USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. I > Part 62
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The line under process of construction is an extension of the company's present line from Fremont via York and Hastings to Denver. Solid trains will
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be run from Chicago over this great system via Missouri Valley, Blair and Fre- mont to York. This road gives York direct communication and competition with Chicago and will prove a bonanza to York and York County. With the building of this road came an influx of speculators who saw in York a city of importance. Real estate, always in good demand, at once took a boom. The record of transfers compares favorably with towns of three times the population and size. New additions are daily being platted and opened to the public. New investors are constantly coming and taking advantage of the present very reasonable prices at which real estate is being offered. The real estate men of York are doing good work to double the population of the city. Instead of raising the price of lots to inflated boom prices, the prices have been kept down and more territory taken in to supply the enormous demand. This gives new investors an opportunity to come here and make a fortune while onr home men get rich at the same time.
The town is alive with railroad men and their equipments who are making their headquarters here. York contains more energetie "get up and go" business men than other towns of like proportions in Nebraska. Every man in York has the best interests of the city at heart and to its citizens is due the whole credit of the present prosperity of our city. A more extended notice of York's business men, industrial interests, school facilities, church advantages and public buildings is given elsewhere in this issue of the Democrat. To meet the demand of our people for more extended convenience and advantages, several projects are being put forth. First among these may be mentioned a street railway about four miles in length. A company is now being formed to put this enterprise on foot before snow flies. A complete system of city waterworks will be undoubtedly com- ploted before the close of the present year. In connection with the waterworks will be established an electric light plant, to light the city and business houses. A telephone exchange is also under consideration, and will be one of our enterprises as soon as men and money can bring it about. York is located in the center of the world renowned Garden of the West, and is the only city of importance between Lincoln and Grand Island, a distance of 100 miles. All this great territory is tributary to York, and with our increased railroad facilities, York will become the distributing point for all this vast, rich country. Jobbing and wholesale interests will follow the advent of the railroads, and before another year this city will be the axis, about which all this trade will revolve. Men who have the foresight to invest in York real estate now will reap a golden harvest. In addition to our present railroad facilities, may be mentioned the proposed line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacifie. This projected line is an extension of the com- pany's present line at Beatrice, to leave the main line at Fairbury and run its road in a northwesterly direction. crossing York County from southeast to north- west, passing through York. This will be known as the Black Ilills extension, running direct from Fairbury to the Black Hills to tap the great coal fields of that region. Parties of engineers who have been over the route have strongly recommended the line by way of York. and the probabilities are that it will be built within the year. The Missonri Pacific people have also a line in con- templation. up the West Blue River to York, from Lincoln, the present terminus of their road. Representatives of the company have been repeatedly going over the route. and, we are informed, have advised the building of the line. These two lines, if built, will give York six distinct lines of railroad, making York a great
BURLINGTON DEPOT, YORK
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TU.DEN FOUNDATION
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railroad center of the state. In this general connection the Times of this city very truthfully says :
"The two lines seein to be contesting the inviting field and each is eager to get here first. Swarms of railroad graders with their trains and utensils fill the town, and hotels and boarding houses and livery stables are packed to their utmost capacity. Men with a keen eye to business who know a boom when they see it throng the hotels and crowd the real estate offices. A number of new additions have already been laid out, but the demand for lots has not half been met, and there is an eager scramble for the few yet in the market. And yet the boom has only just begun. Prices have advanced but little as yet, and all property is remarkably low. It will undoubtedly double and much of it quadruple in a very short time, as is always the case with real estate under the influence of a western boom. The city is located at the geographical center of the county. The location is most auspicious and the site most beautiful. The business portion of the city is situated in the valley of the Beaver, which at this point extends back about a mile from the stream, and from which the ground rises on all sides by a gentle and easy slope to an eminence varying from twenty to sixty or seventy feet. Upon this elevated ground, overlooking the business portion of the city and con- fronting each other across the valley, are many fine, costly and elegant residences. The selection of this site was. exceedingly judicious, and no place this side of Imperial Rome with her seven hills or the Mystic Zion is more beautiful of location.
"As a result of the boom in York, property in the immediate vicinity of the city has also taken an upward rise. As yet this advance is confined to property adjacent to the city. Farm land in the county has not advanced in proportion with tracts of land lying nearer the business center of the city. Suburban real estate is good property and will quadruple in value before the close of this year. All outlying property is commanding good figures and wealthy capitalists of other cities are here anxiously looking over the field with a view of investing. and a num- ber of important investments have been made by men of means who will improve their property making it more valuable. The number of fine residences which sur- round the city will make all this suburban real estate inside property.
