Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-11
EXAMINING NORTH NEBRASKA.
And Taking a Look at the Develop
ment of South Dakota

NIoBRARA, Neb., June 9-TSpecial Core
spondence of THE BEE. THE character of q
country tends greatly to influence capital to
develop 1t. The development once attained
is largely sought by the adjacent marts, each
having its influence to urge upon these local
tiles, thrift and enterprise. Northern Ne
braska has had many bright hope smoth-
cred by inactivity, and her present growth is
greatly due to her peoples untring faith in
her resources Standing between two COM
mercial centers, with Yankton knocking at
the door for recognition, northern Nebraska
and South Dakota look towards Omaha for
future relief.
THE BEE correspondent has taken extern
svc circles throughout the north part of the
state and South Dakota during the past If
teen years. He has seen both sections in
their virginity and in their present develop
ing state. At those early times, with grass
hoppers devuuring what drouth had not
already destroyed, it took strong men to
cling to country they persistently claimed
was Goods country, and would come out all
right" The wisdom of such foresight is
now proven, and the development that these
pioneers have made should be rewarded by
the best and easiest markets.
Omaha cannot afford to lose sight of her
opportunities.
She has at least two.
Harrington, the county seat of Cedar
county, is located in one of the best sections
of Nebraska. The Bow valleys are not to
be surpassed for fertility. The country be-
tween Harrington and Yankton is well
settled by thrifty class soio of Ger
to exceed thirty miles, leaves but trifling
gap to be filled by the Chcago,St. Paul, Min
neapolis " Omaha line. The Missouri river
reached and one of the most beautiful cities
In IN Nal rntn ip fn,tn IN hnp
the Jim river which has its headwaters away
up in North Dakota, one of the finest valleys
in the world is found.
Randolph is a young town situated IN the
southwest township of Cedar county, at
which point the Wayne branch of the Omaha
line for the present terminates. II has been
surveyed through portion of Knox county.
In this section the land is largely owned by
spectators who bought it in an early day as
"offered' land, paying at the rate of Sl.25
per acre in cash or scrip, sone OF the latter
not being worth more than 40 cents on the
dollar. The state also selected some of its
best lands in this region, which have been
sold or leased, and quite a settlement has
gathered in here. The Yankton, Norfolk 81
Southwestern. has already located through
this country, and it is expected that the Ran
dolph line will push through that territory
very soon.
But of all these points Niobrara stands in
position TO be of more benefit to Omaha
than any other point. AT the confluence of
TWO RrSdb Waterways HcT lOCatlOu
aid to the states metropolis is beyond dispute.
The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley
railroad for the present, terminates at Ner-
digris, twelve miles from Niobrara. Oppo-
site u.s. across the Niobrara river, is another
garden spot of Nebraska yes wild
except what little has been done
by q handful of Ponca Indians
and white relatives. TO the north of us, in
South Dakota, beautiful country and all
settled by thrifty class of farmers, is wait
| ing for railroad development
On almost bee line north the Chicago &
| Northwestern railroad has road from the
north terminating AT Huron On the east
| the same company has road terminating at
Yankton. On the south three roads-Har-
| tington, Randolph and Vcrdigris--stand still
with a beautiful country between yet un-
occupied. Take the map and it will be seen
| that the Northwestern system has the key to
| the situation. BY pushing its Huron branch
| south it would pass through u beautiful sec
| ton of country to Niobrara and parallel with
| no other line. BY filing up the gaps as men
| toned in the foregoing list, its connection
with Omaha would be complete by two
routes, with a country that has.no superior.
! sSThe people of this section were never In
| more need of railroad facilities than now,
| and never felt the need more. The country
| has so rapidly developed that doubt no longer
| should exist as to the benefits Omaha would
| derive were its connections with the vast
territory between here and there, and still
beyond, completed.
Omahas influence is needed.