Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-29
OMAHA AMI THE STATE.

OMAHA " " STATE.
Whenever any important project is
launched by Omaha or any movement
is set on foot calculated to promote The
growth and prosperity Of Nebraska's
n etropolis IN outbreak of local Jealousy
and hostility Is manifested in the state
press as II Omaha were In the enemy's
country.
While 1t Is true some enterprises which
would benefit Omaha may not be bene-
fetal to every other town in the state,
1t cannot be truthfully gainsaid that
every town and village and every
farmer and workingman In Nebraska is
benefited by the growth Of Omaha. The
cities Of Omaha and South Omaha,
which practically constitute Douglas
county, contribute one-eighth of the
taxes that flow into the state treasury.
In other words, Omaha contributes one
eighth of all the expenses of all the
state institutions from the penitentiary
to the university and one-eighth of the
salaries OF all the state officers from
governor down to court stenographer.
Double the wealth and population of
Omaha and Omaha would bear from
one-sixth to one-fourth Of the bur.
dens Of state taxation and to that ex-
tent reduce the tax burden of all other
Nebraska communities. Doubling the
population Of Omaha would not only
reduce the taxes on every acre Of land,
but increase the value of every acre in
Nebraska from so cents to 500, depend
ing on its remoteness from the great
market which Omaha would furnish for
Its products.
Double the population of Omaha and
every village and town within a radius
Of fifty miles would increase their pop
ulation from 25 to 200 per cent. Double
the population Of Omaha and a system
Of electric tramways connecting all the
suburban towns, including Plattsmouth,
Fremont, Ashland, Wahoo, Blair and
intermediate points, would inevitably
follow and thousands of working people
and business and professional men en-
pl0yed in Omaha would avail them
selves of cheaper homes and cheaper
rents in suburban towns. More than
10000 people come into Pittsburg by
electric and steam cars every morning
from towns within a radius of fifty
miles, going back in the evening. The
same Is true Of Cincinnati, Buffalo, De-
'troit and other cities ranging from $780,
600 population upward.
If Omaha had actually reached its
maximum Of wealth and population its
continued prosperity would still be Of
vital concern to the remainder of the
state. The state of Iowa with 100000
inhabitants would have to consolidate
its four largest towns to make a city
equal to Omaha In population and CON-
merce. With a population of 1900, 900
the state Of Kansas has no town half
as large as Omaha. Although Kansas
markets nearly oil its products In Kan
sas City and constitutes the principal
source Of Its commercial prosperity,
Kansas City pays tribute solely to Mis-
souri, and does not contribute in any
shape or form toward the maintenance
of state government in Kansas. Yet
nobody in Kansas decries the enterprise
Of Kansas City OF seeks to obstruct Its
growth. On the contrary the people of
Kansas realize that the building up OF
a great cattle and grain market at Kan.
sas City at their very door has been in
valuable as "a factor in the development
and prosperity Of Kansas.
1t Is passing strange, too, that many
towns In Nebraska which are so fearful
Of Omaha's growth are ready to help
with their trade the upbuilding Of Kan
sas City and other Missouri trade GEN.
tiers. and the country papers so anxious
to aim missiles at Omaha do not com
prehend that Omaha Is an integral part
Of Nebraska upon whose future growth
depends largely the position and rank
which Nebraska will occupy among the
progressive states of the Transmissis-
sippi country.