Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-10
CHANCE FOR HOMESTEADERS
About -Four Hundred Thousand Acres in
Nebraska Thought to Be Open
Loup, GARFIELD AND WHEELER COUNTIES
General Passenger Agent Franc Il
Taking Preliminary steps To-
ward the settlement of
vast Estate.

within 40 miles Of Omaha there are
nearly 400, 900 acres Of fertile, arabic home
stead land that is open for settlement at
any time and has been for years. This dis
covery has just come to the knowledge Of
John Francis, general passenger agent OF
the b. e. NJ. railroad. II the plans now be-
ing laid by him in consequence OF the In
formation carry there will shortly be started
for that country the most remarkable home
stead rush ever known.
The land is in Loup, Garfield and Wheeler
counties. The Burlington already has a
railroad arm into each county. From the
Aurora and Central City branch one arm
runs to Sargent, in Custer county, six miles
below the line Of Loup county. Another ex-
tends to Burwell. in Garfield county, and
still another to Ericsson, in Wheeler county.
Mr.. Francis was astounded when he
learned OF this government land in that 10
cality. Think Of 2,421 quarter sections Of
land lying open within less than half a day
of Omaha" he said. Think of what can
be done with such land so close to such a
market as this. This proposition is really
startling in its significance, both to Omaha
rs a commercial center and to that terri
tory as a money making proposition
waits for Detailed Report.
Mr.. Francis only waits for final detailed
reports of the exact nature Of this land
before launching it's settlement boom. He
now has experts going over the ground in
the three counties, who will report to him
soon on the exact character of the soil. so
that he may know for what 1t may best be
used. He has already taken many steps
toward his final end. He has exact maps Of
the three counties, showing just how many
acres in each township are open. The total
figures are 3SS, 1870 acres.
This information Of almost half Of three
entire counties being open for settlement
came to Mr.. Francis accidentally a short
time ago. He at once communicated with
D.. Glen Beaver, register of the land office
at O'Neill, Neb., on the matter. Mr.. Deaver
verified the tale. Then Mr.. Francis began
work on his project to have the land taken
up.
Francis is InvestiGRtlng.
"of course, 1 don't want to raise a big
noise about this land till l know its exact
character" said Mr.. Francis, "but every
thing looks bright. The territory is in the
same longitude as Hastings, and not far
above that city. The general character
istics Of soil in those counties, which
have collected from statistics in the last
few days, show the land to be arabic
throughout. Beaver creek Cedar creek
Calamus river and the North Loup river
run through it with their tributaries, sc
there is much water.
Even II all the land is not good for
agriculture we know now that it is all fine
grazing ground. and what isn't farmed car
be used for stock, a great thing with the
South Omaha market so near. There IL
rich hay and grasses for both summer ant
winter range.
"A great feature Of this territory will be
the ease OF getting water. 1t is a country
Of flowing wells. Anywhere there you car
get flowing water by sending down &
pointed gas pipe eighteen feet or so. Nc
windmills or pumps will be necessary"