Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 1, 1892, Page 6

THE OMAHA DATLY BEEj JFRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1 )2, 5 R T RECORD OF A YEAR. Growth and Development of the Metrop- olis of the Missouri Valley, PROSPERITY OF THE CITY'S INDUSTRIES, Wew and Profitable Territory Captured by Enterprising Omaha Jobbers, MANUFACTORIES GREATLY INCREASED, Output of Omaha Made Goods Larger Than Any Previous Year, BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. Splendid slon—Fork th owing for a Year of Depres- 1 Beof 1 Largest in World—The king Industry Third the Statistios, In many respects the year 1801 was tho wost remarkable one of the past decade and proved disastrous in both business and finoncial circles. Many of the larger cities of the country suffered most soverely and business wrecks were numerous, But dur- ing this depression, instead of retrograding, Omaba forgea ahead, more than holding her own, and experienced a season of reasonable prosperity and activity, The city has a population of 145,000, The corporate limits extend over 241{ square miles of territory, within which tnere are 148!¢ miles of graded streets, 4.1 miles of pavement, miles of sowerage, 425 miles of wooden sidewalk and more than 05 miles of curbing. Theso expenditures in the ag- gregate havo cost tho taxpayers §7,120,104, $39%,020.31 of which was expended last yenr. ‘Phe franchised corporations, including rail- ways, strect railways, the Bast Omaha Land company, the water works and the lighting companies, expended $2,423,000 in 1mprove- ments, makiog a total expenditure of §2,521,- 626 for municipal and corporate mprove- ments during the year. The building record fell somewhat below that of former yoars, but, notwithstanding that, 652 buildinge were erected, costing in the aggrogate $2,549,771, and not including those erected in South and Kast Omaha. This, added to the munictpal and corporate improvements, gives a grand total of £5,371,~ 897 expended during the year, The commercial growth of the city, as in- dicated by the reports of the jobbing houses, the manufacturing interests and the bank clearings, hus been satisfactory. The real estate transfers for the year ag- gregated §15,920,821. While this does not indi- cate anything in tho nature of a boom, 1t clearly vroves that the realty marketis in a healthy condition, The school census taken last June, and showing an increase of 3,701 children be- tween the ages of 5 and 21 years, indicates a fair increase in population since the taking of the government census in 1500. ‘Without a strugele Omaha continues to hold third place us 8 packing center, being outshipped by only Chicugo and Kansas Cit; and on the lutter placeshe 1s rapidly gainin, so much so, that undoubtedly before the olose of the present year, this city will rank s the second pork “packing market of the world, The number of hogs packed ouring the year was 1,245,210; the number of cattlo slaughtered, and the uumber of shaep, 81,358; making a total of 1,648,535 animals, The assessed valuation of city property, real and personal, for 1591 and 1802 is $20, 020,603, while the actual valuc of real estate alone is by a conservative estimate not less than $220,000,000. While tho rate of taxation on the assessed valuation is 88 mills, tho tax upon the true valuation of the property could not excerd 5 to 6 mills on the dollar, Even under the present system of taxation the rate is lower than in other western cities. MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. ndustries and Thelr Growth-- Rosult of a Year's Work, In the history ot the growth of Umaha's manufacturing interests the year 1801 must occupy an important place as marking the time when the prejudice against goods of home manufacture was overcome and popu- lar sentiment aroused on the subject of ex- panding the manufacturing industries by oreating & domaud for the goods manufac- tured. - Notwithstanding the so-called dull times of tho past yoar the manufacturing industries have been developing rapidly, but the im- ““gprovement has been contined almost eatirely o the last three months of the year. This improvement has been due almost en- tirely to a change in public sentiment in favor of local manufacturevs. Public sentiment, however, has becn aroused for a sufticient time to allow of the full effects being felt, and manufacturers confidently redict great changes for the coming yoar, usiness men anticipate not only great activ- ity on the part of factories alroady estab- lished in the wn{' of increasing the output, involving the enlargement of many plants, but they aiso look for the location” of many new enterprises which will bring in much ad- ditional capital and many working people. While the Omaha factories covor a wide range of manufactured goods already, practi- cal business men point out many important lines that might be mauufactured here with profit. All . that s wantiog is the capital and _the men to put the enterpriseé on its feet, Now that public sentiment has assured a market for the goods it is predicted that the capital and men will be forthcoming, The question is frequently asked “How many and what kind of factories are already located 1 Omaha?” Bradstreet furnishes the foliowing classified lists of local indus- wies, together with an estimate of tho amount of capital emptoyed 1n each line; No.of Capltal firms. - Inveatod Omaha's Crackers Distillors Extracts, Founders and ninchine shops. Linsoed ofl. ..., Bhot and lead pipe Mattross. . Overalls. Bods waior. Eirup retinera, Smo) huking powders, eto 55 200,000 450,000 160,000 64,000 50,000 40,000 40,000 8,000,000 30,000 10,000 30,000 10,000 126,000 140,000 150,000 200,000 25,000 00000 onery i corn mill, e a5 0200 00 Tinware . Corn erlb manufacturers Collars und cufs, Hominy . et aas a2 Pe Planing wills Baddlery ........ Wall plaste Feed caoker ... Prnting wosks Boiler works. . Total.. ... R AT In consideriug the above List of manufuc- turers it must be borne in mind that it is no easy matter to always draw the line botween those who are strictly manufacturers and those who are not. The Maunufacturers and Consumers association has taken the term manufacturer in its broadest sense and in cludes in its list repair shops, laundries, etc., which, striotly speaking, could hardly be called factories, There are also scatlered through the city small shops employing one or two men which would hardly be recog- nized by a commereinl agency ns factories. Then there are quite a number of firms whosa principal business is the jobbing of goods and who are accordingly counted under the hoad of Jobbers, although they do more or less manufacturing. 