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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1904)
All Prophecy Exceeded Early Nebraska Settlers r' I braskans still living who were I Ium ffn tSKA Anit wtin 1MM tier- ticlpants In the Barring scenes fnofcfont to the naasanre of the Kansaa-Nebraaka, bllL Such early settlers are much better prepared than I am to epealt In a reminiscent way of early terri torial and state history and probably on this semi-centennial occasion they will con tribute a fund of interesting Information pertinent to those times. My own personal experience. In Nebraska did not begin until a little later. In August, 1868, I drove through from Burlington. Ia.. to Nebraska for the purpose of locating a home. I bad some friends living In Butler county, and the fact that they were wed satisfied with their new surroundings In duced me to Journey In that direction. After a short visit with them I pushed on a little farther and crossed Into what is now Polk, county, where on September t I located a homestead, a property on which, I subsequently lived with my family for number of years. At tfcat t'me the Immigration to Ne braska was beginning to assume consider able propwrtions. but It was not until U71-I that It had reached the flood tide. Ours was the second borne established In) Polk county. I built the ftrst frame bouse In that county, a one-story structure, 12xM feet. That was in the spring of la. I hewed the sills and Boor Joists Aom native timber, and the shingles were made front native cot loo wood blocks. Tbe siding and other necessary lumber were hauled from Lincoln by my teams, having been previ ously hauled to Lincoln from Nebraska City, to which latter point shipment had been made by water. The ftrst white child born In Polk county was Edgar T. Boberte, In IHBl The second was my oldest son, O. El Mickey, bom in 1870. I mention these personal matters simply as evidence that I was reasonably early on the scene la that pert of the state and had n opportunity to form sn Idea of what pioneer life was. If one were to describe Nebraska as it appeared in those days be would have need for but few words. Omaha and Lincoln were both small places and gave but little promise of the splendid development to which they should attain in later years. As I remem ber, the Union Pacific was the only rail road within the state, and that was in process of construction. The majority of the important settle ment were either in the Missouri valley or very close- to it. A general senti ment seemed to exist that settlers could not maintain themselves west of the cen tral portion of the state, and hence nearly all commercial . and agricultural activity was confined to the eastern portion. The public school of the states to the east were teaching that a treeless waste known as "The Great American Desert" lay west of the Missouri, Including all" of Ne braska and extending to the too thills of the Rocky mountains. It took time to dissipate this erroneous Idea and that probably accounts for the fact that emi gration to Nebraska was !elayed as long as it was. But It Is lmpoaslb7 to k'p a good coun try very long in the background. In due time the idea permeated the eastern and middle states that this section had been maligned; that here was a ceuntry well suited to home-making, rich in agricul tural possibilities nnd capable of sustain ing a large population. The result of thla correct conception we see In alT parts of the state today. The prairies have been compelled to yield their increase, the buf falo grafts has given way to pastures and Uses of MurmflRAPHKH who dooe a k I great c"ea! of the illustrating work sV I tftf h, kw York advertiser firms is an adroit and versatile genius. He is considered the star of all Ike "before and after" artists and ha has earned his reputation. Not long ago the writer, as a special mark of favor, was permitted to look at his "studio" while the advertisers photogra pher went through an average morning's work. An exceedingly pretty young woman was tbe first subject. She was to be pic tured tn the familiar "befort and niter" style, to advertise a new remedy for, the skin. The photographer himself "made up" her face, and when he got through with the camel's hair brushes the young woman's countenance was a sight. He took, the "after" pbotograplis of her first, thus showing hir as a young woman with a smooth, faultless skin; round, well ftlled neck, and so on. Then he went at her face with the "make-up" articles, and changed her countenance into a veritable map of blotches and pimples and lines and wrin kles; When he had finished and the young woman caught sight' of herself In the glass she let out a little Involuntary scream. "Oh, you'll be all right after you- use our remedy," eheorfnffy said the photographer, and he took a nsmber of views ef her fn her capacity as a "before taking. " Tbe sum young woman posed for a gar ter advertisement. The idea was to gel' meadows of timothy and alfalfa, orchards and areas of small fruit are a part of the equipment of nearly every rural habita tion and the evidences of peace and plenty are on every hand. During the flfty years since the erection of the territory the population has In creased to nearly 1,500.000 of happy, con tented pople. all Imbued with the idea that they live tn one of the best countries on earth. It Is not necessary to go into fig ures and statistics In order to Illustrate our growth. From Desert Waste to Diadem ktw u.... - - - ft U. Flir 1 J J Ms? jwm sjajnat vv I vast tbe theme! When we look I at I k. V.Kr..k m. n flftv v.iri ago, marked on the maps of that day as a part of the great Amer ican desert a barbaric land without a landmark and without an Inhabitant except the untutored and savage Indian, and then view it as it Is today In all its magnificent grandeur, with Its thriving cities and towns, its well-cultivaled farms and its Immense herds of domestic animals, the contrast Is so great that ft hardly seems a reality, and more like products of the necromancer's art like tbe scenes and pic tures from some wondrous dream. But the magic which baa produced this Is not the sorcerer's spell. It Is the genius of the world's dominant raee, which has touched with deft hand the eager earth and ex tracted therefrom untold wealth and pro duced within our borders cities and towns, and fields a-blossom and a-bloom. From May, 1&4. to May,. 