davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
BRISK DEMAND FOR REALTY
Increase of Over Thirty Per Cent in Volume
of Transfers,
COMPARATIVE FIGURES TELL The STORY
Notable Increase in Current Releases
of Rcnl Estate Mortgages over
Inst Ncar-FnctS About
Tax IcNics.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES TELL The STo5

one of the most hopeful signs Of Omaha's
prosperity has been the gradual but per-
cCptible awakening Of activity in real es-
tate transfers and better prices secured for
property. Tenement property for both resi-
donce and business purposes has been in
active demand throughout the year, and
the tenant class has been sorely pressed at
times to find comfortable quarters.
Rentals sustained a rather sharp ad-
vance during the year and residences in
sections for years avoided by best paying
tenants have filled up with reliable and
responsible people. Not only have all va
cant storerooms been filled, but a ten
dency has been constantly growing to crowd
two or three modest business enterprises
into one storeroum.
Efforts to locate a number of manufac-
turing establishments or their agencies IN
the city have disclosed a painful lack Of
available buildings suitable for wholssaling
and jobbing on proper trackagc and in good
localities. This need is so imperative that
the Commercial club has several line con-
templatcd issuing an address to capitalists
setting forth that capital supplying such
structures at a moderate but assured rental
price would be Of distinct advantage to the
city. Several large real estate sales have
been made during the year to concerns
which propose to establish large jobbing
warehouses in central localities. with more
promised for the immediate future.
a comparison of the aggregate volume Of
real estate transactions during the year
just closed and the one Immediately pre-
Ccding shows an increase during 1899 Of
ever 80 per cent, as follows:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
FIGURES OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Year sos is n RecOrd-Brcaker for
Fatalities and Injuries ana
Loss of Property.

The two largest fires of the year were
these of Allen Bros, Ninth and Jones, the
loss being 1921 goo, and that of the King
man Implement company, Ninth and Pa
ciic streets, causing a loss OF $1i3, 900. The
loss for 1899 doubles the record of any pre-
vious year, There were All fires in 1899.
while the greatest number ever before in
one year was 1888, in 1898. The total loss by
fire for 1899 was 1872, 7O6; loss over insur-
ance was S49,77S; the loss TO Insurance
companies was $685., 92S. The figures for
1898 show a total loss of $1l6, 800, the loss
over insurance $s,G25; loss to insurance
companies, $1O7,la5,
The apparatus used by the department
has not been materially increased during the
year. Twelve hose companies, four engine
companies, three hook and ladder companies
and one chemical company are housed In
thirteen buildings. The department has now
1GS men, compared TO 10 a year ago.
In the matter Of casualties 1893 was a
record breaker. The mCst disastrous fire
was at the Labor Temple, Seventeenth and
Douglas streets, March p. -Four lives were
lost and seventeen persons injured. The
fire at Allen Bros wholesale house, June
IT, caused the death Of one fireman, and in
juries to nine others. At the fire In the
Mercer emical works, lll2 Howard street.
August Q, four tiremen lost their lives and
two were painfully injured by an electric
light wire, The total number Of deaths
'aused by lire last year was sixteen. five
icing hTemen. Deaths from the same cause
during 1895 were only four. The total num-
her Of persons injured by fire during 1899
was forty-seyen, OF whom eleven were fire
men.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
YEAR IN OMAHA CHURCHES
some improvements U"Nr H"cn Mndc
and Nurtyngcs HuNc Bccn
Paid ON.

M, -hI,,-b,. ~ O,,,b, NV, nnif,rr,1v
,ro,,or,, 1nrf,r mo- m., ,wolyomonth
r,,,. ,,,r,,a,,, h,,i,, hoo, mod, and
,,"rtr,.r ,,tI ,r
Tba ST., p,,,t., ,,,.,h ,,,ou,,t.bo1
rni,no nm, hrs,rosslurn s,r,E,, NV aoinr
i,,, ,,,,,nr,bf, ,fY,. a.. p.th. rl,r church
49,, p,,l, 80, lba ,as,.n a,1 ,,,a,ion
80 ,ba NAH T1o, r,,rr,c,ti, r.orc No.
,,.5 ,'rt,a ,hs r,,,a -, 49, ..r,irs, nan
49,, ,t,,.,," ,n. n,tai,., T,a nr,nor,,
- 81, an ,,i.s, ,h,,.ah T.. a,,1 l]miidircr
". nut. , ,, ",l p,r,. ' ar,o,, ana
,h.,a 49,. .t I,tr,,a,,, a,, n,ro,n,r,
- , ,nn, 49, r,,I ,n5
. ~, ., 'h,, 49,. a.nsa,td,ttan
,.i; =, c.. 49, aa., 90 ~, a,,,,rmo,
r.. ~. ,t... 49, IN ,...at.,u.,. l.,
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
PROSPERITY FOR JOBBERS
Improvement Noted in Practically All De.
partments of Trade,
LOCAL MANUFACTURERS ARE DOING WELL
Only Favorable Reports Heard from
Men who buy md SclI-Money
Plentiful md Collections Good
Everyone wen Pleased.

