USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 6
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 6
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
THE MIGHTY PLATTE RIVER
The rivers of Nebraska are distinguished for their breadth, number, and some of them for their rapidity and depth. The Missouri is the chief stream not alone for Nebraska but for the whole country, because it gives character to all the others that unite with the great Gulf of Mexico. Forming the eastern border of our state, and a small portion of the northern boundary, with about 500 miles of the stream washing the eastern and northern portions of the state. It is deep and rapid and its channel conveys water from the snow-capped mountains of the north- west, via the wonderful Yellowstone River on down to the far-away Gulf, dividing several places on its onward rush to the southland and eventually mingles with the waters of the ocean.
The next river of importance in Nebraska is the Platte, the length of which is approximately 1,200 miles. Its headwaters head in the moun- tains and some of them in lakelets fed by the everlasting snows. By the time this river reaches Nebraska it is broad, shallow, sandy, but still flows with a rapid current. It flows through the whole length of the state, from west to east, dividing the state, but leaving the largest part to the north. At places, in low water stages, it can be forded, though fre- quently teams become mired in the quicksand. This stream is not navi- gable. It has long since been finely bridged by structures at Fremont, Schuyler, Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte and other points. The South Fork of this stream enters from Colorado at the southwest corner of the state, while North Platte enters the state from Wyoming near latitude 42. The average volume of water at North Platte is greater than at its mouth, though it receives in the meantime some large tribu- taries, the most important of which are the Elkhorn, Papillion, Shell Creek, Loup and Wood rivers. The best authorities aver that the explanation for the decrease in the waters of the Platte below their forks is from the fact that the character of the bottom and its continuation
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with the "drift" underlying the uplands south of the Platte. The bottom of the Platte is extremely sandy, and is continuous with a sandy, grav- elly and pebbly deposit of the drift under the loess as far as to the Republican River. The general level of the Republican is 352 feet below that of the Platte. There is, therefore, a descent from the Platte to the Republican, and along such a formation that there is easy drainage from the one to the other. That there is such a waste or drainage into the Republican River there can be no doubt. The prospectors and geological surveyors mention the fact that while wading in the channel of the Republican in the month of August, for many miles, they noticed on the north side of the stream water oozing out of the drift continuously every few feet in places and rarely less than every few rods. Nothing of this
TYPICAL SCENE ALONG THE NORTH PLATTE
kind was observed on the southern side of the river. When tributaries of the Republican from the northwest cut deep enough to strike the drift, they share in the reception of this water from the Platte.
Flood time for the Platte is generally about the same time as that of the Missouri-sometimes a few days or weeks earlier, but the continu- ance of both is so long that they meet, though they rarely culminate together. The Platte drains principally from the northwest. Its water- shed on the south is only a few miles from its valley, while on the north it extends in places to within thirty-six miles of the northern line of the state.
CHARACTER OF THE WATER
Carbonate of lime is the commonest ingredient of the waters of springs and wells. Then follow in minute and varying quantities in dif- ferent springs carbonate of potash and soda, sulphate of potash, soda and lime, chloride of sodium and potash and free carbonic acid. Many springs are free from most of these salts. Carbonate of lime, the com- monest impurity, is seldom present in injurious quantities. Perhaps three-fourths of the springs of Nebraska contain it in amount varying from a trace to distinctly hard water. There are many springs and wells
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whose waters are remarkably soft. Those of the Bow River are mainly of this character. Generally, where springs emerge from the gravel beds and pebbles or strata of sand in the drift the waters are soft and other- wise remarkably pure. Wells sunk in these deposits are of the same character. On the other hand water obtained from the loess whether by springs or well has a perceptible quantity of carbonate of lime and a small quantity of lime in solution. There are also strata in the drift containing a large amount of lime and this is often the source of the hardness of the water that proceeds from these deposits. In general the waters of springs and wells is remarkably clear and cool and free from injurious ingredients. There is, of course, no such thing as absolutely pure water, except by distillation. It is the salts that natural water contains that make it palatable.
Some of the wells sunk in the rocks of the Dakota group have a strong taste of iron. While this is disagreeable it is not specially injurious.
The character of the river and creek waters of Nebraska is peculiar from the large quantities of sediments which they contain. The Missouri leads in this respect. At high water it contains 403 grains per gallon ; at low water 51 9/10 grains per gallon. Carbonate of lime is present in considerable quantities ; also small quantities of carbonate of soda, iron in various forms and carbonic acid. Minute quantities of sulphuric acid, magnesia and organic matters were also present.
