Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, April 25, 1909, Page 23

POETOFFICE FORCE AT M'COOK FIRST METHODIST BPISCOPAL CHURCH, M'COOK. ATTLE MEN were the promoters of Red Willow county. They were the ploneers and came before the railroads or the government poat. As they moved thelr herds westward, they silenced the war-whoop of the Indian and the crack of the bad man's revolver. They w of more than ability speech, but western In thelr makeup. They were jolly orderly, progressive and prosperous people Western Nobraska owes much to sturdy stockmen. The cattle industry is the greatest single industry Ih this and it might truthfully be said, any other county. It is an Industry unsurpassed by other. The large ranches nf south western Nebraska are constantly being divided up, but the time will never come when there will be no ranch cattle industry in Nebraska, and those who are mourning the passing of the cattle business In this state may dry their tears. The cattle bus- iness of western Nebraska is here to stay A turther change of methods may come, but so long as the civilized world cats heef, just long will beef be produced with profit In Red Wiliow county and further west The young part in tho county; who of standing brave ploneer re men ordinary eastern in general these county n any s man who further wishes wishes to have a upbuilding of this the privilege shoulder to shoulde with spirits In the upbullding of an empire, will do well not to lgnore Red Willow county. 1f he comes to this part of the state, he will be where history has been made and is making; where industries have heen established where growing and will eol e there 's work and to earn they wr to grow; success men of robust temperment. He must make good here, but makes good, he finds bimself one pf a company of others who have been muccessful and who are doing things, and once established in this young western county, the young man has the satistaction of reallzing that he has bullt his home in of the best countles the west, from a home point of view a climate unexcelled for health sure, and 0 & community where where one in n and plea- ideals of business and home life are genuinely olw: fashioned, conservative and high. Could we know the route pursued by Coronado in his quest of the fabled seven citles of Cibola, it Is possible we might learn that he orossed the Kansas border and penetrated Nebraska as far, at least, ith of the Red Willow creek, In this county. At any rate, a sword, believed to be of Spanish workmanship, found near the confluence of Red Willow creek and the Republican river & number of years ago, now reposes among the collections of the Nebraska Historical society and it s conjecturs that this was once the property of of Coronada’s band. If it be a fact that Spanish adventurers came within borders of what Is now Red Willow county, they, doubtless, were the first as the m the the white men upon the The authentic history of the county dates from 1§71, when @ company was organized Nebraska City for the purpose of set tling this seotion of the state. In Novem- of that an exploring party, out under the leadership of Royal selected a town site near the present ot Red Willow, and a number of clalms were located by members of the organization. No settiement was made at that time, the party returning to the east- ern part of the state for the winter. This published a newspaper, the Red Gazette, the object of which was of this venture, whieh it proved a fallure King, who settled near the eastern of what Is now Red Willow time in 1871, 18 conceded to have the first white settler. He was fol- lowed, in the spring of 1872, by a number of men, some of whom are stlll residents of the county, who located claims In and around where Indlanola now stand nd along Red Willow creek. During the sum- mer of 1872 a company of United States Infantry and one of cavalry were sta- tioned near the mouth of the “Willow" to protect the settlers from the depreda- tlons of the Indians, but in the fall of that year jthe soldiers Were withdrawn, the sit uation not requiring their presence The county was organiged In 187, in ber ye sont Buck. station company Willow the exploration be added John border some county been and e - By T o M'COOK HIGH SCHOOL AND PUPILA THE OMAHA SUNDAY the first election was held on the Zith day of May of that year. Indlanola and Red Willow were contestants for the location of the county seat, the former securing an apparent majority of the sixty votes that were cast. The friends of the rival sites were bitterly partisan, and a spirited war was waged throughout the summer months, not only in the courts, but after the fashion of the frontler, where might usually pre- valls, The conflict terminated favorably to Indlanola, and the plan to bulld a town at Red Willow was abandoned At this time Lexington, or Plum Crebk, as it was then called, was the nearest rallway station or trading point, and all supplies required by the settlers were frelghted from there, a distance of seventy- five miles. The years have nothing to re- cord except events incidental to the settie- ment of a new country, until the summer of 1878, when an Indlan war alarmed the scattéred population of all this western country. The edations In this county were confined to the Beaver valley, where lives were sacrificed and property was de- stroyed, the central and northern parts of the county escaping. The settlers, how- ever, gathered in Indlanola, and were pre- pared to meet