Hall County, Nebraska - Chapter 13: Agricultural and Live Stock Industries, 1920

Chapter 13: Agricultural and Live Stock Industries

The early farming in Hall County consisted mainly of the growing of com and wheat. Cattle raising was carried on, but ranching was not as important as in more western areas of the state. The reminiscences and narratives of the earliest settlers recounted in foregoing chapters offer scattered but unauthentic details of the earliest farming enterprises in the county. From the first, corn has always been a more staple crop than wheat here, but wheat has been grown mainly as a cash crop and has fluctuated widely in acreage, varying with market conditions.

when twenty-one years old Dating from the farming operations of the first colony of settlers in 1857, a review of conditions as reported in 1877-78, twenty or twenty-one years after agriculture began in Hall County on a systematic, tangible basis, will show what has been accomplished by the poineers of the county. Reports then showed 34,759 acres in cultivation (of a total area of 337,920 acres). The 1877 production was 226,088 bushels of wheat ; 407,209 bushels of corn, 2,114 horses, 256 mules, 7,980 cattle, 461 sheep, 5,460 swine. Wild land was priced at $4 to $10 an acre and improved from $7 to $26 an acre.

Union Pacific system, and of this 120,000 acres were in Hall County. In 1878 prices of Union Pacific land for Hall, Buffalo, and Howard counties ranged from $3 to $6 an acre, and usual terms were 10% down and balance carried yearly at 6% interest, with a 10% discount to parties paying all cash down.

The census of 1880 reported 41,609 acres in wheat and 19,408 acres in corn. By 1889 there was a decrease in the wheat area to 3,988 acres, while com had increased to 85,354 acres. In 1899 the area in wheat was 20,346 acres, and in corn 95,225 acres. By 1909 corn dropped to 77,981 acres, while wheat steadily increased and occupied a total area of 74 per cent as large. Oats were grown on 24,162 acres in 1909. Alfalfa has greatly increased in acreage during the last 15 years, and has become one of the staple crops. The growing of sugar beets became an important industry following the establishment of a beet-sugar factory at Grand Island in 1890. A history of that industry will be treated separately hereafter.

The present agriculture consists mainly of grain and hay production, with wheat, corn, oats, and alfalfa as the principal crops. Most of the farmers keep some live stock and a small number are engaged in the feeding of stock on an extensive scale.

Wheat is the principal income crop. Its total area in 1909 was about 15,000 acres less than that of com, but there has been such an increase in the wheat area during the last few years, on account of the prevailing high prices and good yields, that it is now probably grown more extensively than any other crop. Wheat is grown on practically all the different soil types. It is a little more certain in yield than corn, since it matures sufficiently early to avoid the severe droughts and hot winds which may occur later in the summer. On soils of average productiveness the yield is commonly about 20 bushels per acre. Hard winter wheat is grown almost exclusively, Turkey Red being the principal variety.

The census of 1910 reports 77,981 acres in corn, with a production of 1,783,784 bushels. The average yield on the soils best adapted to corn is about 30 bushels per acre, but yields on all types are subject to wide variations from year to year, largely on account of late summer droughts and hot winds. Strains of Raid's Yellow Dent and Silver Mine are the principal varieties grown. Thorough cultivation is practised, but little attention is given to seed selection. Most of the corn is fed to cattle and hogs, but a large number of farmers, especially tenants, sell the greater part of their crop.

The area in oats in 1910 was 24,162 acres, and the production 537,452 bushels. Oats, although grown on practically all farms and on all soil types, are not generally regarded as very profitable. They are grown principally because they fit conveniently in rotations, following corn when it is desired to change the land to wheat. The crop is seldom grown for more than one year on the same field. The grain is fed principally to work stock, but is used to some extent in feeding sheep.

Alfalfa is one of the staple crops, occupying 17,669 acres in 1909. The acreage has steadily increased since that year, principally at the expense of corn and oats. It is grown on practically all the soils except those that are continuously wet and poorly drained. Yields range from 2 to 4 tons per acre per season. Four cuttings a year are ordinarily obtained on the soils best adapted to the crop. Alfalfa is grown mainly for winter feed and forage, but it is used extensively as a soiling crop and for hog pasture. On soils which give the heavier yields it is ordinarily a profitable income crop.

