Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-17
WEST NEBRASKA BOOMING
Building Of Kew Railroad Lines Up North
Platte Starts somsthing.
LIVELY TIMES ON CONSTRUCTION WORK
Contest Between Burlington and
Union Pacific 70 See which VIII
BE First 60 Have It's Road
Completed.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.. Nov. 1s.-Cspe-
cial)-western Nebraska is on the thresh-
old Of the greatest boom known since the
wild buffalo roamed its grassy domains.
Real estate, which heretofore has been
considered as OF no great value, Is mount
ing skyward. and Spectators from the east
as well as from Nebraska and neighboring
states are proving their faith in what was
once called the semi-arid region by pur-
chasing tracts OF land in this neighborhood.
In fact the country is alive with land
buyers and investors.
Probably one OF the most attractive fea-
lures is the construction OF the Burlington
and Union Pacific railroads. which has al
ready begun. The companies are vieing
with each other in finishing their roads
first. From the junction of the North
Platte with the South Platte river a few
miles east of this city, westward to the
Wyoming line, on both sides OF the North
Platte river, the nat valley, averaging sew
eral miles in width, along it's entire course
is extremely fertile. Numerous irrigation
districts extend throughout the entire
course of the valley and the hay land OF
natural hay is very productive. Yet for
years this valley has been without rail-
road, or even reasonable good access to
one, from North Platte TO Northport, a
distance of about 125 miles. Now lost time
is being made up and the Burlington and
the Union Pacific have already begun con-
struction of roads up this valley along
almost identical routes
The first move was made by the Burling-
ton. which announced few weeks ago
that 1t would construct line through this
leu lot.
Northport East of here the road was TO
Join the Burlington branch from Farnam
or Wellheet, on what is known as the
high line" about twenty miles south, or
else go along the south side of the Platte
river from North Platte to some point
on the Burlington south Of Kearney. This
valley, too, is very rich and we'll settled,
and by going along the south side OF the
Platte river, which is followed on the north
side by the Union Pacific, the Burlington
would tap the enemy's country in earnest.
Construction on the Burlington has already
begun west of here.
Union Pacific is Busy.
The Union Pacific, however, at this time
has made the greatest Roadway. There are
now 400 teams at work on the route Of the
new road up the North Platte valley A
cutoff has been made and track con-
structed for a short distance from the
main line and extensive grading is being
| done. The new Union Pacific road leaves
the main line a few miles west of this
| city and then goes up the North Platte
valley on the south side of the river ia
about five miles west of Paxton, or a dis
lance of about forty miles west of this
city. At this point the road crosses the
! North Platte river and runs west to North
port along it's north bank.
The plat filed by the Burlington at the
United States land office here indicates
the same course throughout, with very
| little divergence, but since the Burlington
| has begun construction at the western
end of the route 1t is not definitely known
where the line will cross the North 1lstte
river. Every available grading outfit and
| team In the country is being secured fol
| the construction OF the route and the layins
OF track is progressing rapidly. What
some time ago seemed likely to be rumol
is now taking tangible form and there 1.
no longer doubt about the construction
of the railroads.
At the county clerks ONCE Of IAncolr
county one man is kept busy all the tim,
filing and recording instruments conveyint
rights-of-way purchased by both railroads
| The county judge is engaged with con
demnation proceedings against the owner
| of land who will not sell to the railroads
Yesterday appraisers were appointed an,
appraised land just west of the city O
North Platte, which will be used by tn,
Union Pacific for extra trackage. Simila.
proceedings are going on in other coun
ties along the routes Of the new roads.
Material for telegraph line along tn
route of the new Union Pacific has bee,
ordered, and line will be put in opera
ton prior to the completion of the roa,
to facilitate in its construction.
Increaaa NnIne NJ Innha