The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-05-06
From Nebraska.
LINCOLN NEE. Anril 2

LINCOLN, NEB., April 26, 1886.
FRIEND JoHN-I am fully persuaded
that Nebraska is great State, and that
it will be still greater, admits of no doubt.
The increase in population and wealth in
the last few years has been very marked.
In the State are the elements of prosper
ity, awaiting full development. There is
no better soil anywhere. The people are
live energetic and wide awake. They
intend to succeed. Any one who comes
to the great West expecting to find peo-
pie who are behind the times, will be dis
appointed. They are fully up with all the
modern improvements and are pushing
right ahead. As a rule the people who
come West are from among the best peo-
pie in the East. They come because the
advantages for prosperity are greater and
the chances for success are increased.
The educational facilities are as good
as those they left behind, and the morals
of society are as pure. The people are
social and kind. The stranger is taken
in and cared for, if worthy. L have not
been over the State great deal yet, but
wherever have been I saw evidences of
prosperity and thrift on ever hand.
There has been quite an increase in the
population during this year. The people
are coming from everywhere. Another
evidence of the growth of the State is in
the fact that three new railroads are
coming into the State: the Missouri
Pacific, the Chicago and Northwestern,
and the Rock Island.
Two of these are already securing
rights of way, grading and laying track.
The third has been surveying its track.
All of these roads will come to Lincoln.
Perhaps the growth of this city is
fair index to the growth of the State.
The school enumeration has just been
taken, and it shows an increase OF 25 per
cent and more over that of last year.
This it is claimed indicates an increase
in the population of the city of at least
25 per cent over that of last year. In
June, 1885, the population was 10000. The
census is now being taken by the Asses
sors. and by the first Of June they make
their report. So that the growth of the
city, so far as population is concerned,
can then be told. Fine business houses
and dwellings are being erected. New
buildings are going up all over the city
and yet dwelling houses are so scarce
that it is very difficult to rent one. Very
few houses, if any, are vacant. Every
day real estate agents are advertising for
houses. They have the renters. but not
the houses. In addition to all this, two
large packing houses and a canning fac
torywin be built here this summer. These
will afford employment for great many
men, and will add much to the growth of
the city.
This would seem to be enough for one
year, but it is not all. A company has
organized to bore for gas. Whether they
will succeed in finding gas do not know,
but they will perhaps do as well as Jack
son did. hope they will do better and
also that the present efforts being made
by the Jackson people will result in find
ing what they so much desire.
We have been having good health since
we came and like our new home very
much. The people have been kind to us
and our lines have fallen in pleasant
places. We often think and talk of the
friends and dear ones at Jackson, yet we
have never regretted the change we
made. But we do have one regret and
that is-that we didn't make the change
sooner. The length of this article ad-
monishes me that I had better stop. I
expect to go West next week, and on my
return will write you as to what the peo-
pie are doing, sc.
Yours Truly,
c. A. ATKINSON.