Chas. Hofman states that he was one of the first, if not the first, man in Hall county to advocate the raising and use of alfalfa. He knew something of its qualities and returns from prior experience before he came to this country. In those days it was called, "lucerne" or "Swiss Clover," but is the same product. At Ernest Blunk's mill in 1884 a warm discussion pro and con was held as to the advisability of trying such a crop; but the first crop was planted in 1885, in the Midway Grove, as it is known now, and harvested a short time later. From then on its progress has been steady, until now the farmer here no longer puts all his eggs in one basket, and does not rely alone on either com or wheat, but distributes his chance for a good crop season and his risk from lack of rain or hail or hot winds between wheat, com, and small grain, and alfalfa.

Introduction Op Alfalfa Into Nebraska

Dr. C. E. Bessey, in writing concerning this plant, in 1890, remarked: "It is said the Greeks and Romans grew it, and that to these countries it was brought from Persia, and possibly from regions still farther east. Its cultivation certainly dates back two thousand or twenty-five hundred years."

It is claimed that S. P. Parker, of Curtis, Frontier County, grew alfalfa in 1876; in 1878, it was tried in Harlan County by J. C. Mitchell, J. P. Nead of Riverton grew it in 1882; a field was tried at Guide Rock, Nebraska, in 1877. Martin Slattery of Shelton, Buffalo County, tried it in 1887, and H. D. Watson on his ranch found 20 acres growing there when he took charge in 1889, so while not the first, Hall County was among the pioneer counties in introducing alfalfa into Nebraska.

but also in the more poorly drained depressions in the uplands and terraces. The yield of wild hay is commonly about IV2 tons per acre. The census of 1910 reports wild hay cut from 25,374 acres.

The yield of wild hay keeps a lead in Hall County over alfalfa, no doubt because of the large acreage adapted to it, owing to the manner in which the Platte river with its various channels cuts through this county.

Minor crops of the county include sorghum, kafifir, millet, barley, sweet clover, and Irish potatoes. Most farmers grow vegetables in a small way, mainly for home use. Watermelons, cantaloupes, and other truck crops are grown to a small extent near Grand Island for a local canning factory. There are small orchards, principally of apples, on most farms, but tree fruits are not an important source of income and the trees are seldom given much care.

As a more recent indication of the relative proportion of the various products of Hall County, mainly agriculture and some manufactured and industrial, the table given by the Sixteenth Annual Report of the Nebraska Department of Labor for 1917-1918 showing surplus products shipped out of Hall County, is hereto appended. The fact that the number of agricultural products outnumbers the commercial and industrial products, such as cement blocks, sand, and gravel, brick, and stone illustrates the remarkable proportion of the county's resources, the agricultural interests bear a responsibility for success or failure :

Early Agricultural Organizations

Prior to 1870 there was practically nothing done toward organization of the agricultural interests of Hall County, for each settler was too busy providing for the daily wants of his family to let his thoughts wander away from home, and any thoughts of banding with his neighbors in any society, unless to repel mutual attacks of Indians upon their homes or of timber scalpers upon their premises, were too intangible to gather force.

The Hall County Immigration Board was formed March 22, 1871, with Henry A. Koenig, president; S. P. Mobley, secretary, W. H. Piatt, H. P. Handy, John Wallichs, Fred A.

Later during the month N. J. Paul stopped in Hall County enroute to the Middle Loup Valley with thirty-one colonists. In the preceeding December, Nicholas Paul, one of the well known Paul brothers - the surveyors and colonists - - with a Mr. Moeller, vice consul from Denmark to Milwaukee, had camped around the South Loup, and upon their report a locating committee, N. J. Paul, Major Frank North, A. J. Hoge, Ira Mullen, Joseph Tififany, Luther H. North, J. E. North, Enos Johnson, S. W. Smith, Gus Cox, and Charles Morse ascended the Loup from the Pawnee reservation in Nance County and explored the section of country now in Howard County. This led to the founding of the settlement of "Athens," later changed to St. Paul, in honor of its founders, since there was already another "Athens" in the state. This event, while only an incident in Hall County history, marks the beginning of the spread of Hall County's trade territory, an accomplishment that has been a determining factor in giving Hall County the third city in the state.

This immigration board backed the Orchard and Vineyard issued at the county seat and used the Independent as an advertising medium for the county.

Thd Grange Movement

Hall County was well represented in the growth and accomplishments of that first organized achievement of Nebraska agriculturalists, The Patrons of Husbandry, commonly called "The Grange."

