History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 33

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011

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All the type, except the steeper slopes in the more eroded areas, is under cultivation.

The soil withstands drought fairly well, and in some respects is more desirable than the more level types of the bottom land and

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terrace. Wheat is the principal crop, followed by corn, alfalfa, and oats. Many farmers grow wheat continuously on the same fields for periods of 4 to 9 years. Small patches of kafir, sorghum, and millet are occasionally grown. Orchard fruits seem to bear a little better than on the bottom-land and terrace solis. The yields of all crops very widely with the season, the state of improvement of the soil, and the care used in cultivation. The average yield of wheat is probably about 18 bushels per acre, of corn 25 bushels, of oats 35 bushels, and of alfalfa about 3 tons.

COLBY SANDY LOAM (7,360 acres, 2.2%)

The surface soil of the Colby sandy loam consists of a brown, loose sandy loam, 10 to 15 inches deep. It is dark in color and mode- rately high in organic matter to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, below which it is light brown or yellowish brown. The subsoil is a yellow, friable sandy loam. The surface material is generally finer in texture than the subsoil. It varies from a loamy sand to a dark-colored soil closely approaching a loam or fine sandy loam. In places there has been a slight con- centration of clay in the upper subsoil, form- ing a layer, 6 or 8 inches in thinkness, of friable sandy clay or clay loam. Layers of incoherent, medium, and coarse sand are oc- casionally encountered in the subsoil.

The Colby sandy loam occurs in the higher uplands in the southeastern part of the county. It is encountered mainly in one large area extending from the Hamilton County line to a point about 4 miles southwest of Doniphan. Two very small strips representing an eroded phase occur on the slopes of the bluffs facing the Platte Valley in South Platte township. In general the surface of the type is nearly level, but in places it is made slightly undulat- ing by hummocks or knolls a few feet high. Drainage is everywhere thorough, but there are no slopes steep enough to be seriously eroded, except in the two small areas on the bluff slopes in South Platte township.

This soil is productive, and practically all of it is under cultivation. Wheat, corn, oats,

and alfalfa are the principal crops. The soil is looser and more easily worked and main- tained in good tilth than the upland silt loams. It is probably not quite as well suited to wheat as are the silt loams, but it withstands drought moderately well and produces on the average about the same yields of corn. It has practically the same agricultural value as the Colby fine sandy loam.

VALENTINE SAND (28,800 acres, 8.5%)

The Valentine sand consists of a light- brownish or yellowish, loose sand which shows very little difference in texture or color to a depth of 3 feet. To a depth of about 7 inches the soil is light brown in color and contains a small amount of organic matter. The type consists almost entirely of about equal parts of medium and fine sand, with no coarser particles and barely sufficient silt and clay to render the mass slightly coher- ent when wet. The sand deposits from which the soil is derived have a thickness of 5 to 25 feet. The Valentine sand is locally known as "sand hills."

This type occupies a total area of 45 square miles. It occurs principally in the northern part of the county, directly north of Cairo and Abbott, in South Loup, Mayfield, and Prairie Creek townships. An area of about 4 square miles is mapped south of the Platte River in Martin township. The billowy, undulating surface has been formed by the shifting and heaping up of sand by the wind, and is char- acterized by high, rounded hills or ridges. The type represents quiescent dunes, with a maze of lower wind-formed knolls. There are no well-defined drainage lines, most of the rainfall being absorbed by the porous, deep sand. The hills range from 75 to 150 feet above the first bottoms of the Platte and Loup rivers.

This land is used mainly for pasture. Prob- ably not more than ten per cent of it is under cultivation. It supports an excellent growth of native grasses and has a carrying capacity of 30 to 40 cattle to the quarter section. The pasture season ordinarily extends from April

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to October. The land is used as summer pas- oats. Alfalfa makes a strong growth, but the ture for stock which is fed on farms during stand is rarely as thick as on the Hall silt loam and very fine sandy loam and similar types. This soil is not as durable and productive as the heavier soils of the terrace, but it is easily plowed and tilled, has adequate drainage even in wet years, and withstands drought quite as well as the heavier types. It is, however, subject to shifting by the wind, and injury to young plants frequently results. Coarse ma- nure and straw are applied, where available, to check the tendency to drift, and corn usually deeply listed. . the winter. Some of the more favorable situ- ated land is farmed. Corn and wheat are fair- ly successful with careful cultivation and yearly change of crops. Alfalfa seems to do well, but considerable difficulty is encountered in getting a good stand. The soil seems to withstand drought as well as the heavier types, but it is less durable and productive. The surface soil in many places is drifted by the wind. Coarse manure and straw spread over the land have generally been found beneficial in preventing excessive drifting. Corn usually is deeply listed.

