10 men ; three Hour nnd food
mills , 7 mon ; three bnkorios , 10 men ; blue
ing fuctory , 1 man ; yeast factory , 3 men ;
Uoso bridge builders. 10 men ; Hastings dye
works , a men ; fence faiilory , 3 men ; Vulcan
ite roofing company , 11 men ; Morin cold
storage company , 24. man ; two pickling
worm , 13.
Nona of the above mentioned mills , factor
ies , etc. , have been In existence ton years ;
however tbo out put of the Institutions en
umerated has Increased yearly slnco tbolr
Inception.
A sufo and paying Investment of capital
would bo found in turning n natural basin of
23Uncrns jncar Hastings ! Into an artificial
lake , by the nld of n running stream travers
ing it. To purchase the land and com pie to
Improvements , would demand nn outlay of
$ .50,000. The Ice crop nlono would sell for
$15,000 each year. Another $ .V,00 ) could bo
rcnllrod from boat and pleasure privileges.
Chief among enterprises which would bean
an Inducement for the Investment of cnpltnt ,
would bo n paper mill , bwat sugar factory ,
ropewalk , Unseed oil works , creameries , beef
and pork packing bouses , brnwery , distillery ,
oat meal , clucosu , knitting , starch nnd broom
factories.
The city of Hastings possesses superior
factltlcs for the manufacture of starch. The
water hero is pronounced superior In quality
nnd quantity to any In the state for that pur
pose.
The city of Hastings needs n 150 room
liolol badly. It Is a leading railroad center
of Nebraska nnd a convention city.
HufTiilo C'oimty.
The manufacturing interests of the city of
ICcarnoy and Buffalo county are still In their
Infancy. These of importance already In
operation nro tbo flouring mills nt Kearney ,
Elm Creek nnd Gibbon , the Kearney paclttng
house , ICcarnoy electric nnd water power
company , iron works nnd foundry , btowory ,
the Gibbon creamery , Kearney pressed brick
works , stone works and the Kearney cotton
mills , now under construction. Alt these In
dustries have been started within the past
ton years nnd have proved n success. The
Kcarnoy cotton mills , which are destined to
bo the largest west of the Mississippi river ,
wore conceived about two years ngo by east
ern capitalists , seeking for nsuitnblc location
torn factory to manufacture cotton goods.
They nro located nbout two mlles west of
Kcarnoy near LnKo Echo , a largo reservoir
of the canal. Hero Is n suitable fall for water
power and n natural outlet to the Platte
river below. The superstructure of the
building is completed , nnd the work of finish
ing it is going on us fast as possible. To
start with , 15,000 spindles will bo used , but
the architectural arrangement of the build
ing will admit of its being enlarged. Mr.
Walter Ammock. formerly of the Henderson
mills of Henderson , Ky. , is suncrintending
the uork and will be the resident manager.
Tbo electric \vntorpoworeompnny con
trols the big canal intended solely for water
power , nnd the power nt the clrotric station
Is futnishod by 'vntor from the Platte rlvor.
This Is in tuni transmitted to different parts
Its line through "Durt county , which will glvo
our people thobtmollt ! of two direct Chicago
lines. Heal estate values have nn upward
tendency , Intnl having ndvnncod nbout $5 per
ncro slnco lastS'ttar.
The population is nbout 7. per cent Ameri
can , Ifi per cqnL Scandinavian nnd 10 per
cent Gorman niuj Irish.
There nro four flour mills , two chocso fac
tories , ono crdfirnory , ono canning factory and
ono saw mill. "
Among the thost needed Industries porhnps
is tno boot cu\lurp \ , and the subject of n fac
tory for the manufacture of sugar from the
beet has been agitated to some extent nnd Is
sura to rccolvo ijtoro favornblo consideration
In the future , as It becomes moro nnd moro
apparent that ottf lands nro finely adapted to
the raising of tl0 | root. Burt county is not
experiencing any decided boom , but there
bus been n steady growth since tlio county
wns first organlVod. Many settlors- came
hero when the "Groat Muddy" was the only
means of communication with the civilized
world , nnd when the dusky snvngo disputed
tholr right to Invade his domain , but they had
faith In tbo country which they had labored
BO hard to develop nnd their confidence was
not misplaced , for the then undeveloped re
sources have responded nobly to the touch of
tbo husbandman , until all over our county
prosperity Is evidenced by the many beauti
ful end costly residences , happy homos and
contented people.
Itoono County.
Boone county has throe roller mills , ono nt
Codnr Rapids , ono ntSt. Edwards nnd ono nt
Albion , running all the year round. Thcro
Is a chccso factory at Petersburg , n creamery
at Boone nnd ono at Cedar Haplds.