The close Of the present calendar year
calls attention to the fact that 1899 has been
the most prosperous in the history OF the
Omaha jobbcrs. Times have steadily i'm
proved throughout the year In all the west
crn country, so that consumers have had
money to buy both the necessities and luXu-
ries Of life. with this increased consumption
has come a corresponding expansion In the
retail trade Of the territory tributary TO
Omaha. The widcawakc jobbcrs looking for
business, it Is hardly surprising that this
should have been for them a banner year.
During the more active months 1t has been
nothing unusual for a jobbtng house to re-
port an increase in the volume of sales from
% to so per cent gain over the CORE
spending periods of the previous year.
This prosperity has by no means been In
the nature Of a surprise to the jobbers, as
they were generally predicting at the COM
mcncoment of the year a large increase.
Some, as a matter of course, were inclined
to ascribe the good business Of the exposl-
ticu year to that enterprise, but the iobbers
themselves had faith in the growing popu-
larity of Omaha as a jobbing confer and
were ready to believe that the city would
not only hold all that had been gained, but
would make big additions in 1899.
The facts showed they were right. Every
NNdl ttllH " pllHb ltoo mcmahon III NlN
part of the western merchants to go past
Omaha in search Ct merchandise. They have
found that they can get better terms, better
treatment, quicker delivery and greater sat
isfaCtiou, by purchasing in Omaha than by
going farther from home. All this is graft
flying to the jobbers of this city, who ap-
parently have every confidence in the tu-
ture.
Local manufacturers have shared with the
jobbers in the general prosperity, and in
nearly all lines there has been a steady eX-
pansion. The larger manufacturing enter
prises, such as the packing houses. smelters,
etc, are familiar to everyone and the
whole city knows that they are prosperous
and employing an army Of men turning out
trainloads of merchandise every week, but
scattered all over the city are small factor
les and shops, each doing a moderate bust
ness, employing, however, in the aggregate
n large number of men. These little fac
tories, which mean so much to the city, have
been prosperous as we'll as the large ones
ard the employment they have furnished has
materially contributed to the general pros
pCrity.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
MILES OF NEW PAVEMENT
Large Area of Permanent Surfaces is
Laid During Season-Asphnlt the
Prevailing Material.

During the last year 2,444 miles Of pave
ment were laid In Omaha, a considerably
less area than in 1898, when 1906 miles
were put down. That year, however, was
an exceptional one in this respect, and ran
far ahead of its predecessors. OF the total
pavement laid during the last year 1855
miles were Of asphalt and eighty-nine miles
were of brick. OF the 50 ,5O6 miles of pave
ment in the city the proportion of materi-
ais is as follows: Asphalt, 29.765 miles;
brick, 1895 miles; stone block, 24.67l
miles: macadam, 1866 miles; wooden block,
400 miles. The total cost of Omaha's
amounts to 81, O36, 772,O4. The
u.nrk done in 1909 is as follows.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
OMAHA AS A HEALTH RESORT
Number of Deaths for Ten
Years Is Recorded, While Birth
List il Increased.

During the last year Omaha has estab-
lished a remarkable record for good health,
fecundity and longevity, the mortality sta
tistics showing a decrease in the number of
deaths and an increase in the number of
births. Only SG6 deaths occurred during
the year, a smaller number than for any
year in the last decade. On the other hand,
the citizens have. replaced the dead with
the living at a ratio Of nearly two to one.
During the year there were 1,6S5 babes born
and OF these S51 were boys and S3i were
girls. While this is an Increase of sixty
over the preceding year it still falls far short
of each of the seven years previous to 1898.
The following table for the last eight years
traces the record:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
LIBRARY IN CON liant USE
Home Circulation Increases During
the Yenr by More Than seven
Thousand Volumes.

