Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-19
aunders Countys Have More Than Realized Their Expectations

-AUNDERs county is In the sec
q ond tier Of counties west Of the
Missouri river. and has It's
80 northern and eastern borders
washed by the waters Of the
49, Platte river. is bounded on the
south by Cas- and Lancaster counties and
on the west by Butler county. Saunders
county Is deemed 20 be one OF the richest
agricultural counties in the state and Is
justly entitled TO that distinction. having
some $3.50 acres Of the richest soil west
OF the Missouri river. which is divided into
high prairie and rich bottom lands. In
saunders county exists one OF the oldest
settled places in the state. Ashland. for.
inerly called saline Ford. being situated
on salt creek, at the old crossing Of the
government TRAN from Plattsmoutb west
The principal crops is OF course. corn.
and its products in the shape Of fat hogs
and beef. The farmers Of Saunders copntv
are among the most prosperous OF any
In the country, most OF them being out OF
debt and having a surplus Of money in the
banks and taking life easy. MANY of them
having retired from active participation
in the management Of the land reside I'm
the towns. sending their children to high
100 envy i"s Viz tbINtIatnceE OF
city life. All parts Of the county are I'm
convenient and rapid communication with
the larger cities outside. having four lines
OF railroad crossing the county in different
directions. Farm houses are in commu-
nication with the cities Of Omaha and
Lincoln by telephone. and even farther
away. Rural mail routes are established
al over the county, and the country folks
are daily supplied with the mail
Land is this county Is selling. when any
Is sold, at prices that seem fabulous com
pared with the prices Of comparatively a
few years ago. Seldom is any farm land
sold for less than 800 per acre and often
the price paid is higher. The condition
Of the farms and their Improvement are
sufficient evidence OF the prosperity and
contentment Of the owners of the land.
Beautiful homes, with all modern conven-
fences, conduce to the happiness and con-
Aentment Of the rural population and
' change Is not desired. The towns are
beautifully laid out and are adorned with
many substantial and comfortable homes,
occupied by the business men as well as
many retired farmers. Nearly every town
In the county has a city water system
and electric lighting plant. and most OF
them are municipality owned and operated.
Besides the crops Of grain and hay pro-
duced, the farms have orchards Of all
kinds OF fruit grown in a northern climate.
and often more fruit is allowed to waste
for want Of consumers than is saved.
The population OF the county is truly
cosmopolitan in character, people from
many countries Of Europe as well as from
nearly every state east Of the Missouri
river, being residents and neighbors.
Besides the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
railroads main line from Chicago to Dem
yer Saunders county has branch lines from
Ashland to Schuyler belonging to the Bur
llngton and also a branch line of the Union
Pacific from Lincoln and Omaha to Bea-
trice and the Chicago & Northwestern from
Omaha to Lincoln and west from Fremont
through the northern portion OF the county.
as well as the branch Of the Sioux City &
Western from Ashland to Sioux City.
WRhoo, the county seat of the county
is situated fifty miles west of Omaha at
the junction Of the Schuyler branch of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad with
the Omaha & Republican Valley railroad
branch OF the Union Pacific and the Lin
coin g. Fremont division Of the Chicago &
Northwestern. 1t is a city Of about $500
RNNf'N "a inherent haAlDlldlllAtHt all
OF whom dwell together in the utmost har-
mony and business activity.
1t has a high school and two ward schools
with an excellent corps OF teachers. A
large portion OF the residents are Roman
Catholic, who have a large and commodious
church building, beautifully situated and
splendidly maintained. Besides this, there
are some nine or ten Protestant societies,