Albion , the county seat , has n vorv fine
school building , costing $25,090 and nil the
other villages in tbo county hnvo treed nnd
commodious schools. The Boouo county
ngrlculturnl association has expensive fair
grounds , with coed buildings and nn excel
lent race track , located nt Albion. The soci
ety has hold six annual exhibitions , which
hnvo been flattering successes , demonstrat
ing the superior qualifications of Boonc
couuty ns nn agricultural and stock raising
community.
HIIV Unite County.
Of the thousand square miles this county
contains less thnn 3 per cent are waste lacd.
Its staple products are wheat , oats , rye nnd
vegetables. Sugar beets nro grown to per
fection. The B & M. machine shops at Al
liance employ 150 men. The Alliance milling
company with a capital of $ .20,000 has a cap
acity of ICO barrels per day.
The county has a good now court house
and a poor fni m of 320 acres with n inrgo
brick poor house on It. All this is paid for
N KB R ASK. A :
Actual nnd assessed property valuation ; population with ten years'
rate of Increase ; total deposits In all banks with circulation per
capita ; area , ruling price of land , etc.
ot tbo city , where olootrlc power is used.
Dynmnos from tlio same station furnish
power tor tbo oloctrlo strcot railwav system
nnd llh'lit for the are and incandescent lights
used In the city.
Capitalists are llndlni ; their way hero , and
beside * this county is receiving its shitro of
Immigration , The wonderful fertility and
Krcut depth of soil assure the farmer of sat
isfactory returns for his toll for n Ion ; ; period.
Belli ) ; adapted to all cereals and producing
luxurient imtmo , this county offers special
Inducements to the agriculturist and stock
grower , ThoroMs an abundance of room and
many bright opportunities offered these seek
ing now IIOIIUM in Buffalo county.
Hurt County.
Burt couuty Is sltuatoa in the eastern part
of the state , bordering on the Missouri river ,
and is thlity-flvo milts north of Omaha nnd
sixty miloi ! south of Sioux City.
The Chicago , St. Paul , Minneapolis &
Omaha railwav traverses the entire length ot
the couuty from north to south near the con-
tor. Located along the same nro four thriv-
IIIK towns , Lyons , Oakland , Craig nnd Tolui-
inah , the latter place bolng the county NU.it.
The county is well wateroa nnd drained , has
an abundance of timber , and Is finely adapted
to a diversity of agricultural pursuits. The
soil is n black loam ot unusual depth and U
very productive , as shown by the fact that
for over thirty-live years there has not boon a
crop failure In Burt county.
The raising of corn and cattle are among
the loading branches of rural industry , al
though small grain is grown to considerable
extent , there bolng ever thirty thousand acres
of wheat and oats this yoar.
In addition to feeding our own stock dur
ing the past year , Burt county has supplied
over fifteen hundred carloads of hay for ship
ment to other parts of thin state , Kansas and
Missouri , besides feeding vast herds of cattle
driven here from western districts.
In tlila way fully n thousand cur loads of
cattle and bogs are each year prepared for
the markets of the world.
Burt couuty has ever sovouty-flvo thousand
fruit trees and provides all the fruit It con
sumes. The bnuillor irults strawberries ,
raspberries , grapes , cherries , flto , , are raised
lu ubundttncoand largo quantities are shipped
to supply the markoU at Omuba and Sioux
City.
< The transportation facilities of the county
are not surpassed by that ot any locality in
the stato.
It Is expected that In the nonr future a rail
road bridge will bo built across the Missouri
river at Decatur , a thriving town in the
northeastern part of the county , a charter
having already boon granted for tnaipurnose ,
and that ono of the Chicago roads now look
ing for a fcasablo rouW to Omaha will ox tend
and there Is not ono dollar of bonded Indebt
edness outstanding. There are over eighty
organized school districts in the county in
which from six to nine months school is
taught during the yoar.
In religious mutters all denominations nro
represented anil every neighborhood has its
country church. The couuty is mostly set
tled by thrifty Americans , mostly fiom Iowa
and IlHnoU , with a good sprinkling of Ger
mans anil Scandinavians.
Ilomingtonl , the county seat near the center -
tor of the couuty , is a thriving town of about
Ih o hundred inhabitants.
Alliance in the southeast is a busy place of
1,500 and a division station on the 11. & M.
railroad. Box Butte , Lawn. Llbby , end
Burb.ink , are county postonices , each with
its store and. blacksmltn shop.
110
Itoytl County.
Boyd couuty fs .tho baby county of No-
brasica. It was cViiatod by act of legislature
last winter and \yllltbo organized on the first
day of August. , Ic .is . bounded by the state
line on tbo nbrth , the Missouri rlvor on the
east , the JS'lobrnru V vor on the south and the
Koyn P ha on thVj'Titat.
