Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-03
NEBRASEA FIFTY YEARS AGO
y onderful Progress Made by This Great
State Since Then.
lAIoR BUCHANAN PENS INTERESTING PAGE
Ifuth About state of Nebraska that
Reads Much Like Fiction out
of a Fairy's story
Book.

=. r.. Buchanan, the wel-known general
passenger agent Of the Elkhorn road. re-
Views Nebraska's progress since territorial
days. Fifty years ago, he saye. Nebraska
was in that nebulous condition which
pfecedes organized being. It was a
part Of the Louisiana purchase.
II had not attained to individ-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. entity. 1t was simply
incubating. Two years later It was born
Into territorial existence and had only 600
white inhabitants. Why 1t should have in
sisted on being born" so prematurely
doesn't appear, unless there were not Of
ices to meet the demands of seekers. At
any rate, Il was accouched into territorial
Individuality in 1854, with its little brood
Of 800. The perspective or background was
composed OF millions OF buffalo that
roamed the plains, or desert, feeding on
the succulent grama grass; and also hordes
Of Indians who lived on the plains and fed
on the buffalo and who turned a contempt
uous eye on the little band of whites who
timidly chung near to each other on the
banks Of the Missouri RIVER. The meager
products then were consumed by the 900"
who had no communication With the out
side world except by the Missouri river to
st. Louis or Cairo, thence up the Ohio, or
by overland conveyance across the virgin
plains OF prairies of Iowa to the Mississippi
river and Of Illinois to extending but very
rare railroads whose proprietors we're
moving westward" with their slowly ex-
tending lines of iron. Not a railway with
in hundreds OF miles. Not a market for any
products. menaced by Indians and isolation
PrestOi what a Chang
Prestol Here we are today a thrifty and
splendid gateway city Of $50, 900 people. A
converging center from all the east, north
and south. with our gateway opened for
the of the world to pass through
into our great state and through IL to the
Mountain and Pacific Coast states and
through them again over the trackless Pa
cihc ocean to the Orient and its boundless
markets. Where forty-eight years ago were
only unbroken prairies on the east and APP
parentiy limitless desert plains to the
westward. are now four great trunk lines
OF railway direct Zone OF them the Chicago
& Northwestern double track from Omaha
TO Chicago. three trunk lines to the south.
two trunk lines to the north, two trunk
lines to the Black Hills, four trunk lines
with their direct connections to the Pacific
ocean, besides a number OF other indirect
but available lines in all directions, all
converging on and diversing from this gate
way city. Markets in all directions and
easily reached either for the absorption Of
our product or to supply our wants. Here
is now a great state with 1880, 900 inhabit-
ants. The buffalo and the Indian have
given way to the march of civilization and
to a population of enterprising citizens.
Here we have created from our 49, III, 500
ncTes within the area of Nebraska, 122, 900
'farms"-that Is. local habitation for agri-
culture embracing about 80, OO0.O 900 acres
the remainder Of our area being devoted to
stock interests, grazing and hay. .
Products from the Farms.
From these farms" and this stock range
we are producing in this year Of 1902. fairly
estimated, 200. 600, 900 bushels Of corn, 49,
900, 900 to so, 000. 900 bushels Of wheat, 49,,
900, 900 bushels of oats. with proportionate
crops OF other grains, hay, vegetables
dairy, and poultry with their products
The adaptation of our soil and climatic con-
ditions to the culture of sugar beets is
concededly favorable and as a result We
have three beet sugar factories with an ag'
gregate capacity OF about 1000 tons pei
day. which means from 1000, 900 to %, 900.
600 pounds of beet sugar per year in the
state. The best and most successful o
these factories is located at Norfolk in tn,
north part of the state, the junction Of
principal branch with the main line of tn,
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley rail
road. This industry. although s~uccesfu
and prosperous in this state already, is ii
the infancy Of its possible development
There should be at least fifty, or twic
fifty. equally large factories in the state
and even they could not supply the marke
demand.
Another speciality has been partially de
veloped in the growth of alfalfa. 1t seem
the soil and other conditions are especial
aaaAsaA a. tha accommodation - thtg oron ~
there are now over $50. 900 acres OF alfalf
in Nebraska. The crop yields three an
four cuttings and aggregates from FIVE to 81
tons per acre per year. II is most accept
able to and an excellent food for all stool
Even hogs live and thrive on It exclusivel
and hogs so grown have not thus far bee
known to suffer from s~o-called hog choleri
Now. reduced to values, the following
fair estimate OF the values OF the prod
ucts Of the state for the year 1902;
The corn crop will yield at least 100000
The wheat crop will yield at least. 2i.600.0
6 6ass p@ Hrs sTSP SEEDS wlli y's esd. at least. ls s.SB,s
Potatoes and other vegetables. .... 5000
products. ETC. ."c1@.... 10000
the state, including cattle, hogs,
sheep, goats, horses, mules. also
Innate was siI5, %sis'5s7, at least. 10000
A totals stimated value OF our
this years product from the
lands alone and including value
of the stock which Is changing
up and down, shipping In and
out, being raised and brought In
Tor 1eedlnB Io'toOVu
These estimates seem so enormous tn
they stagger us, but many are from Il
best and most reliable sources. governmei
and state statistics, together with our bel
information obtainable. and in fast are a
graded down on account Of their magnitud
From the information received and us'
IN their compilation. l feel warranted m!
self In saying my belief Is. the actu
figures will reach the round sum OF at lea
$500, 900. 900.
These estimates are limited entirely
the land products" which include,
course, stock which necessarily feeds {
and is made by the land products. No a
tempt is made 70 estimate the wealt
created or produced BY the mechanical
other arts or sciences. nor by the con
mercial. banking and other mercantile pu
suits.
This Enormous from Sol
Think Of IL. One western state. only on
40 - .-hg.k a. davofad % agrFcuItu