"As an example, in order to show that outside parties have faith in the future of York, we will cite an offer made during the past week, by Omaha parties for a tract of land adjoining the city. The tract in question is an eighty-acre farm for which was offered $22,000 in hard, cold cash, and the offer was refused by the owner. This property was wanted for the purpose of platting and there was money in it at the price offered. The time for investment, to make a fortune is now, and the man in the East who is content with an income of from six to ten per cent, should take the first train for York and make an investment and double his money within sixty days. There are a number of tracts of land adjoining the city which contain about forty acres each which can be purchased at very reasonable figures. These tracts if platted and put on the market would bring fabulous returns to the plucky investor. The boom which has now struck York is not of the mining excitement class wherein fortunes are made and lost in a day. Our boom is a solid and substantial rise in real estate and property values brought about by the known importance of York as a railroad and business center. Investments made now are safe, there being no danger whatever of a collapse or
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set-back in prices. The prospects of the town are all the other way. Property of all kinds will increase in value month by month and year by year as York grows in size, importance and prosperity. There is nothing to be lost, but mil- lions to be made, by prompt and judicious investment in any of the realty in York or vicinity. We do not attempt to write a history of York. Our aim is to do partial justice to the present natural and commercial advantages of our city during our day and generation, and leave the history to other men and other times."
STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM
Within the past four years, since 1916, a very extensive system of federal and state highway road work has been started in Nebraska. This is designed, within a decade or so, to honeycomb the entire state with a network of solid. well-equipped and continually maintained roads, though a complete system of hard surfaced roads will no doubt be many years arriving in Nebraska. But York County has not been amiss or lagging in this wonderful enterprise. She was one of the first counties in the state to employ a competent engineer, from outside of her borders, to take charge of this work. When her first engineer, Glenn I. Voyles, left, his brother Fred Voyles, took the place, and a report of the work done in 1920 appears a few paragraphs hence in this section of the highway discussion. The first great enterprise in modern highway work in this county was the arrival of the S. Y. A., the launching of which, in 1917, is herein described.
We are advised by Secretary Smith of the Commercial Club, says the Seward Independent-Democrat, that the S. Y. A. short cut application has been allowed by the state highway commissioner and the new highway is an accomplished fact. It is not likely that the majority of our citizens appreciate the permanent benefit this will bring to our community and country. When trails were laid out across the great American desert, they laid out the Mormon trail, along the Platte, the Oregon trail, that ran to the south of us: but when the cut-off trail. on which the Deepwell and other ranches were located in Hamilton County was established. it soon became recognized as the shortest and best of the bunch. This will prove the case when the S. Y. A. is well advertised and its merits properly presented to automobilists.
The S. Y. A. connects the O. L. D. with the Lincoln highway at Grand Island. It runs through three of the best counties in the state and will be kept in a high state of efficiency to which the natural lay of the land and the courses of streams will greatly contribute. The distance is shortened more than seven miles. As we announced last week, green and yellow will be the colors, and in the other counties commissioners and supervisors have taken steps to give it special attention.
In Hamilton County one of our big tractor outfits is already working between this city and the Platte River and it is expected to put the road in the best of condition before the tourist season opens. A movement is on foot to divert the travel to the other Grand Island road until the regular route is ready for travel.
It is estimated that a fund of $200 will be required to paint the poles and provide about ten thousand folders advertising the merits of the route. These will be sent to all places frequented by tourists from Des Moines to Denver, especially along the line of towns where travel will be likely to be initiated east and west.
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YORK COUNTY ROADS
Engineer Fred Voyles
We have our road system in fair shape for winter traffic, considering the previous snow and condition of road-bed at the time this snow fell. The ground was not frozen, and it was rather difficult to remove the snow from the road sur- face. At present, our road surface is smooth and frozen and we have no difficulty in pushing the snow from the surface. We are somewhat elated at the success of our snow plow. We push through drifts 3 and 4 feet deep on second speed and cut a swath 8 feet wide and within 3 inches of the ground. We came back through and moved the snow 4 feet farther toward the ditch. The secret of the success of this plow is the fact that it raises the snow above the drifts and prevents swedging. a common cause for failure in previously designed snow plows, used on public highways. Mr. C. R. Thomas, our bridge foreman, has the exclusive right to tell you how this plow is made and operated. He is very busy now building a pile driver to be used in the construction of our bridges the coming season.
Patrolmen, Harry Seng and Lee Gillan drove a couple of F. W. D. trucks ont from Lincoln, last week. After they had finished their patrol they assisted the other patrols with their roads getting them ready for the snow which came this week.
Harry Seng had the misfortune of getting his hand caught between the rear end of a truck and the maintainer tongue at the north end of Lincoln Avenue, Saturday evening. The truck was moved ahead, releasing Harry. He will be off dnty a few days.