Central Star Grange No. 518 was established in April, 1874, with S. P. Mobley, master, and N. A. Lord, secretary. In 1875 it was in fact consolidated with Grange No. 6.

with D. C. Smith, president, S. P. Mobley, secretary and agent. In 1876 there were nine granges in Hall County, comprising 500 members. Peter Harrison was president of the association, E. S. Searson, secretary and William Stolley, agent.

Wood River Grange was organized March 31, 1873, with Rufus Mitchell, J. F. Walker, C. E. Towne, James White, J. Osbon, Isaac King, B. F. Odell, F. P. Welch, Mrs. Ella Warner, Miss A. Odell, Mrs. E. Mitchell, and Mrs. L. Osbon, members.

Alda Grange was formed July 18, 1873, with F. B. Stoddard, E. W. Brown, John Leckenby, William Powell, L. Powell, Mrs. Stoddard, Mrs. Sweet, Mrs. L. Brown, and Mrs. L. Powell, officials.

Platte Valley Grange was organized in April, 1873, at the house of Charles Dufford, south of the river, with M. Stump, Henry Denman, W. J. Burger, D. O. Grice, A. J. Price, A. R. Thorn, S. S. Shultz, D. Beidelman, Charles Dufiford, Mrs. Thorn, Mrs, Robb and Miss Creason, officials.

Advance Grange was organized in school district No. 23, west of Alda, February 7, 1873, with the following members : P. Harrison, D. C. Smith, Sarah Smith, A. V. Smith, Mrs. R, E. Smith, W. H. Norton, M. E. Norton, C. E. Harrison, Kate Harrison, J. S. Donaldson, Delia Donaldson, H. M. Jones, Mrs. B. M. Jones, J. H. Andrews, J. L. Gray, Stephen Jones, Maggie Jones, G. F. Dodge, Annie Trout, J. M. Cummings, J. A Connor, J. M. Howe, Clara Trout, Charles Streeter, Alice Streeter, M. B. Heitman, T. E. Harrison, T. H. Trout, Amelia Trout and Mary Jones.

Highland Grange was organized at Union Chapel, March 7, 1874, with the following members : Wesley, Lucinda, George, and Phoebe Dempster, John and James Creason, James A. and Lizzie Williams, S. Lineback, Miles Martha and Laura Humphrey, Naomi French, Mary J. Linsacum, Mrs. S. B. Poe, C. J. Rhodes and S. Brooks.

School, March 6, 1874, with the following members : W. H. Austin, E. J. Morse, S. Uhrig, William E. Tyler, R. G. Hackett, G. H. and Orilla E. Wilcox, O. D. and Malinda Foote, Ira and Mary A. Wilson, S. W. and Hattie Wilson, George H. and Mary E. Wilcox, J. A. and Mary A. Mattick, William Lehrich, E. N. and Mary A. Adams, Ira Wilson, Walter and Sarah Miller, James H. and H. M. Sweeting. .

North Loup Grange was organized March 12, 1874. Its members were: S. A., G. A. and Ella and Mrs. G. A. Pease, S. and A. H. Holman, J. P. and E. A. Gordon, W. W. George, Mrs. H. and Mrs. G. Kendall, P. Hirst, B. F. Manuel, C. M. and Elizabeth Robinson, Walter and Mrs. W. A. Hill, J. Fleming, John and Mrs. K. Marigold, C. O. and Mrs. Woodruff and Lawrence Mitchell.

True Blue Grange was organized at Prairie Creek school house, March 16, 1874, with the following members : Lester and A. A. Houghton, W. W^ Dubbs, S. D. and A. Deyoe, A. S. Donaldson, O. A. Hoyt, F. M. and Sarah Adams, N. P. and Harriet Dickenson, George Smith, James E. Peebles, James Ewing, I. W. White, M. Burkerd, Ed. S. Towne, J. H. Newton, J. W. Hanold, Cyrus Miner, and G. E. Crawford.

Mount Moriah Grange south of Platte, was organized in July 1874, with Martin Ennis, master and William Whitecar, secretary. There were twenty-two members enrolled..

