Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-10
Columbus Center
Of Fine Country

Among the cities Of first Importance
in Nebraska. is Columbus, the county
seat of Platte county. The city is To-
Gated on the main line Of the Union
Pacific and is the terminus of four
branch roads. 1t is an ideal distribut-
ing point, being the gateway to a
large and prosperous farming coun-
try and numerous smaller towns. Rail-
roads run to most all points of the
compass, handling both freight and
passenger traffic. The city is also at
the junction of the Lincoln highway
and Galveston-to-W Winnipeg Transcon-
tinental roads.
Platte county is one Of the best
agricultural counties in Nebraska, and
that means in the entire country. Crop
failures are unknown in this region.
The county is we'll watered and the
soil is rich and productive. The farm
ers are prosperous and their lands
are we'll improved. Cattle and hog
raising are big industries and diver
sified farming is carried on. Alfalfa
is good crop and can be grown on
any farm in the county and is the best
known beef and milk producer.
Columbus banks have larger depos-
its than any other city in the state in
proportion to the population. The city
is the natural headquarters for com
mercial men making the North Platte
territory and the local United Com
mercial Travellers lodge has large
and growing membership.
The population of Columbus is
5000; altitude, 1892 feet; rainfall,
thirty inches. The city has a mu-
nicipal water plant and drainage sys-
tenn, pure water, electrolier street
Lighting system is now being installed.
The city has an excellent electrical
and gas service system. OF the four
newspapers two are dailies There
are five banks, with deposits of 81, 500,-
900; five public grade schools and one
high school, also three parochial
schools. Practically all denomina-
tons are represented in the churches
of the city.
Columbus is proud of its fine Young
Mems Christian association building,
public library, a large hospital, large
government postofhce building and
two theaters. One'of the theaters, the
Swan, is said to be as beautiful as any
in the state. The following business
concerns are worthy of mention:
Large planning mill that makes interior
work a specially; two flour mills; one
beverage company; wooden shoe fac
tory; bottling works; brick manufac-
tory, with capacity of 10000 brick a
day; artificial ice plant; piano factory;
veterinary hospital; terminal elevator,
with a capacity of 250000 bushels;
freproof warehouse and storage plant,
two candy factories, creamery, four
cigar factories, two telephone systems,
excellent hotel facilities, two whole
sale houses, broom factory, oil dis
tributing stations, marble and granite
works, large wholesale establishments
handling poultry and eggs, one green
house, two cement block factories,
canning factory.
Two building and loan associations
with assets of $1,200000 are both
strong institutions. The city also has
sewer system, three parks, fire de-
partment equipped with auto trucks
and modern apparatus.
When you plan your trip to the
Rockies this summer arrange it so
that Columbus is one of your stop
ping points. Call on Charles L.
Dickey, secretary of the Commercial
club, and he will supply you with all
desired information. You will find in
Columbus everything in the way of
auto garages, repair shops, hotel ac-
commodations and amusement that
you could possibly desire.