Nebraska advertiser., 1868-03-26
ReatriCe.
BEATRICE, NEBRASKA,
Mach 1erh 1899

BEATRICE, NEBRASKA,
March 18th, 1868.
Editor .HdUertiSer Having a few
moments TO spare, l thought best to drop
you a word or two in relation to the
progress of events in and about this To-
calIly showing briefly the difference
between now and the period when the
first white settlers emigrated here.
Eleven years ago there were no farms,
no owns no roads, no nothing that would
indicate the presence of civilization; not
even q stone to point out the corner Of a
section of land. Now you will find the
surface of the country dotted here and
there with houses and CHER farm i'm
provements, made by those who have
migrated here TO better their condition
to find and secure themselves homes.
Then there was no town in Nebraska
| called Beatrice. Now there is a place
bearing that name, situated on the big
Blue River" and containing about two
hundred inhabitants, and beginning to
put on the airs of an interior metropo-
lis. 1t is the ~Iiveliest town west of the
Missouri river and east of Cheyenne
City, not excepting the VIGOROUSLY pulled
CITY of Lincoln. Beatrice contains four
general stores. l will give you the
names of the firms as it may be of service
to you,-Blakely, Reynolds & Co., Jo-
seph Sanders, Buchanan & LaseIle, Wehn
s. Roper. One drug store by w. w.
Brock Samuel Myers. saddler and har.
ness maker; A. VanBuskurk, shoe ma.
ker !; ARENAS Baker, cabinet maker ; A.
]. Pethoud, wagon maker F.; Jacob Shaw,
blacksmith, and A. l.. Snow, blacksmith.
There is. within the limits of the town,
a first class grist and saw mill, propelled
by~pne of the best water powers in the
State. And yet the town is far from
being able to supply the demands of the
surrounding country. A tin, sheet iron
ware and stove dealer, a pillow and other
agricultural implement manufacturer, be-
sides many other branches Of business
that would be of material benefit to the
Inhabitants of this region, could do we'll
for themselves and their neighbOrs.
Then, if per chance a man through
mistake located a warrant, or money, on
a tract Of prairie instead of timber land,
he felt as though he had thrown away
his money for something not worth pay
ing taxes upon, and supposed there would
always be plenty of government. prairie
land joining his homestead. Now, upon
examination of the plat, he is surprised
10 find that he is unable to enlarge his
domains except on the terms of the
Gland shark who has been "pig"
enough to invest as long as his money
held out.
Then, we received our mail from a
point on the Missouri river, sixty five
miles distant. about once a month, Sc.
curely tied up in a pocket handkerchief.
Now, there are each week sever mails
opened and closed at this Office, and ad-
ditional service desired by the people.
Then, there were fifteen or twenty
mailed each quarter, and it took
three weeks 10 get up a club for the New
York Tribune, at one dollar each. Now,
not less than two thousand letters are
mailed each quarter, and q club of fifty
five subscribers to the Tribune has been
secured in one week. Then, there were
no schools, no public worship Except
about once a yesr), no amusements of
any kind. except in the contemplation Of
this new and beautiful country. Now,
good schools are springing up all around
US, a sabbath school is regularly kept up,
quite a number of divines of different
denominations have settled in our midst,
and keep up regular service. A lodge
of l. o. of G. T. have been organized
and it in a aourishing condition. A
lodge of A. F. & A. M. is about being
organized.
Then, the few-settlers that were here
was compelled to go to BrownviIle, and
other points on the Big Muddy, to get
the necessary of life. Now, we are as
Independent as a "hog on ice )" we have
plenty and to spare. Emigrants who
think of coming 10 Gage county, Me-
braska, need have no fears of starving,
for the matter of freighting -four has
been reversed ; we are now, In part,
furnishing the river towns, and we ex-
pect to do so in future, for the reason
Ihst we have the best wheat land, raise
a better quality, more to the acre, and
have by far the best facilities for manu-.
featuring il into -four.
In the next twelve months our popula- !
ion and buildings will be doubled. the
,nIy hindrance viii be the scarcity of
Material and mechanics. Mr.. VIM.
is preparing to burn all the brick I
le can, but fears he will not be able to
supply the demand. For the present / s
will cease, lest ! weary your patience. {
Yours, sc, T.