Land of this type most suitable for farming has had a selling price of $35 to $40 an acre. Pasture land has been selling for about $20 an acre.

O'NEILL SAND (7,808 acres, 2.3% )

The O'Neill sand consists of a light brown, loose, loamy medium sand which shows little change in texture to a depth of 3 feet. The soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches is somewhat darker than below, as a result of the incorpor- ation of organic matter, and the subsurface sand is brownish yellow or grayish. In a few places on the terrace south of the Platte River the type in some narrow strips contains coarse sand and fine gravel in the subsoil.

The principal areas of O'Neill sand are mapped on the terrace directly west and south- west of Grand Island. Important develop- ments occur a few miles southwest of Wood River, and on the terrace south of the Platte. The total area of the type is 12.2 square miles. Its surface is undulating, characterized by knolls or hummocks 5 to 15 feet high. These appear to be in part accumulations by wind action. Drainage is good, most of the rain- fall being rapidly absorbed by the porous sand.

The greater part of this type is in farms. The yields of corn, ordinarily 18 to 20 bushels per acre, probably average less than on the heavier terrace soils, and the type does not seem to be quite so well suited to wheat and

The selling value of this land is considerably lower than that of the associated soils, such as the fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, and Hall silt loam.

O'NEILL FINE SAND (4,352 acres, 1.3% )

The O'Neill fine sand differs from the O'Neill sand mainly in its finer texture. The surface soil has a fair content of organic matter to a depth of 6 to 10 inches, and is loamy in structure. In many places the sub- soil sand seems to be slightly coarser than the surface material.

This type occurs in a large number of small, irregular areas, mainly north and northwest of Grand Island, and in the Loup River Valley in the northwest corner of the county. It has a total area of 6.8 square miles. Practically all the type is under cultivation. Fair yields of corn, wheat, and alfalfa are obtained. The type on the whole is probably a little more productive than the O'Neill sand.

O'NEILL LOAM (9,856 acres, 2.9% )

The O'Neill loam consists of a dark-brown- ish, fine-textured loam, 12 to 15 inches deep grading into a light-brown sandy loam which changes to a yellowish or grayish, loose coarse sand, containing some fine gravel, at any depth from 20 to 36 inches. The substratam to a depth of 10 to 20 feet consists of grayish or yellowish sand and gravel. In some places the surface soil closely approaches the Hall sandy loam in texture. Digitized by Google

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

The O'Neill loam is confined mainly to the border of the Grand Island terrace. It ex- tends in disconnected areas across the county. The principal area is in the vicinity of Grand Island. The surface of this soil varies from nearly level to slightly uneven and hummocky. There is sufficient slope for adequate surface drainage and the porous, sandy subsiol and substratum rapidly absorb moisture. The greater part of the type, with the exception of the area occupied by the city of Grand Island, is under cultivation to the staple crops of corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa. Its average productiveness is somewhat lower than that of the types having heavier and more retentive subsoils. Corn frequently "fires" and gives greatly decreased yields in dry years. Sweet corn is grown in small fields, and some truck- ing is carried on near Grand Island. Millet, sorghum, and kafir are grown in small patches for forage. Yields of corn vary form 10 to 30 bushels per acre, depending upon the rain- fall Wheat yields 15 to 18 bushels per acre and oats 20 to 30 bushels. The surface soil is loose and mellow, and can be worked under a wide range of moisture conditions.

The selling price of farm land of this type is generally lower than that of the associated heavier soils to the north, such as the Hall fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, and silt loam.

