4
D
oyal Party of Japanese Men
" JA
BARON EUCHI SHIBUSANA-
HAT the women of Japan may
not be averse to vlsltlnj Amer
ica and coming In their native
costumes, the five noted women
who are In the party of Japa
nese who will visit Omaha No
T
vember IS, are wearing their native cos
tumes. They say that thousands of women
of Japan would like to come to America
to visit and see the sights, but they have
a shyness over what to wear. They want
to pave the way for others to follow,
America looks rood to the Japanese.
They are not afraid to say so, and say It
In no unstinted terms. They come as
Japanese business men to effect a more
Pierce County an Example of
ARMING In Tierce county has
Fl become a four-horse enterprise.
I The marvelous Ingenuity of the
I 1 .. 1 w
iai iii iiiiiHi'iuuiii genius iims i mo
gated to the Khelf of ancient
history the old-time plow, and
the up-to-date farmer rides a "sulky" while
tilling his fields. This era of Invention
lifted the sturdy husbandman out of the
furrow and placed him on a spring seat.
It came none too soon,' for it brought not
only comparative case in the discharge of
farm duties, but a much greater efficiency,
materially enhancing the farmer's Indi
vidual capacity, and Tesculng the "knight
' of the soil" from the arrogant clutches of
"the hired man," thereby increasing his
Independence. . The Plerco county farmer
today, more, than ever before, represents
the stability of the nation.
In the earlier days the settlers In Pierce
county encouraged and hailed the emigrant
because of the fact thut he made one more
consumer for the product of the soil for
which there was but a very limited local
market. In contrast with that condition
of affairs we find Pierce county today
hailing and encouraging Immigration upon
very different grounds. The present rea
son for desiring Immigration being that
more, laborers are required that tho soil
may yield its full harvest' and that the
demand of far away markets may be sup
plied. It has been brought about by the
transportation facilities, which have en
tirely removed the necessity of depending
upon local markets by making accessible
to the farmers of the west the markets of
every country on the globe. ,
It Is an interesting fact that the great
railways or this country follow very
.closely along the old Indian trails, and
fyiat the red men, In their turn, followed
the trail of the buffalo. Engineers surveyed
routes across the continent, laying out lines
for the railways to follow, but, after all,
it was the buffalo, guided only by natural
instinct, which "biased the way."
A remarkable train of events spreading
ever many years and following each other
In rapid succession have been unfolded in
Pierce county. Forty years 'ago there was
till very much the matter with this part
of Nebraska, as with other western coun
ties. The territory where Pierce now
stands was hanging perilously near the edge
of the western frontier. The antelope, as
well aa the buffalo. ' were still furnishing
excellent sport for the hunters. But today
they are farming the buffalo range and the
bread grain fields have drlvon the antelope
beyond the former frontier. For 100 years
the supremacy of the Indian and the Hud
son' Bay Fur company were undisputed.
Then the homesteader laid the hand of
Industry on the broad prairies, possessed
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HARRIMAN OF JAPAN.
perfect understanding between their coun
try and the country which showed them
the way to a world's commerce and opened
the gates of Japan.
Members of the commission have made
various purchases in the cities they have
visited and they may make some pur
chases In Omaha If the committee on en
tertainment does not Insist on occupying
a. their time. The women like to visit
the big stores and took over and buy the
pretty things. This Is a small matter
from a monetary standpoint, but it shows
that America has beautiful things In Its
stores which attrack these royal digni
taries from the Flowery Kingdom. They
. COC NTT i COURT
themselves of the richest soil and located
their mills, bridges and highways. They
built villages, towns and cities so far be
yond the pale of civilization that for sev
eral years they had no local existence upon
the land map of the state and the vergent
soil that had slipped unbroken amid ever
lasting silence was for the first time in all
the ages upturned to the dew and sunshine.
They were the men that followed the dim
and wending Indian trail until it broadened
Into a highway oC civilization. ,
The hotels and banks o( Pierce are now
receiving their patrons upon the very
ground wheie not many years ago the wolf
and the bear prowled and the wild deer and
Indian roamed undisturbed. There is a
strange combination of wlldness and order,
of age and newness In this county.' It
speaks of the long ago and yet brings one
into such close contact with the time In
which he lives that the dawn of a new era
is breaking Into view.
There may be said to be two general
classes in northern Nebraska those who
are anxious to see a sturdy class of farmers
and home-makers come Into these counties,
thereby building up a population and con
tributing to the health and strength of the
communities; and those who do not desire
this kind of development, but, on the other
hand, want the great tracts of grazing land
to remain in unbroken areas, allowing tr
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ENTIRE
will take back these trophies of cnm
meroe and they may attract their coun
trymen to buy more American goods.
Bapreme Importance of Visit.
The supreme importance of the commis
sion's visit here from the commercial view
point may be read In the statement of
the trade relations of the two countries.
Our exportatlons to Japan for the year
IMS, according to the official ' reports of
the United States government, were valued
at MM1S.454. besides $1,663413 to Korea and
a good trade with that large section of
Manchuria, where Japanese interests are
paramount. The largest single Item was'
cotton and cotton goods, totaling $11,423,573.