We were down over some of the Fillmore and Clay County roads, Sunday. The O. L. D. has some drifts 30 to 40 rods long where we were compelled to wait at the ends when we met other cars.
We plan on having a truck patrol on each division of the state roads, leading out of York, the coming season. We do not presume that all their time will be needed on these state roads. and expect to devote the surplus time on the county system.
The York Republican at the end of 1920 summed up the progress made and the situation of state highway work in York County :
"It is comforting to note from the report of the state engineer that the funds for road work in this county have not been expended by half and that 1921 will be as busy a year in road building as 1920 if not busier. The November bulletin of the state department of public works shows that the total fund avail- able for state and federal road work in York County in 1920 is $142,896.85. Only $56,045.79 of that amount has been expended, leaving yet available for road work on state and federal aid roads of the county the sum of $86,851.06.
"The first part of the fund already expended has been used on the Meridian and Pershing highways, the designated federal aid roads of the county. Since these roadways have been put in good condition it would appear that the next step, unless hard surfacing is to be undertaken, is to designate other roads in the county for federal aid upon which to expend the balance due the county for road improvement.
"Then too there is some prospect that the fund available for county road work will be augmented by changes in the law which will be asked from the forthcoming 0
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session of the Legislature. Under the present statute twenty-tive per cent of the auto license fund goes to the state. Many who have given study to the matter are of the opinion that the state is taking too large a proportion, that since the money is derived from York County property owners it should be expended on York County roads, a logical view if there is sufficient money obtainable elsewhere for exclusive state roads.
"The Republican ventures to say that no money expended through state chan- nels has ever brought a higher degree of satisfaction than that spent for road improvements. Better roads are profitable alike to farmer and townsman. They afford pleasure for pleasure seekers and profit for those who need to use the roads for business. The character of the soil in this section is such that splendid roads ean be made with small outlay and they can be maintained with a minimum of cost. Better roads lend dollars to land values, promote local trade and allow more entertainment and social intercourse.
"A fine record of improvement has been made in 1920. The Pershing highway and Meridian road are models of dirt roads. Autoists from near and far have pronounced them the equal of any roads anywhere. A few more miles like them making trunk lines through the county would give this county a road system usable in most any sort of weather,
"The patrol system on the two principal highways has proven to be the most satisfactory as well as the most economical method of keeping the road surfaces in good condition."
AUTOMOBILES UPON HIGHWAYS
There can be but little doubt but that the phenomenal increase in the use of the automobile within the past decade has hastened the progress of the gravel-surfaced and well-finished highway. Until the farmer began to go to town at all times during the week in his automobile, he did not worry about the effect of the road upon horseflesh or metal buggy tires, but its effect upon the gas bill and rubber tires of the automobile are readily comprehended. The automobile has contributed many wonderful influences to the ease, speed, comfort and convenience of the life of the present generation, but like many other goods things, is oftentimes in its use carried to an extreme. An address given during the period of liquidation and financial depression that ensued in 1920-21 for a short time, after the wonderful era of prosperity and high-living of 1919 and 1920 came to a sudden stop in October, 1920, illustrates somewhat this phase of the influence of the automobile also: "In an address delivered before a local elub Chas. A. McCloud gave some facts and figures which were very interesting in connection with his remarks. Mr. McCloud dressed up some simple statistics in a very entertaining fashion. Some one doubtless it was Bill Nve-said there are three kinds of lies-eom- mon lies, damned lies, and statistics. The facts which Mr. MeCloud presented did not come under any of these categories, so we give them in part.
"The address was an encouragement of thrift and saving. The speaker attempted to find some reasons for falling savings accounts and red bank balances. He suc- ceeded admirably. There are owned in York County 3.850 automobiles. The number of vars is great enough so that if there were a sudden disaster or invasion by reason of which the inhabitants of the county were compelled to flee in haste
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there would be sufficient automobiles to accommodate all and none would be crowded. In fact, there would be only 4.7 persons to a machine. Besides that there would be 150 trucks to carry all necessary baggage and ten trailers at least for small belong- ings.
"These self same cars consume annually 500,000 gallons of gasoline and 40,000 gallons of lubricating oil. The depreciation annually for each machine is con- servatively estimated at $300 and the expense of repairs and upkeep $100 more. So that taking the totals and adding them together the total of operating cost and expense in automobiles in York County alone is $1,976,000 annually.
"Add to that total sum the time which people lose from their business in riding around and the other expenses which are the natural and inevitable accompaniment of auto riding and a staggering total is reached.
"It does not take the practiced eye of a banker to realize that the automobile has taken a terrific toll of our finances and knocked the word thrift clear out of the home curriculum in hundreds of instances in York County particularly and the nation in general. It is clear enough to any citizen who has even a stray touch on the public pulse."
