The Snowflake herald., 1922-05-19

1here is no reason-so far as finances are con-
cerned-why Nebraska should not have a $1,000
Uoo capitol, if it wants one. The state has a
population of almost 100000. Ten years ago
It's per capita wealth was $3,110, while the
average for the United States is $685. The state
DEBT is S2O9S34, which is but Is cents per capita ;
only New Jersey has a smaller state and per
capita debt.
Inc placing of THE Sewer" on top of the great
tower is strikngly appropriate. Nebraska is
essentially an agricultural state. It has but FIVE
cities OF 10000 population: Omaha 191, 6O1 ;
Lincoln 54,94S; Grand Island 13947; Hastings
l647; North Platte 1O,466 It's farm property
Is valued at 81 1913 1925 242 It's farm land acreage
is 42.33S,S36. The average farm value is 500 927
lts farmers annually grow 25O,OOOOOO bushels
Oh corn, 6OOOO,OOO bushels of wheat and 80 OOOOO
bushels of oats. In 1920 the value of Nebraska's
crops was $3O6 469 900 and the agricultural rank Of
the state thirteenth.
Lincoln was originally called Lancaster This
city was laid out in 1854 with a population of
just about a dozen. In 1867, when Nebraska was
ADMITTED TO the Union, there was population of
less than ~ Nevertheless, Lancaster was made
the capitol of the state and it's name was changed
to Lincoln, in honor of the martyred President
then two years dead.
Lincoln is good site for tower with the pur-
pose of making people look up, since the place
is almost level. There is a story about man
who bought $1,000 piano and had to rebuild and
refurnish his house to correspond Probably Lin
coin will spruce up bit in honor of the new capi-
toll but the city is already attractive with fine
wide avenues and many noteworthy buildings II
is the seat of the University Of Nebraska and
State Agricultural college and several other educa.
tional institutions. Among the prominent build.
ings are the federal building, courthouse civ hall
penitentiary, insane asylum, ST. Elizabeths hos
pital and the Carnegie library. The citv is in
about the center of the eastern third of the state
1t lies southwest of Omaha and is just far enough
away so that it's tower cannot be SEEN
Lincoln's capitol building will be the thru
to stand on the same SITE The first structure
naturally not very pretentious But the sec
ond has done it's duty noby, being structure Of
white limestone erected at cost of S5OOOOO
Nebraska has interesting history which
would surprise those who have been brought mn
to believe there is no such thing as history west
of the Alleghenies or ossibly the Mississippi
The first white man to see it was probably Coro-
nado in 1541, some time before Plymouth Rock
became so well known. The Choteaus of St
Louis famous early fur-traders got up to the
forks of the Platte in 1862. The first k2own SET
Element was in 1905 at Bellevue by Manuel Lisa
of fur-trading fame The American Fur comnanv
established posts at Omaha and Nebraska Cstv
about 1925. The Mormons wintered in Nebraska
1S45-46 Thousands of gold-seekers passed through
beginning with 1849. These were also the davs
of the oregon trail and its famous migration
Nebraska in these early times was rich In rba
romance of American pioneer history
Nebraska's early political career was checkered.
The territory constituting the state was ORIG.
inally part of the Louisiana Purchase (1sO4l
and afterward part of Missouri territory. For
q generation after the admission of Missouri 1881,
the territory was practically without government.
In 1853, unable to get congressional sanction as
a territory, the inhabitants organized provisional
government and elected William Walker governor
After several attempts to be admitted as state
Nebraska finally got in over President Johnson's
veto In 1867.