1t all these intorasts wore included the above list would be swelied materially, both in the number of firms and capital emploged. JOBBING TRADE. lesale Houses, the Capital fn- d and Business Don. ‘The year just closed has boen a remarkable one in somefrespects as regards the jobbing trade of Omahbs, The short crops in N braska in 1800 caused a heavy falling off in tho volume of business during the first half of the present year and trade in most lines was in a most unsatisfactory condition, The retail dealers in many sections of the state found themselves in a position in which it wrs difficult to meet obligations, being forced either tn sell goods ou long credit or not to sell at all, Tho money stringency prevailing all over the country still further complicated the situation and produced a feeling of insecurity that was weil calcuiated to par- alyze trado, ‘Omaba jobbers made the most of the situ- at10a possible and strove to make up the de- crense in Nobraska business by extending their trade into new lields, so that the actual decrease in the volume of business for the first nalf of the year was not so groatas would otherwise have been the case. As the indications began 1o point to an abundant crop for 1801 contidence was grad- ually rostored, and when the crop was finaily socured there was a_marvelous awakening in all lines of trade. Retail dealers who had allowed their stocks to run down to the low- est noteh possible, suddenly found money plenty in the hands of their customers and the demand for goods most active, This necessitated stocking up agamm and the job- bing houses were flooded with orders. As the season advanced the retail dealers were uct only abie to buy for cash, but they liqui- dated much of the old indebtedness inourred auring the early part of the year. The lasty three months of the year show an enormous volumo of business trunsacted by the jobbing houses, the business in fact ias been so great as to not only make up for tho light trade during the earlier vart of the year but to even place the total for the year above that of 1500, in many tines, At tho presont time 1t can bo truthfully said that the jobbing trade of Omaha was never in a more flourishing condition or had brighter prospects before it. Collections throughout the state havo improved wonder- fully, and retail dealers, instead of being forced to ask for an extension of time, are, many of them, discounting their bills. Jobbers ure’ confidently predicting a most prosperous year to come and are making preparations for a larger volume of business than ever bofore experienced. As showing the actual condition of busi- ness, in a jobbing way, Bradstreet gives tho following carefully compiled summary of the business done in leading !ines, by the Omana houses, during the past year: No. of Agxre. firms. gate snles e 6 SS01L000 ST 00,000 2251000 2,500000 1,500,00) 260,000 200.000 60,000 Class. Grocories and provisions. Wines and Hquors Dry K00d8 ..\o... SBedtii ] Buots and shoes If hardware, . dwars B her and indiigs. . Harness leather and saddjory’ Toys, willoware, ete.... 50,000 Hats, caps and gloves. ¢ 100,000 CIOURING..oovers e 4 i 50,000 & 85,000 2,900,000 200000 Produce Soeds. . Butehors’ 55,000 Rubbor oo, .. P 425,00 rinters’ suppiios. . ; 175,000 At 000 Paints, 01 and ks 15,000 T e R 1,500,000 Millinery koods... % 140,000 Confectionery. .. oo 500,000 ultural 1implements. Lumber . Wall paper.... i Steam,water and railway suppitos PHOtOKrApH SUPDUES ..o...ov. .. Guns and sporting zoods |10, Clgnrs and tobacco. 5 Conl, coke, coment, ote . c trucks . ory and glasyw Stoves. Jowelry Barbers’ supplies. Crackers, eto [t . extracts, ote inating otlk.. Goors und blinds. rs and engloes.... ] 0,000 Books and stationery 180,000 Bradstreet gives the following as a ol estimate of the amount of capital invested in the jobbing trade of Omaba in the principal lines: Class. Coal, lime, ete...... Rubber goods Sporting goods Seeds...... Afos, sealos, ote. . Steam and water supplios o Pumps, sash, doors and blinds. . Wall paper . % DEugs.. 4 Crockery. s Fruits and prodice. . Butter and oges...... . Hardwaro, stoves, ote Harness and leather.... .. Hats and caps.... ... emonts and CATFIgeN. L steel and heavy hardwaro. . 4 440,900 Liquors. . iilinery Notlons g s Olls, paints and glasy...0 2000 Oystors and fish Photo suppli Paper and printors’ supplios Artist materinls Books and statlonory Boots Browe Teay, cof 70,000 0,000 40,000 Furniture. & Wholesalo grocers Meats ... Blelpaitiratiting e 000 Clothini ! 140,090 Carpots. . 150000 Barbors' supplie 20,000 Eloctrical supplies 000 Type and printing presses. 0,000 Pickles and vinogar. .. 5,000 Metallic packing. ... 19000 Collars and cuffs 3,000 THE CITY GOVERNMENT, Omaha is the only city of the metropolitan class in the state. The mayor, clerk, treas- urer,comptroller and polico judge are oleotad every two yoars. Tho city council is com- posed of oighteen members, nine of whom are elected from the city at large, and at the same time at which the other officers are eleoted. Tho othors are elcoted, one from ench ward; they hold their officés for the term of two years, thus adding new mem- bors each yoar, The mayor appoints, sub- ject to tho approval of tho council, u chair- wan and two members of the Hoard of Public Works, a_ city engiueer, streot com- missioner, superintendent of buildings, plumbing’ inspector, gas inspector, boiler fuspector, two weat 'inspctors, city physi- clan , o1ty vetarivarian, license inspector, superintondent of weights and measures, volice court clerks and & number of other miuor appointients. Tho ofticials who woro elected last Novom- Der, and entor upon tueir duties next Tues- day, are Mayor—Georgo P, Bemis. City Clerk—Jonn Groves. ‘Treasuver—Heury Bollu, Comptroller—Theodor Olsen, Police Judze—Louis Berka, "The councilmon-at-large whoso torms ex- ire Junuary, 1804, ore: Peter M. Back William F. Bochel, A, G. Edwards, Edward E. Howell,George . Mouroe,John MeLoarie, 5ol Prince and John Steel. Tho ward councilmen, whoso terms expire January, 183, are: T.J. Lowry, Poter El- sassor, Richara Burdish, T, ¥, Tuttle, T. . Conway, Christian Specht, C. T.. Chaifeo, C. E. Braner and £, P, Davis. "he Board of Public Works is composed of threo members—P. W. Birkhauser, chairman ; John B. Furay and A. A. Egbort “Tho torms of all othor city oficials expire with the term of the outgoing mayor, R. C. Cushing, and will be filled by Muyor-elect Bemis. THE CITY'S FINANCES, For the year 1891 tue nssessed valuation of property, both real and personal within tbo corporate limits was placed at $20,020,083. Tho actual cash value of the al ate s one is conservatively estimated at §200,206,000,L0 say nothing of personal property which is nearly | balf as much more. The lev y last year was mills on the dollar on the "assessed valua- tion. Had tho proverty been assessed at anything like its real value, the rate of taxa- tion would be the lowest of aoy city iu the westorn states City Treasyrer Johu Kush furnishes the ! followlng statement which shows the affairs of his offic during the past year. Total valuation . Total levy A8 milis Total t Of tAx BasEs 14 ivih Tax [0vy distributod as f0110ws General fand. 14 mills Curbing, Guttering and 1 mill A Bower Malntaintng fund, i Polleo fund, 5 mil18.......... 