The County Council, P. of H., was organized in April 1874, with A. V. Potter, master, S. P. Mobley, secretary; William Stolley, treasurer; Mrs. Mobley, lady assistant steward. Mrs. Leavitt, Flora and Mrs. Gilbert, pomona.

industry, commonly carried on in combination with grain farming. Most farmers keep a small number of hogs and cattle and there are a few farmers in each neighborhood who feed stock on an extensive scale, purchasing the surplus grain and hay of other farmers. Tenants as a rule keep less live stock than farm owners. Corn and alfalfa are the principal stock feeds. Most of the beef cattle sold are raised in the county, but the more extensive feeders generally buy a considerable part or all of their stock. Most of the sheep are shipped into the county from western ranches. According to the census, the total number of cattle in the county in 1910 was 27,928, of hogs 35,091, of sheep 14,133, and of horses 11,085.

The raising of horses, principally of the draft type, is an industry of some importance. Most of the farm owners raise their own work stock and generally have a few animals for sale.

Dairying is carried on to some extent. On most farms it is incidental to grain growing. Most farmers keep a few cows to supply milk and butter for home use, and a large number sell small quantities of milk or cream to local dairies and creameries. There are, however, only a few large dairy herds in the county.

The staple farm crops are grown on all the different soil types, and on about the same proportional acreage. Most of the farmers, however, recognized that the silt loams of the Grand Island terrace and the upland, with campact and calcareous subsoils, are best adapted to alfalfa. The bottom-land soils are preferred for corn, although the average yields are but slightly above those obtained on the more productive upland soils. The silt loams of the terraces and upland are generally believed to give best results with wheat aind oats.

Farm methods are nearly uniform throughout the county, as there is little variation in climatic conditions, topography, and marketing facilities. Plowing for wheat begins as soon as possible after the removal of the oat crop, generally about the middle of July or early in August. Most of the soils require only harrowing, and the wheat is drilled in in September or October. Many farmers seed wheat between the comrows before the com is harvested, using a one-horse drill. Both binders and headers are used in cutting the grain. The greater part of the crop is thrashed from the shock, and most of the grain is sold directly from the thrashing machine. The straw is not valued highly, and many farmers burn it.

Com is generally given level cultivation, but on some of the more poorly drained land the ridge method is preferred. Listing is common on the sandy soils. On the heavier soils the plowing is usually done in the fall. Most fanners snap the corn and later pasture the stalk land. Only a very small percentage of the corn crop is used for silage. Oats are commonly sown broadcast in April or early May, on disked land previously occupied by com. Less frequentily the grain is drilled in. Alfalfa hay is generally stacked in the field. The hay sold is generally disposed of locally without baling.

Commercial fertilizers have never been used in growing the staple crops. Most farmers use the manure produced on the farm, and rotted wheat and oat straw is often applied to the fields.

Practically all the farms are equipped with modern, labor-saving machinery. Tractors are beginning to be used extensively in fall plowing for wheat. The work stock consists mainly of horses, 6 to 8 head being kept on the average farm. The farmhouses are for the most part well built, and the bams are large and substantial. The value of all farm property in the county in 1910 is reported as $28,768,614, averaging $17,682 per farm.

Wheat, corn, and oats are commonly grown in succssion, but no definite or uniform system of rotation is adhered to. Land is usually kept in wheat for 2 to 5 years. In some cases this crop is grown for 8 or 9 years in succession by both the renters and owners. Wheat land is generally changed to com, and this crop may also be grown several years on the same field. Oats, which follow com, are not often grown for more than one year. Alfalfa may be seeded after wheat or oats. The land is left to this crop as long as the yields are profitable, generally 5 to 7 years, and then put in wheat and corn.

Most of the farni labor is performed by the operator and his family, except during harvest. Laborers hired by the year receive $25 to $30 a month, with board. During wheat harvest $3 to $3.50 a day is paid for temporary help. In 1919 wages have gone beyond $40 and $50 per month and in harvest to $5 and $6 per day.

The average size of farms, according to the census of 1910, is 196.5 acres. There are very few farms as small as 40 acres and only a comparatively small number larger than 320 acres. The prevailing size of the grain farms is 160 acres. There are several individual holdings of more than 1,000 acres, but usually in these cases much of the land is valuable only for pasture or for wild-hay production.

The census of 1910 reports 94.6 per cent of the area of the county in farms, and 87.3 per cent of the farm land as improved. The total number of farms is reported as 1,627. About 42 per cent of the farms are operated by tenants. Under the most common system of share rental the landowner receives twofifths of the crops, the tenant fumishing the stock, labor, and implements. Very few farms are rented for cash.