During the past year the shelves of the
Omaha public library have been used more
generally than ever. In the twelve months
ending December I, 500 more volumes were
loaned to patrons than during the same
period one year ago. The attendance at
the reading and references rooms and the
Byron Reed room on the other hand shows
a slight decrease over the two preceding
years owing to the number of visitors in
the city during the two eXpositions.
In addition to the books in home circula-
ton, 3,5OS volumes were sent to the pub
lie schools on the order of teachers. This
plan was inaugurated December, 1898, and
has proven a success. OF the books in gem
eral circulation also, So, 7S7 were used by
juvenile Subscribers. The table showing
monthly comparative circulation is here
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

CONTIGUOUS diseases found Omaha a loss
congenial abode in 1899 than even during
the preceding year. There were twenty
five cases of smallpox early in the year and
one solitary case is now in progress Those
of last winter, however, were Of a mild
form and none resulted fatally. In diph-
iberia there were only 1O5 cases, a less
number than previously recorded since 1890.
The figures on this disease show a notable
decrease in mortality during the last six
years, due, it is claimed by physicians, to
the increasing use of the anti-toXine treat
ment. The slight Increase in the death
rate this year is regarded as simply an in
cident without any particular significance.
The decrease in the mortality rate is shown
by the following table:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
SEWERS BUILT DURING YEAR
Operations Are Undertaken ana
About Four Miles of Drainage
Constructed.

About four miles Of sewers were laid dur
ing 1899, compared with 1917 miles in 1898,
The money spent for drainage during the
year is approximately $4,000, contrasted
with SO, 1891 one year ago,
The principal undertaking has been to
drain the low district in North Omaha,
which has previously suffered severely in
wet weather. The purpose has been to tap
the source of the old North Omaha creek
and divert the flow to the northward, carry
ing it to the outlet through Riverviow park.
The work designated as unfinished is all in
an advanced state. Expenditures for the
year are as follows:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
CONDITION OF The WEATHER
uncommonly Delightful Brand Fur
nished Omaha During the
Past Year.

During the year 1899 there were 40 great
extremes of heat and cold in Omaha. The
coolest day came in January and the hottest
in September. The precipitation was sutn-
cient to mature an abundant crop. The ac-
companying table shows the weather condi-
tions by months as compared with the pre-
rrdipp vaar.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
Totals OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .Sb,l Los Si,5o5,ilZ
Good Showing in Mortgages.

The mortgage records in the office CT the
register of deeds for the years 1898 and 1899
indicate a healthy financial condition of the
city and county, clearly establishing that
while a large volume of obligations has
been contracted, the balance is on the
right side of the ledger, as more mortgages
have been satisfied than contracted. The
comparison with the previous year is like
wise gratifying. The following figures tell
the story in exact detail, giving the number
of mortgages filed, number released and
the financial amounts by the months for
the year 1899, and with comparative totals
for 1885,
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
Reccints of the custom House.

At the Omaha customs house for the year
1899 the value Of goods imported aggre-
gated 1851 900, while the exports reached
Sl4G,7 zoo in value. There is a bonded ware
house here, with inspection and all the IA
c~ilities OF a port, so that goods may be
sent direct from foreign ports and all
duties paid here, The imports consisted OF
wares and merchandise received By mer-
chants, while the exports were principally
products Of the smelter.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

TOtal .....I,III S|2,569,2ll I,I52 S~2,I5l,IN- II
The foregoing figures include both farm
and city mortgages. The last four days
Of December are estimated, the figures hay-
ing been taken from the records four days
prior to the first of the year. The estimate
is made by Thomas F. Croker, register of
deeds.
The following figures show the mortgages
that have been released or satisfied during
the year:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

T.. b. ThlrkieId, health inspector Of Chi
cago, says: "Kodol Dyspepsia Cure cannot
be recommended too highly. It cured me
OF severe dyspepsia" II digcsts what you
eat and cures indigestion, heartburn and
all forms Of dyspepsia.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
Scouting Freight 10 Manila.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec, 3U-Ihe trlns-
ports Tartar and Valencia will probably be
sent back 70 Manila with freight. There
are now about i,00 tons of freight waltinE
the government dock and no steamers to-
take a. The Sheridan Is already engaged
to sail from here ON the 4th proNimo Tor
Seattle to take forage from there FOR
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
PAST YEAR IN LABOR'S FIELD
Increased Prosperity Enjoyed by the Men Of
Bone and Stnew,
STEADY AND ACTIVE DEMAND FOR HELP
Organized LHhor Has Grown Stronger
During the Wear from Every
Point Of View, Hcttcring It's
Conditions and Wages.