Though the water of the Missouri is muddy yet when it is allowed to settle and become clear it is singularly sweet and in summer when cooled with ice it is easily delicious. Barrels of Missouri water have been seen in July and August and whether in the shade or in the sun no infusoria or other minute animal forms could be detected with the microscope even after a week's exposure. No such experience can be related of any other water from rivers. Probably one reason of this is that the sedi- ment held in suspension by the water carries to the bottom as it settles all organic matter. Eventually, infusoria appear in it from ten to twelve days, while with ordinary water under the same circumstances they can be found within a week.
The waters of the Platte River do not materially differ from those of the Missouri. It holds about as much sediment in suspension during flood time, but materially less in time of low water.
TIMBER
Geologists have shown in recent years that Nebraska was at no very remote day heavily timbered with a varied forest vegetation. When the causes commenced to operate that finally reduced its area to present limits some of the species retired gradually to such protected localities as favored their perpetuation. One of these causes was probably forest and prairie fires inaugurated by primitive races for the chase and for war. Some species are now confined to spots where fires cannot reach them. Another probable cause was the encroachment on the timber by the prairie caused by the ground being so compacted with the tread of countless number of buffaloes that tramped outgrowing shoots and unfit- ting the soil for the burial of seeds. Since the buffalo has retired and prairie fires have been repressed, and rainfall is increasing, the area of timber lands is spontaneously extending again in many directions.
Up to 1880 seventy-one species of trees have been discovered growing wild in Nebraska. Among these are linnwood, maple, locust, wild cherry,
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ash of four species, four species of elm, walnut, hickory, twelve kinds of oak, many species of willows, four species of cottonwood, pine and cedar.
WILD FRUITS
Wild fruits are a prominent feature of Nebraska. They luxuriate in its rich soil and almost semi-tropical summers. Among the wild fruits of this state the plum family is a remarkable example of how nature herself sometimes ameliorates and improves her original produc- tions. There are three type-species of plums in the state-viz .: (Prunus Americana), Chicasa and Pumila. Of these there is almost an endless number of varieties. In a plum thicket in Dakota County, covering only a few acres, there has been counted nineteen varieties of Prunus Amer- icana and Chicasa varying in size from a fourth to an inch and one- quarter in diameter and in color from almost white and salmon to many shades of yellow, tinged with green and red and from a light, dark and scarlet red to purple tinged with different shades of yellow. Such instances are frequent over most portions of the state, the plum being common in almost every county, especially along the water courses and bordering the belts of native timber. These plum groves in springtime present a vast sea of flowers whose fragrance is wafted for miles and whose beauty attracts every eye.
The color of the plum is of all shades, various hues of yellow, red and crimson. Some varieties are large, thin-skinned and very delicious. They ripen from July to the last of September. Delicious as some of these plums are, they are much improved by cultivation ..
Wild cherries abound in various parts of the state. Two species of strawberry of fine flavor are in places amazingly abundant. Raspberries, blackberries, hawthorns, June berries, wild currants and especially gooseberries find here a most congenial home. Of the latter there are many varieties.
Two species of grape and an endless number of varieties grow most luxuriantly within our borders. It is not an unusual experience to find timber almost impenetrable in places from the excessive growth of wild grapevines.
There is as much difference in flavor and quality as there is in form.
Mulberries, buffalo berries and elderberries are abundant in places and all can be produced with great ease by cultivation. In south Nebraska the pawpaw is also found. Walnuts, hickory and hazel nuts are common.
STATE INSTITUTIONS
Institute for Feeble Minded, Beatrice.
State Normal School, Chadron.
Boys' Industrial School, Kearney.
Girls' Industrial School, Geneva. .
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Grand Island.
Insane Asylum, Ingleside.
Tubercular Hospital, Kearney. State Normal School, Kearney. Capitol, Lincoln.
Home for Friendless, Lincoln. St. Agnes Academy, Alliance. Bellevue College, Bellevue.
Christian University, Bethany. Dana College, Blair.
Trinity Seminary, Blair. Central College, Central City. Union College (Adventist), College View.
St. Francis Academy, Columbus.
State Agricultural School, Curtis.
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Doane College (Congregational), Crete.