The selling price of land has varied heretofore from $20 or $40 an acre for land suitable only for pasture or for wild-hay production to $150 an acre of the most productive land. The average price of farm land has until recently been about $100 an acre.

Colonization

The settlement of the county and the community of Grand Island began with the colony of 1857, which has been described in minute detail in the narratives of Frederick Hedde, Christian Menck, and William Stolley.

So early as 1872-73 citizens of the village conceived the idea of settling in the Middle Loup Valley and acted at once on this conception. The great storm of April, 1873, caused some suffering and much inconvenience, and it is related that sixty men were crowded into a little store building of Frank Ingram for three days. At that time there were only four women in the Loup Valley - Mrs. Al. Brown, Misses Clara and Alice Benschoter and Lizzie Hayes, all of Grand Island.

Expedition Of 1876

In February, 1876, expedition parties for the Black Hills were organized at Grand Island, Wood River, and other places. The Wood River party comprised Patrick Nevills, J. Nolan, C. J. S. Trout, P. Dugan, J. Dunn, A. A. Baker, J. O'Connor, George Williamson, John Lyons, Miles Lyons, Mark Lyons, J. Haverly and P. Brady. Major Foote, of the Grand Island party, returned in March and reported a route between Grand Island and the hills open and guideboards erected. His report published in the Grand Island papers on March 10, 1876, indicated that his expedition had been successful in laying out and establishing an excellent route to Custer City which it would be possible to traverse in twelve to fifteen days from Grand Island, with light loads, and the trip could be made without much difficulty under some circumstances in eight to ten days. He indicated the presence of plenty of good water, and sufficient wood along the route.

He reported that no Indians were seen along the route on the entire trip, but that the route was well guarded with military posts. There were then in Custer City 468 houses complete or in process of erection. Corn was selling then for 9c a pound, flour at $10 to $12 a sack, bacon at 30c a pound.

with Mr. Harrison as president when the organization was completed. Hon. William Piatt was the author of the constitution and by-laws. The first two fairs were held in the court-room. The proposition to hold a fair in 1875 was scarcely noticed, as the grasshoppers destroyed the crops, and thus left nothing to exhibit in the agricultural department.

In 1876 a committee of three was appointed, Seth P. Mobley, W. B. Larrabee and Eli A. Barnes, to locate fair grounds. The northwest quarter of Section 16 at $16 per acre was purchased from Daniel Morgan, administrator of the Chapman estate. Ten acres of this tract were fenced in and otherwise improved, and in the fall a successful fair rewarded the energy of the officers of the society.

Prior to the fall of 1889 Hall County sent seven exhibits to the State Fair, the first two exhibits being taken from the county fair by Peter Harrison and Seth P. Mobley. For the three succeeding years the county took first prize at Omaha, and won the champion medal, thereafter held by the Hall County society.

The only exhibit made at the State Fair in the five years ending September, 1889, was that at Lincoln in 1887, when the first premium fell once more to Hall County. In 1884 Hall County had a leading exhibit at the State Fair. Then John S. Donaldson took a first prize for com on the stalk ; E. A. Park, for wheat in the straw ; Jacob Shoemaker, for rye; Z. H. Denman, for an eightyear honey locust, seven inches through, nine feet from base; William Powell, of Alda, for a Cottonwood, planted twenty-one years before, measuring twenty-one inches nine feet from base, and William Stolley presented fruit trees and the latter thirty-one varieties of grapes.

In 1889 the society sold forty acres of their purchase of 1887 to Marsh & Lannigan, for $22,750.34, and then purchased 160 acres adjoining the city, on the west, from Patrick Touhy, paying him $16,000 therefor.

THE state; fair proposition Early in September, 1889, the fact that the State Board of Agriculture had advertised, at large, for the selection of a location for the State Fair during the ensuing five years brought forth the appointment by Mayor Piatt, of Grand Island, of a committee of fifty-four to take measures to secure to Grand Island such fair. A deputation from the committee attended the meeting of the state board at Lincoln, January 21, 1890. At that time, Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney, Columbus, Long Pine, and Hastings bid for the fair for the ensuing five years. Grand Island ofifered to construct the art and. memorial halls of stone and brick, while Columbus ofifered to provide buildings which would accommodate 50,000 persons. On the first ballot Lincoln lead, and on the second received a majority of the votes. Both Hastings and Grand Island made a strong and nervy fight, but the prestige and diplomacy of the capital won the prize.

