78 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



GERMAN LUTHERAN COLONY. 



At Keystone, in the North Platte Valley, Nebraska. 



We are presenting in this issue a number of fine 

 illustrations of the North Platte Valley near Keystone, 

 Nebraska. 



Until within the last few years the great fertility 

 of this valley remained unknown. The early settlers 

 on their way westward chose the south fork of the 

 Platte Eiver and very little was learned about the 

 territory adjacent to the north fork of that stream. 



recently through the Payne Investment Company of 

 that city. 



The Keystone German Lutheran Colony is a result 

 of a decision by a number of people, of that denomina- 

 tion^ to locate in some good rich spot in the West and 

 the selection of the territory around Keystone followed 

 a report of an investigating committee of disinterested 

 German citizens who visited the land late in Septem- 

 ber, 1908. The committee consisted of ministers, ex- 

 pert farmers and well-known Germans of Nebraska, and 

 each of them enthusiastically endorsed the proposed 

 colony. 



I'axton Home Place at Keystone, Site of the German Colony. 



The discovery of the great fertility of the land led 

 the Union Pacific Railway Company to build a line 

 through it, and thus it has been opened up to settle- 

 ment. 



Keystone is in the heart of the valley. It has an 

 altitude of about 3,200 feet. The soil is rich, black, 

 sandy loam, which grows splendid crops of hay near the 

 stream, and is adapted to all kinds of general farming 

 back on the higher ground. This soil is known as quick 

 soil and is particularly well adapted to irrigation. 



To any one who intends to change his home in the 

 future or go on a farm, this project is worthy of in- 

 vestigation. 



The Payne Investment Company of Omaha is will- 

 ing to take interested people out to this land from 

 Omaha, so that they can satisfy themselves personally. 

 The terms made by this company are liberal and there- 

 fore favorable to people with small capital. To the 

 working man who has labored for years for others and 

 who has never come into possession of a home of his 



Trripatinp Ditch on the Keystone German Colony Land. 



The uplands farther from the stream, while not suited 

 for tillage present fine opportunities for the grazing of 

 herds. 



The Keystone German Lutheran Colony lands 

 have been rapidly taken up by people owing to the fact 

 that they have been sold on exceptionally easy terms. 

 This whole tract was originally owned by W. A. Pax- 

 ton, Jr., of Omaha, who has placed it on the market 



own there is no better opportunity than is offered in 

 this vicinity. 



The numerous illustrations in this issue with the 

 legends accompanying same will give a very fair idea 

 of this section of the country. This opportunity should 

 be particularly attractive to people of German birth 

 who are desirous of locating in a community where 

 their mother language is spoken. 