Sacret Heart Academy, Falls City. Franklin Academy, Franklin.
Fremont College, Fremont. Indian Industrial School, Genoa. Grand Island College, Grand Island. Hastings College, Hastings.
Immaculate Conception Academy, Hastings.
Hebron Academy, Hebron.
St. Catherine Academy, Jackson. York College, York. Ursuline Convent, York.
Nebraska Hospital for Lincoln.
Insane,
Orthopedic Hospital, Lincoln.
State Fair, Lincoln.
State Penitentiary, Lincoln.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Mil- . ford.
Industrial Home, Milford.
School for the Blind, Nebraska City.
Insane Asylum, Norfolk.
School for the Deaf, Omaha. State Normal School, Peru.
Fish Hatchery, Valentine. State Normal School, Wayne.
Military Academy ( Episcopal ), Kearney.
Medical College, Lincoln.
Martin Luther Seminary, Lincoln.
Whitten-Carlisle School, Lincoln.
Nelson College, Nelson.
Brownell Hall, Omaha. Creighton University, Omaha.
High School of Commerce, Omaha.
University of Omaha, Omaha.
St. Mary's Academy, O'Neill.
Santee Indian Training School, Santee. Lutheran Seminary, Seward.
Spalding College, Spalding.
Martin Luther Academy, Sterling.
Wesleyan University (Methodist Episcopal), Lincoln.
Luther College, Wahoo.
St. Augustine School for Indian Girls, Winnebago.
LEGAL HOLIDAYS
In the State of Nebraska there are now the following legal holidays : January 1, New Year's Day.
February 22, Washington's Birthday.
April 22, Arbor Day.
May 30, Memorial Day.
July 4, Independence Day.
September (first Monday), Labor Day.
October 12, Columbus Day.
November (by proclamation), Thanksgiving Day.
December 25, Christmas Day.
"BLUE BOOK" PARAGRAPHS
The official Blue Book for Nebraska in 1915 has the following historic paragraphs which should here find permanent place in the annals of Dodge and Washington counties.
The Overland Trails-On April 10, 1830, Sublette and Jackson with ten wagons and one milch cow started from St. Louis for the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming and returned in the fall. In 1832 Nathaniel I. Wyeth went over the same road to Oregon. Their route was up the valley of the Little Blue and Platte rivers and made the beginning of the Oregon trail which for the next forty years was the greatest wagon road the world has seen. Other trails across Nebraska were the Cali- fornia trail, starting from Bellevue or Omaha and traveling up the north bank of Platte; the Denver trail from the Missouri River to Denver and the "Steam Wagon Road" or Nebraska City cut-off from Nebraska
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City up the West Blue to the Platte and on to Denver. These trails were traveled by thousands of wagons every year until the construction of the Pacific Railroad.
The Steamboat Years-The Western Engineer which brought Major Long's party on its exploring expedition in September, 1819, was the first steam vessel to navigate Nebraska waters. Other steamboats took part in the Aricara Expedition in 1823. In 1832 the steamboat Yellow- stone began the first regular annual fur-trading voyages up the Missouri River, stopping at points on the Nebraska coast. From 1850 to 1860 steamboat navigation along the Nebraska shores was at its height, forty or fifty different steamboats being in the Missouri River trade. With the construction of railroads the steamboat business rapidly fell off until now only a few ferry-boats and one or two steamboats a year navigate the Missouri along the Nebraska shores.
Nebraska from 1830 to 1854-Frontier conditions of the most rugged nature ruled in Nebraska between these years. A few steamboats plied the Missouri River between St. Louis and the head of navigation. The overland trails from the Missouri River to the mountains and Pacific coast were traveled by caravans of emigrants and freighting wagons each summer. A little group of Christian missionaries and teachers were laboring among the Nebraska Indians. A few white fur traders and buffalo hunters followed the streams and crossed the prairies. Fort Kearney on the Platte River opposite the present City of Kearney and Bellevue on the Missouri River were the only two white settlements of any size within the present state. The dominant figures in the Nebraska landscape were the buffalo, the coyote, the prairie dog and the Indian.