the Indians if they came. The years that followed were years of growth and progress. Settlers flocked in, and from the meager beginnings on the bank of Red Willow creek spread far and wide over the country, at first along the streams, but at last out upon the high divides. The prairie sod was turned and crops were planted, the principal pursults, in the early days, being agriculture. With the building of the rallroad in 1881, the county began to prosper, and “since that time the history of town and country has been a story of progre In the spring of 1879 Willlam Colvin homesteaded the land upon which the rail- road now has its shops at MeCook, while Vance McManigal homesteaded tiie land upon which the roundhouse Is located. In a sod bullding near the bank of the Re- publican river George Colvin opened a store and hotel, and a postoffice, named Falrview, was established. Tt was not un tll the spring of 1882 that the town of Mc- Cook was lald out on the hills overlooking the old Falrview settlement, the site of which was purchased by the raflroad com- pany for the extensive shops and yards. which it has since constructed at this place. The United States land office was opened here on the 15th day of June, 1883 Me Cook was organized as a village on the 2ith day of November, 1883, and was erected inte a city on the 4th day of March, 18%, At the county seat election held the 24 day of August, 1882, Mc Cook became the county seat of Red Wii- low county, although legal proeeedings prevented the removal of the records to the new seat of county government until 1596. McCook fs beautifully situated, com- manding an unparalleled view of the val ley. threaded by the tree-fringed stream 1t is a clty of pretty homes, set in green lawns and nearly buried beneath trees. A well kept park, planted to grass and trees oceuples a block In the center of the res- fdence district. Many substantial business houses, overflowing with extensive stocks of merchandise of description, Jine Main and Dennison styeets, the two prin- cipal business thoroughfares. A number of brick buildings have been erected in the last two years and the inabllity to procure labor and material fs all that has pre- vented the construction of others which are now projected and will be built the coming season. In the last two years Me- Cook has lald a large amount of sidewalks, as well as a number of cement crosswalks. In the spring of 1906 bonds were voted In the sum of $,000 for the construction of a main trunk line sewer. This was scarcely completed before work on the laterals was commenced, the cost of which has been paid by a speclal levy. Within one year on every cement BEE: APRIL on COMMEHCIAL CLUB, M'COOR. after the first had a sewer move was made system that extends part of the main The aggregate lengith of the maln sewer and laterals over seven miles and the cost of construc tion was about $35,000. The McCook Electric Light company which has furnished the city and its in habitants with light for more than twenty years, is now rebuilding its plant, at a cost of more than $35,000. When completed the new system will modern and Mc Cook should recelve as good service as any town In the state McCook Gas company furnishes gas of a superior qual ity for lighting and domestic purposes Although the plant has been in operation less than two mains are extended to all parts of the city, and the company enjoys & large patronage. This Iz an clusively local enterprise, the stockholders numbering several of the substantial bus- iness men of the community The telephone system, which tirely rebullt within the last four vears, is one of the best under the management of the Nebragka Telephone company in fact, strictly modern, and furnished with every known device for thie proper convenient discharge of its buiness. Me- Cook has the distinction of having more telephones, In proportion to its population, than any other ecity In the United States, and the growth of the system the last year has shown a larger percentaze of expansion than any other local exchahge in Nebraska Tn fact, not a month has passed since the establishment of the system that the num- ber of ‘phones has not increased. The Me- ook Telephone company, an independent line, fs extending fts system in all dir tions through the county as rapidly n the work can be done, Throuel arrangements with the Nebraska Telephone company the subseribers this systom have the vantages of the McCook service without additional expensr. Among manufdbturing industries may he mentloned the McCook Brick compan which has its yards at the western edge of town. This company has a daily capac- ity of 40.00 brick, and made and sold in the year 1908, 1,500,000 bricks. It could have disposed of a larger output. The MecCook Pressed Rrick company was Incorporated on the first day of April. 