Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 16, 1909, Page 19

THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: MAY 16, HE mission of the Platte River was asslgned It from the be- ginning. It was cast in the drama of Nebraska to be the pathfinder of the Far West, and well has It acted its part. The silent years went by and nature waited. Life came, the little beaver fol- lowed up the stream to its head waters. The buffalo made their trall through the tall grass along its fertile valley. The Indian followed the buffao, or made & narrow trall through the brushy thicket. The White Hunter in the employ of the Hudson Bay Fur company followed the Indian trall, the prairie schooner and then the civil engineer followed the hunter and the palace car rolled after Each have played their part in the dra- matic. story. As the oceaseless tide of civillzation rolled Into Lincoln county, it brought the peace which overcomes war, the Industry which overcomes ldlencss and the arts of lgnorance. It made the worrler a worker and the consumer a producer. Then men bullt a city, North Platte. They dld not know they were but ful- filling the laws of destiny, but nature knew. North Platte is aggressive and progressive: it could not play s small part, it was fashioned on too broad a gauge, too big a plan. It has been d veloped by men who, Uiving the strenuous life, do things that count for advance- ment and prosperity. North Platte fs a child of the Platte river. Its origin, its present possibility and its future greatness are all due in part to this stream, The water of this stream, for Irrigat- ing purposes, is what will and does mean more to the city than anything else pos- sibly could, and its destiny belng fore- told from the beginning, is already reel- ing from the loom of fate, and the future is merging into the present with gratify- ing certalnty. There is something In the scenery along this stream that quick- ons every sense and makes one keen for danger or experience or pleasure, especially pleasure, The wilderness along the Platte river is not its only charm. There are human in- terests olinging about that region which fix the attention and stimulate the imagina- tion. It was along this stream hundreds of years ago primitive man went with his copper spear and knives. They floated down the stream in thelr primitive canoes and returned rich with spoils. That they §0t copper is & certainty, How thay found it s & mystery. To this day along the Platte river may be found their rude stone hammers and the mass of copper on which they left the imprint of their labors. Lincoln County has come to the point In its history when land values are such that no section is so remote that it Is not on the threshold of new agricultural develop- ment. In no single year have far western lands had such a decided advance In value, 80 that it takes them from range to pro- posed cultivated areas. This fact might give rise to anxlety as to the future and the fear that too much credit and worth is given to semi-arid lands I it were not known that agricultural Intelligence has come, too; that what these lands can safely do is known and that it is ‘history that the second great wave of settlement never recedes to any such extent as the first. This second wave of settlement on unoccupled lands in western Nebraska, so marked in 18, is made by farmers of ex- perience and means, while the first #vas largely made by migratory and Indigent people, in no way equipped to contend with trontier conditions. The present movement will become fixed and it will succeed. There is this additional, that must im- press everyone, and that is, the fixed and settled appearance that the county is mak- ing with the passing of each year. The pounty #s a whole Is stromg and substan- tial in every appearance, with permanent improvements in keeping with cities In many older countles. The appearance of the great pralrie farms has changed. Bulldings, handsome and commodlous, ap- pear everywhere. There is no landscape in Lincoln county, ngt dotted with forest and frult trees. The fixed settled home ls most prominent, and every comfort that modern invention and progress has brought into use s found. Apart from the life and surroundings of the people of this county, with all these changes that cuitiva- tion, forests and development have brought, thers is a climatic change that must im- press itselt upon those who have lived long in the county. Lincoln county always was enviable in this way. It is growing more and more so as blizsards are schooled into breezcs and the scorching winds of summer are tempered by the million groves and shady place until all seasons are rounded into & climate with all the delights of many localities and with the unpleasant features of none. The advance in land values has Leen on & wider range and more pronounced, over & larger section of the county, than in any former years. The advancement in volume of transportation and the returns received by the common carriers, has been without precedent, while values of city property of every character have had a pronounced increase and the trade and RANCH SCENE NBEAR OSHKOSH, NEB. with & team force of 75,000 oxen, and with invested of $2,000,000. This firm @ capital was Ru: ell, Majors, Waddell & Co. At this early day the herds of buffaloes roaming over these prairies were immense. Though the Indians consumed a large num- lodge yet they were not ber annually, one buffalo to being required daily, each | LINCOLN COUNTY COURT HOUSE commence of the county also. It is supposed that the first white men who visited what is now Lincoln county were the brothers Plerre and Auguste Choteau, who were sent out from St. Louls to explore the northwestern country with