8 S2 NEBRASKA 



in 1900); the semi-urban 20.4% (17.7% in 1900); and the urban 26.1% (23. 7% in 1900). 

 In 1910 there were 13 incorporated places of 5,000 or more, as follows: Omaha, 124,096 

 (102,555 i I 9 O ) Lincoln, 43,973; South Omaha, 26,259; Grand Island, 10,326; Bea- 

 trice, 9,356; Hastings, 9,338; Fremont, 8,718; York, 6,235; Kearney, 6,202; Norfolk, 

 6,025; Nebraska City, 5,488; Fairbury, 5,294 (3,140 in 1900); Columbus, 5,014. 



Agriculture. The acreage in farms increased from 29,911,779 to 38,622,021 between 1900 

 and 1910 and the improved land in farms from 18,432,595 to 24,382,577; the average farm 

 acreage from 246.1 to 297.8; and the value of farm property from $747,950,057 to $2,079,818,- 

 647 ($1,614,539,313 land; $198,807,622 buildings; $44,249,708 implements; $222,222,004 

 domestic animals). Of the land area 78.6 % was in farms. The average value of farm land 

 per acre was 41.80. Farms were operated largely by owners (79,250 by owners, 987 by 

 managers, and 49,441 by tenants). In 1909 1,852 farms (255,950 acres; 100,301 in Scotts 

 Bluff and 34,760 in Lincoln county) were irrigated, and the acreage which actual enterprises 

 could irrigate was 429,225 and that which was included in projects was 680,133. The largest 

 irrigated crop acreages were: wild, salt or prairie grass, 37,019; alfalfa, 31,842; Indian corn, 

 21,552; oats, 18,794; wheat, 9,015; potatoes, 6,077; oarley, 3.495; sugar beets, 3,114. In 1912 

 (preliminary estimates) the principal crops were: Indian corn, 182,616,000 bu. (7,609,000 

 A.); wheat, 55,052,000 bu. (3,123,000 A.); oats, 55,510,000 bu. (2,275,000 A.); barley, 2,486,- 

 ooo bu. (113,000 A.); rye, 880,000 bu. (55,000 A.); buckwheat, 1 8,000 bu. (1,000 A.); pota'toes, 

 9,440,000 bu. (118,000 A.); hay, 1,552,000 tons (1,150,000 A.); flaxseed, 19,000 bu. (2,000 A.). 

 In 1909 (U.S. Census) the value of vegetables (excluding potatoes) was $2,118,393; f small 

 fruits, $159,169; of orchard fruits, $1,932,124 (apples, $1,612,765). On January I, 1912 

 there were on farms: 1,059,000 horses, 85,000 mules, 613,000 milch cows, 2,002,000 other 

 neat cattle, 382,000 sheep and 4,267,000 swine. 



In November 1912 the North Platte reclamation project (see E. B. xix, 3273) was 83% 

 completed, and in 1911 irrigated 74,300 acres, partly in Wyoming. 



Mineral Products. Total value, 1911, $1,316,168. Clay is the only mineral product of 

 importance and in 1911 the value of clay products was $795,894. Limestone was valued at 

 $263,501, and sand and gravel at $156,777. 



Manufactures. From 1904 to 1909 the number of establishments increased from 1,819 

 to 2,500 and that of persons employed from 25,356 (20,260 wage-earners) to 31,966 (24,336 

 wage-earners); capital invested from $80,235,000 to $99,901,000; and the value of the product 

 from $154,918,000 to $199,019,000. The principal manufactures were: slaughtering and 

 meat-packing products, $92,305,000 (46.470 of the state's total, and ranking Nebraska 4th 

 in this industry); flour and grist-mill products, $17,836,000; butter, cheese and condensed 

 milk, $7,681,000 (130.9% more than in 1904), mostly butter; car construction and repairs 

 by steam-railway companies, $4,642,000; malt licfuors, $3,335,000 (100.4% more than in 

 1904); foundry and machine-shop products, $2,930,000; lumber and timber products, $2,021,- 

 ooo. The principal manufacturing cities were: South Omaha, $92,436,000, chiefly slaughter- 

 ing and meat-packing (96.9% of the state's product); Omaha, $60,855,000; Lincoln, $7,010,- 

 ooo; and Grand Island, $1,837,000. 



Transportation. Railway mileage, on January I, 1912, 6,223.17. 



Legislation. The regular session of the legislature was held from January 3 to April 

 6, 1911. It re-districted the state into 28 senatorial and 77 representative districts. 

 The legislature submitted several constitutional amendments to popular vote in Novem- 

 ber 1912: for initiative and referendum, both statutory and constitutional, which was 

 adopted by 189,200 to 15,315 votes; changing the pay of members of the legislature to 

 $600 a year (formerly $5 a day) and IDC a mile for mileage, and providing that no bills 

 shall be introduced after 20 days (formerly 40 days) of the 6o-day session had elapsed, 

 except on the recommendation of a message from the governor adopted, 173,225 to 

 26,355; creating a board of commissioners for state institutions adopted, 174,939 to 

 25,439; an( l f r biennial instead of annual general elections adopted 174,151 to 25,048. 

 The legislature ratified the proposed income tax amendment to the Federal Constitution 

 on February n, 1911 and it sent a resolution to Congress asking for an amendment to 

 the Federal Constitution prohibiting polygamy. An important primary law was enacted 

 which provided a method of electing delegates to National Conventions and a method 

 of preferential voting for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The governor 

 was authorised to appoint a code commission to report a new code for 1913. The i2th 

 of October was made a legal holiday as Columbus Day. 



Trainmen's working hours are limited to 1 6 in succession, to be followed by IO hours off; 

 if any trainman is busy 16 hours not in succession, within a period of 24 hours, he must have 

 8 hours off before he is on duty again. Train dispatchers must work not more than 9 hours 