LAMOURE FINE SANDY LOAM (10,368 acres, 3.1%)

The Lamoure fine sandy loam consists of a very fine dark brown or black, loose fine sandy loam, with the average thickness of about 12 inches, overlying a subsoil or dark grayish, moderately compact fine sandy clay which becomes somewhat coarser and more friable with depth, changing at 3 or 4 feet to a loose, porous, medium and coarse sand. The essential difference between this type and the Cass fine sandy loam is the heavier character of the subsoil to a depth of 3 or 4 feet The surface soil generally has a fairly high content of organic matter and both soil and subsoil effervesce with acid, indicating a rather high content of lime. The depth to which the

dark-colored fine sandy loam extends ranges from 10 to 20 inches. There are also minor variations in texture, some of the included soil consisting of very fine sandy loam and fine loam.

The Lamoure fine sandy loam occurs in nar- row strips conforming in direction to the general northeast course of the present and old channels of the Platte River. It is rather widely distributed throughout the whole ex- tent of the first bottoms. It has a nearly level surface, but on the whole lies at a slightly higher elevation than the associated Cass fine sandy loam and clay loam, and has somewhat better drainage. The ground-water level in years of normal rainfall is about 5 feet below the surface.

The Lamoure fine sandy loam is considered one of the more valuable bottom-land soils for general farming. About 90 per cent of it is under cultivation. Corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa are the principal crops, with corn far in the lead. Most of the corn and hay pro- duced is used to feed cattle, hogs and sheep. This type, like the other bottom-land soils, seems to be less well adapted to wheat than the terrace and upland soils, and the grain is 8 to 10 days later in maturing. Where a fairly good stand of alfalfa is obtained the seasonal yield is about 3 tons per acre.

The soil is easily plowed and maintained in good tilth. It is usually plowed to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Checking and level cultiva- tion are practiced to a much greater extent than listing in the growing of corn. Over the greater part of the type land has values of an average of about $100 an acre.

LAMOURE SILT LOAM (5,312 acres, 1.6%)

The surface soil of the Lamoure silt loam is typically a very dark brown or slaty-black, mellow silt loam, 8 to 12 inches deep. The upper subsoil is a moderately compact, brown- ish silty clay loam or clay, and is underlain at 29 to 30 inches by a yellowish or grayish, more friable, very fine sandy loam. Porous, medium or coarse sand is encountered at depths of 31/2 to 5 feet, The soil is high in

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organic matter and appears black when wet. The type is generally calcareous to a depth of 3 feet.

The Lamoure silt loam is confined to the first bottoms of the Platte River, where it occurs north of the Middle Channel in Alda, Wood River, and Jackson townships. Like the other soils of the first bottoms, it occurs in compara- tively narrow strips. The land is nearly level, but water rarely stands on the surface for any considerable time, and most of the areas are sufficiently well drained for successful farm- ing.

Practically all the type is under cultivation. It is regarded as one of the more durable and productive soils for general farming. The average yield of corn for a period of 8 or 10 years is about 30 bushels per acre, of wheat 20 bushels, and of alfalfa, for all cuttings, about 3 or 31/2 tons. The soil under ordinary moisture conditions is loose and mellow, and easily plowed and cultivated. It is slightly sticky when wet and tends to clod, but the clods subsequently break down readily. The land has been valued at about $100 an acre.

LAMOURE CLAY LOAM (4,544 acres, 1.3%)

The Lamoure clay loam consists of a black, slightly plastic, heavy clay loam, grading at 5 to 10 inches into a dark-drab or slaty-black, Heavy, compact clay which becomes lighter colored with depth and changes to sticky sandy clay or sandy loam at about 3 feet. A ubstratum of coarse, porous sand is encount- red at depths ranging from 3 to 41/2feet.

The Lamoure clay loam occupes low-lying, evel situations and narrow depressions in the . rst bottoms along the Platte River. It occurs n several small, widely separated areas, prin- ipally in Washington township east and south f Grand Island.

Much of the land is poorly drained, and ne growth of crops is frequently retarded by xcessive moisture. The soil, however, is urable and productive, and the greater part f the type is under cultivation. Corn is most uccessful, yielding 25 to 30 bushels per acre xcept in wet years. On account of its

slightly plastic and sticky nature, the soil when wet is difficult to plow, and tends to clod.

GANNETT LOAMY SAND (4,992 acres, 1.5%)

The surface soil of Gannett loamy sand is a dark-gray or black sand, having a small content of silt and containing sufficient organic matter to produce a loamy structure. At depths ranging from 6 to 12 inches there is a subsurface layer of light-gray or pale yel- lowish, loose sand. This is underlain by a darker colored, generally bluish-gray, more compact sand, which shows splotches of brownish iorn oxide. The lower subsoil is in places slightly calcerous. It becomes moderately hard when dry, although it con- tains evry little silt or clay. Over much of the type as mapped the soil is a loamy fine sand. This is included with the predominant loamy sand type owing to the fact that the finer textural distinctions are of little impor- tance in mapping of soil of this character.

The Gannett loamy sand occurs in several small irregular areas in the northern part of the county, in Lake, Prairie Creek, and South Loup townships. It has a total extent of 7.8 square miles. The type has been formed in circular, valleylike depressions, inclosed by or adjacent to hills of Valentine sand. The surface is nearly flat or slightly uneven. The type receives the seepage from the sand hills and is for the most part without adequate natural drainage.

This soil supports a heavy growth of coarse native grasses and is valued cheifly for the production of wild hay and pasturage. A small proportion of it has been placed under cultivation to the staple crops. Yields are comparatively low even in favorable years. Alfalfa is not successful on account of the poor drainage and the shallow depth to ground water. The land has about the same selling price as areas of the associated Valentine sand.

GANNETT SANDY LOAM

The Gannett sandy loam cansists of a dark- grayish, loamy medium sand, 6 to 10 inches deep, underlain by a pale yellow, less coherent

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medium sand which extends to a depth of 15 to 20 inches and gives way to a lower subsoil of dark-drab, stiff, plastic, rather im- pervious clay. This in several places was ob- served to be calcareous. There is a rather abrupt change in texture from the sand of the surface soil to the clay of the subsoil. The substratum at depths of 3 to 5 feet is a friable yellow silt. In the wetter situations the sur- face soil contains a higher percentage of or- ganic matter and is black in color. As mapped, the type includes developments of loamy sand and fine sand soils.

The Gannett sandy loam occurs in nearly level, poorly-drained areas and small depres- sions in the uplands in the northern uart of the county, principally in Prairie Creek town- ship. Drainage for the most part is poor. In topography and relation to the hills of Valentine sand the type is similar to the Ganneett loamy sand. It differs chiefly in hav- ing a clay subsoil at depths of 3 feet or less.

This type is of minor agricultural impor- tance Its chief disadvantage is poor drainage. It supports a heavy growth of native grasses, and affords good pasturage and fair yields of hay. Probably a little more than one-half of the type is farmed, corn, oats, and wheat be- ing the principal crops. Occasionally good yields are obtained, but the average produc- tiveness is much lower than that of terrace soils to the south and east, such as the fine sandy loam and very fine sandy loam of the Hall series.

SUMMARY

Hall County is situated in the south-central part of Nebraska. It lies on the eastern slope of the Great Plains region. The surface is nearly level or slightly uneven and greatly un- dulating, without any marked relief. The elevation of the county ranges from about 1,820 feet to 2,100 feet above sea level. The county covers an area of 528 square miles, or 337,920 acres.

The mean annual rainfall is 29.45 inches. The precipitation is highest from May to August. Summer droughts are frequent, and crops are occasionally injured. There is a normal growing season of 163 days.

Agriculture in Hall County consists mainly of grain growing with the raising and feeding of live stock as an important coordinate indus- try. Wheat occupies the greatest acreage and is the principal income crop. Corn occupies an acreage only slightly smaller than that of wheat, and is the principal subsistence crop. Alfalfa and oats rank next in acreage. Cattle, hogs, and sheep are fed for market.

In 1910, about 95 per cent of the area of the county was in farms, and 87.3 per cent of the farm land was improved. There were 1,627 farms in the county, with an average size of 196.5 acreas, Over 56 per cent of the farms were operated by owners. The average value of all property per farm in that year was $17,682. The average selling value of farm land has been about $100 an acre until recently.

Uplands comprise 31.6 per cent of the total area of Hall County. The upland soils are derived principally from a Pleistocene forma- tion consisting of yellow silt, known as Plains Loess. First-bottom, alluvial soils bordering the Platte River cover 22.5 per cent of the total area of the county, and terrace or second- bottom soils practically all the remainder. There is a small aggregate area of terrace and first-bottom land along the South Loup River. in the extreme northwestern part of the county. Silt loam soils predominate throughout the county.