1907, tal steck of $150M. The company. plant has just heen put in op four-mold Fernholz press. with a of 24,000 bricks a day The auality of pressed by a dry clay In this locallty Is grent advantage of thi brick may be manufactured at the The only other n this state producing brick by this process i In Omaha. This enterprise promises to develop into one of considerable importanee, The plant of the MeCook Cement Stone company represents an investment of $11,00. This company has facilities for manufac- turing %0 blocks per day. In addition to the ordinary cement block, it v kes W Aow and door lintels, poreh columns paving blocks stone work crossings The McCook Roller mills of elghty barrels per day, superior quality of flour, as well milling produets, including breakfast food It has a wide market for It output unable, with Its present facilities. ply the demand The Updike Grain company has two ele vator buildings at this place, the newer of which 18 one of the most modern and best constructed structures of its kind in tl state. This company and Real & Easter- day, who also have an elevator draw from an extensive territory, both north and south of McCook. McCook 18 a division station on the lines of the Chicago, Byrlington & Rall way company, and not a little of its pre ent prosperity, as well as its hope for fu ture development depends on the rallroad The division offices are at this place, and the division superintendent makes McCook his headquarters. The yards, with their depots, roundhouse, machine shops, coal chutes, oil houses and other bulldings several hundred acres, and the facilities, which are being continually increased scarcely adequate for the bu The employes in the sup the bridge and bulld water service, about the yard and station, and in the train and engine service num- ber more than 300, while the shops and car repairing forces embrace as many The pay car, on its monthly visits to Me- Cook, distribut more than $45.000 to over #00 employes, The bulk of this money goes into the channels of trade he at home. The ne snops are well equipped for repairing locomotives, and a large number are overhauled in the course a year, while the repalr tracks are always crowded with “bad order” ars. All train and en- gine crews change at McCook and a large majority of the men running on this divi sion reside here. The yards here have than sixteen of trackage, about six miles were constructed last two vears. This is exclusive main track. Among other improv made by the rallway at the place the last ten years may be mentioned a complete water works sysiem for the ex- clusive use of the company, which has here- tofore been supplied from the city system. This was installed at an expense of more than $20,000. A npew frelght depot and & foot viaduct to cross the tracks at the end of Main street were also crected, while the construction of a wagon viaduct long enough to span twenty tracks, which the McCook to every town s vears, ex was en- and to with a capl whosa ation, has a capacity product 1s a hrick to which adapted superior manu factured the The that on process well process all manufactory of vear st monument bases sldewalks and ornamet and lays cement with manufactures a a capacity as other and is to sup Quincy vor growing ness affice department, the atendent’s more. of more of whie in the of the ments within miles increasing traffic imperatively demands, is in contemplation for immediate future, T the peole of this munity their financial institutions has fostered knowledge of the conservatism that has attended thelr man agement. McCook's banks weathefed the panic of 188 and the years that followed, and stand at this time monuments to the sagacity of their founders, for, while changes have occurred in the directorates and among the officials, all of the banks are today under the control of the same who were active in their establish- ment. The fact that no bank faflures are to be recorded during the life of the city is the more remarkable when it is recalled that the financial storms that brought disaster to ‘so many in the last decade of the last century swept the country at & critical period of its history, when the country was new, and before they had emerged from that peculiar economlc con- dition incldent to newness. The financial institutnons have grown from the small be- of but little more than twenty g0, until today thelr combined re sources aggregate nearly $1,250,000. The city a good system of water works that furnish 1,000,000 gallons of water per day. The beautiful lawns and trees are the result largely, ot this excellent water supply. The business done the best index to a city's prosperity. The receipts of the office for the last year amounted to more than $11,0°0. City delivery was installed on November 15, 1%8, with three carrlers. More than 10,000 people are served from this office. The county has eleven rural routes, over which 3% miles are covered dally. The public school system of McCook has, almost since Its establishment, enjoyed an enviable reputation because of the high ard, of excellence maintained. The Hoard of Education has been fortunate in the selection of the office of superintendent of men of more than ordinary attalnmer The teaching force now comprises twent six teachers. There are 1,104 ohildren of school age. The first high school class graduated in 188, and the total number of graduates Is 215. The schools are houses in five bufldings, including a high bullding, constructed within the last years, at a cost of nearly $60,00. The Mc- High school is an accredited school, its graduates entering the state university without examination. In connection with the ol system may be mentioned the normal sehool, held in MeCook each summer, which s open to the teach- ers of southwestern Nebraska. Eight in- structors are employed and more than attend. Red Willow county has elghty-two school districts. Only one of these is a sod bullding. In the towns of the county nine months' school is held, the average length of the terms in the being seven monthe. There are 3,768 children of school age. At the National Corn exposition held in Omaha, December, 1908, a Red Willow