Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-05

10000 The compact was closed in 1905
Thomas jefferson then being president OF
the United States. Mr. Jefferson sent out
an expedition under the command Of Lewis
and Clarke, who traversed the Missouri
river to Its source and hello the first coun-
Gil ever held in the United States with the
Indians Of the Louisiana purchase upon
the hlltops Of Fort Calhoun. August s.
The first real settlement appeared at
Bellevue sometime In the fifties In the
beginning of the last century Manuel Lisa
trader Of st. Louis. was then recognized
as the master of the art OF dealing with
the Indians and prince OF the fur trade.
It was his influence which prevented the
ish in the war OF 1912 and sweeping dow,
on st. Louis. The first white woman to
make her home upon Nebraska soil was
In 1873 the first steamboat churned
slowly up the Missouri river. The first
the hill at Fort Calhoun, where Lewis and
Clarke held council with the Indians.
colony OF 1000 people, soldiers. freighters
trappers and traders, inhabited the blur.
This fort was abandoned in 1897.
The first wagon train to cross the great
plains Of NebrasF1 was In 1882 under the
command OF Captain Bonneville, whose ro-
mantle story has been told by Washington
irving. In 1893 Rev Moses p. Merrill and
wife, the first missionaries, arrived in Me-
biaslSa and began mission work among the
Otoe Indians. Tho first school was opened
by. Mrs. Merrill. attended by Indians ana
Fremont came in 1912 and traversed the
state east and west leaving as monument
his name for one OF the hourishing cities
Secretary of War wilkins, in his report
November 30, 1874 first mentions the name
Ten thousand Mormons settled tempo
rarily in Nebraska in 1886 and 1SfI. The
Kansas Nebra ska bill so historic, was then
being agitated by Stephen A. Douglas The
Mormons passed on; the plains of Nebraska
were not suitable homes for poIygamlstass.
prairie schooners. Fifty thousand people
in single year crossed the plains onward
toward the Eldorado of California.
Homestead Bill Brings Settlers.
The great issue Of freedom and slavery
was before congress i'm Washington. All
compromises had failed, all truces had
been broken, The question whether these
came one Of the real issues in the nation.
After the war, congress having granted
this Wild primevai waste, the arst settlers,
saved the union loaded their families into
| prairies of Nebraska with their shanties
and 500 houses. This was the beginning or
permanent settlement. 1t was of these that
I'VE cross the prairies as of old our faith
ers crossed the sea
To make the west as they the east the
homestead CT the free.
Events began to happen rapidly: The
territory began to develop the Union Pa
| who made Omaha the capital of Nebraska.
| succeeded Francis Burt who died eleven
| days after arrival at Bellevue The usual
Ihardships of pioneer life followed but still
the tide OF emigration pressed on. The
valleys OF the Blue, Elkhorn and Loup
were soon sprinkled with the settlers log
cabins
Before state rule came on Governor Alvin
Saunders was appointed by President Abra-
ham Lincoln as the last governor of this
territory. His son is an honored member
! Out Of this sparsely settled country two
/ regiments of soldiers were furnished to
! the government. General John M. Thayer
and Colonel Robert w. Furnas were in
/ command Of these regiments.
! The Nebraska of today bears little re-
semblance to the Nebraska OF that period.
/ find populous cities and comfortable build
! ings. Out of a wilderness has sprung an
empire throbbing with commercial life and
Nebraska today is an honored name and
her destiny is no longer a matter OF
All honor to Nebraska. the home OF our
| adoption. the pride of our mature years.
| ''She knows that she was born to be
1T, The mother OF a mighty race;
Daughters TO wear all grace
| That on her soil there yet may rise
Whatever prospects good men prize;
/ The pure church, up whose heaven-topped
spire
creeps the long sunsets lingering fire;
| The college in whose reverend shade
Unpublished youths are Grecians made;
And tasteful homes. and those calm keeps
| Where musing memory broods and weeps.
She knows elate. that she was born
| To blend the sunset with the morn;
! To add new vigor to the chain
That links the mountain to the main:
TIL, growing greater and more great
She site the peer OF every state;
And all shall love and call her hest
The Virgin Mother OF the West"
-Dake.
Good Chance for Annexation.
Friends of the bill which provides for
the consolidation OF the cities OF Omaha and
South Omaha are receiving much encour-
agement and believe now they will be able
TO pass the bill through the house. Harvey
stands sponsor for the bill, which the dele
cation will endeavor to pass and he was
badly wanted In the house this afternoon
to help out a portion of the delegation on
a general boost for the measure. but It Is