William H. Harrison continued as president of the Agricultural Association during the early 'nineties, and Eli A. Barnes was secretary for several years.

Association Reorganized

After a lapse of a number of years, the Association was rejunevated in 1914, with L. G. Lawson as president, and A. M. Conners, secretary. A very successful fair was held in 1914 and again in 1915 and each succeeding year. In 1918 an eflfort was made to have the county purchase the grounds at a reasonable price named by the Association. It carried by such a close margin at the November election, that a compromise was reached with the county board by the adherents of the proposition, and at a special election in March, 1919, the proposition was emphatically voted down. Thereupon the association decided to hold a fair in 1919, along the usual procedure.

The Beet Sugar Industry

With Grand Island possessing the first beetsugar factory constructed and operated in the United States, the origin and development of the sugar beet industry has become of unusual local interest in Hall County's history. This story is set out in an interesting way in a volume of biographical and historical memoirs of Nebraska, published in 1890,' in which Hall County early history is treated, and wherein Prof. Lassen treated the sugar beet industry as follows :

Margraff demonstrated 140 years ago that there was sugar in the beets ; and the total product of France and Germany in the last helf century alone demonstrated its value. The reflecting reader who sees nothing in Napoleon save that of the great military leader, has failed to note the early, substantial encouragement that he gave the beet sugar industry in France, which in turn gave it greater impetus and success in Germany, albeit there were three factories in Germany as early as 1805, but the warlike situation was not favorable for such an enterprise. Very soon, however, Napoleon issued his famous decrees shutting out all English goods and material, which, if the efifect was to raise the price of sugar, ruined the French wine trade and compelled the French to look for ways and means to dispose profitably of their grape crops and obtain a supply of sugar. In 1810 he gave two experimeiUers $28,000 for discovering grape sugar; the amount to be expended in the erection of factories. Soon after this Napoleon gave $40,000 to twelve grape sugar factories by way of bounty or special encouragement. In 1811 he decreed that 79,000 acres should be planted to beets, and he established six experimental stations to give instruction in the beet sugar industry, ordering that all farmers who desired attend lectures given there might do so free of charge, and the sum of $200,000 was set apart to pay the expense. In 1812 he established four special beet-root sugar schools, directing that 100 students be attached thereto. In addition and by way of special enrouragement, he ordered to be granted 500 licenses for beet sugar production, to run to proprietors of factories and to manufacturers of sugar from beets ; and those who made a ton of raw sugar were to be exempt from tax on their product for four years. In 1812 he directed the erection of four imperial beet sugar factories to produce 2,100 tons. During this time Germany was not idle. The king of Prussia gave Archard, a pupil of Margraiif, a good sum of money to establish a school or factory for instruction in beet sugar production, and from this school Russia drew her practical knowledge of the work, and the Czar gave $39,000 and exempted all land of those who built beet sugar factories from tax. At least one great discoverer and experimenter in this field, in Germany and France, was ofifered $100,000 if he would declare that his supposed discovery was a failure, but it did not attract him. The Napoleonic wars destroyed this great industry in Russia, Germany, and finally in France - after Napoleon had appropriated millions of dollars to give it a substantial footing. It did not rise again in France until 1825-26, nor in Germany until 1835. From that time forward both France and Gemiany, as well as Russia, Austria and Belgium, have put forth great efiforts to exteild the production of beet sugar, both by bounties and by drawbacks on exported sugar from beets, as well as a tariff on imported sugar. The stimulants oft'ered resulted in such a measure of success in France, that in 1839, a special tax of 15 francs on even- 220 pounds of raw sugar was imposed. This operated harshly, and the product fell off over one-half. New laws more liberal were passed from time to time, a tax going hand in hand generally with bounties and drawbacks, until, in 1878, France collected as tax, on sugar made in that country, upward of $22,000,000. This, in brief, is only a part of the early history of beet sugar production in France; and Germany as a matter of economic policy, followed in swift pursuit. Such was the d&velopment of the industry that in 1883-84 there were 2.000,000 acres devoted to the production of the sugar beet in France, Germany, Austria- Hungarj', Russia, Poland, Belgium, and Holland ; and the aggregate beet sugar product, leaving out Russia and Holland, was 1,485,000 tons with 1.242 factories. At that time Germany had outstripped her great rival, France, because of her liberality and superior knowledge of the subject. So great was the quantity of beet sugar produced in 1883, that there was a temporary glut of it in the English market, inducing some farmers to ask a change in the laws, while others resorted to less acreage to reduce the surplus; meantime our people are paying from 6 to 9 cents for their sugar, entailing an expense to our population annually of over $75,000,000, the great part of the raw material of which goes abroad for refineries from Cuba ; 240,000,000 of pounds imported by us in 1887 coming from England, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands. Consul-General Walker says on the point, "It is to be noted that the sugar production of Germany has been stimulated by heavy protective duties and by bounties on export sugar, and the French tariff' act of 1884 was a step toward adopting the policy of which her great rival, France, had found so eff'ective.