county hoy, Lester Randel, 13 years of age, recelved first prize for the best exhibition of corn, and Bertha Hoss received prize offered for work aprons. The Carnegle library, sion siyle, has more than thirty-four newspapers and perlodi- cals are subscribed for. Any resident of the county may avail himselt of the op- portunities it affofds. McCook has literary and clubs almost without number and the town s well supplied with lodge rooms, some of which are occupleq every night in the week. McCook's spiritual needs are by ehurch organizations of several denominations. The First Meth- odist Episcopal church dedicated a beauti- ful bullding of cement stone about four years ago. The Catholics also have a new brick structure. The Baptists, gregationalists, iscopalians, Christians. German Lut Second Methodist Epf Seventh Day Adventists the confidence have | been com- by men ginnings years has by the postoffice 18 two Cook public sc junior county first new bullt in mis- 3,000 volumes and social ministered to new Con- erans, cogal church and RED WILLOW COUNTY COURT HOUSE. all have bulldings in which they hold thelr service Tn 1898 a court house was bullt, the gift of the city of McCook to Red Willow county. This bullding, which shelters all the county offices and contains, as well, the county jall, represents an investment of $20000. The McCook Commercial club, which includes in its membership nearly all the business men of the town, Is an active and potent factor in the movement for civic betterment, and not the least of its services to the municipality has been II|-‘ establishment of an understanding among the diverse elements which, too frequently, in small towns waste their en- ergies In useless strife. Thera Is now being erected In the city of MeCook, opera house and Masonic temple. The seating capacity of the auditorium will be 1,000, This strueture will represent an investment of at least $50,000, The young man living in McCook or any part of Red Willow county, hardly realizes what it has cost to take this county from an Indlan and buffalo country and dot it with thrifty villages and cover it with happy homes of the white man and elvili- zation, This can best be appreciated by glancing ‘for a moment at some of the re sults in the form of the present products of this new, western county. Red Willow county contains 328,000 acres, 170,000 acres of which under cultivation. While it is generally considered that this county s not strictly a grain county, yet, the farm- ers of the county sold and shipped out last year, 36,000 bushels of corn and 675,000 bushels of wheat. This represcnts but a small part of the income to these farm- from their farms, for thelr greatest industry will found In growing stock Last year, they sold and shipped cut 17,600 fat cattle, 48,300 fat hogs, and 2,000 mutton sheep, which s not a bad showing for bor dering on the frontier. These farmers a making rapid progress each year in dairy Industry. They oW keeping on their farms more than 5,000 cows and used last year over 200 hand separators The keen interest sold In the dalry industry Is accounted for largely by the fact that the county is especlally adapted to alfalfa and the faim- an are ers be are and the large produce ors more and more each year, especlally in the southern part of Red Willow county, are turning their attention to the growing of alfaifa, so that at the present time these formers have over 8,000 acres sceded lo this plant. As a result of this product they s0ld and shipped out last year more than 100,00 pounds of butter and over 0,000 cans of er m. The poultry Interest here is of no small importance, especlally to the farm er's wife. Last year she sold 2,00 dozon eggs and 50,000 pounds of dressed poultry Red Willow county fe well supplied with tlour mills, as they manufactured and shipped out last 1,700,000 pounds of flour and over 300,000 pounds of mill feed Twenty ago the fruit industry was hardly counted m the possibilities of this county 3 these farmers growing and in full bearing mere apple peach, 12,00 11,000 cherry Hesides every farm is supplied small frult, such as year years ng day ha than 15,00 plum and this nearly with cnough of tiw trawberrles and rasp- berries, for home The county has proved to be well adapted to many kinds of the hardy fruits. The valuation of Red Willow county amounts to a little more than $15,000000. 1t has over fifty miles of rallroads within its borders and 1,20 miles of public high- ways. The county has a population of about 13,700 and, taken as a whole, it will fairly rank as one of the very best countfes in western Nebraska. What of the tractions for th in the prime of lite? offer them? The young or middle-aged man who comes to this county to succeed as a farmer must realize the fuct that a revolution In agri- culture 1s now taking place. Formerly men farmed with their In the future they will farm with thelr brains. Here- many a farmer has been simply the animal his Hereatter, the successful farmer will be a man of trained mind and expert knowledge. Let us by all removc the Wisabiiities nErie cultural communities, mprove roads, ex nelghborhood telephone system, mult'ply circulating librar incroase school and church privileges and do whatever clse will tend the trolieys when possible, and the make the county an Ideai place to live in, trees, trees use. tutu What are young men What does the future the at- muscle tofore mean of TBACHERS OF N'COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS