NEBRASKA. 



529 



middle, through her whole length from east constitution since Nebraska was organized 



to west, her speedy growth would appear as under a State government, and admitted as 



the necessary effect of this cause, even though such into the Federal Union. In financial 



she possessed no internal resources of her matters, she is represented hy the Governor 



own. On the contrary, they are many and in a previous message to be almost clear of 



great. An unmistakable proof of such being debt. 



the fact is the progressive increase in the The lands given by the General Government 

 amount of taxable property within her limits, to Nebraska for internal improvement, school 

 which, during the last three years, has been buildings, and other purposes of public inter- 

 steadily increasing. The assessment for 1867 est, Governor Butler states to be more than 

 was four millions above that for 1866 ; and the three and one-fourth millions of acres, which 

 assessment for 1868 is nearly double the whole Congress, by an express provision in the grant, 

 amount assessed for 1867. The official state- forbids to be sold under $1.25 per acre, while a 

 ment for 1868, made by the State Auditor and law of the State has fixed its minimum price 

 published in 1869, exhibits the total assess- at $5.00. The selection and entry of these 

 ments for the last three years. It indicates lands in the name of Nebraska having now 

 also the names of some among the counties to been completed, the Governor says that " the 

 which the largest sums of county assessments land interests of the State have thence as- 

 belong, or which possess the largest quantity sumed grand proportions." As "not less than 

 of certain kinds of property in comparison 250,000 acres of these lands, in addition to a 

 with other counties, as follows : large quantity of the school lands, will be 

 Assessment for 1868 (Gage and Kearney brought into market within the next two 



Counties not in) $31,981,691 37 years, " he intimates the necessity of creating 



increase over 1867 ^^ * distinct office for this branch of the execu- 



Douglas County assessment............... $8,066, ^ department? u for the successM manage . 



cass 1,895,432 me nt of the interests of the State in the dis- 



Sardson " " ! .' ! ! .' ! ! ! '. '. '. .' .' ." .' i^oo? position of them, and in the handling and in- 



Assessment of 16 comities north of Platte, $I6,'8!l80 vestment of the funds derived." 



" 14 " south " The accounts of moneys due by the Federal 



(Gage and Kearney not in) 15,118,511 Government to the State for military services 



Total $31,981,691 have been settled, except a remainder of about 



Assessment of U. P. R. E. (excepting laud), $8,015,550 $15,000, for which the Governor asks that an 



Assessment of 1866 $13,563,025 agent should be sent to Washington to prose- 



jgg JJ'Sf'S} cute the claim and collect the amount. The 



J-OUO. ....... . , . ol,,7O.l,*)Jl i 1 1 1 1 1 1_ 1 



otoe County, amount of entered lands, 285,704 acres, same agent, he adds, should be empowered 



Kichardson ;; || 260 350 to receive the sum of $12,000 due by virtue 



cS " 2is;oi5 " of the act of Congress giving the State five 



Douglas " " " " 173^462 " per cent, on the receipts from the sale of pub- 



Elc g hardson County, number of horses... ......... 2,862 H C i an d s within her boundaries. The Governor 



otoe " ' " ............ 2',435 states that he himself had recently settled the 



Nemaha - || | || 2,096 account of this percentage at Washington, and 



Cas?* 18 cattle!!!!!!!"!!! 7^066 that the forementioned sum " is now lying in 



otoe ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ". ! ! ! ! 5',404 the national Treasury, because no one has been 



fiSStagta !!!!!!!!!!!! 2;?69 authorized to receive it for the State" 



Douglas " 2,720 Besides the great sources 01 wealth which 



Dakota || || || 2,678 Nebraska possesses to an eminent degree in the 



Ha? " !!!!!!!!!!!! ffl quality and quantity of her soil adopted both for 



otoe mules 333 cultivation and pasture, vast beds of coal have 



clss ardS n " " " !!>!!!!!!!'! Ill lately been discovered and ascertained to exist 



Lincoln li " " !!!!!!!!!!.! 162 near the surface in Pawnee County, and 



gfoste? ," A S& generally in the southern and middle portions 



gchardson sheep............ 4,969 f ^ ^ Benefidal ag guch a disc0 very 



otoe || 2,530 would be anywhere to people of all con- 



Nemaha " " ' !!!!!!!!!!!! llsos ditions, producers, manufacturers, merchants, 



Saunders " ' !!!!!!!!!!!! i,'244 or only consumers, it is peculiarly so to Ne- 



Eichardson || swine 6,298 t, ras ka, where wood is scarce, and in whose 



Nemaha ! 4^24 weekly lists of prices, published in the papers 



Otoe 2,806 o f j une , 1868, and January, 1869, coal is quoted 



WaStagton " ' "::"":':: uS atl4,16,20,26,and30dollarsperton,according 



Burt " " ' 1,110 to quality, and the shorter or greater distance ot 



The condition, resources, and wants of Ne- the places from which it is imported thither; 



braska are pretty fully exhibited in Governor whereas it has been ascertained that their own 



Butler's message delivered to thfe Legislature coal at the mine can be bought at $5, which 



at the opening of its session, in Lincoln, on cannot fail to be greatly reduced, as easy 



January 7, 1869. This was the first regular means of transportation are opened, 



meeting of the General Assembly under the There is also, within sight of the capital, a 

 VOL. viii. 34 A 



