Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-17
OMAHA OWES LOT TO STATE
Growth of City is Due to Bounteous
Crops of Nebraska.
ONCE DESERT IS NOW FERTILE
wealth Given Up By Soil of state is
Greater Than that of Precious
Metals Mined All over
Country.

While Omaha has shown marvellous
growth during the last decade, 1t does not
claim all the credit to itself but gladly
gives credit to the great state of Nebraska,
whose bounteous crops in a large measure
have been responsible for the wonderful in
crease in all sorts of industries and the
general growth.
The story Of the transition Of the Great
American desert from the home Of the
buffalo to the abiding place Of beautiful
cities and towns and prosperous farmers
has been colncident with the history of Ne
braska. Where once roamed the buffalo by
the million now grows waving fields of
grain, The transition had been of short
duration, but 1t has been swift and sure.
What was once thought to be practically
worthless desert is now entirely cultivated
and is producing some Of the finest crops
on earth.
Nebraska produces each year crops of
greater value than all the precious metals
dug out of the ground In the entire coun-
try. The great difference in the two is
that when once precious metals are taken
from the ground they are gone. whereas
when one of the great crops of Nebraska
Is taken from the soil. the country is not
injured in the least, provided, of course,
that common sense methods are employed
in crops rotation and fertilization.
Farmers are yearly turning their atten-
ton to better methods Of farming and as
consequence they are able to make more
money. One of the chief revenues now is
90, Cd nN,.NR A,
Omaha market and produce higher priced
stock and feeding the grain which grows in
Nebraska.
Nebraaka's Prosperity.
Nebraska enjoyed in 1909 what was by
far the most prosperous year in it's his
tory.
Nebraska farmers produced from the soil
more than 100000 900 in crops and live stock.
There have been years when more wheat,
corn, cattle. hogs and other products were
raised. but never a year in which the
money value of the output was 80 large.
The largest item in the list Is corn. with
a total value of $ss.Oas.4Oo.
Next comes hay. with a total value of
$50. 25ss12
Then comes wheat. with a total value
of S43,659,1 74
for $S6.745, 600 of the years total.
The Nebraska hog accounts for $sS, 1917
of the grand total.
The Nebraska horse represents total
value Of $24,51s,5S0
The oats crop is varied at SEA- .S91.
The alfalfa crop is next with a total
value of s2s,ss1.140
Cattle represent total Of $2s.S76s12.
Hen Was Busy,
The Nebraska hen did her duty to the
tune of $1a7S2.406
Minor crops. such as sugar beets, fruit
millet, forage and vegetables represent q
total for the year Of $10S5oOO0
The potato crop was worth $5,006 CSC.
Barley, rye and cane make up a total Of
S7Ss,9T7.
The grand total value of agricultural pro-
ducts for 1909 was S4O2.57s,O66. This is an
increase of $41.12S07S over 1SOS's record OF
1851. 461,Ol2, and an increase of $40, SO6, a5t
over 190Ps total OF $2Sa. ga, T29
Nebraska agricultural production of 1905
was valued at approximately three times
, the value of the gold and silver production
of the United states In that year, the tota
of the latter being $122.s10,6O0
The total deposits in Nebraska banks II
! 1909 were $is2. s44ssS This is an increase
of s24S2e,4 ss over the total of SIS, OFT, go
and an increase of al4, 141 over 19O7's rec
ord of SITS. $50 ST.
> Figures could be still further multiplied
to show Nebraska's prosperity during 1909
but this seems unnecessary. Every Ne
braska city and town can show tangible
evidences of prosperity in the form Of pub
: lie improvements of all kinds, new build
! ings, both public and private, and increased
trade with surrounding territory
Other states, Too.
Other states than Nebraska also helpet
upbuild Omaha the market town during
the last year, for Omaha's trade territor!
. is not bounded by state lines. The prosper
0 ity Of all these states has been unexemple'
I and there Is every reason TO expect create
e expansion along all lines in this last yea