unday Bee
PART III.
HALF-TONE
PAGES 1 TO 4.
Your Monty's Worth
THE OMAHA DEC
Best ';. Vest
The Omaha
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VOL. XXXVIII NO. 33.
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JANUARY 31, 190.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
KINGDOM OF GAGE WHERE PLENTY FOLLOWS THE PLOW
7 Scene of the First Homestead Filing in the United States Has Become One of the Richest Gems in Nebraska's Crown of Jewels, Whose Luster Grows More and More Brilliant Yearly
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MAIN STREET, WTMORE, OAQB COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
SCENE ON FARM OF HENRY HARMS. GAQE COUNTY.
UAIN STREET, BEATRICE, IN 1860.
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SIXTH STREET. LOOKSNO SOUTH, BEATRICE.
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IIIQH SCHOOL AT BEATRICE.
THINGS are not what they seem in Gage
county. Each day's experience compels the
Btranger to believe things he cannot see and
see things be cannot believe. It is hard to
believe this county is of one common
wealth, bounded by one common destiny. It Is unlike
any other county in the state. It cannot falrlv be
Judged by comparison with any other. Climate is an
illusive thing. You enjoy it most when you realize it
least. But the Gage county people are a bit too in
sistent on that Bubject. Everywhere they buttonhole
you and tell about maximum and minimum tempera
tures, rainfall and sunshine, until you feel like a com
bination barometer, thermometer and weather vane.
However charming the
climate, there Is al
ways one question of
more vital interest
What does it produce T
( How can one make a
living. Gage county is
one of the large, rich
counties of-the state.
It is well supplied with
railroads and water
power and has several
uncommon, thrifty vil
lages. It has 864
square miles of terri
tory and produced la
one year 7,164,000
bushels, of corn, about
2,000,000 of wheat,
also 1,300,000 bushels
of oats. It is an excel
lent farming country
and nearly the entire
county is under a high
state of cultivation,
Beatrice, the county
seat, Is located about
the center of the
county. It is rated as
the third largest city
In the state, with a
population of about
16,000. It is located
sixty miles west of the
Missouri river and
eighteen miles north
of the Kansas line. It
Is supplied with three
railroads and excellent
water power. It Is de
cidedly the best manu
facturing town in the
state for its size, as it nas more than thirty factories
and manufacturing plants. One of these plants has
an annual business of $1,250,000 a year and employs
about 400 men. This city has uncommonly good
streets, mostly paved with brick. This city has a good
electric light plant, located fifteen miles distant, and
two gas companies. The schools of Beatrice rank
among the best in the west and employ over fifty
teachers. The city is now erecting a new school
building at a cost of $80,000.
The pulse of public prosperity is the bank deposits.
In all the lines of industry which together make up
.the great sum total of material wealth and prosperity
there are none more essential or of greater importance
than the character and extent of banking institutions.
Beatrice is as well equipped with sound and excellent
conducted banks as any city of its size in the state.
The bankers of Beatrice have prospered because they
are careful, prudent, wise. What they have made
they have saved. The banks are strong because their
'ir-m . ' -' ,- . 4
owners are strong. The people are under them and
back of them. The city has a Chautauqua established
some twenty years ago that is said to be the third
largest in the United States. The public library is the
pride of the entire city. But few cities the size of
Beatrice are as well supplied with churches of differ
ent denominations as this city. The city is fortunate
In having two strong and well conducted dally news
papers and it is especially fortunate In having a live,
active and progressive commercial club. In 1862
Daniel Freeman, who recently died at Beatrice, made
the first homestead filing recorded in the United
States in Gage county.
The fruit of the pioneer ripened Into the
full measure of wealth
and refinement; their
names may not live in
history, but they were
the sturdy pioneers
who subdued the wil
derneBs. Some of them
lie in graves beside the
old emigrant trail;
In green graves cov
ered with the flowers
of remembrance, far
beyond the craigs over
which they stood more
like gods than men,
and some of the gal
lant band are yet in
the busy world await
ing the final summons
beyond the snow and
frost line.
The watchword of
the people of Beatrice
for the last year has
been "Onward." It has
seemed to be in the
minds and purpose of
the people to advance
the city's interest in
every respect and, hand
in hand, the capitalists
and the laboring class
has toiled for the up
building of the entire
city and county.
The railroads, the
banks, the merchants
and the newspapers
have done much for
this entire county. But
how about the farm
ers? The man with the
hoe, the man be
hind the plow, the man who has made a
garden of the former American desert, the man who
has planted the orchards and the groves In every di
rection as far as the eye can reach. All credit to the
man who begun the work of development as a frelgher,
all credit to the railroad, all credit to the manufac
turer, the merchant and the school teacher. But let
us not forget the man who, with his oxen, first began
to break the raw prairies In the creation of a farm
home the settler and the homesteader; to him la due
the credit. He is the man who has proved that
the soil of Gage county would reap an abundant harv
est of almost every known agricultural crop; he is the
man who had the Band and the hardihood, the bravery
to lead the way into the wilderness which had been
counted a barren soil and bring forth results of untold
wealth to mankind. It was the homesteader who
really discovered Gage county. ( All honor to such a
man. Make way for Mm and bis followers. His day
is now at hand.
DANIEL FREEMAN,
the first homesteader
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MAIN STREET, LOOKINO EAST, BEATRICE.
PUBLIC LIBRARY, BEATRICE.