Paint nf law IpINsNFinn lis
r,u,,,,,n .,, u,.a
Wv"
-
N,,,,. ,,.,. .,,,.,. ~.
-''"'. 80 "'''7' ,.' '''sr''"l VI w
,",. iv", "". " o''s", "'n's' " ne
JUS Ur''.'S ,'"U ',v u'.'"'w h'"N,u
, V w." VI ,,S.''"," " va.
w. ',,V7"'.,' %N V"' ~ '"''"." s,mS
""''"1 ~ '''v' ""'""s' ." 100,
.''. '",P's''" ~, N''"'"''S """ ''oo'''S
W., ~ '''I'"I'" d, SOU WAGES an" even
~, I,S"3l'.u ,'ao.l,S nave o''" S''''' """
:" "'''
we ,'o"'',S ',.",''
"N -, w W.
workers ioh nrint,re press,ncr rrcss f,ed.
cra and bookbindcrs. but all were settled
satisfactorily for the workmen with but
SLIGHT intcrruptiog Of work
The ~painters led off in April demanding
better pay, and within a month all Of the
PRINCIPAL EMPLOYERS but one had signed the
schedule.
In August the carrentcrs demanded an in
creased wage schc lula. to take effect Septem-
Der .. At the end of three weeks the rou-
troycrsy was settled in their favor.
October the leather workers. COMPRISING
the harnCssmakcrs and saddlemakers, sub
mitted demands for better pay. All the
shops met the increase except one without
demur. and after a strike lasting a week
the protesting firm acccded to the demands
of its sixty workers.
During the same week the printing trades
moved for the nine-hour working day. and
after a brisk season of negotiation with the
employers, carried the day, although the
situation for n time looked decidedly threat
Cning. The settlement was effected without
the loss of a days work.
url, NN-,gt,,.' ,,,to,, l,,r. l,l .,r,r,t .L,,.r,
encounters during 1899, in the course OF
which they have ran against iujunctions Of
courts and other embarrassments. hut they
have terminated the year with a balance to
their credit.
c..,o >u
~ -- 80
'.e - l'9 49, $50 y "
-" 49, rls ~ go 49,"
~ Nv - o 49, 80
it"D ~ ~ 49,, H. -. Il,
cio" y - =, ,L -%H n ~ ="
O" Ni'' " HOio =. ~
""S "" ~ . ny ~ san
~" VI ~ w ms $50 ~
- rmu
49, - ~ o| nr, "a ~.
~ 80. 20 ~ pauonr,n. 49,. nH -
~ 80 ~ VI ,IJ - .I""a " a.,
poon w, Wv ~
y" " . 90 = 80 lnaaa - ~.
-" W 800 go 10000
o'o,0 49, g n.o. o a,n;,u +bo
'tl0s 80 %"" a0
oua Iu. a." 49,. -, thano ,,os 90
"nu uN' 'ns Lne Ho' lo,tnN 80
- ms n $3.50 nut a nae y of,antn5 ~, ~
w y y ioCN vs. 49,
"5.. va NV
Den.,"i E''o rno ~ Nv - aoeps ,oo
H. |.t 49, SSIe
go -" nna y thnt t I,o oDir ona' 80
81 Wv ~ vac. ~ Nv on-s
- Ut ~ w. 81, , NV 1ona
= IL @"'u '~"' - Wv 49, ~, W. rSo
C CI 30 Htti ~ n,arS this
~ L'Doi -. - ns''l = rooi
49, NV" wv. - - S,Ii ~ 49, - oSaot ~
n'un 'n". ""l aIoa,n "D
Ne""i y ~ go S''oIne,
"'Jo ~ rt - " ,oiaa iahon ha"1
~, 49, a"a - wooaa g., ~ IT.,
y, Wv onanniaa h,iIdton n.ih fonn
m~n y raad,na raon and raom,
-, lli' - nnd enoa om1 ~ - ~ w.
oT ~ TI,nstan piGos, rn,an 80 IN
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
Totals

The coming year promises to surpa S the
present or any OF it's immediate predeces-
sors in the record of permanent and ma
terial Improvement, as plans have already
been announced for the erection of a num-
Der of large wholesale houses.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

The most significant fl, Tres for the year
are those regarding deaths, which reach the
lowest point in 1899 touched since the cen
sus of 1890. The lowest previous record is
929 in 1896, that number being siXty-three
more than in 1899. The record for the last
night Yenrs is as follows.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
rntals --2-254 &5.51l.l0l l.llg Is.

totals ....E,6Df SDtJilpiVl liz Np'Nbpr W w
The foregoing comparison of released
mortgages in 1899 over 1898 tells plainly a
story of prosperity. 1t shows that nearly
81, 600, 900 more has been paid toward salts
flying outstanding debts than was paid in
the previous year, and it was not such a
bad year either, in comparison with years
previous. In number Of mortgages taken
up there is also an excess OF over coo in
favor of the year that has just closed.
Another sign Of prosperous conditions is
the fact that but few farm mortgages have
been filed in comparison with previous
years. The greater number and greater
volume of documents executed have been on
city property, mainly in cases where large
enterprises are involved and where the
money borrowed was Immediately turned
into some industrial or development chan
mel. The agriculturists seem to be espe-
cially prosperous. Just for a sample, In
the month of June this year only five farm
mortgages we're filed and the total amount
was only S5,497.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