Even in the 'seventies numerous citizens of Hall County who knew first hand of the development and growth of the beet sugar industry as outlined in the foregoing historical review of that industry, agitated the establishment of such a factory in this countrj'. In February, 1873, there was published in the Independent a description of the beet sugar industry in Europe, and some reference to the growth of beets in Nebraska was made, but not until 1887 was there any practical action taken in the matter.

In 1887 the citizens of Hall County who were contending the practicability and feasibility of instituting the beet sugar industry in Nebraska, then went about it in a thorough and satisfactory manner to test out their theory. They had the soil of various sections of this and adjoining counties analyzed, and the analysis demonstrated its adaptability to the culture of sugar beets ; but they did not stop there, but imported seed from France and Germany, and many planted beets in various sections of the county in the season of 1888, and had these beets carefully analyzed at Lincoln, at Washington, and at other points, which tests were very satisfactory. Thinking that the season of 1888 might have been an exceptionally favorable season, seed was again imported and planted upon a still more extensive scale in 1889, and an expert chemist, familiar with the culture and manufacture as well as with analysis of the sugar beet, was brought here from Germany, to oversee the planting, culture, and growth of the beet, as well as to examine the character of the soil and attend to the analysis of the beets, etc. These tests showed still more satisfactory results, the percentage of saccharine matter reaching eighteen per cent.

Locating The Factory

The subject of location of a beet-sugar factory at Grand Island was considered practically iii November, 1889, when the leading citizens decided to raise $100,000, and did raise about $60,000 before the question was formally submitted to the people. The subscriptions were voluntary, and ranged from $100 to $1,000 each, and in the aggregate amounted to $100,000, while the capital stock of the beet sugar company was fixed at $1,000,000.

Difficult as was the task of enlisting gentlemen with the necessary capital to take hold of the enterprise and build the factory and promote the raising of enough beets to maintain the factory's operations, the energy and stick-to-itiveness of the Grand Island boosters won out. On Friday, December 6, 1889, the contracts were signed, sealed, and delivered which located in this city the mammoth sugarbeet factory, starting out with a capital of $1,000,000, and 5,000 acres of land to be devoted exclusively to the culture of sugar beets. On Saturday, December 7, 1889, the site for the buildings was selected, and on Monday, December 9, ground was broken and work commenced. The dimensions of the principal factory building are ; length 292 feet, width eighty-five feet ; height, four stories, fifty feet. The structure is built of stone, iron, and brick, in such a substantial manner that it can stand indefinitely. Apart from that building are the boiler house, engine house,

The site selected for these buildings comprised fifty acres, and was taken off the east ends of two tracts of land, one belonging then to the United States Investment Company, and one to Messrs. Thummel & Piatt, situated along the west side of the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad, and extending north to the old Union Pacific stock yards, thus touching both the Union Pacific and St. Joseph and Grand Island tracks. Various residence additions have built out to the line of the factory premises and thus the factory, while almost two miles from the post-office, is right at the edge of the city.

During the week of January 20, 1890, the street car line was extended to the factory grounds, but that has long since been abandoned. But now paving, and good roads reach out to the factory and it is an accessible part of the city.