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ON THE FARM OF JAMES CRAWFORD, GAGE COUNTY..
Prominent Position Occupied by Gomez and Zayas in Cuban History
AVANA, Jan. 27. General Jose
I I Miguel Gomez, the new Cuban
I I president, and Dr. Alfredo
A. X Zayas, the new vice president,
aie two of the moBt picturesque figures
in a land full of persons with histories and
dark or brilliant pasts. Of the two Zayas
has probably had the more varied and tem
pt stuous career, for not only has he been
active in a revolutionary way against Spain
aud later against the moderate' government
of the republic, but he has also passed sev
eral years In Spanish prisons In the Mediter
ranean and In Africa.
. Jose Miguel Gomes Is a strong-looking
man, and with him rests the responsibility
for the life of the new Cuban republic. He
himself says that had Palma la 1906 hanged
a few of the conspirators he would never
have been overthrown. This Is probably
true, and might have been demonstrated had
Palma Included Jose Miguel Gomes In the
list of the first condemned to die for treason.
Gemes's opinion on the subject Indicates
the course he will follow In the event of a
conspiracy against bis rule, and if he does
.follow audi course Cuba is pretty sure to
have peace while Gomes sits in the presiden
tial chair.
There were probably never two more bit
ter political enemies than Gomes and Zayas
In their campaign agalnBt each other last
summer. They fought hird and long under
the party names of Miguellstas and Zayistas.
Zayas was worsted in the municipal and
provincial elections of August 1. Shortly
afterward the two factions united on ac
count of the success of the conservatives in
that election, due entirely to the division of
votes between the two liberal factions.
The fight between Gomes and Zayas
arose frcm the nomination of the two for
the places they now hold by the liberal party
in 1905. In that year the liberals did not
go to the polls and the moderates took
everything. The election was unfair and It
brought about the successful revolt of 1906
and the intervention and establishment of
the provisional government.
As the intervention went on Zayas began
to work for the presidency. Govaes vigor
ously objected. He declared that the ticket
of 1905 should remain Intact despite the in
tervening events. Zayas said that anyone
who could iet It was entitled to the liberal
nomination. This brought the break and
both started In upon a fierce political battle.
When the elections of August 1 showed
that If the liberals wished to elect a presi
dent they must combine against the growing
strength of the conservatives a compromise
was reached. Zayas, whose following was
shown to be not half as great as that of
Oomes, joined forces with the understanding
that four years from now Gomes will retire
la favor of Zayas.
General Gomel ii rather short In stature,
but of heavy build. He ts dark and bis hair
and large but closely-cropped mustache are
streaked with gray. If appearances count
he will be able to deal with his subjects, for
subjects he must make them it he wishes to
keep the peace.
He was born In Sanctl Splrltus, In the
province el Santa Clara. He was la the tea
years' war and made a good record. In the
revolution of 1895-98 he distinguished him
self in the defense of Arrovo Blanco, near
Sanctl Splrltus, against the Spanish forces.
He was a delegate to the constitutional
convention and was for several years gov
ernor of Sancti Splrltus. In 1906 he was
one of the conspirators against Palma.
He was selected to lead all of the revolu
tionary forces, but before doing anything he
was captured by the government, brought to
Havana and placed in the carcel. Later he
was sent to the penitentiary.
The new head of the Cuban republic la
fond of hunting and fishing. He has made
several trips of that nature recently, both
for the pleasure of the sport and to get uway
from Havana and the crowd of office-seeking
politicians. He Is fond of cock fighting, too,
and In 1906, about the revolutionary time,
he was arrested and taken to the station
house tor attending an illegal go between
the chickens.
Zayu Is not nearly as prepossessing as
L
Gomes, but he Is considered far more clever
and is looked upon as the shrewdest and
sharpest politician in the island. Ho is
white In blood, although his face is rather
yellow. He used to wear a beard, but in
1906, for purposes of disguise, he shaved it
oft and never permitter it to grow out again.
He was born in Havana in 1861. His
father was the director of Salvadore college,
and young Alfredo received a thorough edu
cation. Ht speaks English and today owns
one of the finest libraries in the island. He
has distinguished himself as a Journalist as
well a a lawyer.
During former revolutions against Spain
he was an agent for the revolutionary Junta.
He operated in Havana until discovered by
the Spaniards and placed In prison. He
was later taken to Spain and then sent to
the prison of the Chaferlnas Islands in the
Medlterrannean. At Ceuta he underwent all
sorts of privations and hardships in prison.
When finally released he went to Key
.West, where he was aa agent for the revolu
tionary Junta In New York, of
which Estrada Palma was presi
dent. When the Spanish war was
over he returned to Cuba. He was
Identified with the city government of Ha
vana under General Ludlow and was a dele
gate to the constitutional convention.
In the revolution of 1906 he was a
real leader. Although knowing well
that , be was suspected by the govern
ment, he remained in the city op
erating for fully a week after the outbreak
of the revolution. The government finally
determined to arrest him and others, but he
received advance news and when the secret
service men entered the front door of bis
house he escaped by way of the roof, de
scended to the street through another house
and escaped In a walling automobile.
The revolution was a success and Secre
tary of War Tart and Assistant Secretary of
Otete Bacon came as peace commissioners.
as conducted the negotiations. The 11b
yals were not looking for much more than
atnnesty and possibly a new election, but
Zayas so cleverly managed the affair that
Uey practically got the government.
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