Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-19

AtS 11uStneSo OfOWbn ana prospects
Fancy Prices for Building L0ts-lts
ment. &c.-Bad show for AngIers-
Odds and Ends.
Correspondence Of The EVENING STAR:
OMAHA, NEB. July II. 1884.
Omaha! Well, it was not the city expected
to see, with compact and towering edifices, and
level and clean thoroughfares. l found it a
struggling place, the houses generally squatty.
and Of the village order of architecture. One OF
two OF the principal streets running east and
west. and few running north and south. con-
tain some large and imposing business struc-
lures. with three or four elegant first class
hotels, such as the Willard. Paxton, Metropoli-
tan and Planters. There are several banking
institutions here, and the Nebraska National
bank is located in magnificent building of its
own said to be the finest structure of the kind
in the state. The Omaha National bank also
boasts fine building
There is great deal Of street Improvement
and building going on now, and the success OF
the Republican newspaper has impelled ite
owners to commence the erection of a commo-
dious and handsome printing house on 10th and
Douglas streets. There are four daily English
newspapers and one weekly paper published
here. besides two daily German, one tri-weekly
Danish and one weekly Swedish paper, and all
seem to be doing well.
The population of Omaha is between so 600
and 10000. One Of the principal industries is
the railroad works Of the Union Pacific COM
pany, which has employed as many as 8, 500 to
1900 men, but at present does not give work to
more than 1000 All classes of mechanics, how
ever, seem to have employment just now, but
the supply is equal to the demand.
Within the city limits are thousands Of unim-
proved acres, but the avarice Of land specula-
tors compel those not blessed with an abundance
OF the worlds riches to seek building lots two or
three miles from town, and even at that distance
lots 60x16O sell at $500 and $500 EACH A lot
OF the above dimensions within the town limits
brings from 1850 tn Sc, 500. In short, real
estate out here (where there is plenty uf IT. sells
higher than in many eli ible localities in Wash
ington.
Living here is fully Is to 20 per cent higher
than in Washington, while mechanics wages
range from Is to 20 per cent below. Small four
and six-rOOm apologies for houses rent from S15
to $50 per month, out in the suburbs. and are
scarce at that. So you see that Washington is
not the dearest place, after all Gas is sometimes
said), with its beauty and delightful climate
thrown In.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department here is said to be very
efficient. and Omaha feels proud of it from the
tips Ofits toes to the crown of its head. 1t con-
sists Of four chose" companies, which are
housed in tour engine houses The ,nodus
operdndi of extinguishing fire is to attach the
hose to street plug and then "let the band
play" The water ia supplied from the water
works, and such is the force that stream can
be thlOwn from $50 to 200 feet high from the
nozzle of the hose. Mr.. John Butler, chief of
the department, gives his entire attention to the
duties Of the office and is much beliked by the
men under his charge and the citizens gen.
orally.
NO MARKET HOUSES.
Cost OF living is greatly enhanced in Omaha
In consequence of having no public market.
Everything tor the table has to be obtained from
the "green grocer" and prices demanded are
exorbtant In the extreme. hear that several
petitions numerously signed, have from time
to time been sent in to the councils praying for
a market house, but no sooner are they pre-
sented than the "green grOcers" swarm like
locusts with counter petitions, and prevent the
passage of any such measure Thus the infu-
entail constituents, as in other cities thwart the
reasonable demands of many worthy but less
powerful citizens.
In the matter of fuel. it is about as scarce
here as saints in hades. This may sound strange,
but it is nevertheless true, and firewoOd brings
seven and eight dollars a cord, and that of the
most inferior quality. So scarce, indeed.
is the article, that when tree in town Is struck
by lightning it is deemed God-send Ono pun
intended), and axes are soon brought into
requisition to dismember the unfortunate yet
welcome trunk. sort of btuminOus COAL
much resembling our Cumberland can be had
In liberal quantities at from three to six dollars
ton.
POOR PLACE FOR ANGLERS.
Piscatorial sports have no foothold here. The
Missouri river flows along the entire front OF
Omaha, and always wears the face of brick
yard pond or one Of Barnum's real" Indians
with war paint on. Thither the angler resorts;
but his patience is seldom rewarded with any
better luck than light string Of small catfish
1t is said that one weighing $50 pounds was cap
tured with hook and line in front Of the city not
long since, but having no time to hunt up proof,
have concluded to swallow (not the fish, the
story.
ODDS AND ENDS
There are several lines of street cars here and
other evidences OF advanced civilization. One
Ofthe ''bob-tail" lines. more humane than a sim
liar corporation in Washington, run their cars
with two horses, change them frequently, and
the route is no longer nor more hilly than your
Belt line.
It must not be imagined that one Of WASH
fngton's institutions, at least, is unknown here
for passing along one of the streets this morn
ing observed placard tackled up in front Of
miliar announcement Furnished Rooms to
Rent" Nor is the schoolmaster always around,
for "Vianna Baker" and mo Interference" are
glazing realities.
''Our Bob lectured here last week on "Or-
thodoxy," but his admirers were not numerous
Probably Mr.. Ingersoll had spoken that piece to
them before.
1 must not omit to say that the people here
are social, generous and industrious, and were
1t not for the aforementioned high rates of
real estate and living, and general inadequate
wages of the mechanic. Omaha would soon leap
into enlarged dimensions usefulness and pros
perity, as several of the most important rail-
road branches OF the country center in her
midst. rs
Accidentally Overheard.
From the Philadelphia Call
LOSING BUSINESS.
Mrs. Ayes; they keep six servants"
Mrs B.-"Do you hear that, John:"
John-"Hear WHAT"
MrS R-tEMrc Rlapk thu x,,ifo of fho 40 cIfor