1904, what wondrous change! From the waste of a dessert to the diadem of a splendid state. The great state of Nebraska is but a small part of that Immense territory which President Jefferson purchased from France in lice, the one-hundredth anniversary of which purchase is now being celebrated in St. Louis, Mo., by the grandest exhibit the world has ever seen. Napoleon was fully aware of the value of what he abandoned and said he renounced It with the greatest . regret He knew he was losing an empire of Imperial dimensions. At the time of the passage of what was known as the Kansas and Nebraska bill In 1854, there was great agitation in congress on the slavery question. The law permitted any state to vote for or against slavery and in Kansas and Nebraska was fought the fir n battle for emancipation. There were six slaves In Nebraska in 1858, and a bill was introduced In the legislature to abolish slavery. Ia tbe deb&to on Its pas sage one of those who favored the bill quoted those-memorable words of the Im mortal Lincoln: "We will hereafter speak for freedom and against slavery as long as the constitution guarantees free speech; until everywhere tn this broad land the sun shall shine, and the rain shall fall, and the wind shall blow upon no man who goes forth to unrequited toll." Tbe constitution of the state of Nebraska as adopted by the legislature excluded the Photography a picture of a stocking attached to a garter that was not doing its work property and, after that, a portrayal of a stocking held snugly in place by the garter In tended to be advertised. Per the first pic ture the young woman bad on a rather slouchy pair of low shoes, with which she had come provided according to the thoughtful photographer's suggestion, and her quite ordinary cotton stockings were wrinkled and hanging in folds about the shoes. For the "afler-uatng-otrrs picture, how ever, the young woamau. had oa a dainty, billowy, lacy underskirt, silk open-work stockings and fancy high-heeled shoes, and the stockings clung with a line and appealing suugness, a a matter of course, thus illustrating the superior excellence of tho new garter. Another pretty young woman was then cahed in to pose for some pictures to Il lustrate the claims of a new brand of Iron ing wax about te be put oa tbe market. For the picture to illustrate tbe no-account-ness of all other brands of Ironiag wax ex cept the one to be advertised, the young woman wore, at the photographer's sug gestion, a soiled and in-fitting oM gingham house walste, that hang ha folds) a boat her, and when she stooped over gave her a round-shouldered effect. The photographer fixed her heir so that It seemed to be bearing In damp strings, and with a brash he painted little lines, supposed to Indicate the result of acute TFTY years ago, when Nebraska F Included most of the area which now comprises the states of Ne braska, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idahrs I'llM'i.i there was not anywhere In the territory a substantial town or village of white people. Within the memory of the living the region was In the poseenslun of Indian tribe. Half a century ago military posts had been established at Kort Kearny, Fort Laramie and a few other places, but there was no settlement of whites in those days which deserved the. name of a town in either Kansas or Nebraska. Forts Laramie and Kearny were the prominent positions in the southern part of the territory. In the northern purts there were Forts Pierre, Clarke, Union, lienlon, Berlhold, Alexander and Manuel's Fort, the Inst three of whlrh were in the Yellowstone, and all were sta tions of the Fur company. Besides these there were a few scattering trading pests and emigrant camps. This is the catalogue of the civilization of the great Nebraska territory fifty years ago. negro from the right of suffrage. Congress passed an act to admit the state, pro vided the word "white" be stricken out. President Johnson vetoed this act and it was passed over his veto. In February, 1857, the legislature was convened and ac cepted the fundamental conditions Imposed by congress. On March 1, 18G7, President Johnson issued a proclamation declaring Nebraska a state. The early settlers of Nebraska had much to contend with. After the panic of 1S57 our people were much disheartened. There was no demand for property of any descrip tion not even the richest farming lands. Our money consisted of "city scrip" and bills issued by banks, without limit und without security. Gold and silver, what little there was of it, was hidden away, and in the fall of 1857 was at s premium of 60 to 60 per cent. The next year all paper money, almost without exception, was entirely worthless. After that we had devastation of crops by grasshoppers, In dian depredations and the massacre of settlets, and it was not until after the completion of the Union Pacific railway that the last relic of Indian savagery was swept from the face of this fair land that peace and quiet reigned. Five years prior to the first settlement of the territory, but three states of the union had a larger population than that of Nebraska today, and It is safe to hazard the prediction that before the next general census our people will number over 2,000,000. Today Nebraska Is looked upon as a mar vel of rapid and enduring growth. And what Khould be a source of pride to na nil Is that within its borders la found the highest grade of public education and the lowest percentage of illiteracy of any common wealth In the land. Education, the or dinances of morality and Christian en deavor are the essential elements which