Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-01
DAWSON COUNTY NAN OBJECTS
some statistics and OBservstIons on
Arabic Land and It's


4
Products.
LEXINGTON, Neb., July 2s.-To the
Editor OF The Bee: l have no intention OF
entering into the merits OF the controversy
regarding the taxation Of corporations, still
less Of undertaking anything in the way
Of a defense Of the corporations. but l de-
sire to take exceptions to a statement in
your editorial, Does Distribution Dis
tribute" in The Bee Of July %.
In that article occurs the following par
agraph. Dawson county is in the semi
arid region, sparsely settled, and devoted
chiefly to cattle raising"
Dawson county has an arabic area Of $50
square miles, or 627, 200 acres. The Platte
valley extends diagonally through the
county, ranging from eight TO eighteen
miles in width and contains, with Wood
River and some smaller valleys, approx
mately 450, 900 acres. The balance is pasture
land. II is possible that we are entitled
to be located in the semi-arld belt, but with
1873, 900 acres Of our valley lands under ir-
~rlgation / defy a comparison Of results
with a like territory in the humid regions.
The assessors returns for the present year
show $4,000 acres of wheat. mostly winter.
Threshing is we'll under way and the re-
suits obtained range from forty to nifty
seven bushels per acre. Putting the aver
age at thirty bushels per acre, which is
very conservative, the yield will be 2,000,00
bushels, which is a half million bushels less
than elevator men estimate. Besides this
there are 46 900 acres Of rye, $1,000 acres
Of corn, $1,000 acres Of alfalfa, which pro-
duces three and sometimes four crops per
season, and Is, 900 acres OF other crops. All
these crops are in first class condition, with
absolutely no loss by reason Of heavy rains.
and It is very conservative to estimate the
total value Of IS, 600, 900. The value Of farm
property in the county is $4,000, 900. The
value Of horses and mules is S416, $50. The
value Of cattle, hogs and sheep is $3.50, $50.
These values are obtained by multiplying
the assessed values by ten, which I believe
I can prove to you, constitutes a conserva-
tive and fair estimate.
The land is assessed at from 75 cents to
ii per acre for pasture land, and from $1.60
TO 50 for farm land. Within the last year
there has been considerable farm land sold
In this county, and the average cash prices
paid on bona hde sales has been close to
S25 per acre. The minimum price has been
$15 per acre, and the maximum $40 per acre,
while in several instances offers have been
made and refused of $50 per acre. 1t is a
notorious fact that irrigated lands and al
falfa lands have for the past Ave years
0AaN ah AINOAnO OAaA ~ - NaAd1 "
from $50 to 800 per acre.
There are only 55s acres of unappropri-
ated government land in the county and
these consist entirely of small tracts along
the river, which are almost valuelesB by
reason OF their size and shape and the
growth Of brush and briar, by which they
are principally covered.
The census OF 1900 gives us a population
of 1924. being 1875 per square mile. This
population has been increased since that
time by fully 10 per cent and 90 per cent
or that total inhabit the valleys named.
making the population Of those valleys
1913 per square mile, which. as the whole
state Of Nebraska has a population Of only
1876 per square mile, / submit that this
county cannot be called "sparsely popu-
lated" especially as the state includes the
cities Of Omaha, Lincoln and other large
places. In the county there are 109 school
houses, of the value Of more thar 500, 900
and with an attendance of 1886 pupils,
taught by 1877 teachers. There are four
national banks and four state banks in
the county. with deposits aggregating more
than 81, 900, 900.
/ do not suppose for an instant that The
Bee intended to disparage Dawson county.
but we aspire and are entitled, as think
the foregoing will show. to a higher rank
than that of a Cow county," and. regard
less Of Intentions, the paragraph quoted
would convey the impression to one who is
not familiar with the conditions that this
was a cattle country and nothing more.
In all my statements and estimates I be-
lieve that / am we'll within the facts.
Necessarily. most Of the figures l have
taken from the assessors returns. and It
is a notorious fact that most OF the county
assessors are very lax in making returns
Of those things. which they regard as be-
ing a little outside Of their regular duties.
/ hope, in justice to our county and to
correct any false Impressions that may
have been formed by reason OF your former
statement. that you will consent to pub
lieh this letter. Very respectfully yours,
H. o. SMITH.
Note by the Editor: There was certainly
no intention or disposition on the part Of
The Bee to dlsparage Dawson county and
its resources. The fact that nearly one
third of its cultivated area is under irri-
cation fully ~justines its classification in
the semi-arid region. The estimate of
actual value to assessed valuation made
by the writer is doubtless from the point
Of view Of the real estate dealer, but the
ofhcial returns place the assessment of
Dawson county property from 12h to Is
per cent on personal property and at one
sixth on lands and town lots.