Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-26

about twelve and q half acres each az
q site for the capitol building and the
university; ten and q half acres for 3
park; q market place 800 feet square,
and some sites for school houses; sites
for churches were also given to oil
denominations that applied. They
then sold at auction alternate
lots from the balance Of the site.
The first days sale was not enough to
have wet the whistles of the thirsty
little crowd. But the commissioner
themselves commenced to bid on the
second day, and the sales went MP
we'll In five figures. People began to
think that the capital was really going
to be moved here II the commission.
ers themselves were ready to
stake thousands of dollars upon
the lots. The total sales amounted
to about $500, 900 For their pa
triotism In starting the bidding the
commissioners were adequately re-
warded, each making a snug fortune
through the appreciation of the lots
that be had bid In. The $500. 900
which the state obtained from the
sale was expended In public buildings.
Increased by the sale of some public
lands In the vicinity, 1t provided
ample funds for the erection of the
capitol, the university, the prison, and
the insane asylum, all with sufficient
accommodation for the needs of those
early days.
The site was we'll chosen. Seven
Iron tracks now radiate from Lincoln,
giving direct communication with
forty out of sixty.four county seats In
the state, and q majority of these may
DO reached by two routes. In the ag.
gregate 1t costs less In, pssAey and
time for the legislators to eenfe to Lin.
coin than it would to ''gather as\the
river" or at any other point In Ne.
braska.
As I have said Of Omaha so of Lin.
colin. It Is to be regarded mainly a. q
market town for the agrioulturists of
the county and Of the communities
around and beyond 1t. Omaha had
Its start from the building of the
Union Pacific railway In advance of
population, and Lincoln q like start
from the location of the capital, but
for the great future which Is probably
before It Lincoln must rely mainly on
It's natural advantages, its railroad
facilities and the energy, enterprise,
and good sense Of its inhabitants.
1t may perhaps be we'll to note
somewhat more infinitely some Of the
salient features Of this town than
would be necessary or desirable in
respect of another n Of the same
same population, for here we have
epitomized before uB the law, religion,
culture and civilization of the state.
The old capitol building having be.
come too small for the growing wants,
and its form too ugly for the fine,
re sthetic tastes of q state rapidly In.
creasing In population and wealth, a
new one has been commenced. It's two
wings stand n IN either side of the
old capitol like two proud ''peelers"
In new clothes disdsinfully escortirg
an understood rsgamufin to the police
station. / was much surprised to find
that these two wings complete had
cost only $177, 900. A building for
the United States courts, p~ostofics,
etc. cost about $212, 900, and it is
scarcely SO large as, and certainly not
handsomer than, either of the wings
of the capital. Its dimensions are 80
x61, four stories, mansArd roof and
basement. The capitol building when
completed will be a very ohaste and
beautiful structure of stone, almost
pure Grecian in style, 202 feet long,
the central part 100 feet deep, and the
dome of stone 200 feet high, all at Q
cost of about 1920, 600 The prison,
about two miles from town, has cost
thus far about $40, 900. The prison
report shows PIP prisoners on Novem.
Der 80 last, all males from this state,
and 81 boarded at this prison at the
expense of the United States or OF
other states and territories. When
completed, according to plan, the
prison will hold 1 $50 convicts. In a
new growing state like Nebraska 1t Ia
wise to build for the future whea pos.
sible. The total absence of female
oonvicts In q population OF half Q mil
lion 10 remarkable. While the morals
of the community have much to do
with It, It IL doubtless largely due to
the almost total absence of temptation
in . prosperous agricultural com
munity for females to commit
ordinary crimes against person or
property. The. insane asylum Il .
handsome building, 1928 feet long. on
. farm Of 4e0 acres, cultivated by the
patients, who also are for $50 head
Of cattle, and - many hogs. The 40.
oommodation for patients Is 800, and
the number at date of last report was
1853. Nineteen per cent Of those
treated last year recovered, and ak
and one-third per cent died. The
current expenses r about g. 8 a
week for each patient, and, rich or
poor, no one In the state needing
treatment Is refused admittanoe. The
public schools of Lincoln are good.
They are free and properly crowned
by the free university Of the state, In
which there are about 800 students.
Connected with 1t IL an agricultural
college with Q good farm, and well en-.
dowsd with the university land given to
the state by the general government.
The saloon license In Lincoln Is 81, 900
a. In Omaha; but In Lincoln they eI-
act 1t all In q lump, while In Omaha 1t
10 paid by installments. Partly for
this reason and partly because Omaha
Is more bibulously inclined than LIN
coin, the latter has but nine ~salsoons
to the ninety of the former, while the
population of Omaha 10 not far FROM
double that of Lincoln, which boasts
with fair show of reason that her pop
ulation Is full a. great as was that Of