a view to the establishment of trading posts, for the purpose of securing furs from the Indlans. But little Is known con- cerning the explorations of the Choteau brothers, except that they passed up the Platte beyond the forks of the North and Bouth Platte in the year 176 These explorations in the interest of the St. Louls fur companies were kept up for several years, and, in 1780, an expedition was sent out tp explore the country be- tween the Missourl river and the Rocky mountains. The first United States gov- ernment expedition was made in 1819, under Major Long, who traveled up the north side of the Platte, and crossed just above the forks of the two rivers. In 183, Colonel Henry Dodge visited this country In the United States government em-~ ploy, with an expedition of 117 men. Colonel Dodge camped with his men at Cottonwood Springs, afterward called Fort McPherson. In 1843, Colonel J. C. Fremont, making his expedition up the Platte, cele- brated the Fourth of July of that year in what is now Lincoln county. During the year 134, travel up the Platte river became quite frequent, and the first bullding In the county was erected by & Frenchman (name unknown) at Fort Mc- Pherson, and this building was constructed of cedar logs, with iron doors. In 1%2 a man nemed Brady settled on the south side of the island now bearing his name, and built a house of cedar logs. in 188 the first permanent settlement in the county was made at Cottonwood Springs and the first bullding was erected in the fall of that year by Boyer & Robi- deau, to be used as a trading ranch. In the same year (1868) another trading ranch was started at O'Fallon's Bluffs, located on the south side of the river. Dick Dar- ling began the erection of the second bulld- ing in the summer of 1569, but it was pur- chused by Charles McDonald, who com- pleted it, and put Im a large stock of sup- plies for freighters and emigrants, and during January, 1390, he removed his wife here from Omiha, who was the first white woman to settle in the county. The cause for the establishment nf all these ranches was the Increased travel and, freighting carried on over this route during the great erush of emigrants and gold seekers to the Rocky mountains and to California. Mail and stage lines wers established along the route, and, In 1841, Bdward Crelghton of Omaha completed his telegraph line, and for many years, untll the completion of the Unfon Pacific rail- road, the entire route was one grand rush of business, a constant stream of travel pouring up this valley, and it was not an uncommon event to be able to count from 0 to 1,000 of the wagons pass in a single day. One firm alone engaged In the freight business operated 20 wagons, DEWEY STREET, NORTH PLATTD 000,000 and a population of over 16,00 peo- ple. The rallroad facilities for a large county are fair and will soon be gdded to by the Burlington raliroad, that has al- ready purchased $200,000 worth of property In the city of North Platte alone, and will soon run its line through the entiré county. At present the county has over 111 miles of rallroad, with ten good, sub- stantial rallroad stations. One of the strong features of this county Is that 75 per cent of the farmers own Several Irrigation systems are being de- veloped and already there are 6,000 acres brought under Irrigation, with forty miles of ditch In operation. The county is especially strong in the shipment of hay and live stock. Last year there were 3,000 carloads of hay shipped out of the county, while there out by the farmers 1590 ard 20,000 iat hogs. Lincoln county is first, last and all the time a cattle country, but it has many other resources beside the cattle Industry At present there are about 50,00 head of cattle kept on the farms in this county, and they are universally of a better grade. Much attention has been paid of late to the breeding of the best dairy and beef animal. The farmers at the present time have 6,800 head of milk cows on thefr farms, using 3% hand separaters. From these cows they sold last year 6890 pounds of butter and 120,00 galions of cream. The poultry interest s of no small importance, as the farmer's' wives marketed last year 91,700 dosen eggs, and 13,00 pounds of dresed poultry. . But few years ago Lincoln county was thought of as belng eontirely out of the thelr farms. were shipped head of cattle I McDONALD STATE BANK, NORTH PLATTE. improvident enough to engage in wholesale slaughter. During the year 1861, the Crelghton telegraph line was completed through the county. In June of the same year the first white child was born in the county. His name is Willlam H. Me- Donald. In November of 183, Fort Mc- Pherson was established by the United States government at this settlement of Cottonwood Springs. Fort McPherson was established none too soon, for it was only in the following year, 1864, that the war with the Sioux and Cheyenne Indlans com- menced. What is now known as Lincoln county wes first organized as a county under the territorlal governmeat of Nebraska, in 1%, and instead of being called Lincoln, however, the county was named Shorter During November, 1866, the Union Pacific rallroad was completed to North Platte and a town wap laid out here by the rail- road company, and was made the terminus of the rallroad until the following year. Previous to the fall of 1566 cattle raising had not been carrled on to any extemt, owing to the danger from Indians. As late as 1870 the Indlans made a rald on a stock ranch near Fort McPherson and ran off twenty-one head of horses and also a fast running horse belonging to Buffalo Bili The county seat was removed from Fort McPherson to North Platte November, 1867, and the total number of votes cast In the county at this time was