Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/203

 NEBKASKA 195 formations are represented in the state, car- boniferous, Permian, cretaceous, and tertiary. Of the carboniferous strata only the upper members occur, and these are overlaid, from the longitude of Lincoln west, by the Permian, cretaceous, and tertiary deposits. Minerals have not yet been found to any considerable extent. Thin beds of bituminous and block coal exist in the S. E. counties, and of lignite in the cretaceous and tertiary. The scarcity of coal renders more valuable the extensive beds of peat found in some parts of the state. Some iron ores occur, but the coal yet found is not sufficient to utilize them. Stone for build- ing purposes is found, including limestone, dark yellowish gray sandstone, and a dark red free- stone. Clay for the manufacture of brick is easily obtained, and good potter's clay is abun- dant. In the S. E. portion of the state are ex- tensive saline deposits. The principal basin is in Lancaster co. near Lincoln, and embraces an area of 12 by 25 m. These springs contain by weight 29 per cent, of remarkably pure salt. The salt is obtained by solar evaporation, which is facilitated by the marked dryness of the atmosphere. Alum has also been discov- ered. The eastern portion of Nebraska is a rich agricultural region, while the western half is well adapted to grazing. The line of division is about Ion. 99 W., although there is a large amount of fine agricultural lands W. of this line, and some grazing lands E. of it. The agricul- tural region embraces about 30,000 sq. m., ex- tending about 150 m. W. of the Missouri, and in the valley of the Platte about 300 m. It is divided into bottom and prairie lands. The soil of the latter is a rich, black vegetable mould from 2 to 5 ft. deep, slightly impregnated with lime, and withstands great extremes of drought. The bottom lands along the river banks have a rich alluvial soil. Wheat, corn, barley, oats, sorghum, flax, hemp, and all vegetables flourish, and below lat. 42 sweet potatoes are easily cultivated. Wild plums and grapes are found in great abundance, while raspberries, straw- berries, gooseberries, cherries, and other small fruits are common. Tobacco also finds a con- genial soil and climate. Apples, plums, and pears are cultivated, and peaches succeed S. of the Platte river. The wild grasses, of which Dr. Aughey has classified 150 species, grow luxuriantly upon the bottom and table lands, yielding from one and a half to three tons per acre ; many are exceedingly nutritious, and ad- mirably adapted to the raising of sheep and cattle. Cultivated grasses, as the blue grass of Kentucky and timothy, are raised with great success. Large numbers of cattle are brought from Texas and Kansas to be fattened on the grasses of Nebraska, preparatory to sale. The grazing region comprises about 23,000,000 acres, and is generally well watered. Wood is of free natural growth only on the bluffs and river banks, but the species are numerous. Cottonwood is the most common; oak, elm, maple, black walnut, cedar, hickory, and hack- berry are also found. Planted timber grows rapidly on the prairie. Forests of pine are reported to exist in the N. W. part of the state. The climate is dry and exhilarating; the mean temperature in winter is about 22, and in summer about 70. The heat of the summer is tempered by the prairie winds, and the nights are generally cool. According to the observations made by the United States signal service at Omaha (lat. 41 16', Ion. 96), the annual mean as indicated by the barometer was 29*9 inches; thermometer, 48'1; total fall of rain, including snow, 34'8 inches ; prevailing wind, southeast. The greatest amount of rain falls in May and June. Of the total area of the state (48,636,800 acres), 29,651,220 acres had been surveyed up to June 30, 1873. The number of acres of improved farm land in 1870 was 647,031 ; number of farms, 12,301, of which 787 embraced less than 10 acres each, 1,541 from 10 to 20, 5,096 from 20 to 50, 3,379 from 50 to 100, 1,487 from 100 to 500, and 11 from 500 to 1,000 ; cash value of farms, $30,- 242,186 ; of farming implements and machinery, $1,549,716 ; wages paid during the year, in- cluding the value of board, $882,478; esti- mated value of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $8,604,742 ; value of orchard products, $9,932 ; of produce of market gardens, $30,649 ; of forest products, $36,307 ; of home manufactures, $36,951 ; of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $854,- 850; of live stock, $6,551,185. The produc- tions were 2,109,321 bushels of spring and 15,765 of winter wheat, 13,532 of rye, 4,736,- 710 of Indian corn, 1,477,562 of oats, 216,481 of barley, 3,471 of buckwheat, 3,332 of peas and beans, 739,984 of Irish potatoes, 762 of sweet potatoes, 133 of grass seed, 404 of flax- seed, 5,988 Ibs. of tobacco, 74,655 of wool, 1,539,535 of butter, 46,142 of cheese, 100 of hops, 24 of flax, 10 of maple sugar, 707 of wax, 28,114 of honey, 77,598 gallons of sorghum molasses, 470 of wine, 95,059 of milk sold, and 169,354 tons of hay. The live stock consisted of 30,511 horses, 2,632 mules and asses, 28,940 milch cows, 5,931 working oxen, 45,057 other cattle, 22,725 sheep, and 59,449 swine, besides 3,390 horses and 312,788 cattle not on farms. There were 670 manufacturing establishments, having 63 steam engines of 1,865 horse power and 67 water wheels of 1,446 horse power; hands employed, 2,665 ; capital invested, $2,- 169,963 ; wages paid during the year, $1,429,- 913; value of materials used, $2,902,074; of products, $5,738,512. The statistics of the principal branches are as follows : INDUSTRIES. Number of estab- 1'shments. ,1 If I! H 90 188 $77,210 $287,960 Boots and shoes Bread and other bakery 60 16 125 89 74,110 85,650 195,722 60,850 Brick IT 109 22,900 61,866 Butchering .. 9 89 58,700 811.828