The Red Cloud chief., 1896-03-13
Advantages Nebraska Offers tO
the Home seeker.

the Homo seeker.
The principal things to be considered
by the farmer In selecting a home are
healthfulness. productiveness Of coil,
rainfall, irrigating facilities, and the
general advantages Of location. In all
Of these, l believe, Nebraska stands at
the head Of any state in the uuion. 1t
10 the healthiest Of all the states. the
records showing an average dJath rate
Of eight per 1000. while the eastern and
southern states average more than
twice that. The state is settled by n
thrifty. intelligent people, mostly com
ing from the middle and eastern states.
1t is dotted with schools and churches,
having q less proportion OF illiterate
people than any other state, the per-
centage being only 3 per cent, while the
general average OF the United States
is more than 10. The soil is unsur.
passed in fertility, being composed Of a
deep, rich loan. underlaid with clay,
capable Of absorbing an immense
amount Of water, holding it in reserve
for the dry season. thereby being able
to withstand long drouths.
A great injustice 10 done Nebraska by
the false idea eastern people have in
regard to u rainfall. The truth is
! that Eastern and Central Nebraska not
only receive rs much moisture as most
OF the northern states, but during the
growing months Of May, June and July
actually more. The average rainfall Of
the United States signal service report
for the past twenty years at Omaha was
33 inches, Chicago SO, Des Moines SO,
st. Louis 80, Milwaukee 81, Port Huron
81, Toledo 81, and St. Paul q. 1t will
be seen by this that the average Of these
eight great agricultural centers 10
almost exactly that Of Omaha, but we,
having less snow or rain during the win.
ter, gives us more moisture when most
needed. The fact is, our partial failure
OF the o crops of the past three years
was due, not to long drouth, but to an
unusual hot wind, which occurred Just
at the critical time to blight the corr
blossom, something that has not oc.
Cured before since the state was settled
and may not occur again in a lifetime.
In the western part Of the state, where
they get less rain, a wonderful develop.
ment Of irrigation is taking place. Five
years ago there was no irrigating in the
state but by May l there will be over 1000
miles OF main bitches, and more than
100000 acres Of the richest land under
irrigation. All agricultural authorities
agree that enc acre Of irrigated land is
equal to three acres not irrigated. Such
being the case, with a climate almost
perfect, with unlimited irrigation facili.
ties, nothing can prevent Western Ne.
braska from experiencing a most won.
derful period Of prosperity.
One Of the great advantages Of Ne.
braska is its adaptability to raising a di.
versity Of crops. Wheat, oats, rye, bar
Icy, corn, hemp, flax, alfalfa, sugar
beets, and all kinds Of vegetables, fruits
and berries grow to perfection. Pre-
vIous to 1890. Nebraska raised but little
winter wheat, but since the introduc.
ton Of the new press drill our success
has been phenomenal, many fields pro.
ducing fifty bushels to the acre. Oats
can always be depended upon for a sure
crop. Last year, fields averaging
eighty bushels to the acre were nu.
merous. Nebraska's great staple is
corn, the seasons being particularly
favorable to the maturing OF this crop,
frost rarely occurring until late in Octo.
Der, at which time it ia safe. All kinds
Of grasses grow in profusion. During
the last few years much attention has
been paid TO the raising Of alfalfa.
When properly sown and cared for, it
has always been successful. The trouble
has always been in cutting too much
the first year. Like all deep rooted
plants. it is hard to start. and IL cut too
often the first season, is liable to winter.
kill; but after the first year it can be
cut three or four times per season and
stock turned on in the fall without
damage. Alfalfa is sure to become, in
the near future, a great source Of
wealth to our state. when once thor.
oughly rooted, lasting many years with.
out replenishing. Those who know,
claim stock will eat alfalfa in prefer.
enee to any other feed. 1t is very fat
tening, hogs gaining as rapidly az when
fed on corn. Considering its immense
yield, it is without doubt the most profit.
able field crop a farmer can raise. But
a short time ago the beet sugar industry
began to be discussed in this country
After thorough investigation it wa
found the soil and climate of the Platte
and Elkhorn valleys we're perfect,
adapted to the raising of the beets