Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02

-NNGt ~ oENNANiANiAN :"
~ county was made by John s.
Hughes in 1879, on the Nlobrara
49, river. in section 6, township Is,
kMSMElH range 81. Prior to that time
p there had been a number OF
cattle ranches located along Snake creek,
the first being established by the Ogalalla
Cattle company. and by Paxton & Bosler.
None of the land embraced in these
ranches was ever patented to any one con-
nected with either of the ranches, and upon
the advent of the settlers into what Is
now Box Butte county, the herds and the
movable personal property belonging to
the cattle companies were transferred
farther west. Between the years 1879 and
1884 this county was just one large cattle
range, and in 1886 and 1886 settlers poured
IN, and nearly every quarter section of
available land was taken.
The first meeting of the county commits
sIoners was held March %, 1887. At the
date of the organization of the county the
population of the county was approx
naately 5000. The boundaries of the county
have never been changed since the date
OF it's organization.
The county derives it's name from a
large grass-covered butte located in the
northeast part of the county, and which
towers ABOUT lou rect ABOVE the SURROUND
ing territory, and which, on account of it's
peculiar shape, has always been called
Box butte Who first gave it this name
is not known, as it has been called that
ever since Buffalo Bill hunted the buffalo
on the plains surrounding the butte. The
buttes of the northwest are as mile posts,
marking periods and events in the history
OF the county. Among the numerous buttes
Of this section of the country none has a
more interesting history than the Grow
butte" Located five miles east OF Craw-
ford. 1t can be seen for miles in every di-
~rection, standing like a sentinel guarding
the pine-clad hills on the south and the
beautiful White river valley, which winds
across the country at it's feet on the north.
Its battle-scarred sides are evidences of
the hard-fought battles which occurred be-
tween the tribes of hostile Indians that
once inhabited this section of the great
west.
The soil OF Box Butte county is princi-
paliy a black, sandy loan. rich in phos-
pilates. and, where irrigation is possible,
immense crops OF cereals and roots can be
raised. The rainfall Is very uncertain.
The average altitude being over 1900 feet.
the nights are always cool. Taking ore
year with another, there are at least 300
days of sunshine in each year. In no
county in the state is there a greater per
cent OF its total area adapted to agricul-
ture than in this county. and when there
is sufficient rainfall most abundant crops
of grain and vegetables are raised. There
has never been a year since the arrival OF
thu first settlers in which the farmers have
failed to raise 4 fair crop of potatoes with
out Irrigation, and in favorable years the
ViAld has haan RnOrmOuz Roy Butte
county potatoes have established a reputa-
ton for excellence that extends over sew
erAI states.
One feature of this county is sure to at
tract the attention of the stranger. 1t is
the opportunities here for engaging in the
dairy business. Already the farmers OF
this county nave 200 cows on their farms
and they are now. using lS hand separa-