Next to this come Iron and steel products.
The main Item of this schedule are steel
HOUSE. PIERCE.
the arranging of cattle In Immense herds
and discouraging all of the more intensive
styles of agriculture. '
Pierce , county was created by an act of
the territorial legislature In 1859. On the 6th
of February, 1875, the boundary was read
Justed, making the county square and mak
ing sixteen townships, or 868,640 aores.
Pierce oounty is composed of valleys and
upland in about equal proportion. The
North Fork valley averages from two to
four miles in width and extends from the
northern to the southern boundary of the
county. The principal kinds of native for
est trees found here by the early settlers
were the elm, willow and boxelder.
The first settlements In the county were
made In the fall of 1886, by a portion of
the German colony from Wisconsin which
settled mainly on the North Fork of the
Eikhorn. Among them were H. J. Hueb
ner, August Nenow, Christian Huebner and
others. In 1870 and 1871 much of the choice
land In the southern part of the North
Fort valley was taken, and some of that
along its tributaries. In 1870 R. 8. Lucas
and J. H. Brown started a settlement on
Willow creek, the present town of Pierce,
and in 1871 William B. Chilvers located at
the head of Dry creek, where the town of
Plainview now stands.
The county seat was located at the first
election beld in the county, July 26, 1870.
la
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TITE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: NOVEMBER 7, 1909.
and 'Women "Who
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4 "
PARTT OF JAPANESE COMMISSIONERS
rails, $1,348,471; electrical machinery, $1,
496,093; locomotives, $377,370; all other en
gines, $4,69S,116; structural ' steel." $814,468;
builders' hardware and tools, $288,631;
wire, $109,930; agricultural Implements,
$101,666; nails and spikes, $572,766; pipe and
fittings, $1,408,296. We sold $339,381 worth
of ears, carriages, automobiles and other
vehicles, not counting $98,084 worth of bi
cycles. Brass manufactures brought us $20,643;
copper, $27,300; clocks and watches, $18,492;
sclentlflo Instruments, $507,286.
Floar ama Bread Staffs.
Another class of goods which comes
home to us is flour and breadstuffs. We
receive for the former $2,300,259 and for the
Up - to - Date
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PUBLIC- SCHOOU PIKIICa,
The town of Pierce was then laid put and
the inhabitants immediately set about
building a court house. On March 31, 1871,
the county voted $15,000 bonds, but the
bonds were never needed. At this elec
tion there were but forty-six votes cast In
the county. Pierce county has voted bonds
at different times In rather large amounts
to different railroad companies.
In the year 1870 J. H. Brown was au
thorised to call a special election for the
purpose of organization of the county. This
election was held July 26, 1870. J. H. Brown
was elected clerk. H. R. Mewls was treas
urer and Albert Brlsso sheriff. In 1879
Pierce county contained a population of
684. In 1880. 1.214.
Pierce, the county seat of Pierce county,
is favorably located at the Junction of Wil
low creek with the North Fork of the Elk
horn, the latter furnishing excellent water
power for the city. The first house built
In the vicinity of Pierce was a slab and
sod bouse on the bank of Willow creek,
built by J. H. Brown, early In 1870. For a
'time this house served the purpose of a
dwelling, postoffice, court house and hotel.
The second house was a frame one, built
by R. 8. Lucas, , one and a half stories
high, on the land adjoining Mr. Brown's.
The' school and court house were both built
in 1872. Pierce county is one of the very few
counties of the state that has been free
from a county seat fight. A store building
was erected In 1874 by H. R. Mewls. The
postoffice was established In 1870, with A.
J. Babcock the first postmaster. The first
school taught was by Mrs. Robert S. Lucas,
in her own house. Phe afterward taught In
the public school house built In 1872. The
Pleroe County Call was established October
. 1377, by J. B. Kharot A Bro.
Plainview is one of the thrifty cities of
the county. The first settler here was
William B. Chilvers. June 1, 1871. The
postoffice was established In April, U72,
aad called Roaevllle, In honor of Charles
Rose, who was appointed first postmaster.
In 1874 the name of the postoffice was
changed to Plainview. The first house
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AND "WOME?T.
rest $719,692; paper and products thereof
fetched $316,372; leather goods, $030,034;
meats and dairy products, $788,373; naval
stores, $114,234; mineral oils, refined, $fi,046.
497; paraffin and paraffin wax, $826,996; to
bacco, $440,867; woodware, $394,097; soap,
$49,420; books, maps and engravings, $31,
461; chemicals, drugs and dyes, $225,964;
fertilisers, $221,110; fish, $7,430; fruits and
nuts, $34,442; India rubber wares, $364,776;
Inks, $51,182.
The United States bought from Japan
last year goods valued at $68,107,646, be
sides $3,045 worth from Korea a balance
of trade against us of nearly $17,000,000.