100,144 ¥l . dig mills R Stnking fund. 3ig milly .10 Water Root fund, 4 miiis 80,115 ary fund, 1 mill 2,09, hool fund, 3 milis.,.. 0,080,08 Park fund, 1% mills W51 20,0 81,128.34 sy §ioe 20,415, Cloaning funa, v 20,020, i 10,011 Total Rogulnr tn Genoral fund Sinking fund Water Itent fund Sowor fund........ . Judgment fund.... Sehool fund Library fund Fire fond v 4 ¥ 84,480,118 Police fund... Fiiigiseyerive GAINIT Curbing, Gutterfig and Clenning fund 2081278 Vindiet fund GRTTIVITY ark fund T G wor maintaining fund. T T SR 70112834 20089743 0.055.48 ptal ¥ @ Spoctal 1ax 0o i10ctions ~ Stdowalk fund VIR District paving fiinds e District enrbing and gittering funds. ... Sower fand ey AWHIRE PUBL. 0630 1040 furds Eloventh streot vindict fund Sixtoenth stroet viaduot fund Tenth street viaduet fund... Sloplog of banks fund ... Totsl Genorai ¢ Erom miscallni Procoods of | Total amou 816 of long tlme bol mount colleeted and of Education %08 0f nll kinds 1n police court apportlonment miscelIAneous 4o ur Tax collocted OUS KOUFCOS .00 oo g time bonds 8010 t of premium recolved from L8 40.242.50 100,000.00 . 118808 sferred o Total total thx uiir bo 150 o thitse b HE CITY'S EXP DITURES, Comptrollor Goodrich furnishes the follow- ing statement showing the disbursements of the city funds duriug the eloven moaths end- ing Dacomber 1. The bills for last month will not be passod upon by the council until about the miadle of the present month, They will amount to about $150,000 fund 8 202,204 10557 e 5 845 ni Sower mig. fund Curb, gutter, ete’, Park fund Libra fund Judiment fu Plumbers’ mty, City Hall fund Poilce pension Spocial street rall Water rent fund Dog fund.. 2,084,100.00 100,752.00 nd. ngine house bond f) Viaduct.. § ke, 5, dlstrict Omaha sewer.. ... North Omaha’ Sewer. Curbing distriet Paving distriet.. 200 Paving intersections Paving alleys Grading. During the same months of the year 1590, the expenditures from the goneral fund were $270,847.97, and $1,830,270.79 from all other funds, making o total of $1,610,118.76. The ast yoar the expenditures have been $321,- Rfl.v 5 less than that amount. STREET AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS Owing to the fact that no bonds were voted last year for tho purpose of carrying onthe work of improvine the streets, the amount of money exvended for this purpose was somewhat less than during the year 1360, Notwithstanding this, enough was done to enable Omaha to hola the position of being one of the best paved and graded cities in the land. During the year 65511 square yards of pavement was laid at a cost of §140,711. Lhe material used was as follows: Asphalt, 18,854 square yords, $17,249; stone, 32,419 square yards, $60,650; brick. 14,738 square yards, #23,806, This added three miles, which now gives the city 6419 miles of paved streets. The total pavement in the city to date has cost §3,709,250. The grading during the same poriod cost $125,240.73. There were 863,142 cubic vards of earth removed. This work added 14.4 to the street mileage, thus giving Omaha 140 miies of graded streets and alloys. The sewerage system was extended by adding 7.8 miles of sewers at a cost of $66,~ 505. Omaha now has 92.3 miles of sewers, which have cost $1,400,689.68, The curbing was extonded by setting five miles of material at a cost of $16,542. Wooden sidewalks were put down along 20.2 miles of streets, at a cost of $37,174.04, This increused the wooden sidewalk mileage t0 425 wiles. - Permanent sidewalks were constructed by property owners at a cost of $53,000, whilo the city constructed 10,120 feet of the same kind of walk at a sost of $1,720.40. There were 9,550 feet of crosswalk constructed ut a cost of $2,501.1 sl'fll‘))w,ulnumug of paved streets cost the city The stroet repairs were as follows: Re pairing, $1,402.05; sewer repairs, $3,482.77; sidewalk repairs, $1,351.81; filling lots, 20,512.49: repairs on paved streets, $4,374.20; straot commissioners pay roll and material used, $23,432.77. In addition to this the city expended $120,- 066,93 on the new city hall and $30,173.75 in the construction of the new fire engine houses, making a total of $600,712.82, EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, In all of the schools of the city including the public, denominational and business col- loges, 18,150 pupils were instructed during 1ho past year by 457 teachers, The public school system which is regarded by prominent educators of the country as the most complote, has kept pace with the pro- gress of the city, The year that has just closea bas been u successful one and shows a marked improvement in the way of attond- ance, diligence, discipline and good behavior of pupils, The public school buildings now number 57, of which 21 are orick and 36 frame. The brick buildings contain 191 and frame 65 school and class rooms. The school property, including buildings and sites is valued at $1,22 The school ficances are in a most excellent condition. The funds for meeting tbe cur- rent expenses of the schools are, to a large extent, derived from the liquor licenses and olice’ court fines, & provision of the Nebraska high license law. A large sum is received oach year from the atate apportion- ment, derived from tne sale and leasing of the state school lands. So far as direct taxa- tion is concerned, the school exponses are light upon the taxpayers of the oity. ‘T'ne following shows the receipts and dis- bursements of the general fund for the last fiscal yoar, as taken from the books of the treasurer : RECEIPTS, Balance on hand.. Kecolved from— Licenses. ... Taxes OO State apportlonment. Delinguent ‘taxes.... s Tuition from non'residents Loss and damuge Lo Property. .. Muterial 80ld. .0 iviees 17,020 81 1015 23 50 ERAMM AL tadsto ity ehio s Ersaaas na RBARLR 4D The expenditures for the year wero 8§ 826,80, leaving a balance of $53,302.06 in the treasury. For 1590 the receipts weve $372,075.07, and the expenditures §344,394.43, During the vast yeur 287 teachers, ten males and 277 fomales, were emploved, an in crease of five over the year 1500. The amount