Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-18
SOUTH OMAHA, THE MAGIC CITY-NOthing But


Farm Forty Years Age-Marvelous Changes.
Forty years ago there South Omaha, the
six and one-haf miles of territory covered with
business blocks residences, packing houses and stock
wards we're cultivated farms. The farm houses were
thnly scattered the prairie and the cornfields
were plentiful.
In the spring of 1888 the score of farmers in this
portion of Douglas precinct planted their corn on land
worth as they believed, $50 acre. Right where
the Transit house stands was little log school
house. presided over during the winter of 1879 by
NJ O. Maui of Omaha. Among the children who at
tended school that winter Henry and Herman
Drexel Tom Hector, Patrick Begley and Balthas
letter.
In 1884 the building of stock yards was COM
menced the place having as early 1883 been named
by the parties most interested South Omaha"
The Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha (lim-
ed) was formed and incorporated under the laws of
Nebraska on the LIST day Of December, 1888. The
capital was 81 900 OOO Business not to be COM
menced until $60O,0 of stock had been subscribed
but that amount at once taken 1t was stipulated
that operations should that day and con-
tnue until the 1st day Of December 1885, The COM
pany organized by electing w. A. Paxton, president;
A. H. Swan, vice president; John H. Donnay, secre-
tary; James M woolworth, attorney. The following
gentlemen constituted the first board of directors:
w. A. Paxton A. H. Swan, Frank Murphy, B. f.
Smith P. e. Her, John A. McShane and Thomas
Swobe.
On April work the stock yards COM
menced under the immediate direction of William A.
Paxton. The first point of attack by the workmen
was the low swamp marshy slough that extended
from the present end of the stock yards to what
is now the Hammond Packing company's plant. Work
was continued without interruption until August 10,
when the first shipment of live stock was received
The shipment consisted of twenty-five of cattle
from F. Wolcott of Medicine Bow Next day the cat
tie were reloaded and shipped on to Chicago.
What are they doing in South Omaha?" asked
The Bee about the middle of May, 1886 Does the
business there amount to anything? Are they get
ting much live stock at the yards? Will it be a
great cattle and hog market? And will it ever
amount to anything as a slaughtering point? These
and many other similar questions daily asked by
citizens of Omaha who do not realize that Just south
of city limits business is growing up that in
the future will surpass, In point of capital en-
ployed and business Importance the entire wholesale
and manufacturing interests of Omaha in 1886 1t
was only short time ago that few enterprising
men met the open prairie. set their stakes and
said: Here will build packing houses that shall
capacity sufficient handle all the live stock
of the northwest here will lay out town lots to
be built upon and occupied by our employees and by
others having interests here. That something more
than talk and cheap advertising necessary to
make a showing at realized by the stock
yardS ana IL IL 10 De uouDted IL any enter
prise in the west has been pushed with greater vgor
or If any company has been ready to take adj
vantage of the opportunities presented it than the
Union Stock Yards company of Omaha They have
worked quietly and without any display If anything
they have been too quiet and should have made more
noise in the world.
The town of South Omaha is building up rap
idly and hundreds Of men finding there pleasant
and agreeable homes, while town lots increasing
in value at a rate which promises to rival the boom
in Omaha city lots It is not surprising that those
who posted the affairs of the stock yards are
enthusiastic the outlook and future prosperity
of the business enterprises established there"
On october 16. 1886 the village OF South Omaha
organized. E. P. Savage elected first chair
man Of the village trustees.
Today South Omaha is the third largest packing
center in the world and the stock yards company is
increasing its facilities for handling stock every year.