Less than one-fourth of our Importations
were dutiable. The overshadowing Item
was $48,000,000 in silks. Next come mat
tings, nearly $3,000,000; in earthenware and
Farms and Farming Methods
built was In the fall of 1871. by Star Rose,
Schoonover and Dean, the settlers living In
the meanwhile in wagons and tents. The
first frame house was built in April, 1872.
H. R. Mewls built the first store building
in December, 1879. The town was platted
October 90, 1880.
Let us now turn to Pierce county of to
day and see what It has aocompllHhed In
building up a commonwealth. In the first
place Pierce county has a valuation of $20,
000.00. and this amount has been taken
from the soil. It has a population of 14,
000 people that will compare favorably with
any people for thrift and Intelligence In any
part of the west. The county has 69' miles
of railroad, with seven good, thrifty rail
road stations; It also has one excellent
water-power, located at Pierce, and Is one
of the few counties of the state tthat has
a first class Independent creamery. The
county also has an excellent steam flour
ing mill located at Plainview. Pierce county
Is also blessed with ten state banks, twelve
grain elevators and twelve free rural
routes.
Pierce county has one of the best farms
In the state. It is owned by Robert Lucas,
at Foster. The farm Is located In one of
the best agricultural sections of Nebraska
and contains 2,200 acres. The farm Is valued
at more than $100,000, and Is stocked with
I. 000 3-year-old white faced cattle. The
dwelling house is modern In every respect
and cost over $12,000.
Eden valley is without any doubt one of
th9 choicest farming sections of the state
and la located In the extreme northwestern
part of the county, while the extreme
southwest of the county has one or two
townships devoted largely to sandhills and
stock range. Pierce county, for its size. Is
one of the most productive counties of the
state. It Is not only one of the substantial
dairy sections of Nebraska, but It takes
high rank In the live stovk industry. Last
year the farmers of this county sold and
shipped out 14.000 beef cattle. 36.600 fat hogs
and 700 mutton sheep. Besides raising
enough grain to fatten this Immense
amount of stock, these farmers sold and
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Will Visit Omaha
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BARON NAIBTJ KANDA, -JAPAN'S LEADEN (3 EDUCATOR.
fibers, nearly $1,500,000 each; rice, $1,250,000:
over $1,000,000 worth each of copper prod
ucts and camphor.
The Commercial club of Omaha and the
business interests will leave no stone un
turned to see that the Japanese enjoy
their visit to this" city and will endeavor
to show them somethings which they have
not been able to see In other places In
this country. Omaha women prominent In
society are making plans to entertain the
women of the party. Mrs. Gould Diets is
arranging for one breakfast with fourteen
guests.
These pretty little Japanese women have
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LOCUST BTBJBBT, PLAINVIEW.
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MAIN STREET, PIERCE.
shipped out 588.000 bushels of corn, 27.600
bushels of wheat and 678,000 bushels of oats.
This county Is paying more interest to the
dairy Industry each year. At the present
time these farmers have over 1,100 acres
seeded to alfalfa. This accounts for them
keeping 8,600 head of cows on their farms
last year and using 530 hand separators.
From this beginning of the dairy Industry
these farmers marketed last year 76,000
pounds of butter and 146,000 gallons of
cream. These farmers produced on their
farms in 1U08, 89,000 acres of corn, 2,400 acres
of winter wheat, 1,300 acres of spring wheat,
66.500 acres of oats and 4.000 acres of rye.
Pierce county from the very start has
been taking a deep interest In their publlo
schools, and it is doubtful if any county
In the state has given freer of its time and
money for educational purposes than this
county, and the results are in the high
est degree entirely satisfactory. This
county, at the present time, has seventy
four school districts, requiring 108 teachers.
Eight districts have two or more school
houses. No district has leas than sis
months school during the year, and the
average terra la a little over eight months.
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the native instinct of inqulsltlveness and
they have been known, on this American
tour, to go awry of some of the well laid
plans of society folk In various cities. For
Instance, In one packing city where they
were to be entertained in formal style
while their husbands were being shown
around the dirty and 111-sraelllng packing
plants, they insisted on passing up their
social engagements and taking in the
stinking packing houses with their hus
bands. "We came over to see the United States,"
they said.
Of course they won't do that In Omaha.
-P.
No district receives a share of the stat
aid, and last year only three districts levied
the limit of taxation twenty-five mills.
The average school fund levy Is eleven
mills. There are 3.CS5 children of school
age in the county. There are thirty-six
children attending the town school under
the free high school law. The school prop
erty, such as buildings, furniture, books,
etc., amount to $103,500 00.
Last year the average salary paid to
fumale teachers was $44.34. and to male
teachers It was $3.66. The salary paid
this year will average from 13 to $7 higher
than last year. Superintendent O. R.
Bowen, of Pierce schools receives the
highest salary, $1,200.
Over 80 per cent of the teachers showed
their professional spirit by enrolling at
the North Nebraska Teachers' association,
nieetiyg at Norfolk. Frank Pllger is serv
ing bis sixth year as county superintendent
of schools, lie draws a salary of $1,200.
lie Is also the managing editor of the
bchool News.
The schools and churches have ba4 a,
(Continued on Page FourJ
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