pad out for salaries to superintendent, prin- cipals aud teachers was #215,791.08, an in- creaso of §14,244.96 over 1500, There were onrolled during the year 14,093 pupils, as compared with 13,279 during 1890, an increase of 524. The daily attendance was \;.Ll-’-. as against 9,005 during 1800, a gain of 02 ‘The school census taken by the Boara of Education, in accordance with the state law, shows a large and flattering increase over that of last year. There were 27,251 children between the ages of b and 21 years returned, of which number 13535 wore males and 13,743 fomales, The census of 1590 showed 24,520 persons of school age within the city, of which 11,504 were males and 12,626 females. During tue year a sixtoen-room building, costing $45,000 has been erected on the Paul street site, known as the Kellom school, a four-room building in Clifton Hill at a cost of §5,000 and a two-room building, an annex to the Sherman school The coming yesr will no doubt witness many important changgs ia the schools of the city, owing to the faot that a number of new buildings are to Be orected, which In a measuro will nocessitnte a complote reorgan- ization and an extepsion throughout tho entire syston, At the Noveinbor elabtion bonds wara votod the procecas to be used. in the construction of the following named brick school build- ings AddItion to high school ... .. West Omabn seliool ¥ 1 Franklin school. . 10 Conter sehool 10 Hartman school. ... e 1 Long school ¥ B Lathrop sehool. ... vevee 10 Windsor school 8 Hickory sehool s 40,000 30,000 0,000 30,000 10,00 25,000 13,000 Total i 1t 18 the intention to have the buildings comploted and ready for occupancy on or about September 1, the opening of the school yoar. The Normal school, a teature that has been added to the public sohool system during the past year, bas proved very successful. It is conducted upon the same plan as the State Normal school, and is for the purpose of train- ing those who may desire to become teach- ers. Although yet in its infancy it has ac complished a great aeal. The school occupies five rooms, has twenty-five pupils or cadets, and gives employment to three teachors. Graduates from this departmont will bo given certificates, which will authorize them 10 teach in any of the public schcols of the state, The management of the public school svs- tom of the city is vested in the Board of Edu- cation, consisting of fifteen members. At the present time the officers of the board are: President, C. F. Goodman: vico prosid Samuel Roes; secretary, Charles Conno ussistant secrotary, Emma Monzingo: super- intendent, F. A. Fitzpatrick; superintendent of buildings, Edward O. Hamilton The parochial schools and Catholic col- legos of Omaha have grown with the city, and as institutions of learning they are unsur- passed. They are all supplied with excellent teachers and are the pride of the Catholic church of the city and state. These schools are, the school of tho tHoly Trinity church, the parochial school at Twenty-seventh and Decatur streets, St. Weuselaus’, St. Joseph’s, ist. Agnes’, St. Mary’s, St. Parick’s, St. James', St. Peter’s and the parochial school at Eighteenth and Cass streets. They employ 47 teachers and wstruct 1,602 pupils. St. Peter's academy has 200 pupils and 12 teachers. The Academy of the Sacred Heart has 125 lady pupils and 10 teachers. t. Catherine’s academy,a school for young ladies and boys under 10 years of age, has 120 pupils and 10 teachers, Creighton college, 15 under the direction of Father Fitzgerald. president, and has au attendance of nearly 800 students. Brownell Hall, an incorporated school for girls, is under a Bourd of Trustees, of which the bishop of Nebraska of tho Kpiscopal church is an ex-officio president. The school is under the immeaiate charge of Rev. Robert Doberty, who is assisted by @ corps of able wnstructors, At the present time the school has nearly 200 pupils, The building and grounds are valued at $175,000. ‘The Omaha Commercial college, the Rath- bun business college, the Standard Business college and the Short Hand institute together have an avtendance of 715. Kach of these schools enables pupils who attend to optain & thorough business education The Doaf and Durb institute, a state insti- tution is located ,in the northwestern portion of the city. The building, a throe-story brick structure, will ac- commodate 175 pupils. ‘The enroll- ment reaches 150 who are instructed in all of tho branches taught children who attend the public schools. Prof.”J. A. Giilespie, tho originator of the system of teaching has been in charge of the institute for fourteen years. Prof. Gillespie was the first man in the his- tory of the country toiinaugurate the system of aural training. The Omaha Medical colloze now ranks well with other institutions of its kind. It owns its buildings and grounds, valued at 75,000 The course is. complete and overy attention i3 paid to practical and hospital work., The faculty consists of twenty-five instructors. At the presout time there are fifty students in the college. A number of kindergarten and select schools are maintainéd by residents of tho city, all of which report a lavge attendatco and 'are in a prosperous condition. The musical talédt is not negiected,as there are two schools, the Omaha Conservatory of Music with 150 pupils, and the Omaha School of Music with 125 pupils, where both vooal and instrumental mugic aro taught. Thero are also a number of private instructors who de- voto their eutire time to the profession. OMAHA'S BANKS, The banking business of Omaha is ro seuted by nine national. two state aad uino savings bauks, ‘Tnose banks have a combined capital of £5,575,000, with deposits of neerly $22,500,000, or §1,000,000 more than on January 1, 1891, T'he national banks are as follows Capital cever 8500000 S T1,000,000 500600 100,000 400,000 400,000 100.000 200,000 530,030 First Natfonal, - Omaha National Merchants National Inited Statos Nutiona Commercial National. Nebraska Nationul... Unton Natlonal American Nationa Nattonnl Bank of Commerce STATE BAN 100,090 100,000 Citizons bank. ... Midinnd bank.. 125,000 150,000 3000 200,000 100,000 50000 Omauhi 100,000 ‘Amorican Snvings A 100,000 Dime Savings.. .. . 