Nebraska Name and Organization -- The name "Nebraska" first appears in literature about the year 1842. Lieut. John C. Fremont explored the plains and mountains in that year. His reports speak of the "Nebraska River," the Otoe Indian name for the Platte from the Otoe word "Ne-brathka," meaning "Flat Waters." Secretary of War William Wilkins, in his report of November 30, 1844, says: "The Platte or Nebraska River, being the central stream, would very properly furnish a name to the (proposed) territory." The first bill to organize the new Nebraska territory was introduced in Congress December 17, 1844, by Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois. This bill failed to pass. In 1848 Douglas introduced a second bill which also failed. In 1853 a third bill was likewise defeated. In 1854 a fourth Nebraska bill now called the "Nebraska-Kansas bill" was passed after a long and bitter struggle and signed by Franklin Pierce on May 30, 1854. This pro- longed struggle between the slave states and the free states for domi- nance in the Nebraska region led to the organization of the new repub- lican party and the border conflicts which hastened the Civil war.
Nebraska from 1867 to 1875-This is the formative period of the new state. Among its principal events were the relocation of the capital at Lincoln July 29, 1867, the impeachment of Gov. David Butler in 1871, the first period of railway construction, including the completion of the Pacific Railroad to the ocean and the entrance of Burlington and North- western railroads into the region, the hard times and grasshopper period beginning in 1874, the establishment of the State University and Agri- cultural College, February 15, 1869, and the first great wave of home- steading immigrants who settled most of the desirable land in the eastern half of the state and sent adventurous pioneers into the remotest parts.
Farmers' Alliance Origin, etc .- This period (1875 to 1890) is marked by the complete settlement of all parts of this state except a few
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million acres of sand hills; by a rising demand for railroad regulation and political conflicts with the railroad companies ; by the removal of the Sioux, Pawnee, Ponca and Otoe Indians from their old Nebraska homes to new locations in Oklahoma and South Dakota; by continuing conflicts between the Grangers and the cattlemen for possession of the land, in western Nebraska; by the beginnings of the world-wide struggle between organized capital and organized wage-earners exemplified by strikes in the City of Omaha in 1882, and the great Burlington strike of 1888, and finally by the organization of the Farmers' Alliance, its entrance into the political field, first victory in the election of 1890 and the social revolution which has followed.
Nebraska's Capitol Buildings-Nebraska has had four capitol build- ings, two of which were constructed during the territorial period and two during the state period. The first territorial capitol building was constructed in Omaha by Iowa men and by Iowa money. This building was a two-story brick structure and was "thirty-three by seventy-five feet and cost about $3,000." This building was a temporary makeshift to be soon superseded by a more elegant and commodious structure, also located in Omaha, and erected in part by an appropriation of $50,000 from the Federal Government and in part by municipal grant of $60,000 from the City of Omaha. The dimensions of this second territorial capitol building were as follows: "Extreme length 137 feet; extreme width 93 feet; height sixty-two and one-half feet." .
THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDINGS
On page 6, of the Nebraska Blue Book for 1915 is found the following concerning the capitol buildings :
Throughout the territorial period there was constant agitation for the removal of the seat of government from Omaha to some other point in the territory. This purpose was finally effected in the passage of the removal act approved June 14, 1867. The new capital city was to be named Lincoln. July 29, 1867, the new site was chosen. October 10, 1867, plans for the new capitol building were submitted and those of John Morris of Chicago were adopted. The building to be immediately erected was 120 feet in length by 50 in width; height to top of cupola, 120 feet. The cost of this building was $75,817.59, which amount was derived from the sale of lots in Lincoln. This building was so poorly constructed that it began to show signs of decay as early as in 1871. A severe storm in May, 1873, so damaged the capitol that it was necessary to expend $5,897 in repairs. Gov. Silas Garber in his retiring address to the legislature in 1879, said: "For sometime past the outer walls of the capitol have been considered unsafe. *
* the time is not far distant, however, when steps should be taken for the erection of a new State House of adequate proportions." The legislature of 1879 appro- priated $75,000 to begin the construction of the west wing of a new capitol building. The architect was William H. Wilcox and the con- tractor W. H. B. Stout. The total cost for building and furnishing the west wing was $83,178.81. This work was begun in 1879 and finished at the close of 1881. The 1881 legislature appropriated $100,000 for the construction of the east wing of the capitol and retained the same architect. Contractor Stout also built this wing. The total cost of building and furnishing the east wing was $108,247.92. It was legally accepted December 1, 1882.
