South Omaha's Fine Showing as Progessive Municipality
OUTH OMAHA, the "Magic City," has been
forging ahead strongly, In recent years,
In other lines than meat packing. This
fact was strongly emphasize by Mayor
Tralnor, in talking of the growth and
progreBS of his city. It is borne out by
the superintendent' of the South Omaha schools. N.
M. Oraham.
"Surprise, and even doubt, will fill the mind ot
the Inquiring non-resident," said Prof. Graham, "when
he is presented with the facts concerning the school
ystem here. Even some of our local people are
astonlBhed when they learn that 7,611 children of
school age are on the census roll, while the annual
enrollment averages very close to 6,000."
Counting principals and supervisors, 166 teachers
v are on the educational staff ot the busy little city.
The high school is one of the finest buildings of its
size In the wholo couptry, a delight to all visitors.
One of the vei Mrst buildings in South Omaha In
which public money was Invested was the Central
building, erecVd In 1887, shortly after South Omaha
bad taken its place on the map as a municipality.
The newest ward school, called the Franklin, was fin
ished and occupied last year. The sixteen grade
school buildings testify, by their number, that the
fatter of education Is always foremost in the thoughts
of the citizens. Rooms in these buildings reach the
total of 134, and they are all occupied. The cur
riculum compares favorably with that ot any other
' city in the land, and thirteen years are contemplated
as the school course, from kindergarten to gradua
tion from the high school.
South Omahs Ainmnl Widely Scattered.
The graduates from the high school of South
Omaha are admitted without question to the colleges
and universities of the North Central Association of
Colleges and secondary schools. Graduates who call
the South Omaha High their alma mater are scat
tered all over the globe, and measure up with the
men and women turned out by any public school sys
tem In the land. In the alumni ranks Is a paymaster
la the United States navy, lawyers, doctors, teachers,
ministers, electricians, poets, cartoonists, Journalists,
civil engineers and business men. In the University
of Nebraaka is always to be found a strong delegation
from the South Omaha schools, taking front rank in
all activities. The present manager ot the Dally Ne
braskan, the university paper, is from South Omaha,
as was hla Immediate predecessor; and the recently
elected editor of the CornhuBker is also a South
Omaha alumnus. In the list of pupils at present are
a number from the surrounding country paying
tuition, and a good many come from a distance to
take the course' offered In the Magic City schools.
Modern in equipment and methods, the schools
under the care of Superintendent Graham are a source
of pride to every citizen. In them industrial training
Is a characteristic of the work throughout the entire
course. Free hand cutting, clay modeling, weaving,
paper folding, basketry, wood carving, drawing and
bench work, are the dominant lines ot manual work,
and a large proportion of the pupils exhibit a fine
degree of aptitude and cleverness. All this is, ot
course, subsidiary to the general course in the fun
damentals of a well-rounded modern education. A
standard pf work that makes for efficiency in active
life, after school days are over, and a standard of
scholarship that ranks second to none Is carefully
maintained and upheld.
Public Improvements Pushed Through.
While quite youthful, as cities go, evon in the
west, dating back a trifle over a quarter of a cen
tury, South Omaha has constructed for Itself, to May
1, 1911, publlo improvements to the amount of almost
fl, 600.000, In round numbers.
It took some time to get the municipal finances
In shape to proceed with the publlo works, but after
the quick building of the earlier city that gave It the
title, "Magic City," the people settled down to serious
consideration ot the permanent things needed to min
ister to their comfort and happiness.
At the present time South Omaha baa thirty-five
miles of well graded streets, costing 1479,983. It
,naa eighteen miles of paved streets, which cost $957,-
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814. Storm and sanitary sewers already built total
seventeen miles, and cost $312,634. Brick and ce
ment sidewalks have been laid over fifty miles ot
property front, at a cost'ofX$130.000.
Because of Its peculiar topographical features,
South Omaha was compelled to face large expendi
tures for viaducts, bridges and culverts. Of large
viaducts there are five, with an even dozen pile
bridges to supplement them, and a half a dozen more
or less costly culverts. The Investment in these struc
tures is $520,000.
"We are not near through with necessary publlo
Improvements yet," says City Engineer George W.
Roberts, which can well be believed from the follow
ing synopsis of such work now under contract, to be
done this year: About 165,200 square yards of pav
ing and 85,400 linear feet of curbing, to cost $382,-
Nebraska's Busy
(Continued from Page One.)
auditorium. South Omaha, aad at the Hotel Rome
assembly room. Official headquarters are to be lo
cated at the Hotel Loyal, where all members and those
accompanying them will register. The business pro
gram Is planned to cover most of the important sub
jects with which editors and printers have to contend.
Reports that will engage the close attention of the
members are to be made on "Cost Systems" by H. L.