7 T The Omaha Clearing House was established in 1884, duriug which time it has siuco been under the managoment of W. H. S. Hughes. The cloarings for the year 1891 were $214,- 147, 187.8 THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT Douglas county, including Omaha, South Omana, and a number of small incorporated towns has a population of 165,000. Tae fol- lowing are the county ofticers. Clerk of the district court—Frank E. Moores. Treasurer—H. B. Irey. Sheriff—George A. Bennett. Register of deeds—T. A, Megeath, County clerk—F. J). Sackett. County judge—J. W. Eller. County suryveyor—George Smith, Coroner—M. O. Maul. Superintendent of instruction—George W. Hill, Board of commissioners ~-R. S. Berlin, George W. Timme, C. L. Van Camp, J. W. Paddock, E. M. Stenberg. The expenditures for tho past year were as follows : Court house and court o AU o S County and ¢ity poor. County oflivers Printing, books, Coroner.! 5 Dax 15t BRSSO County sttorney Eleotion Agrloult Advortising itoad fund Bridge fund .. Insane fund.. 0000 Sinking fund: 10 Soldiers’ relief flnd Nebraska Savings bank. Omnha Savings MeCgue Savings.. . .00 German-Amorican Savings. pensos. Total o o 3 < $402.000 The expenses for tig year 1840 amounted 10 $442,000, The total bonded indebredness of the coun- ty amounts to §46,000, el U, 8, CUSTOM HOUSE, The following comparative table shows a creditable growth in‘business transactod at the custom house at Ahis port, since the pri- viloges of mmediate, transportation were con ferred, in 185 Prior o that date ap- vraisements were madeo at tho original port of entry, and gnods were forwarded for de- livery with amount of duty indioated on the transportation papers. The fiscal year begins July 1, aud ends June 80, thus taking half of two calendar years : Total Year | Vulue | ¥ree [Dutiable| Duties - |5 4010008 2,1 151,418.00, 110,52 ,00/ AT 0) Tho remarkable ing the last fiscal your was caused by the ro 18873 I8 L 1580-00 160-1 148,455.00 0.0/ 15058200 9.00| i, 15000 | W0117.00 G.000.0) WLAT2U0 ncrease i free goods du moval of duties from refioed sugar, under which provision nearly 4,000,000 pounds were released at this port on April 1, 1801, catly increased the importation of te our jobbers, A coaspicious item in du! goods received at this port during the of 1800-01 was lead ore from Mexico, " the Omaba-Grant Smelting and Refimint com pany havine arrangea for tho transportation of several thousand tous to Owaba direct, | through special instructions from the secro- tary of the treasury to the collector of cuas- toms at Eagle Pass, on the Moxiean border. During tho last flscal year a commodious bonded warohouse has boen established, a coavenience long needed and now liberally used. Mr W. H. Aloxandor is the collector for the district of Omaba, and to his inteil- gent and persistent efforts the rapid develop- ment of customs business is largely due, POSTOFFICE STATISTICS, By reason of a considerable increase in the clorical und carrier forco of the postofiice, which now numbor 42 clerks and 62 carriers, the business was transacted during the past six months with much more speed and prompt- uess and with much greater satisfaction to patrons than ever before. After January 1, 1802, the rogistry and money order depar moats will be removed to commodious quar- ters on thesecond floor of the building. The general delivery will bs removed to whero tho stamp and registry departments are now located and the stamp department will go into the present money order room. The changes will give one-third more room for the carrier department und will double tho sizo of the mailing and distributing rooms, thus it is hoped, giving enough room for the transaction of tho rapidly growing business until tne new building is comploted. i al ora nt 10, Wi ror DELIVERIES. TIIPS on carrlers make. ... AILY, y-threo car Four carriors muk COLLECTIONS lors mak arriers make Ihirty-throe A ke Four earrlors TIIPS DAILY RECES Salos of stamps Dox rents fotal @ over 1600 Salarles. fncluding elerks and carriors 5 Increase over 1) ¥ MONEY ORDER DEPARTMENT, $58 domostlc money orders pald 104 POStal DOLeN PAId. ..o eiveeers 1o 1international money orders paid..: 1801 $70,431 04 898,503 05 #12,021 11 1408 10 5,104 66 LS 15 Total 3 ordors sold Remittances recelved Handled n money order dept..... GISTIY DEPARTMENT, Lotters and parcels roglatered Letters and j o delivered. Iexistered pn Dandled in tra The following are the heads of the various departments; I'. 8. Clarkson, postmaster; J. I. Woodard, assistant postmaster; J. K. Cramer, superit tendont. of mails; M. Fitzpatrick, superin- tendont money ovder division; R. Phanix, superintendant registry divisiol 3 H. Platz, superintendent carvier division; W. W. Connoran, chief of mailing division; L. 5. Mole, chief of distributing division. THE PARK SYSTEM, Oranha feels a pride in hor park system, and it is only a question of a fow years when tho city will becomo possessed of a numbor of the most boautiful parks in the country. IFor many years the city has owned Hanscom park, a beautiful tract of sixty acres 1 the southwestern portion of the city. It was allowed to grow up as unkept woodland until the park commission law was enucted threo years ago. Soon after the passage of tho "law, Dr. George L. Miller, George B. Lake, Alfred Millard, G. W. Lininger and Augustus Pratt were appointed ruembers of the commission. The next sea- son witnessed a change. Attention was de- voted to making Hanscom park one of the most beautiful spots in the west. Driveways were graded, the underbrush was cuv out, sewerage was established, an urtificial lake was constructed, and many other striking improvements wsre made. Last season tho commission expended $17,351.28 upon the lake, and upou the construction of a band stand and a pavilion. Elmwood park on west Loavenworth street came into the pos- sossion of the city two years ago, and from woodland it is rapidly being transformed nto a beautiful park. ~In this park the sum of 818,525 was expended last season in the construction of bridges and driveways. Spring _Lake park, Bemis park, and Jefferson square are populat resorts duritg the heated term and aro being improved as rapidly as possible. Last season 502 was oxpended on Jefferson squaro and #223 ou the Canpitol avenue parks. Aside from carrying on the improvements, last season the expenditures wero as follows: Ofice ox- £530; concerts in Hanscom parlk, $031 ; the sum of 400,000 for the purchase of addi- tional parks. It 1s the intention of the com- mission to secure a tract of land in the south part of the city, another near the Boit Line in the vicinity of Druid Hill, another near Poct Omaha, and still another in tho north- eastern portion of the city. When the land is secured, tho lovy for the coming -year, 60,000, will be expended in the construction of ‘n boulevard counecting the entire park system, This boulevard in time will become a continuous park, as itis the intention of the commission to grade and plant it with trees, with a graveled roadway on either side.” Toe levy will be used for this purpose and as soon as the roadway is completed their