Settlers are rusliiijg In at n great rate , and
where last year , ( ijdlans only roimod , the
sturdy j eoman is. now at work with plow and
nxo. Tbo gonor.iliiforimition of the country
Is rolling prairie divided by rich valleys.
The soil is n fertile Vfuclc | loam with a yellow
porous ol.iy subsoil ! ' .
There are l.UOU u rter sections of land In
the couuty nnd as no ono can purctmso moro
than m.oquurteiiroiu the government , the
land grabber and'Jgjxiculator therefore being
debarred. The I'drfca traverses the county
from \\ost to oasn Ji Is a beautiful stream ,
abounding wlth hh , lined with groves of
timber and affording many excellent mill-
sites , The Niobrara forms the southern
boundary and in the western portion of ttio
county tno ICoya Pnha empties into it. Both
riven are fringed with an ubumtanco ot tim
ber , mostly oak and cettouwood. The princi
pal town mid probable county neat of this
fair territory Is Butte City , grown up Ilka a
mushroom in the last few months , The town
draws trudo not only from its own neighbor
hood , but far from Dakota and the Sioux
reservation.
lUultio County.
This county 1ms only boon organized n con-
plo of years. A few years ago there were no
settlers in the territory which is known as
Blultirt county , the only sign ot civilization
then being ouo. lonely stock ranch , There are
in consequence , no factories nor mills ns yet ,
but the need of them Is much felt by the rapIdly -
Idly Increasing population.
( huso County.
Up to 18S5 , Chase county was ohfofly the
homo of buffaloes , antolopcs and wild horses
Interspersed with n few ranchers nnd thol
bunches of cattle , feeding along some of th
streams running through the county. Then
the aottlomout of the county began und In n
short time several thousand people had taken
up claims ana began to Improve thorn. It
Juno. ISSO , the county was organl/ed and the
county scat located nt Imperial , n struggling
hamlet of a few nouses near the center of the
county. The soil ls n rich , blade , sand ;
loam , producing In abundance all ot the crops
raised In the same latitude further cast.
With tbo exception of the season of 1800 , the
farmers have always raised a good crop , nm
as this failure was moro or loss pronounuoc
all over the west , it has not discouraged
many of them , and they will bo reworded ; or
tbolr energy by ono of the most botintlfu
harvusts on record.
Water In plenty nnd of excellent quality Is
found most ovc'rywhoro In wells nt nn average
erago depth of forty feet. The Frouchmni
llo"ws through the ontlro county from west to
east , making ouo of the Illicit mill streams It
the state , having a rock bottom In many
places , with numerous cascades and falls , ono
of them nt W.uineta , where the water falls
eight feet perpendicularly ever n ledge of
rock. The current In the Frenchman Is very
awlft , having nbout sixteen feet full to the
mllo.
mllo.Near
Near the head of the stream Is n good burr
grist mill , whllo some six miles furthoi'down ,
nt Champion , there is n roller mill of sovonty-
flvo barrels dally capacity , which employs
some half a dozen hands. At the Wnuno'ta
falls thcro Is a 100-barrel roller mill , which
docs not use ono-thlrd of the water power nl
that place.
Imperial the present county scat is locM-ot
in the center of the couuty and has n papula
tlon ot about four hunched. Its streets nro
lined with slmdo trees nnd the court tioust
block is today n line p.irk , with beautifu
trees , ntid n neat and HUbstautial court house
situated thereon nnd the county has no
bonded Indebtedness.
Champion , situated on the Frenchman ,
some nine mlles southwest ot Imperial , is n
bountiful little town ot nbout two hundred
and llfty inhabitants , nnd is in the center ot
the tract of laud irrigated by the Champion
Valley Water Power nnd Irrigation com
pany's ditch , which Is ] ust about completed ,
and will water some ton thousand acres ol
land.
land.Wiiunoto
Wiiunoto , in the eastern portion of the
county , ho. * n population of about two hun
dred and is llnoly located for manufacturing
purposes on account of the line water power
thoro.
Lamar is situated in the northwest portion
of the county , has a population of nbout two
hundred and is surrounded by choice agri
cultural lands. Thcro nio many good busi-
"noss openings in ttio county to the men who
will combine capital nud energy. Moro grist
mills are needed to manufacture into Hour
Chase county's immnnso wheat crop. A
creamery would bo a paying institution , and
the Frenchman rlvor at any polnt.would
afford umplo powor.
Fine openings are offered on every hand to
the man who desires to engage in the stock
business. Good water , good gross and a
good climate is what bo wants and hero are
all of them.
The B. & M. railroad has n track now
graded through the county , the completion
of which , the ilnnnci.il crisis and last year's
failures , have delayedbut brighter prospects
llnanclally , and heavy crops in the county ,
will insure the laying of the iron this fall.