twenty The condition of Lincoln county has con- tinued to improve from the start, although its early settlement was somewhat spas modic, It s today one of the solid, sub stantial countles of the state. It Is among the largest counties in the state and has 813,800 acres in farms with 196,000 acres un- der ocultivation. It has a valuation of $2,- about 8,000 acres of fine farm land under cultivation. The lands embraced within the irrigation district are the cholcest val- ley farm lands, with deep rich black soll of inexhaustible fertility. The new line of the Union Pacific now under construction that follows up the north branch of the Platte, is opening up some of the very best country in this county, and it is in this part that some of the best irrigation sys- tems are being developed. An irrigation ditch and a rallroad means much to a new and thinly settled country in this part of Nebraska; even the city of North Platte is surrounded by thousands of acres of land awalting development, which can be had at a reasonable price. This city offers one of the best locations In Nebraska for a modern hotel, a beet sugar factory and alfalfa mill and packing house. It really s a city with a wonderful future. It is not always safe to upon the statements made by the enthusiastic citi- zens of some of these western cities. It must not be forgotten that one of these western cities, at least, not only worked for, but expected to secure the state capital and the capital of the United States as well, but those days have gone by. This city of North Platte, when looked at by the stranger that has come within her gutes, has certain advantages not found in any other city of its size in the state. One of the main advantages of North Platte s that it has a very wide circle of country to draw from. Lincoln county is the third largest In size of any county In the state, and it has not only this entire county to draw from, but it has McPherson and Logan countles, which are each without a raflroad, and combined have about the same territory as Lincoln county. ‘These people do their banking, thelr marketing and a large part of thelr trading at North Platte. Tre new line of the Unlon Pacific and the new line of the Burlington will both be feeders for the city of North Platte and draw from a large scope of country The state experimental farm, located close to the city; the Union Pacific shops, em- ploying about 600 men; the icing plant, where forty carloads of California frult can be iced in ten minutes, these are a few things that count for prominence for ofty’'s development, but one of Iits strong points for future growth and prog- tess Is the combined interest that these people are taking in the improvement of the publlc highways leading out to the farming sections. They are expending over $10,000 @ year in the improvement of valley roads. There s no trouble about the farmer being able to haul a load of farm produce over the roads of the high table- land at any time in the wrole year, but it 1s quite a different proposition when It comes to the highways on the low valley lands. Good road sentiment has got a firm an the hold on the business men of North Platte. It 1s sald that the per cent of citizens own- ing their own homes is larger in North NBEW MASONIC TEMPLE, NORTH PLATTE corn belt and not desirable as a wheat country. This theory has been exploded long ago. Besides ralsing enough corn for home consumption and fattening the im- mense that was shipped out, the farmers of this county sold 12,000 amount of stock bushels of corn last year. They also sold 120,000 bushels of wheat and 39,000 bushels of oats. The valley land of Lincoln county ranks among the very best in the state for the growing of alfalfa. The farmers already have 7,800 acres seeded to alfalfa, and the increase is growing larger each year. Last year the mers produced 76,000 acres of corn. Besides the large grain and stock industry, the farmers are turning -their attention to the growing of sugar beets, and last year they produced 4,000 acres, which averaged about twelve tons of beets per acre Lincoln county s taking no backward step in manufacturing pursuits, but is taking many long steps forward in the de- velopment of its public schools. There are 121 school districts in the county, with 141 school buildings. Of these bulldings, one is constructed of brick, one s a log bulld- Ing, twenty-one are of permanent sod con- struction and the rest are substantial frame bulldings. There are 188 school teachers In the county, ten of which are male teachers. The wages paid in the rural school runs from $5 o 360 per month. There are 167 elghth grade boys and girls In the county Platte than any city in comes largely from bullding and loan association that has been HIGH SCHOOL AT the state. This the well managed THRESHING SCENBE IN THE NORTH PLATTE VALLBY. FIRST NATIONAL BANK the turning point for larger things, not only in continued growth, but on new plans and different proportions. This year is the commencement of marked changes. Ground values have so advanced and be- come so fixed in the heart of the business atstrlct of North Platte that no one can afford in bullding now, to measure his con- struction by a one-story buliding. The r modeling period to meet demands will lit- tle longer meet these demands. All this is passing and the days of modern construc- tion are here. Take & look at the new BUILDING, NORTH PLATTE. opera house, the new Masonic temple, the 0dd Fellows' hall construction, the two splendid banks, and you can read- of recent fly get an outline of th!s city and what it 1s to be. Besldes this, a new government building of $10,000 has been granted. But it is not necessary to enter speculative fields, no matter how near