attention will bo divided to the improvement of the new parks. RIC N LIBRARI Tho Omaha public library, which is sup- ported by & direct tax and managed by u board of divectors appointed by the city council, occupies quarters in the Paxton block and contains 36,26) volumes. It is open overy day in the vear, excepting Sunduys, from 9 o'clock a.m. until 0 o’clock v.m, Last year thore were 164,307 books issued for home uso; 25,000 issued for reference and 80,000 books used for reference, making n total of 210,307 books use¢. There wero 10,000 magazines used in_the roading room, making a total of 336,407 books, magazines and newspapers used During the year 5,037 books wera added; 4,153 book borrower: ards wero 1ssued; $757.20 in tines wero collected, and catalogues amounting to §62.95 were sold, The visitors to the reading room numbered 107,100. The expenses amounted to a trifio loss than $21,000, which included the books, the build- ing, the salary and the supply account. “Phe officers aro A. J. Popploton, president; Willam Wallace, vice president; Lewis S. Reed, secretary ; Miss Jessio Allan, librarvian, and Misses Margaret O'Brien, Edith Tovitt, Blanche A. Allan, Theodora M. Burstall and Metta Munnecke, assistants, The law library in the New York Life building contains 8,000 of text books and re- ports. It is kept up by the company owning the building, Five hundred volumes nave been added during the year. Itis freo to the tenants of the building. The Omaha Law Library associavion, or- ganized in 1% by Judge Wakeley, Judgo Savage, S. A, rickland, A. M. Henry.J. M Thurston, W. J. Connell, Judge Doane, I"rank W. Waessells, Robert Townsend, T. W, Richards and C, F. Manderson, now has forty members, all of whom aro Jeading at- torneys in the city. The rooms are in tho Paxton block, The library contains 3,000 volumes, Aside from these, most of the civie and re- ligious societies have growing libraries, af- fording their members opportunitios of gath- eriug much useful knowledgo, WORK OF THE COUNCIL, he city council held 52 regular, 32 ad- journed and 16 special weetings Inst vear, o work that passed through the hands of the clerk was as follows: 2,500 commuuica- tions, 1,500 resolutions, 700 “ocdinances read o first and second timo and ordinances passed. The reports made by the commit- tees were: Judiciary, 40; finance, 200 claims, 80; grados and” grading, 300; streets and ulleys, 90; police, 100; public property and buildings, 75; fire and water, 60; gas and eigetric 11ghts, 70; sidewalks and'bridges, 200, printing, 10: Sewerage, 90; paving, curbing and guttering, 130; viaduots and vailways, 30: boulevards, 1: plats and addi- tions, 15; special committees, 40, 18 BUILDING RECORD, Owing no doubt to the condition of the money market during the early months of the and the partial failure of the crop of 1540, Omaha failed to have a building boom last year. In this rospect she was not alone, as the records of most of tho western cities show the same condition of affairs. While it is true that the building record fell behind that of 150, enough was done to furnish con- vinciug evidence that Omaba enjoyed a liealthy growth. During the past twelve months 1ngs, aggrogating an expenditure of were arected in the city. Of this or thera were bl tenement houses, resi- dences and cottages; 50 stores and business | cont below the actual | the Omala ¢ blocks; 7 churches: 10 hotels: 12 factories: 7 warehouses and 15 miscollaneous struce | tures costing from &00 to £10,000 each. | "The records in the ofice of the superinten- | dent of buildings are incomplete, so far as | the cost of buildings Is conoerned. Accord- Ing to the ordinances of the city. buildors are only required to furnish tho superinten« dent figures showing the ostimated cost This estimate s invariably from 25 to 50 per | cost. This 1 brought avout by tho fact that the superintendent’s fees for permits and inspections aro based upon the estimated cost of structures as given by builders, The plumbers' fees and all biils of extras hover enter into the es- timates as figured out in the office of the superintendent of vuildings. TELEGAR AND TELEPHONE Tho telegraph, tolophone and district mes- senger companies of the city, in caring for tho wuuts of their patrons furnish ewploy- ment to nearly ()0 persons. ‘I'ho Western Union Telegraph has increased its business %0 por o the past vear and at this time has 2 on the pay roil. In this district tho company has put up 4,000 miles of wire tho past season, The Postal Tolegraph company, formorly the Pacific has built 5,000 miles of uow lines it now reaches nearly every stato in the union. ‘The company gives employment to 100 porsons in this city, The American District Telograph company does a messenger service. It also has a niglt watch, burglar alarm and delivory systom, Employmeut is furnished to seventy-five persons and during the year nearly 75,000 calls were answored. The teleplione system of the city, owned and oporated by the Nehraska Telephono company, is tho most complote of any sys. tem in the northwest. Its lines extend to most of the towns in eastern and ceutral No. braska and western Iowa. The subscribers in the city number 1,701, a nico increase over any provious year. The company carries 235 peisons on the pay roll and last yvoar paid out £6,300 1n salaries. I'he nlant was improvea by the expendi- ture of 10,300, aside from building a line from Dunbar to Talmage, u distance of ten miles. A metalic circuit was also con structed beiwoen this city and Plattsmouth, This year the compuny will buila its new tour-stovy fire proof building at Kighteenth und Douglas street and have it ready for oceupancy by December 1, The worlk of building conduits and putting tho wirein the central portion of the city underground will bo comploted this yoar. Chis, with the new building and the exponse of moving the office, will cost $235,000. OMAHA'S STREET RAILWAY, The street car system has kept pace with the rapid erowth of the city until it 15 a con- ceded fact that Omaha’s street car facilities aro unequalled. During the past year tho Omaha Street Railway company tias extended its Walnut Hill live three-quarters of a mile, to Clifton Hill, its Sherman aventio line from Thirtioth to Thirty-sixth streot, its Eleventh street line from Vinton to Valley streets, besides changing the Thirteonth street from a horso to an electric line. Last yeur the company expended £200,000 in the way of adding two and three-guarter miles of clectric iine and in building and equipping a largo addition to the Nicholas street powor house. 'The com- pauy operates 90 miles of road, nearly all of which is the electric system. The pay roll amounts to §25.000 monthly and 500 meo are furnished with steady em ployment. Moro than and iv 1s company it during 0 persons 200 cars ure in daily use ostimated that the various lines carry an averago of 20,000 persons duily. Since the begiuning of last year the Benson & Halcyon Heights company has con- structed two miles of electric line from Clif- ton Hill to the west line of Benson Place, This, together with the equipment of the road represonted an expenditure of 230,000, The company employes eight men aud has a montuly payroll of £340, ‘The Dundee Street Car company has ex- tended 1ts horse car lines from rortieth and Farnam streets to Dundee Place, a distance of one and three-quarter miles, at a cost of £10,000. Horse cars are run at regular inte vals, and tive men are employed. The pay- roll is $225 per mouth. The Omaha and Council Bluffs electric lino enters the city over the Douglas Street vridge. It runs west as far as IPourteenth street, south to Huward, east to Tweifth and north 'to Douglas, thus forming a loop around a large portion of the business center of tho city. It affords Council Biuffs people with excellent facilities for reaching the Omahu stores, hotels and depots. A MANUFACTURING SUBURB, East Omahaa manufacturing suburb lo- cated just outside the east city limits is at- tracting considerablo attention and 1s rap- idly bocoming a little city. The land is owned by the [ast Omaha Land company. most of the stockholders of which are busi- ness men and capitalists of this city, During tho past year the company has paid out to the ludoring classes the sum’ of §240,- 000, while that exvended by the manufactur- g industries in the coustruction of new buildings and other improvements will amount 10 $15,000 more. A street car line running in connection with the city lines has been built on Locust avenue from Sherman avenue to a point two and one-half miles east. The material and equipment cost $35,000 and every thing is nrst-class, A fifteen minute service is main- tained. The Bast Omaha Land company has estab- lished o system of sewerage in conformity with the grades established. In addition to this eignt and one-half miles of sureots have been graded at a cost of §175,000. Avenue H has been curbed and vaved with red Colorado sand stouoe for a distanco of one and three- cights miles at a cost of 38,000, T'he paving of this stroet gives a continuous pavement from Omaha to the heart of the manufactur- ing aistrict of Kast Omaha. The land company has coustructed thirty. six cottages, at a cost of §30,000, waich are rented to people employed in' East Omaha. A school house costing #1500 has boen built and furnished, a teacher suppiied and ull of the expenso 1s borue by the company. At the present time thirty-Tour pupils are enrolled. The buildiog 18 also used as a church by the peoplo of the Methodist de- nomination. Services are held overy Sav- bath, the Rov. Mr, Van Buren of Albeight, ofMciating. RAILROAD FACILITIES, Omaha may justly be termed the railroad center of the west, as thirteen of the great trunk lines have headquarters i this city, their bands of ivon extendin;: out in every di- rection like the spokes of a kroat wheel, tap- piag the rich mining distriets of the west, the graim fields of the surrounding states and the stock raising regions of the south, Wyo- ming and Dakota. It is on thedirect lino be- tween tho two occans and every pound of freight passing across the continent pays tribute to Omaba, While the facilities for bandling the pas- songer traflic uro uot what they should be, owing to the noncompletion of the union pas songer dovot, especial attention bhas beon paid to trackage and other features for the hand ling of freight. ‘I'hese railroads furnish employment to 8,000 persons, whose yearly earnings amount 10 more than $5,000,000, the most of which spent in Omaha. During the past year it is estimated that the roads have expended $1,500,000 in improvements within the incor- porated limits of the city 1n the way of now tracks, enlavging their yards and upon via- ducts, of which the most important ono is that built by the Missouri Pacitic company on theline of Hamilton street in Walnut Hill The Pullman Palace Car company has its western headquarters in this oty and furnishes employ ment to 200 men, CHURCHES, The religlous interests of tho city have never been allowed to suffer and at the pros- ent time there are an even 100 churches wiere the citizens may worship, It is estimated that theso churches have at least 30,000 morn- vers and communicants. During the year, 1891, ten church buildings were erected, bosidos four missions, The Unitarians built and comploted an ele gaut house of worship at Seventoenth and Cass streets, costing $10,000. The Method ists oxpended $100,000 in the completion of their church at Twentioth and Davenport streets and the Universalists erected a $4,000 church at Nineteeutn and Lathrop stroets. GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS, T'ne corporations engaged in the business of furnishinug light are the New Omaba Thompson-Houston Electric Light company, \s Manufacturinog company and the Ohio Street Lighting company. Duriug the year the eloetrio light com- pany bas expended $100,000 in improving its plaut and extendiug its vircuits, It now supplies light to 1,000 monthly pay roll foots up to nien aro given omployment. The Omaba Gas Manufacturing company has expended $20,000 duriog the year in add~ ing to its plant. Five miles of ‘new mains have boen lnid. The company has 100 men on the payroll, nud pays out $5,500 in salarios monthiy, The Ohio Stroet Lighting gaged fu the business of the suburbs, payroll £1,200, T'ho exponso of lighting tho stroots of the ety during the past twolve months hus boen no small itom, as it has cost §10,537.25, This amount was vald for 130 arc lights, tho servico costing $20,153.13; 554 as lights, $15,357.20, and 554 gasoline lamps, £10,76..80, INEWSPAPERS, Thoro aro threo daily papers pubiished in Omaba, two in Eoglish and ono in_German, Tie Ber for years has beon the leading nows- paper of Omaba as woli as the transmissourt country. 1t is publishod daily, Sunday and woekly by Tue Ber Publishing company. Tik Ber was establishod in 1571 by Edward Rosewater, who is the ownor of a controlling intorest fu the paper as well as in the build- g from which it is printed. ‘The cquipment of Tue Bee cannot be excolled by any vaper in the west. Itsf two Webb perfecting pressos have @ capacity of 25,000 complete eight-page papers per hour, or 50,000 four-page papers per hour. Its telegraph facilitios aro not ex- celled by any of tho dailies outside of New York, Chicago and Louis, It rocoives the full Westorn Pross report by specia! loased wiro. Among its many special foa. tures are the New York Herald and Associ- ated Press cavlegrams, Special correspond- ents at ol of tho principui nows centors cover tho entire fleld. Special nows bureaus aro maintained in Chicago, \Washington, Council Bluffs, South Omaha and Lincoln. Tur Ber is tho only vaper published in tho city that keeps before the public sworn stato- wents of daily eireulation. Durine the past five yoars the average circulation of Tuw Duity Bee has been as follows: 1887, G Lta s cevees 14,603 1588 ., . . oo 18,060 1580 O XU 1800 00000 00 Tre WeskLy Beg circulates ull over tho United States, and particularly among tho farmers of tho northwest. Its averago circu- lation closely approximates 40,000 copies per wook. ‘The various branch oftices of Tie Bek aro located us follows : South Omaha, corner N and 26th Council Bluffs, 12 Pearl Streot, Chicago Ofice, 317 Chamber of Commerco, New York, Rooms 13, 14 and 15, T'ribune Building. Washington, The magnificent customors. _The &,500 and 100 company is one supplying light to Twonty men are carried on the Their monthly salaries ageregate Stroets. 3 Ilourteenth Street. home which Tur Brr oceupies was commenced in August, 1887, and completed two years later. It is tho largest nowspaper building in Amarica, It occupies the block at the corner of Sevon- teenth and IParnam streets and has a floor area of 17,424 square feet. The building is a seven-story structure, built of granite and pressed brick, The World-Herald, dailv and weekly, is published by G. M. Hiteheock. The German daily, the Nebraska Tribune, is published by the Tribune Printing com- pa There aro twenty weekly publications, be- sides twelve monthlics. These papers have their respective fields and advocate the interests of the factions and organizations that they represent. UNION PACIFIC SHOPS, The largest mechanical establishment in tho city is the Union Pacific railroad shops. They cover fifty-two acres of ground and reprosent an invostment of move than $3,- 000,000, Last year theso shops furnished stendy employ ment to 1,400 skilled mechanics and laborers, hosides 200 enineers and fire- men in the motive department, The payroll amounted to 314,000 per month. With™ tho excention of a fow weoks during the summer wmonths, the foundries, car and other shops were run to their full capacity. I'he monthly avorage of work turned out will approximate as follows: Seven hundred and fitty tons of castings; 600 repaived and repaintod cars, and forty-five repaired or v built locomotives, Last year more than $150,000 worth of ma- terial was nsed and manufactured, besides nearly $100,000 that wis manufactured and sent £o other points on the system J. H. McCounell is superintendent of mo- tive power and machivery, withJ. H. Man- ning division master mechanic, Davia 1 terson is foreman incharge of the locomotive works; A, M. Collett of tho car skops; - ward Richilien of tho foundries, and A. Gibson of the blacksmith shops. WATER SUPPLY, The plant of the American Waterworks company, situated at lorence, just outsido the north city limits, is undoubtedly as fine and complete as can be found in tho west. Prior to this vear tho company had ex- pended $6,500,000 upon the system. During 1he past year & high pressure engine with a capocity of 18,000,000 galions daily has been added. Thisenormous machine cost $130,000. The engines now in use give the planta pumping capacity of 45,000,000 gallons daily. The reservoir system is the largest in the United States, having a capacity of 350,000~ 000 gallons. Last year the company put in four new boilers, costing $150,000; laid five miles of mains at a cost of 15,000 lowered eight miles of mains previously laid, at a cost of §15,000. Besides this the sum of $15,000 was expended in making ropairs. In this city, South and ISast Omaha, the company has about 7,500 water takers and the daily consumption is close to 20,000,000 gallons. There are 1,180 firo hydrants are paid for by tho city, The company carries roll and pays out in salarie month, in uso that 150 men on the pay about 86,000 per PRESS BUSINESS, For years Omaha has been the wostern distributing point for the great express coms panies of the country. The Pacific company has its general head- quarters in this city and owus its magnifi- cent building, waich cost $55,000, located at Fourtcenth and Harney streets, Tho otber companies, the United States, the American, tho Wells-Fargo and tha Adams have division headquarters here. Lhe five companies zive omployment to 100 meu and in salaries paid amounting ta near'y #3,000 per month. Without an exception tho offices report a good business during vho yoar, with an increased traftic of 25 per cent. THIE ARMY, The Department of tho Army of the Platta embraces tho states of Colorado, lowa, No- briska and Wyoming, excepting the post of Fort Yetlowstone, in the national park, Wyo., the territory of Utah; so much of tha siato of Idaho as lies east of 4 lino formed by the extension of the western boundary of Utah to the northern boundary of Idaho and nll that portion of South Dakots lying south of the forty-fourth parallel of north lalitude, also the post of Fort Meade, S. D, for pay- ment only. The headquarters of the department aro at Omaba in Tuk Bre buildine with Brigadior neral Joun R. Brooke commanling. HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS, The hotels of Omaha will compare favora- bly with those of other citios of its size and among the 1eading ones may be wmeuntioned the Paxton, the Murray, the millard, the Arcado, thé Dellone, the Merchants, the Bar- ker, tho Bruvswick and half u scoro of others. Besides these there are a large num- ber of family hotels and boarding houses. The loading hotels of the city cau care for at loast 2,000 guests, while un overflow of twice that number can bo comfortably cared for. A number of schomes ara on foot for the orection of a mammoth hotel, but as yet nono of them have materialized, PLACES OF AN S VLIS Omaha is well supplied with amusement halls, haviog six. Hoya's theater, the ar- nam street theater, the Grand opera house, the People's theater, the Coliseum, and the Iden Musee. Boyd's theater which was completed dur- ing the past year, is oo of the finest play houses in the United States and has 8 svale g capacity of 1,800, STATE TRANS little speculation ostate during the year, While the number of sales was not ns greal as durinz some ormer hoom vears, property has hold i1s own nd values have remained firm, notwith. standing the depressed condition of the 8sst- ern mouoy market, The transfers for the your hiave amounted to §15,u29,531, RS, in real REAL ‘I'here was but