The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-10
The Booming West.
BEATRICE. Neb., Feb. -, 80.

EDITOR FREE TRADER: As the western
cities are getting up excursions and en-
deavoring 10 attract the attention Of eastern
people who are looking west, though
that a letter from an Oil la Sale County
resident nigh, be- read with some pleasure
II not, perhaps II will give our readers al
iIea of what We have T. offer In Gage Co,
Nebraska. Gage Co. Is a4y36 miles, sit.
uated NO miles west Of the Mo- river on
the south line of the state, the first county
In the state In agriculture, third In assessed
valuation, and first In general advantages;
very fertile soil, high rolling surface, no
waste land, plenty Of running streams
timber, good quarries OF lines stone, cement
rock, and large deposits Of clays that are
used for the manufacturing of sewer pipe,
fire brick, tile and pottery, the big blue
river running diagonally from northwes,
corner Of county TO southeast co. ner fur
nishes an immense water power which is
utilized by five dams, one at Caldwell, two
at Beatrice, one at II .lunsville aud one at
Blue Springs; climate Is unsurpassed,
winters being dry and mild, no mud,
splendid roads ten to eleven months of the
year; farming and stock raising no expert
ment, having stood the test of past Is years;
yields of corn, wheat, oats, rye, flax and all
kinds of vegetables fully up to the bert
parts of Illinois, prices within few cents
of Chicago, having Omaha and Kansas
City both within l25 miles; seven lines of
railways intersect the county; Is cities and
towns thus giving farmers market points
at short distances; the Rock Island, Union
Pacific and B, Il NJ. systems with several
branches, the Atchinson Il Nebraska, the
Pacific Il South Western all traversing the
county. The principal city is Beatrice, the
county seat, settled in centre Of county on
the Big Blue river and Indian Creek with
three main roads passing through and
three branches leading from different
directions gives her all the advantages for
a distributing point; she has about 10000
inhabitants, fine public school buildings,
four banks; six hotels, with another, In
connection with an opera house, that will
cost $125, 900 when completed. This build.
ing Is an instance of U. s. Senator Pad
docks faith in the future of our city. We
have Holly System of water works costing
$4,000, three miles of city railway In
operation; gas, electric lights, and In fact
all the modern institutions. This summer
will see the main street paved and com.
plete system of sewerage manufactures
we have, the Beatrice Sewer Pipe works,
employing about SO hands; Beatrice
Canning Company, that employs from IS to
100, who paid to farmers alone last year for
sweet corn, peas and tomatoes over $25, 600 /;
the Dempster Wind Mill & Pump Manu-.
featuring Co., a large institution, employ
ing from 40 to SO men, making everything
complete at their factory; the Glens Falls
Paper Manufacturing &c. will build and
commence operation as soon as the frost is
out of the ground; they put in one of the
best dams In the west last fall and offer
large Inducements to parties looking for a
a location for manufacturing; an splendid
opening for cement mandatory, wooden
mill, flax & oil mill, packing house and
jobbers trade; the cement quarries adjoin
their power properly. We have wide
awake set of business men who all pull
together and work for the city, an instance
of which was the raising of SI00,0 600 in ten
days this month with which to advertlze
the city and vicinity's advantage of
location and general advantages that cannot
be overlooked. The only argument needed
is come and see for yourselves. The day
of cheap lands 10 the west that are suitable
for farming and stock raising are past we
offer lands that are unsurpassed for fertility
close to leading markets, with the climate
velyimild, at lowiprices; unimproved lands
from SIS to $25, improved from s25 10 $50
according to nearness to cities; plenty of
good water from 10 TO G0ft deep. Those
Of you that contemplate coming west will
do we'll to look over Gage county and her
advantages, and Beatrice and her induce
ments before locating. After looking over
the entire state of Nebraska and part of
Kansas was satisfied that Gage county
excells them all. Yours truly,
J. w. EBERsoI