Chase county has just passed through the
trying times that all now counties have to
pass through and from now on business will
revive , investments become profitable and
the future in general is assured.
Cuss County.
Cass county comprises ono of the wealth-
lost nnd most fertile sections of the stato. It
is bounded on the north bv the Plntto river
nnd on the east by the Missouri river. Its
topography is lu keeping with its location ;
high bluff along the Missouri , und undulating
prairlo land rolling to the westward. Tlio
soil Is a light , friable loam , varying in dnpth
from eighteen inches to twenty feet according
to location , with a light , porous , spongellko
clay subsoil , capable of holding moisture in
reserve.
An abundance of limestone , blue , gray nnd
white , prWailstho former of n very superior
quality. Red sandstone is found in profu
sion in the vicinity of the Platte ,
and along tno Missouri river , below
Plattsmouth there are extensive deposits
of ochre of u fair quality. Kaolin nnd two
kinds of lire clay are also found in consider
able quantities. Cuss county is generally
blessca with an abundant rainfall , and is
well watered bv the nvors Plntto. Missouri
und Weeping Water , together with the Pawnee -
nee , Codir , Turkey nnd Four-Mile crocks ,
varying in length from four to twelve mlles ,
nnd Salt creek , \vhich cuts across the north
west corner of the county.
The acreage in wheat this year is 21,485
nntrto. tr\tn 11
acres.
The harvesting of small grain has boon
begun in the county nnd the yield has bocn
very largo , the owners of the line crops being
very Jubilant ever their success.
In fruit cuituio Cass county is beginning
to take the lead. A largo portion of her im
mense apple crop of last year was snipped
east and the most favorable encomiums were
passed upon the fruit. Apples , cherries ,
grapes and plums are raised easily and
peaches grow very well in the county. Cattle
and hogs are raised in great quantities , and
the breading of blooded stock nnd fast horses
rapidly increasing , and is growing to great
Importance.
Plattsmoutb , the county seat , is situated at
the confluence- the Platte and Missouri
rivers and is n city of 10,000 inhabitants. It
is on the mala lines of the Missouri Pacific
and the Chicago , Burlington & Quiney rail
roads. The Kansas City , St. Joseph &
Council Bluffs also run trains through
Plattsroouth to Omaha. Tno trains of the
Burlington system cross the Missouri at tills
point ever ouo of the llncst stool railroad
bridges in the United States. The great
Chicago , Burlington & Quiney railroad
machine shops , storehouses , round
houses , etc. , uro maintained nt this point for
tno use of its .system west of the Missouri
river , ami the company employs many hun
dreds of hands , disbursing to employes
monthly from $ : ! 5,00 ( ) to15,000. .
Located at Plattsmouth are the following
manufactoilcs :
The Plattsmouth brick and terra cotta
works. Capital , $30,000 ; capacity , 10,000
brick per day ; employs thirty hands.
The PlattMiiouth canning fuctory ; capital ,
$30,000 ; capacity. 1,500,000 , cans per year ;
employs 1'Jo hands.
Four oigar factories employing from four
Ouo buggy and wagon factory.
Plattsmouth electric lamp factory , employs
about fifteen hands.
Klectric light company ; capital , $30,000.
A largo steam laundry recently con
structed and doing an extensive business.
A planing and turning mill , employs seven
hands.
' 1 hero are two miles and ono-half of oloo-
tno motor street railway. Paid up capital ,
MO.OOO.
A now $10,000 system of SOWOTORO was ro-
coatly completed. The city has ono of tlio
llnost , systems of waterworks in the state ,
costing $125,000.
Grades of Htroots hava bocn established and
Main street paved with Sioux Fulls granite
at nn expense of $50,000.
A line four-story high school building cost
$ , ' 5,000 , ntid seven ward school houses com
plete the school tiyatom of the city.
The $50OiH ) Waterman opera house Is ono
of the finest in the state ,
The Hiloy hotel cost $75,000 , nnd is , In point
of nchitoctural beauty , the llnost In the stato.
The Perkins house is a largo and commo
dious hostelry , Its construction costing MO-
000 ,
A handsome now county court house Is In
rouMO of erection , the corner stone having
boon laid on Juno 20 , It Is to cost $70,000 ,
und will bo completed by January 1 , 1891.
The following mimed churchoi nil hnvo
places of worship In Pluttsmouth , viz :
Proibytorlan , KpUcnpal , Baptist , Methodist ,
Gorman Methodist , German Presbyterian ,
Christian , Cathollo ( with convent ) , Colored
Baptist nnd Swedish , owning buildings
worth from $1,000 to 115,000 oach.