CHAPTER X
AGRICULTURE IN YORK COUNTY
AGRICULTURE-REVIEW IN 1887-THE GRASSHOPPERS-"WIIEN THE GRASSHOPPERS CAME. "MIRS. D. T. MOORE-WORK WAS THE PASSWORD-THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE- LIVE STOCK INTERESTS-OTIIER ACTIVITIES-AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS-1920 FAIR-POULTRY SHOW-STATISTICS OF PRODUCTION. 1914-1915-1916-1917-1918- MODERN FARM LIFE-FARM ORGANIZATIONS-YORK COUNTY COMMUNITY ASSO- CIATION.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the great, predominating and important business of York County. It is in the heart of one of the richest agricultural realms in the land. With the rich, black loess soil that predominates here, man has not yet been able to estimate the wealth-producing qualities of this region.
The limitations of a chapter on the history of agriculture in York County would be the sky. But the effort will only be made to gather, in this short chapter. data of various characters tending to show the difficulties, progress, variety and accomplishments of the agricultural interests of the county.
The gradual settlement of the county has been very minutely followed in the preceding chapters; the hardships, trials. tribulations, disappointments, and many of the joys, successes and happiness of the early settlers have been more adequately portrayed in their own words than anyone of a succeeding generation could hope to cope with. But to follow somewhat the statistical progress. to take the various perspectives illustrating the many manifestations in stock shows, corn shows, county fairs, institutes, alliances, and other forms of joint activity used during the various decades to bring out the co-operative spirit that has marked York County people, will remain for this present chapter.
It is hoped that a fleeting glimpse may be given of the far cry from the dugout, the soddy, the log house, the small. square frame cottage, to the fine mansions, with practically every modern convenience: from the footpath, the horseback journey, the surrey and family plug, to the crude automobile of twenty years ago, and down to the fleeting palace ears that carry the farmer to the city within a few minutes of the time the desire to go to town enters his mind; from the dingy lantern to the modern "electric power plant on wheels"; from the hard pumping or waiting for the windmill to modern electric pumping plants-all of these changes are more than matters of passing note, though we can only flash them as if on a motion picture screen.
First, a review of agricultural York County, prepared in 1887, will tend to link up the stories of the pioneers in former chapters with the colder, harder facts about to be reached.
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York County and Nebraska is just now exciting considerable interest through- out the East. Eastern renters and small tenant farmers who contemplate making a change of location should read the following well written and accurate account of the natural and other advantages of York County, which we are permitted to use by courtesy of the proprietors of the York Times :
Thirty successive years of successful cultivation and thirty abundant harvests have demonstrated that the soil and climate of Nebraska are peculiarly adapted to agriculture, and have dispelled all misgivings and doubts that may ever have existed in regard to the future of this great commonwealth. Nebraska is no longer an experiment. Its resources are as fully understood and its soil and climate as fully tested as those of any state in the Union. We know what she is and can safely and with certainty foretell her future. The vast tide of immigration which has been increasing in volume each year, until our state has a population of more than a million people, was never as great as it will be this year. Men of education, wealth and refinement; men of business and of energy and wisdom are coming to make a permanent home in the pleasantest and more favored portion of the West, and to make a fortune where wealth is easily and quickly acquired. Are you one of this number? Are you dissatisfied with your present location or occupation, and are you thinking of seeking another home? Have you decided to go West and look at the country and see for yourself whether or not the stories told of this fertile country and its magie cities are true ? If so, this paper is especially intended for you, and will repay you well for reading, for it tells you of the very best country and the pleasantest and more prosperous city of its size in all the trans-Missouri country. No one should decide upon a location in the West without visiting York. Thousands of men have traveled the state over, and we have yet to find the first man who will say that he has seen a better county or a more enterprising and prosperous eity than this within the state.
York County is situated in the center of the most beautiful, and, all things considered, the best agricultural distriet to be found in the fertile and far-famed "West."
Measuring from the center of the county, it is 921/2 miles to the Missouri River, and from the same point it is 60 miles to the Kansas state line, while the Platte River is 33 miles north and 36 miles west in a direct line.
The extreme southeast portion of the county is as near the center of the celebrated South Platte country as it is possible to locate the center of a section of country, the extent of which is so indefinite. The county is 24 miles square and contains 575 sections, or 368,640 acres of land. Upon the "divides," or plateaus, the surface of the country is very level and smooth, but in most plaees slightly undulating, and as one travels toward the streams he finds the surface traversed by ravines, or "draws." Very few of these depressions are so deep or abrupt as to forbid cultivation. A wagon, plow or reaper can be driven along the sides and bottoms of nearly all of them. They are a natural shelter for stock and produce the very best hay, and by many are considered an advantage rather than otherwise.
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