The Omaha morning bee., 1924-09-14

Columbus. Neb., Sept 13.-In 1872
315 years later Nebraska discovered
Columbus christopher has been dead
for almost four centuries, but the par
ticular Columbus of which we write,
the county seat of Platte county, is
very much alive.
Only 80 years ago Columbus was an
outpost on the frontier Of Nebraska.
But just about that many years aso
few hardy German pioneers looked
out over what is now Platte county
and decided that it was good. They
were not only lovers of liberty, but
they were lovers Of home-real home
builders.
With such men and women to wres-
tie with the then desert, II is easy to
understand why Platte county is so
well developed, and just as easy to
understand Why Columbus has stead
lily grown and prospered through al.
the years since its founding. 1t has
never cut much of a splurge. 1t has
never attracted nationwide attention
by reason of having big boom. But
it has builded slowly but surely.
Today Columbus is handsome liz
tie city of about G.O00. n little city
OF beautiful homes. sound mercantile
and financial institutions and a lot OF
things a great metropolis must en-
dure. Columbus can pridefully dis
claim
Pioneers Names Significant.
Engraved upon panels on the Platte
County court house are the names os
the old pioneers who laid the founda-
ions OF the county and of Columbus.
The names themselves disclose the
sturdy stock of those hardy pioneers
and explain the reason for the prog
ress and solidity of county and city.
For the citizenry of Columbus and
Platte county Is made up largely OF
the children and grandchildren of
those pioneers.
There are no large manufacturing
establishments in Columbus. Several
comparatively small factories give
employment to workers, and the
Union Pacific payroll of approximate
ly $4,000 a month assists in keep
ing business going at a good. gait.
incidentally it might be mentioned
that one of the Columbus industries
Is unique in its character 1t turns
out wooden -soled shoes. and there is
only one other factory of the kind
in the country. These shoes are worn
by miners and muckers, whose toll
requires them to work in places
where It is wet underfoot.
Columbus is also one OF the larg-
est gathering and shipping points in
the middle west for poultry and eggs.
Columbus is inseparably connected
with the early history of Nebraska
II was here that Major North re-
cruited his famous Pawnee Scout.
and helped make the frontier safe
against tho Sioux. Nal. Frank
Norths brother. Captain Luke. who
headed a troop of the famous Pawnee
Scouts, is still a resident of Colum.
bus. Major North and Buffalo Bill
Cody were friends In the days when
friends were friends, and that is why
Cody opened his career as show.
man at Columbus.
Columbus Of Today.
But what about the Columbus OF
today?
1t is city with several miles OF
paved streets. and grayeled highways
leading In from all directions. It has
five fine ward school buildings and
three parochial schools Right now
there is under construction a $780,.
600 high school building. II is not
often that great public school build
ing Is named for man yet alive,
but the new high school at Colum.
bus will be the Kramer High
school," for Carl Kramer, who for
nearly 40 years has been president OF
the board of education. He began
serving on the Columbus school board
when the school system was com
prised Of ono building OF one room
md ono teacher. Now there are more
teachers In the Columbus schools
lumbus when Carl Kramer first be
came a member of the school board
Mr.. Kramer has been In business II
Columbus for more than half n cen
tury. Right now his chief delight II
in watching the work OF construction
upon tho splendid school building
that is to bear his name.
The Catholic school and hosplta
----------------------
-1uu1