Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-26
The Capital OF Nebraska.

American Field.
Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of the
state, Ia GO miles from Omaha, by the
Burlington & Missouri river railroad,
and about 30 miles from the Missouri
river and 80 miles from the Platte at
the nearest point. 1t Is In Lancaster
county, which contains $50, 600 acres
of land, chic fly rolling prairie. Num-
erous streams flow through the land,
the largest being Salt Greek, which
passes Lincoln on Its way to the Platte
most of the others are tributaries OF
the Salt. Each stream meanders
through bottom lands that are nearly
level, from which the land rises
toward the central divides ia gentle,
wave like slopes, frequently terminal
Ing at the top In broad stretches OF
rich, smooth and nearly level upland
prairie. Most of the streams are
tributaries of the Salt, that takes ita
name from the briny waters which 1t
receives from numerous springs In the
salt basins In the neighborhood of
Lincoln; Notwithstanding which there
is no scarcity of good fresh water. The
salt springs ariseifrom strato at great
depth, containing chloride of sodium.
In tho square at Liaco,n is an arte-
sian we'll, which is curious as pene.
trsting strata that at various
depths give mineral waters Of widely
different character and quality and
there arc two institutions in the town
In which the waters are used for bath.
Ing and medicinal purposes. Here,
nearly 1900 miles from the ocean.
ono can enjoy a swimming bath Ct
''sea" water If he chooses. But II
lacks the sandy beach and the noise
and motion of the waves. Little has
yet been done 10 make 1t artifcially
attractive, and 1t adds very little to
finances Ct Lincoln, although Its posi-.
bilities for the future are very great.
There are about $4,000 acres oil
''saline lands" 10 called, belonging
to the state In the neighborhood Of
Lincoln. The written constitution Of
the state In force since 1875, forbida
the alienation Of the salt springs, but
allows the lands to be sold. The
saline deposits Of this county bear,
for some one who shail know how to
corral" and to manage them. "the
potentially Of becoming rich beyond
the dream Of avarios" Of the days
when johnson lived and railways
we're unknown. I know of no other
souroe of supply for salt within 25C
miles, and this 10 an article In the
cost of which transportation must
necessarily be an important element.
The salt springs and wells Of thi,
country give emphasis to some of the
wonders Of geological science. It l.
clearly proven that there was q time
when North America comprised twin
continents on each side OF q mighty
Mediterranean extending from Hud-
sons bay to the Gulf Of Mexico.
I have net investigated sufficiently
to state 1t a q positive fact, but / am
free to hazard q confident opinion that
the salt of this country Is veritable
Q salt-thst here In the middle of
the continent there was once
upon time in the
ages past Q flood tide basin supplied
with salt water by the sea, and where
solar evaporation retained In the
strata thus formed salt for the use of
future millions. The inalienable salt
springs Of the state are not the only
means of getting the salt. Artesian
wells anywhere In the basin would
undoubtedly tap tho deposit, and II
would therefore be extremely difficult
to create an absolute monopoly of the
salt bufiuess which is likely to be
carried On here at no very distant day.
Somewhat as The site OF Washington
was selected for the capital of the Uni.
ted States by the truthful hero CT the
Ratchet and leader Of the revolution,
Lincoln was chosen for the capital of
Nebraska In August, 1867.
On the site were then tivedwellings
and two country stores, which divided
with "YaIkee HILL" seven miles
away, the honor and the profit of sup
plying Lancaster county with goods.
There were then about a thousand In
habitsnts scattered through the coun-
ty, and this place had been named
Lancaster, and from Its central posi-
ton and other advantages selected for
the county seat. Commissioners had
been appointed at the last previous
session of the legislature, who
we're empowered under certain re-
striotions to choose the slte
for the capital. The site chosen