Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-29
Grand island.


The first and greatest need for the de-
velopment OF the interior Nebraska towns
in the opinion Of many of the members
of the Commercial club Of this city, is
cheaper fuel. Without that the fulhllment
of other wants would not be complete
Water power is out of the question on ac-
count of the instability of the supply and
the immense expenditures first necessary
to secure the same were the supply what
1t should be. Steam coal costs 81 per ton
in carload lots, and the best grades are
not procurable at that, in recent years, the
rates having advanced about 80 per cent.
other conditions must be very favorable,
therefore, before industries can be estab-
lished, though in many lines there are such
extremely favorable condltions-for in
stance, the ready, cheap and direct sup
ply of raw material.
A second great need is more equitable
freight rates. In the heart of a great stock
feeding country 1t is regarded as almost
Impossible to establish a packing industry
owing to the handicap enumerated in the
first great need and the further handicap
of a high local rate that must be added
to reach the Missouri.
A third need is additional capital, and the
retention OF home capital in home enter
prises There can be little doubt but that
thousands OF dollars are annually invested
from such Nebraska towns as Grand Is
land, in western mines all doubtful of
realization. which would be invested in home
enterprises under the proper conditions
and terms, home capital combining with
outside capital, in properly equitably and
legally organized companies. In one year
$4,000 Of capital was taken out Of this
county to be invested in the develop
ment Of other states, which amount, under
the proper conditions, would have been in
vested toward the development Of Nebraska
resources with the result OF adding to
rather than subtracting from the wealth
Of the state.
A fourth need of this particular city is a
transportation line. steam or electric, into
the rich Loup river valley, west and north
west of Candy. The people of this valley
made every effort available to interest cap
ital. For twenty thirty and forty miles in
either direction there are, for rich terri
tory here, no transportation facilities
whatever. Such a line would Immediately
add hundreds Of thousands of dollars to the
value Of the fine farming and dairying
country in this valley. The Commerc. al
club OF this city once took the matter up
but interest finally began to lag. both on
the part Of the people in this city and those
of the several counties interested, owing
to the bigness Of the undertaking. Either
one OF the railroads now entering Grand
Island. or the Missouri Pacific, will even
tually tap this territory and ind II a rich
take"
Not an inconsiderable need OF Nebraska
towns II Grand Island were taken as cri.
terion, would be q revival Of public spirit
edness and enterprise and the evangel Of
/ patronizing home industry. IN many Ne
] braska towns the business man seems 10 be
pulling all for himself Only that which
directly benefits him alone appeals. Thai
/ which might beneft his nelghbor as much
as himself Is left for the other to do and
/ Is left undone The average attendance al
/ the meetings OF the commercial clubs n
any OF the so-called third cities" of Ne
braska win tell the same story-the lack Of
( interest In public afiairs. or in that which IL
not OF sole. individual beneht. This will
upon close inquiry. be found to be the stu
alton not In Hastings alone. not in Bea.
trice or Norfolk or Grand Island alone. II
will be found general II extends, too. from
/ city to country, and from the interior citiel
TO the metropolis; and Il grows almost int
I a spirit OF antagonism, one against th'
other, should, by some good fortune. tn,
one obtain some seeming or real adv ntas,
over the other. II u costly because Of thu