shall preserve this nation and this state. While these remain, who Shan compete with us in the honors due to a state, and who In our abundant harvests, our en pastured plains and valleys, our rich bal ances of trade, our Increasing commerce and the expansion and reward of labor? in Modern Advertising worriment over using no good Ironing wax, under her eyes. For this picture she was posed standing wearily over an ironing board, holding out and gaxing disgustedly at a frazzled aad soiled shirt bosom. Ten minutes later she reappeared looking as trig as could be in a fetching white waist, all of the Imitation shine taken off of her nose, her hair neatly done up. She was then posted In an attitude of keen de light aad satisfaction, gaslng with a smile of approval at the nice, new, shiny, un rumpled shirt bosom which she held out before her. Then a couple of babies, twins, came along. Tbey were to be used to Illustrate the advertising of a new baby food about to be marketed. The photographer said that he'd had tremendous difficulty In get ting; bold of Just tbe right pair of twine, and had sent commissioners to range the whole East Bide before he had got the twins be wanted. They were twin boys. Just a year eld. One of them was hi a fat and flourishing- state of health, but tbe other twin had Just emerged from seme sort of Infantile complaint, and wss thla and drawn and of a poor color. But. aside from tbe difference in their condition of health, tbe twins looked pre cisely alike. The un prosperous-looking baby wore a befitting expression of acute (toons while he was being photographed for the "before and after picture., and (he fat young customer, by sundry and divers arts Rev. Edward Everett Halo Is the author Of fhe first htMtory of Nebraska, wtileh wag published In New York tn 64. It gives a complete account of the geographical and physical characteristics and the political position of the territories of Nebraska and Kansas from the best Information obtain able up to the time the manuscript was given to the publishers on August 21 of that year. It is interesting to role that while Itev. Hale fully realised the wealth of the territories' resources, he did not hazard, even to a small degree, to predict the wonderful ilevehrpment which haa taken place during the half century. Cau tiously he ventured to hope, with some feeling of confidence, that Nebraska and. Kansas as they then existed would some day be taken Into the union. Where Her. Hale hoed there might bo two states there are now eight, and as chaplain of the United Btates senato. Instead of neetng this vast western trrrltory represented by four members In that body, there are now six teen. "It must be that trw settlement of the new territories by the best population which can bo given them shall command the active effort of all true lovers of their country," wrote Rev. Hale. , "The cru saders are already on their way. They wtll need only the guides, who shall show, them the fiiirest lands In the world. No propagandist!) Is needed to Instill them. Thus will this emigration, with tho ra pidity with which it now proceed, add almost at once two new free states to the American union. It Is not wlthtn the province of this book to look farther. It la enough to foresee so great a victory of the right as is this. It will tie only by a miracle of indolence, by blindness utterly Incurable, that the men of the free states can forfeit such a prise." When Rev. Hale wrote thus hopefully tbe Missouri river was navigable by steam boats all tbe way to Great Falls, and boats of fifteen Inches draft had actually traversed the river that fur. The Yellow stone had been navigable eighty mites) from Its mouth. The steamboat El Phho had ascended the Nebraska or Platte river 600 miles from Its mouth. And still, with out the navigation of this great system of rivers, upon which many of the fond hopes of the early pioneers were based, the country has developed and grown be yond the dreams of the most sanguine. What will tho next fifty years bring; forth? Nebraska Is yet In its Infancy, and Its development has only begun. I firmly believe that the next fifty years wilt sea as great, if not greater, development than has taken place during the last fifty. The utilisation of our waters for irrigation, and for electricity, and the discovery oC products better adapted to the section, and of better method of working out our re sources, will bring this about. The next fifty years will see Nebraska waters, which now wash unused Into the Gulf of Mexico, harnessed for all kinds of indus trial purposes, and our towns) and cities, and even the farms, will be accessible through tbe establishment of Intel-urban) railroads In as complete a system as the telephone and telegraph of today. of the photographer, was worked Into a de lighted crowing picture of happiness by the time tbe shutter was dropped on him for the "after taking" advertisement. Then another young woman came along to "stand for a corset ad. First she wore a corset that was about the mo( abomina ble fit imaginable. It seemed Impossible to imagine that so graceful and sinuously formed a young woman could look so Im possible la a corset. The whalebones of the corset were stick ing out at the bottom, and the young woman was represented with stringy hnlr and angry eyes, a gazing vengefully at the Ill-shaped and Injurious stays. Then she donned a pair of the "fit form," straight-front stays to be advertised, .and with her hair nicely combed over her tat" and her plump arms at rest at her sides she presented a sufficiently bewitching fig ure to sell almost sny old corset. There are tricks ia an trades but mine." said the photographer when his morning's work was finished, but the wink with which he accompanied the remark was tlo roent. Washington Star Good Guess "In what sense," asked the teacher, "do we look upon George Washington as the father of his country T na the two cents, ma'am.1" vestured Tommy Tucker, seeing that no one else was prepared to answer.