Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
SOUTH OMAHA'S PROSPERITY
Three Million Dollars Expended on Build
ings During 1899
NATIONAL BANKS DO A LARGE BUSINESS
Excellent showing Made by the Post
otiice-lncrcnsc in Populntion-Mu-
n%icipnlity in Fairly Good I'll
nHncinl CanditiOn.
ATIoNAL BANKS DO A LARGE BUSINESS

During the year 1899 South Omaha eX-
perienced the greatest prosperity in its his
tory.
About 800 building permits were issued,
calling for an aggregate expenditure of So,
600, 600. Among the prominent and eXpen-
sive buildings erected are the postotice,
Armour's cooler and warehouse, Guy c.. Bar
tons big livery stable, st. Martins Episco-
pal church, the Lewis block, Glasgow block,
Murphy block, additions to Lincoln, West
Side and Brown Park schools, new school
building at Twentieth and O streets, car
shops at Cudahy's, new glycerine factory at
Cudahy's, smoke houses at Hammond's. The
majority of the permits issued called for
dwellings and over sixty were erected at a
cost of over $1,000, while fully 200 houses
costing below $1,000 were built.
The principal Improvement at the stock
yards was the paving of the hog division
with brick. Several million brick were used
in this work, and the unpaved portion OF the
hog yards will be paved in the spring. A
new hog division is partly constructed which
wher completed will have a capacity of TO-
600 hogs. The construction of this division
was stopped by the cold weather a short
time ago. The railroad equipment of the
Stcck Yards company has been increased
and the switching service rendered the
packers greatly improved. Fully 800, 900
has been spent by this company during the
last twelve months in improvements of a
permanent nature.
BnnkinG Business is Good.
The three national banks report an un-
usual amount of business during the year
and deposits show a remarkable increase.
On December l, 1898, the deposits at the
three banks amounted to 81, 1853, 1868, while
Oh December 2, 1899, the published state
ments show deposits amounting to $4,579,-
716.2S, an increase of $500, 22O.O5.
Pcstotice receipts amounted for 1899 to
nearly $50, 900. Domestic money orders is
sued during the year numbered 1886, and
amounted to s4S, 224.7O, an increase over the
year 1898 of s4,4O7.94. A slight decrease in
the number and amount of international
motey orders issued is noted. Domestic
money orders paid numbered 9,4O1 and
amounted to $50, 551.5 SO as compared with
S,54G issued in 1898, aggregating $75, 991. 80,
an increase OF l 3,56O.21. Receipts from
the sale Of stamps and stamped envelopes
were $50, 1853 so as compared with $50, 500. so
for the preceding year, an increase of S.
S24.23.
The erection of an extensive brick manu-
ldClIlllS plduL was commenced ABOUT De
cember l and will be completed in about a
month. The machinery in this plant is
valued at $50, 900.
The Omaha Gas company laid twelve miles
of mains during 1899 and the Omaha Water
company about six miles of mains.
Permanent improvements have been made
also by the Nebraska Telephone company.
Population Increasing.
A large increase in the population is
shown over 1898, estimate by the directory
canvassers and others being that South
Omaha now contains fully 20, 900 people.
The municipality is in fairly good con-
dition financially. It's bonds are selling at
a premium and there has been no increase
in the general indebtedness. All obliga-
lions are being promptly met and the credit
of the city is first-class. During the year
$40, 900 of general Indebtedness bonds were
refunded at > per cent interest, and $22, 300
refunded at c per cent, making the total
bond issue $92, 300 for the year.
No paving was laid in 1899, but over SIS, 900
was spent in district grading. At least
s. 1000 was spent by the city in keeping the
streets and alleys in repair. Over three
miles of wooden sidewalks and about the
same of permanent sidewalks were laid.
Oue new Sewer, l,4UO leeI III IeuBLu, Is IN
course of construction.
The births numbered 1862 and the deaths
300.
Seventy-two electric street lights are now
in use, an increase of twenty-five, as COM
pared with 1898.
Quite a number of additional fire hydrants
were located, making the total 1856, at an
annual rental Of $50 each.
The police department is composed Of
seventeen men and the city jail is in a good
sanitary condition. Eight men constitute
the paid fire department, with two hose
wagons and a quantity of hose. The city
WINS the fire hall in the Third ward, erected
at a cost of SO, 900.
Taxes have been paid much more promptly
in 1899 than any year in the municipalities
history, which is considered an evidence that
the residents are prosperous.
The real estate market was never in a
better condition. Investors are buying
largely, and many lots areI being sold to
laborers who propose owning their homes.
NOTABLE DEATHS OF THE YEAR