The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-01-07
The Year at West Point.


West Point Neb Jan. Especial
to The News: A marked improvement
in material conditions is noted in
West Point during the year just
closed. Many substantial, modern
dwellings of the best type have been
erected and business blocks greatly
improved Long stretches of cement
walks have been laid and in the prin-
cipal residence section of the city the
streets have been parked. The growth
of the town has been steady and
along the lines most approved. West
Point the oldest town in the Elkhorn
valley, is situated in the center of the
best agricultural region in the state
of Nebraska. Cunning county produces
everything common to the best of
farming sections of the west and in
great abundance. Corn is the prin-
cipal product and soil appears to pro-
duce this cereal each succeeding year
with undiminished fertility. Years
ago an effort was made to convert
West Point into a manufacturing cen
ter; the magnificent river at this point
was doomed sufficient to insure the
future of the town in this direction
and high hopes were entertained by
the citizens, the prophecy being free
ly made that West Point would become
the Lowell of the west. But these
dreams vanished away and the inn
mense force of the water power of the
river is running to waste, a flour mill,
cement block factory and brick yard
the way of manufactures.
In spite, however, of the non-use of
the natural advantages of the place
there does not exist in the state a
more prosperous community than this.
The surrounding country is in a high
state of cultivation, farmers are pos
sessed of large and commodius houses
and barns, their farms are we'll stock
ed with blooded stock; they under
stand and practice modern methods
of farming and their children attend the
colleges and university of the state.
ileges which make life worth living
in Nebraska. Magnificent school
buildings, some of them ranking with
the best in the state; an educated,
progressive high class body of clergy
men of all denominations; enterpris.
ing, up-to-date merchants, with large
stocks; excellent newspapers and a
law abiding thrifty community. A
large amount of available capital lies
idle here. The deposits in the three
banks of the city aggregate more than
100000. Much of this wealth could
be made to circulate in the community
if the opportunity was offered for in
vestment in safe enterprises conduct
ed under the eyes of the people. A
creamery is running here very success
fully and a canning factory could be
established with every prospect of sue
cess. All the raw material necessary
for the plant could be successfully
raised here, its cultivation opening
up a field of labor which would be
welcomed by a large floating popula-
ton, dependent upon daily work for
a living. shoe factory would find
this an ideal location. Land can be
furnished for factory purposes for a
song, living is cheap, hundreds of fam
lilies of working people could be aC-
comOdated in the city and the com
munity generally would welcome most
heartily any move to install a manu-
featuring plant of any kind in the
town. Assistance in may ways can
be counted upon, prospective builders
of factories will receive every encOur-
agement possible both in the initial
work and in their maintenance and
future success. Material in the great
est abundance is here at first hand
ready to be delivered at the doors of
the factories at original cost, quite an
important factor in the success of any
manufacturing problem. Factories, in
short, of any nature that could utilize
the raw products of this region would
stand every chance of permanent sue
cess. West Point stands ready to
welcome any proposition that may be
made looking to this end, and her peo-
pie will do their utmost to encourage
and foster any new industry which
may establish itself here. The Mel
burg Manufacturing company is run
ming it's factory here very successful
ly manufacturing a device invented by
West Point man, the electro chemi.
cal nOn-eXplosive gasoline oil can.