PART XIV

Nebraska Facts

THAN IN NEBRASKA

There may be homes as dear,
But none are dearer,

There may be skies as clear,
But none are clearer,
Than in Nebraska.

There may be days as rare,
But none are rarer,

There may be lands as fair,
But none are fairer,
Than in Nebraska.

There may be skies as blue,
But none are bluer,

There may be hearts as true,

But none are truer,

Than in Nebraska.

-William Reed Dunroy.

NEBRASKA

In another part of this report we stated that matter not pertaining strictly to the work of this department would be eliminated. However, we are impelled to inject into the report at this point some facts about Nebraska which every loyal Nebraskan should know, and knowing should cherish. A pardonable pride in the achievements of our fair state leads us to take a side a trip from the real intent of this volume, and tell of some of the things for which Nebraska is noted.

We are proud of the great advance made in all lines of business activity. Great manufacturing industries have risen which may yet contend with agriculture for pre-eminence of occupation. Her fields have yielded a rich harvest and everywhere is contentment and happiness. Once designated on the map as the Great American Desert, Nebraska now is considered one of the greatest agricultural states in the Union. There are men in Nebraska whose personal history for many years marks the development of Nebraska from a desert to a garden. Nebraska, the land of opportunity; with its broad fields, smiling orchards and rolling prairies. On its eastern border the Missouri River wended its way for centuries with none but the savage ear of the Indian and wild animal to catch the sound of greatness in the music of its waters. On the west the pine trees called unheeded to the vitalizing forces of civilization. From the north the icy breath of the North Wind swept unchecked by the will of man. From the south the amorous breezes of a warmer clime pointed in vain to this vast expanse of territory pregnant with riches.

These men were here before Nebraska became a state; when the few settlers there were lived in constant dread of the ravags of th wolf and coyots upon his live stock. But behold for yourselves the transformation. The Indian reluctantly, but surely, has given way before the relentless industry of the white man. His war whoop has given its last sepulchral utterance and in its stead is heard the clear metallic ring of the hammer of industry, and the busy chug of the locomotive. The scalping knife no longer tastes the blood of brave men. The melancholy tread of the buffalo no longer beats upon the bosom of the prairies. Thousands of homes enjoying the blessings of enterprise and thrift have crowded out the lair of the wolf who skulks off saddened at the loss of his empire. Myriads of cattle and sheep graze contented and happy in our vast pasture lands.

You do not have to pack your grip and go to distant lands to find beautiful scenery; Nebraska is full of it and running over. The bluffs and pinnacled rocks of the western Platte country, the pine ridges in the northwest with their majestic buttes and silhoutted ridges, the great plains of the west, the beautiful fields and streams of the eastern half of the state, are among natures finest handiwork.

The pine-clad buttes of Northwest Nebraska guard the greatness of our state. The secrets of wealth hidden deep in their bosom for cen

turies have been wrung from their faltering lips. How they revel in the splendors of the burnished sunsets. When the crimson into blue, and the blue softly steals into violet, and the violet melts into orange. When standing on the summit of the buttes at such a time it seems you had only to stretch forth your anxious hand to clasp the purple hills of eternity.

Let this poem, written by a loyal son of our fair state, rule the hearts, the lives of all Nebraskans:

HYMN TO NEBRASKA

Now laud the proud tree planter state,
Nebraska,-free, enlightened, great;
Her royal place she has in song:

The noblest strains to her belong:
Her fame is sure.

Then sing Nebraska through the years;
Extol her stalwart pioneers;

The days when, staunch and unafraid,
The states foundations, well they laid,
To long endure.

The land where Coronado trod,

And brave Marquette surveyed the sod;
Where red men long in council sat;

Where spread the valley of the Platte

Far 'neath the sun.

The land, beside whose borders sweep
The big Missouri's waters, deep,
Whose course erratic, through its sands,
From northland on, through many lands,
Does seaward run.

The foothills of the Rockies lie

Afar athwart her western sky;
Her rolling prairie, like the sea,
Held long in virgin sanctity,

Her fertile loam.

Her wild-life roamed oer treeless plains,
Till came the toiling wagon-trains,
And settlers bold, far westward bound,
In broad Nebraska's valley found

Their chosen home.

Now o'er her realm and 'neath her sky,
Her golden harvests richly lie;
Her corn more vast than Egypt yields;
Her grain unmatched in other fields;
Her cattle rare:

Alfalfa fields, by winding streams;

And sunsets, thrilling poets' dreams;
These all we sing, and know that time
Has ne'er revealed a fairer clime,
Or sweeter air.

O proud Nebraska, brave and free;
Thus sings thy populace to thee.
Thy virile strength, thy love of light;
Thy civic glory, joined with right,

Our hearts elate.

Thy manly wisdom, firm to rule:

Thy womanhood in church and school;

Thy learning, culture, art and peace,

Do make thee strong, and ne'er shall cease
To keep thee great.

Her heaving bluffs uplift their heads
Along her winding river-beds,
And, pleasing far the traveler's view,-
Well guard her Elkhorn and her Blue,
Encrowned with wood.

And there, by landmarks, ne'er to fail,
Upon the ancient westward trail;
Or graven stone, securely placed,
By eye observant may be traced
Where wigwam stood.

Her honored cities grow in wealth;

In thriving commerce, public health;
Her first, the gateway of the west;
Her Omaha, that will not rest,

Nor take defeat.

Her capital of worthy fame,

That bears the mighty Lincoln's name,

And thousands of Nebraska youth

E'er summons to her fount of truth,

At learning's seat.

-Reverend William H. Buss.