a certainty they appear. The present record, the ree- ord of 1909, Is In iteelf a complete and gratitylng guarantee of the morrow of North Platte, A Crook and His Monkey. NE of the most singular cape tures ever effected by the Paris police was made recently when (Bey arrested an acrobat named }iguel Androval, who Is at- tached to a traveling circus playing near Parls. In a large establish- ment. the man requested to be shown some jewelfy. While he was examining it the detectives observed the head of a tiny monkey emerge from Androval's coat pocket. Then the monkey's paw shot out and while the salesman’s attention was di- verted the animal seized several valuable rings and withdrew to its hiding place. Tests made after the arrest proved the monkey to be an accomplisied pickpocket and shoplifter. il Doctors’ Fat Rum Fe The anti-saloon people of Morgantown, W. Va, who have been wondering for some time past why so many drunken men were seen on the streets of that town since the county was voted “dry" over a year ago have been given a rude shock by NORTH PLATTE District Attorney Boyd, who declares that the physiclans and the druggists of Mor- gantown have been reaping the golden that are looking forward to some high conducted in the eity for many years. harvest that formerly went to the liquor school next year. The county is very for- Jugt what per cent of the prosperity and men. tunate In securing the services of Wil progrees of this eity is due to its present g, el A R SBRE e ddalt et Bbright as superintendent of cOUBtY popural surroundings, or just what per schools. He has spent thirty years In -0l G o e tal el io of OO by Prosecuting Attorney Boyd, one educationnl work, having 4 charge ot o0t 1 due ta the mmercial club, 18 of ,rominent physiclan of Morgantown alone course lmpossible to determine. The club ot 10,000 T : one of the state institutions for many nas written 10,000 prescriptions for Nquor sty 1s composed of the representative business It is safe to say that.the future great- ness of Lincoln county will come directly or indirectly throngh its splendid lrriga- tion systems that are now being developed. The first extensive undertaking in the line of firrigation development in Nebraska was established here in 184. It now has men of the city, and while its features are largely social, it is ever on the lookout for anything that will advance the Interests of North Platte. North Platte has reached the point from which every advancement will be toward metropoiitan proportions, It has reached during the past year. Mr. Boyd announced bis intention of making wholesale prose- utions against the physiclans. Sp far it is a question what can be done with the druggiste, etfort to Include them in the prosecutions. but the attorney will make an Ce ynting Sundays, the number of whisky prescriptions written by this one physiclan reaches twenty-seven a day. The cu tomary price that s paid for these pree scriptions is $1 each, so that the physician made $10,00 a year, while the druggist probably made half of that amount. Sim- flar conditions are said to exist all through the “dry" districts of West Virginla and Ohlo. et Girls Joy in Trousers. Because of the declaration of 17-year-old Annle Bugelnorth of Burlington, Conn that she wore male attire and did a man’ work because she liked it, her father, Au- gust Bugelnorth, a farmer, has been saved from going to jail. He was arrcsted on complaint of nelghbors, who insisted that he forced the garb and the toil upon his daughter the wages of & hired man. The father was followed to the lockup by his daughter in a high state of and to save after explanations before the local justice of the peace the father was dlscharged. The girl, clad in a rough working sult, overalls and a sombrero, sald that she could not be happy without continued life in the open alr and plenty of work “I can make & man's wages,” she sald, “and I can have all a man's fun. I'm not doing any harm and I want to be let alone, There are not men enough In thig town, anyway. I'm just stepping out of the way to make room for the girls who are so crazy about getting married.” Boy's Fight with an Owl. Lee Bartley, of Menominee, Mich., 1§ years old, and a hooded owl that was the largest ever scen In that section, fought a battle to the death, and the boy wonm, Armed with a .22-caliber rifle, Bartlay and several companions returning from school sighted the hugze owl in a tree neat his home. Taking alm, he fired, and down came the owl. The lad picked up the sup- posedly dead bird, which, with a llghtning movement, sank Its claws deep ipto Barts ley's shoulders. Covered with blood spurte ng in the youth streams, managed to clutch the bird by the neck and attempted to strangle It, but the owl, releasing its razor-edged claws, slashed its combatant with terrible effect. Finally the lad, weaks ened from loss of blpod, hurled himself prostrate, crushing the bird into the earth, As the victor staggered away several pedestrians reached the scene, and he fainted in their arms. An examination showed that 22 cuts, ranging from half an inch to 2 inches in length, were o= tlicted on the youth's body. clor Left. Being the only survivor of the Bachelors® Paradise club of Towanda, Pa., W, Kierk Betts announces that he will hold & meet- ing of the club this month, elect officers 8t a speclal session and then attend & banquet and a performance at the the- ater. Betts, although all the other members have married or are dead, will not let the club pass out of existence, but says he will continue to hold regular meetings, conduct what business there is to be done and elect himself president, vice presis dent, secretary, treasurer, inside guard, outside guard and chaplain. One Bac SIS ————————