Contemplated enterprises consist of a flourIng -
Ing mill nnd a largo packing establishment ,
to bo situated on tlio Platte river bottom ,
wherothu two railroads the Missouri Puclllo
and B , & M. connect.
Gun-tor Couuty.
This couuty has seven flouring mills all
built In the last flvo yoars. The aggregate
capacity of the amo Is 625 barrels dally and
they keep about thirty men busy , the } ear
round. All of them are equipped with the
most modern roller machinery.
C'odar Couuty.
The principal Industries of this county are
of course farming and stock raisin } , ' , the mill
ing and creamery interests coming next in
Importance. There uro live flouring mills ,
employing thlrty-ono inon ; two brickvuids ,
with twelve uion ; three creameries , with
oightoou men , and a suwuilll with olyht ora-
nlojros , making n total of cloven manufactur
ing concerns , omploving nn nggrogato of
llfty-nlno men. Bosldss , there nro numerous
minor manufacturing concerns.
Cedar county has a record that has never
boon marred by a crop failure. During the
general distress of last season thU county
harvested nud marketed the usual bountiful
yield of grain. This has rtmiltoil In Increased
railroad facilities , the attention of the stnto
being drawn to this section by last year's
splendid crop. The oftlcial figures show that
the acreage of wheat tins IncrcosoJ 3rxX )
acres , corn 20,000 acres , oats 8,000 ncros ,
whllo llax has increased ever 100 per cent
nnd barley ever 2 , " > per cent. This ptionomonnl
development is being continued during the
present season and thousands of acres of
prairlo are being brought under cultivation
by now settlers. The character of the above
development h best shown by the Increase In
the number of fruit trees forest trees , an In
dication thnt the Increase In acreage is n ro-
suit of new homes and now settlors. The
number of fruit trees bus Increased from
Ib-I0 to'J.SJl , whllo forest trees , grovoi , etc ,
increased from 4S2GT1 to S'JQ,2.17 , nn increase
of half n million forest troo-s would Indicate ,
that Arbor Lay ) has some moaning in Cedar
county.
The erection of a now court house to cost
$20,000 will bo commenced next month by the
county.
In short , Cedar county U nt present prosperous -
porous nud , with unequalled prospects for
the future. The soil Is rjoh , and a crop fall
uro bos never boon known. The development
mont of the last year wbllo phenomenal has
boon on n substantial basis and promises to
continue until every aero of its iJOO.OOO unim
proved Join the 150,000 Improved acres , that
laugh now with fertility under the tltllary
Intluonco of the sturdy yeoman's plow.
Clicrry County.
Cherry county , now the largest In area In
the stato. was organized out of "unorganised
territory" In 188. ) , with Valentino as the
county .seat.
Perhaps as good an ido.i of the Incroiso of
Its wealth , ns shown by the assessor's books ,
can bo had from the comparison of assess
ments for the years of 1890 and 1891 , as shown
by the following tabulated statement , viz :
IMIMUKll ) LANDS.
UNIMI'ltOVf.l ) LANDS.
Total Tiilnntlon IfK ) Jl 037.W
Total vnltmllun 18111 ! , ' . ! * 0,7M )
Total Increase t 22:1,287
By tbo foropoiug it will bo soon thnt the
numberothcrses and cnttlo now assessed in
this county is 49,9159 , an incronio la number
of 17,070 , nnd in vnluo of $150,200 ever last
year ; of real tstato , the acreage of improved
laud U : (5,01J ( ( acres , an mcroaso ever lastyear
of 17,200 acres , nnd of unimproved land the
acruago is 145,334 , an increase for the year of
41,930. This increase is derived principally
from final proofs on homesteads , which are
not taxable until aftur proof has boon made ,
but the figures nro Riven to show the rapid
ruto nt which taxable wealth Is Increasing.
Of the 35,000 acres of improved land fully
15,000 is now cultivated to wheat , 5,000 to
oats , and the remainder to corn , rye , barley
and potatoes.
Although last season this county was denom
inated among the "drouth stricken , " reliable
information cives tbo following returns of
stock , ceieals and produce shipped out , viz :
500 cars of hay ;
CO cars of wheat ;
45 cars of hogs ;
2SO cars of cattle ;
10 cars of potatoes ;
18,000 pounds of creamery butter.
Cherry county has natural'water power In
great abundance , tbo Niobrara rivur nlono
having sufllciont capacity to furnish power
equal to that of Minneapolis. The county
wants mills to grind all this wheat , supply
the contracts for Ilour nt Port Niobrara and
Kosubud aeencv , our homo demand nnd the
rapidly increasing market of the Black Hills :
also shoco owners to bring In tbolr herds and
sell or contract on shares their sheep to our
farmers for a term of yoars. No better coun
try can bo found for sheep , and small fiords
cared for by indiuldual farmers could not
fall to do well and yield hnndsomo returns
for their owners. In addition to the 50,000
held ol cnttlo Cherry county wintered last
season , tbcro is room and food for thrco or
four times that number , and the owners of
cattle , grazing thorn ou land worth from $10
to ? CO per aero , had better turn their atten
tion to this couuty.
Clny County.
Clay county is an agricultural county , but
she has also sot mills , factories and ether in
dustries , which give employment to a largo
number of pooplo. Among the above is the
largo flouring mills at Spring Hanoh and Do-
wees o , brickyards at Button nnd Harvard ,
incl the Edgar crick and tlio company. Thu
Edgnr cnnnlnir factory located at Edgar is
particularly worthy of mention. During the
satining season they employ between 100 and
150 persons. Their annual output of canned
.foods consisting of corn , tomatoes , peas and
Lioans amounts to 150,000 cans. The farmers
of the county realize many hundred dollars
monthly from tbo saloof cream to the cream
eries atSutton , Falrtlold nnd Edgar , thoSut-
tou creamery nlonoomploying thirty men nnd
teams to gather the cream from about ! ) ,500
cows and ton men to work in the croamory.
Their annual output Is 400,000 pounds of but-
: er. Fruit , berries and grapes nro also prof-
.tnbly cultivated and an increasing amount of
those luxuries Is raised from year to yoar.
The following is the amount of farm and
city mortgages filed und released for the
mouth ending Jtinu 3D :
Filed 25,0U ; released , $50,752 ; amount of
city mortgages filed , $2bO , ( . ) ; released , $0,017.
This is certainly n remarkably good show-
ng , considering the .general stringency of
nonoy matters.
Clioyonno County.
Choypiino county being ono of the newest
counties of the state , has as yet few Indus-
, nos to boast of. Tlioro nro , however , two
lour mills in the county both omit in the la-it
.wo years , employing about half u do/on
muds and doing n good and romunorntlvo
justness.
Fort Sidney , n military post , is located in
this county. About ! IOO men nnd 200 team *
are working there at tbo present time on ir
rigation ditches.
DIIWCH County.
A few years ago , Dnwos county wns n portion
tion of that immense tract of country vnii-
ouslv known as Sioux county "uuorgani/od
.orritory , " nnd "No Man's laud. " The only
nhabltauts , u few hnrdy rnncbmon , hnd to
mul their supplies 200 miles. Now , there
are mills nt Cimdron , the county seat , Craw-
'ord and Whitney with u combined capacity
of 300 barrels a day and two railroads to
irlng supplies and carry nwuy our surplus ,
just year , on account of dry weather about
'our thousand corns were subjected to irrl-
; ation and many moro farmers commented
rrlgatlng ditches , but the frequent rains
made them Unnecessary und operations were
suspended until tlioro would bo need for
hem nnd more time to sparo.
Wild grass grows luxuiiantly in the lower
parts of the county , und the high giound Is
all fertile , tillable soil. The cllmato Is
loalthy and an abundance of clear , pure
valor is furnished by Chndron crook to
Cimdron , ntfd the White rlvor to Crawford
and Whitney ,
Fort Hobluson Is situated in this county
nnd much of the homo grown produce is con
sumed thoro. The United States land office
s located at Chudron und whllo most of the
government land has boon taken up , there
ire still some very fair claims to bo pre
empted and much good land can still ho
taught at very moderate prices ,
Dnwhou County.
This county claims u soil and climate un-
urpassod In the stale of Nebraska. Only ono
lartlal falluro of crops , that of last year , has
ivor taken place. Many thousand acres of
and still remain unbroken nnd raw land can
till be purchased nt prices ranging from $7
o ? JO per uero ; Improved furms at from $15
to .30 , ucoordlurf to value of Improvements
and location , There are six largo flouring
nlils in the couuty employing fifty men , nnd
our brickyards employing sixty men , The
owns of the county are all prosperous and
growing steadily.
An Irrigation ditch runnldg through ttio en-
Ire county is to bo constructed ut un outlay
fAW.OOO. This will furnish employment
or 1.000 men nnd many teams. The vnluo or
and In touch of this ditcn will bo doubled , ns
t will Insure steady and larger crops and bet
tor quality of grain ,
Lexington , the county seat , with a popula-
lou of 2,200 , U fust assuming metropolitan
airs , waterworks and an electrio light plant
> olng among the contemplated improvements.
i'uuro is uLio u good deal of NUbUuutlal build-
Ing going on , ono of tlio bulklluBs bolt-g n
iccoud $15,000 school houso.
Ioil > ; o County.
The ! \ t flvo years ) mvo served Rrontly to
omuliftslzo the fiietthnt UoApo coiintv ! ono
of the best Hrlonlturnl ( counties In the very
best nffriculturnl portion of the west , The
hn-i noror boon n crop fnlturo In this count , .
niul it hni become coinpiciiom ilurhiK thcso
llvo yoi r for Its fortuity mid crop cortnlntv ,
largely by the ropoiitctl failures olsowhoro.
This iiorloil 1ms boon nn orn of miioli nBrlcul-
turnl prosperity In this county , niul ns n ro-
suit our farmers nro In nn excellent Itnnncml
condition ; they nro stocUitijr their farms with
hotter iiiilmaN , nro nddliiK to their uqulp *
inonti nnd nppllancoi of nil kind * , niul oreo -
Inp better residences nnd furnishing tlioni
with comforts nnd conveniences of Hfo , In
i , when there was n general fnlluro of tli2 _ .
corn crop , thli county was blessed with nu
nvorago yield , which realized double the
nvorago prlco. Tlmt year numoroin mort-
cngos were iiald oil nnd scores of farmers
liberated from the oppression of debts con
tracted to acqulra a homo.
In 1SS9 they In common , with agricultural-
Is Is elsewhere , had abundance of everything ,
but It could bo sold only nt low prices. Many
worn able , however , to hold ever nnd soil
tholr products on the rlso of the markuU
Luit yuar came another shortage of tlio con-
oral crop , but Dodge county was ns fruitful
M ever nnd tbo products were sold nt
twlro nnd thrice the nvorngo prlco of former
year * . Corn for instance , was sold in the
lloldforf-iO per ncro and upwards. This
scries of successes has placed the Dodge
county farmers "out of sight. " As nn In-
oldontAl result of this prosperity , landi hnvo
materially advanced in prlco nt least $ . " > ,00
per ncro during the post year. The demand
for good farms has boon very active this
spring nnd many have changed hands. In
numerous cases selling for spot cash. Ono
pint of ndvnntngo to the farmers is the good
local market created bv feeding from 100,000
to 150,000 , snoop nnd 12,000 to 15,000 head of
cattle every year. No matter how high the
prlco of corn and grain bns been those big
feeding ranches have always paid from 1 to
3 cents moro than ttio shipping prlco. This
hni resulted In increased prollts of tons ot
thousand ! of dollars to the farmers ,
The manufacturing Institutions of the
county nro for the most part confined to
Fremont mid ns a rule , they nro in n condi
tion of encouraging prosperity. These em
ploying the greater number of "hands may bo
mentioned as follows :
Fremont foundry nnd machine company ,
35 to 30 men ; Fremont manufacturing com
pany , ( wood workers)25 ) men ; steam planing
mills , U5 men ; cronmory package manufac
turing company , 1)0 ) men ; continuous kiln
company , ! )0 ) men ; Nebraska creamery asso
ciation.10 meniFromontwioklnc company , ca-
pacity 700 hogs daily ; Mnv Brothers , whole
sale grocers , 15 men ; bmlth fence companv , 0
men ; Fremont butter nnd egg company , 15
men ; Theodore Huotto & Son , hardware and
rornlco company , 10 ! men ; Fremont Tribune ;
25 to 35 man ; Fremont Herald , 10 men.
Flail , 10 men.
There nro flouring mills in the county ns fol
lows : Fremont Milling Co , capacity , 100 bar
rels per day ; Ilrlggs & Uhllng , Hooper ; John
Dlols , Scrlbnor ; J. B. Hobluson , Pebble
Crook ; North Bend Milling Co.
The Fremont Hemp anil Twlno Co. em
ploys from forty to sovonty-flvo hands , oper
ates n tow mill and twine mill nt Fremont.
nnrt a tow mill each at North Bond nn.iV
Fowler , both In this county. This is the
only tow nnd twine concern west of the Mis-
sUsippi , nnd is proving a grand success. Its
manufactured product this year from last
year's hemp will amount to 450,000. pounds
of twino.
The Fremont Brewing Co. has boon organ
ized , nnd a $100,01)0 ) brewery with n capacity
of 200 barrels dally will bo running bofora
January 1 next.
The wholesale business of Fremont
nmounts to about $4,000,000 a year , priuci ;
pally in groceries , liquors , hardware > nndV
produce. v
County.
Douglas county , with nn area of 3,1.01
squnro miles , embraces the city of Oraabn ,
the metropolis of Nebraska , nnd is the most
wealthy and populous county of the state.
The county xs nearly midway between the
northern and southern boundaries of the
state and is the extreme eastern point of the
state at the natural gateway through wliich
the commerce of tno cast ilnds access to the
west. The soil and topography of the coun
try admirably Ills it for the diversified inter
ests nnd industries with which it abounds.
