Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-07
Nebraska's Progress.

LIc DItotub year lltS NOV DttH uluThtu
by exceptional progress in any quarter
OF the country. There has been a larger
addition to the population than last
year from immigration, but much OF
this has remained in the larger cities,
and the rest has distributed itself
pretty evenly over other attractive sec
tions OF the country, a greater proper
ton than usual going to the southern
states, some OF which have been holding
out strong inducements TO immigrants.
Nowhere has there been any boom, and
on the other hand only in spots, where
the most e~Xtravagant and ~groundlesS
speculation had prevailed, has there
been any serious depression. A
degree Of reaction from the extraordi-
nary real estate and building activityof
last year was expected, but those who
solemuly predicted a general break
down in the business of the country,
widespread failures, and a period OF
general financial and commercial hard
ship, are shown to have been false
prophets. The whole country has been
advancing steadily, if slowly, along the
lines OF progress, and unqucstionably is
more substantially prosperous now than
it was a year ago.
Nebraska has certainly shared in this
progress. She has grown in population,
though perhaps not very largely. She
has advanced in improvements, al
most every considerable town in the
state being able to show Il better condi-
ton than Il ear ago in the possession of
those things which contribute to the
convenience and comfort OF the COM
munity. Her farming population is as
2 whole better off than it was u year
ago. More land has been cultivated,
and with splendid results. An unprcce-
denied crop of the states staple cereal,
king Corn has rewarded the labors
of Nebraska's farmers, assuring in the
higher price it is certain to bring
a much greater prosperity than
| they had looked for. The increased
yield and the advanced value means
millions of dollars of obligations wiped
out within the mex twelve months,
placing every thrifty farmerin the state
on a surer and more independent basis,
The metropolis of the state, whose
financial and commercial activities show
Enthusiastically the course of the business
current throughout the state, has moveC
steadily forward, gaining in population
in business, in improvements, and ii
permanent wealth. While "a number o
older and larger cities than Omaha have
from week to week shown a decrease il
their financial transactions as compared
with corresponding periods Of las
year, those of Omaha have eX
hibitcd an increase, and II
every department of her commercial
affairs there has been growth. In every
branch of public improvements the re
suits of the year will compare favorabl.
with those Of any preceding year, an,
while the aggregate outlay for building
will not equal that of last year, it ha
still been on a very generous scale. Es
peCially in the construction of residenc,
buildings of the better class the presen
year will make q better showing thai
last.
Thus Nebraska has in all respect
achieved some progress during tn
present year, whatever pessi
mists may say to the con
trary. The growth has been real
substantial and permanent. 1t is al
addition to the solid foundations befor
laid, and which have successfully re
sisted all the adverse influences tina
have a~ssailed them. And the people G
Nebraska may ~contidentially look for
ward to a more rigorous advance in tn
ensuing year. The splendid agricuI
tural record of the state must attrac
population, the prosperity of our farm
ers will advance the general prosperity
legitimate enterprise will be stimulate
and steadily and firmly this great con
monwealth will move forward on tn
path of progress. Nebraska is all righ'