The number of arrests during 1899 was
smaller than that of the preceding year,
but stlll much larger than in 1897. In 1898
the total number Of arrests was 9,039, Of
which 7,541 were male and 1887 were fe-
male, The total number of arrests during
1899 were $50, and they are divided be-
tween male and female and scattered
through the different months as follows:
ARRESTS FOR 1899.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
Comparative Statistical Review of mahas Most Prosperous Year.

paid, S1,375,15i12; issued. $3OG, BOOST; re-
mittances received, $2.j6l3i3.5G; letters and
packages registered, 27,OO&: received, 1870;
registers in transit, 2lO,93O; through regis
ter pouches, 1871.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
BUSINESS AT THE POSTOFFlCE
Rccci.ts Are About the Same as
Those OF the EXPOSE
tion Aeur.

At the Omaha postofiice receipts during
the exposition year OF 1898 far exceeded those
OF any former period OF equal length and
It was expected TO stand as a record
breaker. The past year. however, has given
it a close race, and in some particulars has
been better. The following table shows the
business OF the year 1899;
Sale Of stamps and onNelopes..,.S 339,12S Sc
Box rent zoos -
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
Compnrnnye Figures ON Taxes.

A table showing how the county levies
and taxes have run for the last ten years
has it's own elements of interest. Making
allowance for a law which permits the
assessing of the county at one-seventh to
one-tenth actual value and considering also
that by this plan the assessed valuation
has been made to grow less and less, the
burden of taxation in 1899 was lighter than
ten years ago. Following is the table:
Assessment Valuation.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

If'EI7IVT|V UVUVIVs HIIUTVU IN IIlTlSIT y NO
During the year there was mailed as sec
ond-class mail matter 1885, l6S pounds, at l
cent per pound, making a total amount coll
leotet OF $29, S5l,GS.
During 1895 the sale OF stamps and box
rent aggregated 1851, 67l.95; money orders
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
follow
Mnntha
Totals ....... 1919, 561 ,52S Gl 1927, 432, 1865


The yearly record of the clearing house
since 1t was established in 1885 is shown
by the following table:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
Northwestern System.

The lines of the Northwestern systematic
Chicago & Northwestern, tho Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, the Fremont,
Elkhorn & Missouri Valley and the Sioux
City & Paciic-has enjoyed a year Of un-
precedented prosperity. These Northwestern
lines, together with the Missouri Pacific,
have enlarged and improved their depot ia
c%ilities at the Webster street station. The
Northwestern's new construction completed
during 1899, opening up new trade territory
for Omaha, exceeds all others. New lines
constructed during the last year and now
ready for operation are as follows:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

The addition OF these 29S.G2 miles will
make the total approximate mileage of the
Chicago & Northwestern in operation with
the beginning Of 1900, S,2S3.O2 miles.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-14
SEED SUPPLY EXHAUSTED.

Congressman Brick Receives Many Re-
quests Which He Can Not Grant.
Congressman A. l.. Brick, who in
vsriably strains point to sccommo-
date people, is the recipient of a
great many requests with which, much
to his regret, he is unable to comply
These requests come from all over the
Thirteenth district and Gre for gov
ernment seeds.
The apportionment of seeds was
made to senators and representatives
prior to March 4, the date upon which
Mr.. Brick became the representative of
the district as the successor of Mr.. Lem
uel w Royse, OF Warsaw. Mr.. Royse
has the distribution of seeds for this
district this spring on account of the
the apportionment of seeds having been
made, as stated, prior to March A. BY
spe ;ial favor OF the department Mr..
Brick obtained a small and special al
lOwance which has been exhausted and
the department has no more seeds with
which to accommodate him. 1t is pos
sible those congressman who were in
office up to March may have a supply
on hand for distribution upon request
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-14
Obituary of Mrs. Metheny.

Mary Jane Tine, daughter of John
and Christina Tine, was born January
I'd, 1927, was married to William Miller
in 1916 whose death occurred after one
year She was again married to George
Metheny Dec. 8, IS49, to whom was
born six children, three of whom pre-
ceded her to the spirit world. She
Joined the Methodist Episcopal church
under the preaching of Peter Cart
wright in the year IS40. She lived a
faithful christian life dying at Argos
April 8, 1899, aged 72 years, 3 months
and days