Tostevln and C. E. Corey of the Omaha Ben Franklin
club; and on "Price Lists" by H. G. Taylor of the
Central City Nonpareil, chairman of a Bpeclal Investi
gating committee. Two addresses on the set program
that are looked forward to with a good deal of in
terest will be made by C. C. Rosewater, business man
ager of The Bee, on "Advertising Strength of the
Small Papers," and by Courtland Smith, general man
ager of the American Press association, on "Adver
tising." A dozen or more of the brightest editors In
the sfate are also on the program for talks on the
business and ethical aspects of country newe paper pub
lishing. A question box is to be conducted by Penn
P. Fodrea of the Omaha Trade ExhVblt, and A. W.
Ladd of the Albion News will have charge of a round
table discussion.
For the opening session, at Masonic temple at 10
o'clock Monday morning, the following program baa
been arranged:
Invocation Rev. T. J. Mackay, rector of All
Saints' church and editor of Church and Home.
Welcome to the city of Omaha by Mayor James C
Dahlman.
Welcome on behalf of the newspaper men of
Omaha, Rodger Craven, telegraph editor of the World
Herald. Welcome on behalf of the Commercial club of
...-.
' "OMAHA SUNDAY 'HKK: JUWK 4 1911.
GOOD
CZERK
600; 13,200 linear feet ot sewers, to cost $72,600;
192,500 cubic yards of grading, to cost $42,000; 10,
000 linear feet of sidewalk, to cost $5,300; showing
an estimated grand total of new work representing
$502,300, to be done during the season of 1911. This
new work, when connected up with that already
done, will put South Omaha in most excellent shape
to make comparison with municipalities of its class
anywhere.
Work Done Last Year.
As an Indication of the quality of work being
done under the supervision of Engineer Roberts, the
following summary of last season's paving, curbing
and guttering will be interesting: Of class A as
phaltlc concrete 38,173 square yards were laid, at a
maximum price of $1.90 and a minimum of $1.84 a
square yard. Of class 13, sheet asphalt, 20,219 square
Editors Will Meet in
Omaha by G. B. Haverstlck, h.k jli&h of the executive
committee.
Response for the Nebraska Press association, A. B.
Wood of the Gerlng Courier, president.
T. W. McCullough of The Bee will make the fare
well address Wednesday afternoon at Hotel Rome
and the Omaha Ad club will have charge of the even
ing meeting Wednesday at the same place, when
Courtland Smith will deliver his address.
Commercial Club "Receivers."
That the Omaha Commercial club is fully alive to
the need of a strong committee to receive the visitors
and see that they are kept reasonably busy and prop
erly entertained is Indicated by the selection ot the
following named men as a reception committee, to
be continually on the Job:
Colonel T. W. McCullough,, chairman; H. Hugo
Brsndeis, Dr. W. M. Davidson, H. E. Newbranch, J.
M. Guild. Mel UhL Irvln A. Medlar, Victor Rosewater,
Rome Miller, W. R. Watson, C. C. Rosewater, Isaac
Carpenter, Harry Dorley, George Gilllsple, Mel Uhl, Jr..
Thomas A. Fry. Sam Potter, W. H. Bucholc. Clement
Chase, Alfred Sorenson, F. J. Taggart, Ralph Kitchen,
E. Buckingham, Frank Keogb, P. P. Fodrea, G. E.
Haverstlck, T. J. O'Brien, Roy N. Gale, Henry R. Ger
lng, A. J. Beaton, E. T. Swobe, T. L. Davis, J. O.
Goodwin, Luther Drake, W. E. Shepherd, Robert Man
ley, F. W. Harwood, John L. Kennedy, Roy T. Byrne,
O. W. Clabaugh, DeForest Richards. John C. Drexel,
A. W. Jefferls, W. H. RhodeB, GW. WatUes, C. R.
Sherman, Albert Edholm, Robert Smith, George West,'
H. 8. Weller, L. W. Wakeley, F. T. B. Martin, S. F.
Miller. J. J. Deright, Harry Kelly. Victor White, W.
D. Hosford, Will A. Campbell and F. I. Ellick.
Features of Enetrtalnment.
The entertaining wOl begin with a luncheon for the
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yards were put down, at the flat rate of $1.85 per
square yard. Creosoted wood block pavement was
used to the extent of 14,742 square yards, costing
2.60 a yard. Purington brick block was used to
the amount of 13,461 square yards, at $1.93 per
yard, and 12,065 square yards of the same make of
block at $1.91 a yard. Of class A, straight curb, 21,
237 linear feet was placed, costing a maximum of
60 cents and a minimum of 44 cents a foot. Combina
tion stone curb and gutter was placed to the amount
of 82,659 linear feet, with a maximum cost of 65
cents and a minimum cost of 61 cents a foot.