With the city of Omaha coveringSIJf square
miles of the total area of 3'J.Ol snuato miles ,
the farm interests nro naturally circum
scribed , yet there nro In the county 1,47(1 (
farms , with a total tilled acreage of 100'J.ll ,
nnd 45-IU5 acres In permanent meadows. The
fact that much of this farm property Is ud-
Jacont to the city , which furnishes n constant
uiiu increasing uomanu lor prouuuui ui LIIL-
farm nnd garden , renders the land much
moro valuable than the nvorago farm prop
erty of the state. Tno average value , taking
nil of the conditions into consideration , of
the farm lands of the county is placed at $55
per ncro. The dairy nnd stock interests of
tbo county are very largo and profitable. J *
The county Is practically free from debt amX
is well supplied with needed public buildings ,
court houso. Jail , hospital , etc. , whllo tha
roads und bridges are In excellent condition ,
the rapid growth and development of the
county being considered.
On January 1 , 1891 , TUB BEB , In Its an
nual rovtow of the growth , wealth and
resources of Omaha published tbo most com
plete and reliable review of the city ever ut-
tempted by an Omaha paper. For this reason
the city of Omaha is not mven an extended
notice m this showing. The city is the metropolis - * ?
tropolis of the state , has a population by the
ofllcial census of 1890 of 140,152 , as compared
with 30,518 In IbSO , un increase In ten years
of more than 'MO per cent. The city has nn
nroa of 24JC square miles , an assessed valua
tion of $ ' 0,000,000 and an estimated actual
valuation of $ i > 5,000,000. The city has lO.'l
mlles of cloetrlo motor , cable nnd horse ear
railways , 128 miles of graded nnd 08 mlles of
paved streets , 85 miles of sewers and 103
mlles of water mains. In 1890 thirteen now
manufacturing ontorpnsos were located in
Omuha , giving the city 108 manufacturing
industries , with nn Invested capital of "
$7,915,000 and nn annual product agBiocnting
525,000,000 , , and furnishing and employing an
army of 12,000 laborers. Twontv-threu
wholesale houses began business in Omulm
last year. The city now has lb ! ) jobblnir
houses , with nn invested capital of $11 , lUf.OOO
nnd thev do u business annunlly aggregating
850,000,000. , The bank clearings for 181)0 )
amounted to $ .257.2.(5,190.27 ( , ns against
* JO.SIWl,001.0t in 18.S9 , an Inoroaso of 21.7
per cont. Thirteen raiiroaus center in
Omaha , ilnding hero the natural distributing
point for the commerce of the most pros | > or-
ous section of the nation and giving employ
ment to nearly six thousand residents of this
city. The city's school nnd church facilities
aio unsurpassed. The credit of the city is
unequalled bv that of any western rival , her
municipal bonds finding ready sale In tbo
financial markets nt n premium when other
western cities uro unable to negotiate their
debentures nt any i-'ico. _ ,
1)1 von oiiiif * . ' "
This county Is situated In the northeast
corner of the state nnd contains not ono aero
of poor or undoslrablo land. The soil Is from
two to six leet deep and whllo there is not n
marsh in the county nearly every quarter
section has un abundant und never fulling
supply of excellent water. Along the MU-
sourl rlvor tlioro Is a largo body of timber
oak , elm , cottonwood und black walnut ,
siilllclcnt to supply the county with fuel und
hardwood lumber for twenty yean.
There are throe ( louring mills in the
county , vU : Ono nt 1'onca , which turns out
100 barrels of Hour pur day und employs six
men , another at Martlnsburg employing two
men and the third at Wukellold with four
men. There are two sawmills In tbo timber
near tbo river , each giving employment to
three men. Tbo Aowuy Vullov creamery nnd
cold storage company at Ponca employs
eighteen men und fourteen teams , mid
averages 1,500 pound ? or butter per day
Mills and manufactories nro scarcer in the
county than they should bo. Tboto is water
power enough to run llfty mills day and night
all tbo year lound.
Diuidy County.
There nro still 111,000 acres of government
land open for settlement In tbli county. All
of lu growth has been achieved within n
period of ten years. In 18S1 there were but
thirty-eight taxpayers within lu territory.
Now the county bus a population of moru
than four thousand. A grout deal of Interest
has been manifested In Irrigation ditcho )
and wherever land U under or contiguous to
them It hat doubled and trebled In value.
Dakota County.
Dakota county Is ultuatod in the northoa
orn corner of the stuto , forming the corno
boundary for Nebraska , Thu county wa
created by the llrst territorial legislature In
response to a petition signed by J. 1) . M.
( JrocUwoll nnd thtrtv-ono others on March 7 ,
1855 In I8.VH a bill passed the legislature an-
uoxliif ; to UUou county ouo-Dnlf of ttireo