The Holly chieftain., 1922-05-11

There is no reason-so far as finances are con-
cerned-why Nebraska should not have $5.OOO-
wv capitol. If 1t wants one. The state has
population Of almost 100000 Ten years ago
Its per capita wealth was $311O, while the
average Tor the United States is $1,965. The state
oeot IS $2O9S34, which is but 16 cents per capita:
only New Jersey has smaller state and per
capita debt.
The placing of 1.-The Sower' on top of the great
tower Is strtkingly appropriate. Nebraska is
essentially an agricultural state 1t has but five
cities OF 10000 population: Omaha, 191 COL !;
Lincoln 4,948; Grand Island, 13947: Hastings
ll,647; North Platte, 1O,466. Its farm property
is valued at 81 l93, 242 Its farm land acreage
Is IS a.'asSss6 The average farm value is $29.927
its farmers annually grow over 25OOOO 900 bushels
OF corn, 100000 bushels Of wheat and 10000 900
bushels of oats. In 1920 the value of Nebraska's
crops was $3O6 900 and the agricultural rank of
the state was thirteenth.
Lincoln was originally called Lancaster. This
city was laid out in 1854 with population of
Just about dozen. In 1867, when Nebraska was
admitted to the Union, there was population of
less than 80. Nevertheless. Lancaster was made
the capitol of the state and Its name was changed
to Lincoln. In honor Of the martyred President
then two years dead
Lincoln Is a good site for tower with the pur.
pose Of making people look up, since the place
is almost level. There is story about a man
who bought $1,000 plano and had to rebuild and
refurnish his house to correspond. Probably Lin
coin will spruce up bit in honor of the new cap-
toI, but the city Is already attractive, with fine
wide avenues and many noteworthy buildings It
Is the seat of the University of Nebraska md
State Agricultural college and several other educa.
tiona institutions Among the prominent build.
ings are the federal building, courthouse city hall
penitentiary. insane asylum, St. Elizabeth's hos.
pital and the Carnegie library. The city Is in
about the center of the eastern third Of the state
It lies southwest of Omaha and Is Just far enough
oyyOy So ha
Lincoln's capitol building will be the third
to stand on the same site. The first structure
naturally was not very pretentious. But the sec.
ond has done its duty nobly. being structure Of
white limestone erected at cost of $5OOOOO
Nebraska has interesting history, which
would surprise those who have been brought nm
to believe there Is no such thing as history west
of the Alleghenies possibly the Mississippi,
The first white man to see 1t was probably Coro-
nado In 1541 some time before Plymouth Rock
became well known The Choteaus of st.
Louis. famous early fur-traders, got up to the
forks of the Platte in 1852. The first known set.
tlement was in 1905 at Bellevue by Manuel Lisa
of fur-trading fame. The American Fur COMPANY
established posts at Omaha and Nebraska CITY
about 1925. The Mormons wlntered In Nebraska
1S45-46 Thousands of gold-seekers passed through
beginning with 1S40. These were also the days
Of the Oregon trail and Its famous migration
Nebraska in these early times was rich in the
romance Of American pioneer history
Nebraska's early political career was checkered.
The territory constituting the state was orig
inaly part of the Louisiana Purchase (1SO4)
and afterward part Of Missouri territory. For
generation after the admission of Missouri (1s21)
the territory was practically without government
In 1868, unable to get congressional sanction as
territory, the inhabitants organized provisional
government and elected william Walker governor
After several attempts to be admitted rs state.
Nebraska finally got in over President Johnsons
veto In 1867