The predominating upland soils, derived from the yellow silt and sand of the "loess." are classed in the Grundy, Marshall, and Colby series. A considerable area of soil is derived from the wind-blown deposits, and is classed in the Valentine series. The Scott series is mapped in poorly drained depressions in the Grundy and Marshall soils, and the Gannett series in similar situations in the Valentine soils.

The Grundy, Marshall, and Colby soils are highly productive and well adapted to general farming, and practically their entire area is under cultivation to the staple crops. The Scott soil is of little of no agricultural impor- tance. The Valentine soil supports a good growth of native grasses, and is used mainly

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for grazing. The Gannett soils are naturally poorly drained. They are used mainly as pasture land and for wild-hay production, but part of the area is cultivated.

The terrace soils are classed in the Judson, O'Neill, and Hall series. These soils on the whole are very desirable general-farming types, and they are largely under cultivation. They have in general a mellow, loamy struc- ture, are well drained without being subject to erosion, and have a smooth surface well suited to the use of labor-saving machinery. Some of the areas of looser soil are subject to drifting in places, and in some of the lower lying situations the drainage at times is defi- cient.

The first-bottom soils are classed in the Cass and Lamoure series. The Cass fine sand is somewhat droughty and is not an im- portant agricultural soil but the Cass sandy loam is largely under cultivation. About 60 per cent of the Cass fine sandy loam is culti- vated, the remainder being poorly drained. The Cass clay loam is in general poorly drained and it is used mainly for pasture. The Lamoure soils are desirable and productive types, largely under cultivation.

RAPID RISE IN VALUES IN 1919

It will be noted that price valuations throughout the present chapter have been kept in the past tense. This is due to the rapid rise in land values which occured within a few months in 1919. Land values in Iowa have risen until farms there are selling in the summer of 1919 up to $500 an acre; in eastern Nebraska, sales from $200 to $400 are becom- ing quite frequent, and the following tabula- tion is given here to show the effect this rise has had in Hall County land values. Land heretofore valued around $100 an acre is sell- ing in August, 1919, at $175 to $200 an acre. Land formerly classed from $50 to $65 an acre is selling for $100 an acre, and so the proportion holds all the way along the line except the cheaper lands under $50, have not sustained a proportionately high rise.

A number of farm sales in which well known farmers of Hall County have disposed

of their holdings have taken place recently. The prices paid for the farms aggregate more than $200,000.

John Rushen has sold his farm near Cairo after living there more than 25 years. The farm has an acreage of 120 acres and sold at $200 an acre or a total of $24,000. It was bought by Elmer H. Vanhoosen of Halsey, Nebraska, who will get possession March 1, 1920. He will make his home on this farm, it is reported from Cairo.

Mr Rushen has moved to Cairo and has purchased the George Brundage and the old Grandma Stoeger property, the two being ad- joining. The price paid for the two was about $3,000 in all.

The J. E. Cox farm near Cairo has been sold to W. A. Crabtree who gets possession March 1. It has 160 acres and the price was $175 an acre or $28,000. The place is farmed now by Link Omar. Mr Cox recently dis- posed of his holdings at Cairo and moved to Lincoln. It is understood he has retained farming interests in the western part of the state.

Mr. Crabtree has sold his farm northwest of Grand Island. It comprises an entire sec- tion which is known as a "short" section and contains 618 acres. He received $60 an acre for it or $37,000. It was bought by James McMillan who has been engaged in the mer- cantile business in the western part of the state but who, it is said, has been conducting this business from his home in Grand Island. Mr. McMillan is to get this farm March 1. It has been owned by Crabtree for ten years.

Dr. E. A. Watson of Grand Island has pur- chased two farms. One is the old McKee place five miles from Wood River and the other is the Westphal place ten miles west of Grand Island. He is to get possession of both places March 1. Both are 160 acre farms and the price paid by the doctor is understood to have been around $160 an acre, a total of about $51,000.

Herman Tagge who has been farming near Abbott for 28 years has sold his 400 acres to C. B. Freeman, real estate man of Grand Island.

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The price was $155 an acre and Mr. Freeman is to get possession March 1. Mr. Tagge has been raising some blooded stock of high rat- ing in the county, Angus and Jerseys, and will have a sale of these in the fall. He plans to retain some of the Jerseys. The total sum received for his place was $62,000.

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 33

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 1011

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011