Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-22

sisted OF thirty men, six women and one
child, they had seventeen yoke Of oxen
and a span Of mules. The pioneers then
went TO work putting up some log houses
near the present dwellings OF Menck and
Stuhr farms, a little east Of the present
city, so near together they could protect
each other In case of attack b. Indians.
In the fall OF 1857 the first rumors came
from the west about gold being discovered
at Pixies Peak. The immense amount OF
travel over this old immigrant road for the
next five years furnished these settlers with
a coed market for all farm produce.
or the original pioneers who came hero
forty years ago, not many yet remain in
the city or county. At present there are
living in the city Of Grand Island, Christian
MenCk, a retired farmer, and in the
county. William Stolley, William A. Hagge,
Kai Ewoldt, and Hy Joehnck, ST., and two
ladies, Mrs. Joehnck, wife OF Hy JoehncN
sr., and Mrs. Anna Thompson, wife Of
John Thompson, ST..
All these early pioneers were poor from
a financial point of view. But they were
rich In courage, energy. industry and fru-
gality. They were successful from every
point Of view and laid the foundation OF
Grand Island and of Hall county. Grand
Island received it's name from the largest
island in the Platte river. In 1866 the orig
inaI town site was abandoned for one on
the railroad, about a mile TO the north.
The first track OF the Union Pacific rail-
road was laid into Grand Island on July
s, 1866. This construction train was drawn
by a locomotive called Osceola. 1t was
captured by the Indians six miles west of
Plum Creek in 1865.
The first building erected in Grand Island
was by w. stephens on Locust and Front
streets. The first mayor of the city was
w. A. Plat, elected in 1874. Industrially the
present wealth Of the city has depended
largely upon the farms and the farmers.
And this condition is liable to continue for
many years to come. In other industries,
that of the railroads is of the greatest inn
portance, not only to the city, but to the
entire county The Union Pacific Railroad
company has large shops located at Grand
Island where it employees in all about $50
men. This is one of the important division
stations Of the line. Two other railroad
companies also add much to the city's
wealth and prosperity, the st. Joe & Grand
Island and the Burlington & Missouri.
The American Beet Sugar company has
an extensive factory here. employing about
$50 men. This factory generally begins
operations in September and runs 100 days.
the factory consumes the product from
about 4,OC0 acres, yields about ten tons per
acre. About one-third of the beets al.
grown around Grand Island, the balance
is grown In the irrigated dis ,rlcts further
west. THIS factory turns out about 100000
pounds Of sugar per year, and furnishe,
from l2,OOO to 1900 tons of pulp for feeding
stock. This was the first beet sugar factory
established in the United States.
The Union Stock Yard company has in
the last two years built extensive new
yards east Of the city and is doing an i'm
mense business in feeding stock in route
to the Omaha and other packing houses
from the stock farms of western Nebraska
and the stock range farther west.
The large canning factory uses the pro
duct, mostly sweet corn, from about 800
acres, and employees 25O people through the
canning season. The large Touring mill
runs day and night, employing from
twenty-five to thirty men. The product Of
this plant, established twenty years ago,
has won for itself an excellent reputation,
and finds a market in many cities reaching
TO the Pacific coast
Grand Island has two excellent laundrieS
which give the people prompt service, de-
llvering to any part of the city. The city
also has a broom factory, a wire fence
manufacturing plant, good foundry, new
windmill factory, candy factory, employing
forty people, and the Fairmont Creamery
company has just completed a large plant
costing from $4,000 to 100000.
Among the public service corporations are
the Grand Island Gas company and the
Grand Island Electric company, The city
also has its electric lighting plant and
WINS it's own water works, which are
operated in connection with each other.
The telephone facilities are second 70 none
in the state. Two telephone companies