Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-20

- HERE are three great pictures Of
southeastern Nebraska. One that was,
one that is, and one that is to be. The
early western life was primitive, but
it never was the life of a peasantry.
For more than half a century the farmer has
been filling Richardson county, but he is just
beginning to learn how to use it, how to enrich
himself from it, how to enjoy it, how really to
feel the mastery over it. In the recent history
of Richardson county, one fact stands out WV
idly: the day of speculation and experiment has
passed away, substantial business progress based
on plans of permanency has succeed it. New
generations are coming on the stage. new enter
prises are being developed, new territory is be-
ing opened through the adoption of new farming
methods to the existing conditions. 1t is an un-
ending procession of home-seeking and home
building, and it continues today with as regular
a movement as it possessed forty years ago. 1t
is one of the great factors in the development
of Richardson county.
This whole eastern part of the state has
broadened, expanded and matured within the
last few years. Wider knowledge of ~possibili-
ties, frmer grasp of opportunities and richer re-
sources mark it than at any time in it's history.
The traveller who has only seen eastern Ne
braska from the car window could say the same
If they had passed over it in a balloon or sailed
W ~ Al q DOoO ~ oSS oho AhOW bhO "a y
Quires more than a day, a week or a month.
The saddle is indispensable to the full enjoy
ment of Richardson county. The rolling farms
and wooded streams are always reckoning the
rider. Many a delicate woman finds her way
where she wishes without escort and careless of
fashion in mounting. Either she is bent on
recruiting her health, or means to have a good
time, or has business requiring her attention.
The Burlington and Missouri Pacific trains
steam past the farm homes and through the
great cornfelds, and the rural mail carrier trots
by with his portion of forty miles of suburban
mail delivery. Before long the trolley lines will
be laid here.
Falls City is the commercial center of Rich
ardson county. Drop a dollar anywhere in the
county and it will roll into Falls City as natural
as water runs down hill. The old-time idea of
producing raw material only is passing away.
The manufacturing era is to be next on the
western stage. The county has eight FIGURING
mills, one vinegar factory, one canning factory
and a pressed brick plant employing thirty men.
The county has 2,1O0 farms. with 800, 900
acres under cultivation. The last season the
county produced rs, 900 acres of winter wheat
and 20, 900 acres of oats and 100, 900 acres of
corn. The county also has 80, 200 acres in tame
grasses.
Richardson county is the banner county of
the state as a fruit-producing section, consisting
largely Of apples, pears, peaches, plums and
cherries. They have 200, 900 apple trees. 10000
pear, so, 900 peach and $4,000 plum trees. The
products sold from the farms are about as
follows: Hogs, 81, 200, 900; cattle, 5000 900;
corn, $3.50. 900; oats. 500. 900; apples. $780,
900. On these farms the dairy industry is at
tracing more and more attention each year,
but while there are 10. 900 cow to supply he
demand, but 700 cream separators are in use
In the county. This county is fortunate in hav-