During the season of 1910 City Engineer Roberts
supervised public work to the amount of. $332,028,
under the following heads:
Five and one-tenth miles of pavements, compris
ing 93,33 2 square yards ot paving, 61,898 linear feet
Omaha This Week
editors Monday noon at the Henshaw, given by the
Daily News. At the same hour the visiting women
will be the guests of the American Press association
in the main dining room at Hotel Loyal. Rest will
be allowed and a chance given for the first business
session Monday afternoon. Things will warm up Mon
day evening, no matter what the state of the weather,
when there will be a special initiation for the editors
by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben at the Coliseum and a
theater party for the visiting women, given by the
World-Herald.
Tuesday morning, June 6, the women will devote
to a shopping tour through Omaha's big stores.
Tuesday noon dinner for the entire party will be
served at the Exchange hotel, South Omaha, given by
the Union Stock Yards company, the South Omaha
Live Stock exchange and South Omaha Commercial
club.
Tuesday evening an automobile ride la to be given
by the Commercial club of Omaha, leaving the Hotel
Loyal at 5i30 p. m. In the evening occurs the dinner
given by the Commercial club of Omaha. Automobiles
will take guests to this dinner.
Wednesday morning a trip has been planned for
visiting women through the Omaha museum, publlo
library and the Lininger Art gallery, leaving Hotel
Loyal at 9 a. m.
Wednesday noon, dinner for editors and visit
ing women, given by the printing material houses of
Omaha at the Hotel Rome.
Wednesday evening a buffet supper for entire
party will be given by The Omaha Dally Bee at the
Hotel Rome. This will be followed by a smoker and
special program given by the Omaha Ad club at the
Hotel Rome
'til.
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of curbing and all appurtenances; cost of $229, 376. it.
One and nine-tenths miles of sewers, comprising
various sizes, storm and sanitary sewers, manholes,
catch basins and all appurtenances; cost of $76,
358.29. One and nine-tenths miles of grading, comprising
111,388 cubic yards; cost of $19,608.69.
One and eight-tenths miles of sidewalks, of con
crete and brick construction; cost of $5,614.i6.
Repairs of streets and bridges; cost of $1,171.76.
Forty-eight sewer connection permits, thirty-four
sidewalk construction permits and 178 water Installa
tion permits, were Issued and work constructed la
compliance with city ordinances.
, Grades were established on six miles of streets,
the quick buldlng of the earlier city that gave It th
City Ileal Estate Sells Well.
Three new additions, comprising 110 lots, wer
recorded In 1910, and South Omaha real estate deal
ers never find time hanging idle on their hands these
days. The new additions platted and put on the mar
ket In the last few years have, been largely sold toi
home builders. Many of the new residences are qulta
pretentious, and in South Omaha are to be seen some
most attractive street vistas in the better residence)
sections, with trees in plenty, -well kept lawns, gen
erous expanse of flower beds; everything that goes
to add beauty to the permanent home.
Postmaster Lew Etter Is in charge of an office thafl
last year transacted business for Uncle Sam to thai
amount of $180,000, and that Is showing a steady
and most healthy growth fVora year to year. The
postofflce Is located In a very fine building erected
by the government, and carriers deliver the mails.
Municipal Buildings and Park.
South Omaha's city hall and police station, erected,
three years ago. are substantial structures of very
creditable appearance, representing a cost of $50,000.
The city ball Is presided over by Mayor P. J. Tralnor,
who has so won the good will of his neighbors that
he is never defeated for what he seeks in the way,
of political office. He was county commissioner tor
the South Omaha district two terms before being
chosen mayor, and filled with eminent satisfaction to
the electorate other local .positions of trulit before
that
The city clerk, Frank H. Good, and the city treas
urer, John J. Glllen, are both products of the Magie
City, and are making good In the Important office
entrusted to their care. In George H. Roberta the
city has a competent and businesslike engine.
Six parks are owned and being developed, At th
present time Syndicate park la the only one In fin
ished condition. The parks are valued at $120,000,
The fire department is headed by Chief 3. T. Me
Kale. He has under his direction a force of sixteen
officers and men, stationed In three fire house, coat
ing $85,000 with apparatus. Two new house will be
equipped and manned thla year. The department haa
some very Important interests to protect from the
red fiend, even though Its work is complemented by,
small fire fighting forces maintained by the packing
companies at their different plants.
In its banking facilities South Omaha has coxa
to the point where Its local banks are quite adequate)
to handle all the ordinary business of Its varied In
terests in quick and satisfactory shape. Tbey hav
ample capital, are well officered and respond readily
to every legitimate demand.
While the packing plants are strtl the backbone
of the business prosperity of South Omaha, It Is true
that in recent years men In other lines of maanfactur
have found a good and promising field there for their
products and eligible locations for their plants.
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