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For the construction of the central portion of the new capitol the legislature of 1883 and that of 1885 authorized a levy of one-half a mill on the grand assessment roll for the years 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1886. W. H. B. Stout obtained the contract for the erection of the central por- tion of the building at the price of $439,187.25. The 1887 legislature authorized a levy of three-fourths of a mill for the years 1887 and 1888 to complete the capitol building. The same session of the legislature made provision for the sale of all unsold lots and lands in the City of Lincoln belonging to the state for the use of the capitol building fund. This amounted to about $78,870. The total cost of the present capitol building was $691,429.
STATE SEAL
A bill introduced by Isaac Wiles of Cass County, on May 31, and approved June 15, 1867, appropriated $25 to be used by the Secretary of State for the securing of a State Seal which was thus described in the act : "The eastern part of the circle to be represented by a steamboat ascending the Missouri River; the mechanics arts to be represented by a smith with a hammer and anvil; in the foreground agriculture to be represented by a settlers cabin, sheaves of wheat and stalks of growing corn; in the back-ground a train of cars headed towards the Rocky Mountains and on the extreme west the Rocky Mountains to be plainly in view; around the top of this circle to be in capital letters the motto 'Equality before the law' and the circle to be surrounded by the words 'Great Seal of the State of Nebraska, March 1, 1867.'"
NEBRASKA STATE FLOWER
A joint resolution introduced by Representative L. P. Judd of Boone County and approved April 4, 1895, designates the Golden Rod (Solidago serotiana) as the floral emblem of the state.
The following poem on this almost universal wild weed or flower is indeed apropos in this connection :
Oh, Erin has her shamrock green, and England has her rose.
In Bonnie Scotland's misty glen, the purple thistle grows.
The Jung Frau wears the Edelweiss upon her snowy breast,
And France for centuries has borne the lily in her crest.
The Cornflower on the castled Rhine, in azure beauty blooms.
The heavy-headed lotus nods among Egyptian tombs, But in the land of liberty a yellow blossom springs And with its beauty dims the gold upon the head of kings. It brightens every dusty road and every barren field, It needs no care to sow its seed or make its blossom yield. The "Nation's Flower" -- it only grows in Freedom's sacred sod- Aye proudly waves in Freedom's cap the-FEATHERY GOLDEN ROD.
VEGETATION
Concerning the vegetation growing within Nebraska, possibly no more concise statement has been made than that from the pen of Professor Bessey, who had charge of the botany of the University of Nebraska many years. In his writings are found these paragraphs :
The natural vegetation of Nebraska shows it to be emphatically that of the Great Plains, and thus differs much from that of the forests to
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the eastward and the mountains lying westward. To say that the eastern botanist notes the absence of many a familiar plant signifies nothing, since this must always be the case in comparing the flora of one region with that of another. The flora of the plains differs in many respects from that of New York and New England, but the eastern botanist must not unduly magnify the importance to be attached to the fact that he does not find here many of the plants he knew in childhood days. The plains have their own plants which will eventually be as dear to the men and women who gathered them in childhood as are the old favorites to the New Englander transplanted to the West.
A study of the vegetation of Nebraska shows it to possess some remarkably interesting features. The wild plants of the state are very largely immigrants from surrounding regions. By far the greater num- ber have come from the prairies and forests lying adjacent on the east and southeast by creeping up the rivers and streams, or in case of herbaceous plants blowing overland without regard for the water courses. Thus of the 141 trees and shrubs which grow naturally within the state all but about twenty-five have migrated from the east in nearly all cases following the streams. Of these twenty-five four or five may be con- sidered strictly endemic the remainder having come down from the mountains.
A careful study of the plants of the eastern part of the state shows that many species are confined to limited areas in Richardson and the adjoining counties and that the number of species with marked regu- larity as we ascend the Missouri River. The same general law is seen as we ascend the three great rivers-the Republican, Platte and Nio- brara-which cross the state from west to east. On the other hand as we ascend the streams we meet here and there a mountain plant which is wandering eastward down the slope from an elevation of a mile above sea-level in the western counties to less than a thousand feet along the Missouri River. Thus the buffalo berry, the golden currant, low sumach, the dwarf wild cherry and yellow pine have traveled half way or two- thirds across the plains; while the creeping barberry, black cottonwood, Rydberg's cottonwood, mountain maple, mountain mahogany and sage brush barley enter the western counties not extending eastward of the Wyoming line more than a few miles. A few species of wild roses, the sand cherry and perhaps the sand plum seem to belong strictly to the plains.
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