Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-03
HASTINGS IS PROSPEROUS
Metropolis of Adams Enters New
Year with Feeling of Confidence.
HOTEL AND HOSPITAL PLANNED
New BuildinR to Cost Two Hundred
thousand 60 he Built IN Spring
several More streets
VIII he Paved,

HASTINGS Neb.. Jan. 2-(Special.)-
Splendid prospects for big crops, gen
eral feeling OF confidence and progressive
movements already under way indicate
for Hastings and Adams county in the
new year one Of the most prosperous
periods in their history.
Among the improvements that are to
be started early in the spring will be a
new hotel TO cost 100000 the Lanning
Memorial hospital to cost 100000 the in
stallation Of an ornamental lighting sys-
tenn in the business district which will
cost upwards OF $4,000 and the enlarge
ment Of number of manufacturing
plants. During the last year the Masons
and the Elks purchased building sites
and one or both of these orders may take
steps this year for the erection Of tho
proposed homes
A heavy snow few days before Christ
mas and a liberal snowfall on several
subsequent days have practically assured
a big wheat yield. Short crops during the
last year affected some lines of business,
but with better prospects for next year
plans are already making for general ex-
pansion of manufacturing and CONNER
cial enterprises.
Municipal improvements Last Year.
During the year 1911 the city Of Hastings
made and contracted for municipal i'm
provements aggregating nearly $275,OOO
over $4,000 was spent for street paving
alone more, it is thought, than was spent
for paving in any other Nebraska city in
the same period. The council already has
taken the preliminary steps for the con-
unuation of paving this year. and within
a few weeks Il contract will be awarded
for the repaving of Second street, the
main business thoroughfare.
Most of the manufacturing enterprises
in Hastings thrived during 1911. Seven
Wholesale cigar factories dealing in inter
state trade manufactured and sold ap-
proximately 6,OOO,0OO cigars, an increase
Of about 20 per cent over the previous
year, and more than were made In any
Nebraska city, as shown by the statistics
of the internal revenue service. Hastings
was also first Of all Nebraska cities in
the manufacture of brick, the output for
the year being 100000. The manufac-
ture of paving brick block was a new
industry started during 1911, The harness
and horse collar factory. according to the
best information ohtalnable here, had a
larger output thhan any factory in that
line in Nebraska, Kansas or Iowa. one
wholesale candy factory kept six travel
ing statesmen constantly employed during
the year and sold more candy than was
turned out by any other Nebraska city
except Lincoln and Omaha In brewing
Hastings took rank second to Omaha with
an output of 1900 barrels, and from the
same plant was turned out 5000 tons Of
artificial ice.
Twelve Big Conventions.
Twelve state or district conventions and
public gatherings were held in Hastings
in 1911 and during the year there were Sc
cured for Hastings in 1912 the state con-
ventions of the Omaha-Denver Good
Roads association, the association of op-
ticians, the association OF commercial
clubs and the Nebraska synod of the
church. Hastings also Sc
cured the biennial convention of the An
Client order of United Workmen for May
1913, and the triennial convention OF the
Modern Woodmen of America for May,
1914
Interesting light on the growth of
Hastings is given by the report OF the
water and light department. For cleo
trio current the receipts during 1911 were
l6 per cent greater than during the
previous year and SO per cent greater
than in 1907. The receipts for water
last year were 20 per cent greater than
In the previous and 64 per cent greater
than in 1907.
Hastings has $4,000 invested in the
water and light plants, for which the
only bond issues have been for a total
Of $4,000, a considerable part OF which
has been paid off. All improvements in
addition to those provided for by the
bond issues have been paid for out of
he earnings of the plants and I'm addi-
ion the city has had free water for
public use and free electric current for
al street lighting.
An engine capable of pumping 100000
gallons per day has been ordered for the
water plant and during the present year
t is expected that a new reservoir, with
capacity of from 10000 to 100000 gal |
ons, will be constructed.
Million in Automobiles.
OF building materials Hastings dis |
T1buted during the year 1911 143s car |
Dads. exclusive OF lumber and in foun- |
Try products it is believed that Hast |
ngs' output was next to that OF Omaha |
md Beatrice. In the distribution of au- |
omobiles and automobile accessories the
done here during the old year
aggregated over 100000, more, II IS
imposed, than was done by any
Nebraska city except Omaha and Lin
oln.
The new First Presbyterian church.
ostlng S65,OOO. will be completed this
week and will be dedicated January IA.
his building is the finest Presbyterian
uildlng is the finest Presbyterian
hurch between Des Moines and Denver.
Work was started early I'm the summer
n the new Roman Catholic church and
will be finished early next spring. This
uilding Is said to be the finest Catholic
hurch In the Lincoln diocese. With the
a !