In 1918 there was a great revival of interest in organized farm work. One of the first manifestations of the spirit of organized cooperative eiifort on the part of the farmers was the formation of the Hall County Farm Bureau on May 3, 1918. This organization was composed of several hundred farmers who signed a call and a pledge to work together in an organized manner. The officers chosen were : Leo. B. Stuhr, president ; Henry Rouse, secretary; W. L. Yates, of Martin township, treasurer ; other members of the executive committee. Miles Rainforth, South Platte; D. O. Dodge, Harrison; Clarence H. Wiese, Alda, and J. J. Lorentzen, Lake. These with the following named constituted the general board of directors : Wm. Foster, Doniphan township ; Clarence Cox, Martin ; A. E. Hauke, Jackson ; Everett Meith, Cameron ; Verne Rouse, Wood River; Earl Mechan, Center; Hans H. Gulzow, Washington; Ivan K. Veeder, South Loup; E. M. Alford, Mayfield ; Wm. Fagan, Prairie Creek.

agent for Hall County was James R. White. Mr. White was reared in Michigan and graduated from the agricultural college in that state, and after experience in Arizona and Iowa came to Hall County. The county agent's office has proved to be a clearing house for a great many miscellaneous matters, a great deal on the same plan as the office of a live secretary of the Commercial Club does for the commercial and industrial interests of the town. Employment of transient and floating labor during the harvest season has been handled through this bureau, and if fees at the regular rates of employment bureaus had been paid by either the laborers or employers that sum alone would almost have equalled the expense of the office. The matter of securing serum for hog cholera prevention purposes at a margin above its actual cost price simply wide enough to pay for handling it has been an item of saving a great deal of money to farms ; farm crop surveys ; reciept and dissemination from the State Extension department and federal Department of Agriculture and passing it to the farmers upon special and definite inquiries, in other words acting as a clearing house between the individual farmers and those agencies of the state and federal government has been a big factor in the work of this office.

This office has secured the services of demonstrators from the state department along agricultural, horticultural, and poultry lines at a consistent frequency. These are only a few of the many lines of work handled in this office.

At the 1919 session of the legislature a new law relating to maintenance of county farm bureaus and appropriations to that end by county boards was passed, and for purpose of complying with all conditions of that law, a second Hall County Farm Bureau was organized and succeeded the first. The newspaper account of the organization of the second bureau in August, 1919, reads:

Men interested in retaining County Agent J. R. White in Hall County and maintaining a farm bureau organization to carry on county agent work, met in the office of Mr. White in the court house Saturday afternoon. Charles Taylor presided as temporary chairman and E. E. Hauke as temporary secretary. All were men who had petitioned the .county supervisors to make an appropriation to carry on/ county agent activities.

The Hall County Farm Bureau was organized, succeeding the old bureau which went by the same name. The membership was listed as 501, the total number of petitioners. Officers elected were Hans Gulzow, president ; D. O. Dodge, vice-president; William Yates] treasurer; Henry Rouse, secretary. Other directors chosen are J. J. Lorentzen, E. T. N. Alford and Charles Taylor. A constitution and by-laws was adopted.

The petitions addressed to the county supervisors were filed Monday with the clerk. These petitions have been circulated since July 19 and all organization work has been completed since the new state law went into efl^ect.

W. H. Brokaw of Lincoln, director of extension work, was present and examined the records of the new bureau. He then gave the bureau a certificate of recognition as the official farm bureau of this county.

A meeting of the executive board was held after the organization session and J. R. White was employed as county agent. A budget was made out to be filed with the petitions Monday. The total sum asked is $1,478.06 for the period from July 28 to January 15, 1920. The new law says the amount appropriated shall not exceed a one mill levy and shall not be more in money than $5,000. The amount asked here is about one-third of a mill. The District Court (Judge B. H. Paine) in September, 1919, upheld the constitutionality of this law and by order of mandamus directed the County Board to comply therewith but they see fit to carry the matter to the Supreme Court for review.

Farmers Unions

Within the past few years a very strong line of organization of the farmers of the state has been the work accomplished by the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative State Union of Nebraska, generally spoken of as "The Farmers' Union." This oranization has grown to a membership of a great many thousands throughout the state and a great many cooperative stores, elevators, and lumber and coal yards are being operated by the local

The officers of the state union are C. H. Gustafson, president; J. M. Burdick, Norfolk, vice-president ; L. M. Koch, secretary-treasurer; directors: John Havekost, Hooper; H. D. Lute, Humboldt; Ben L. Peters, Albion; H. G. Keeney, Cowles; A. K. Frost, Plainview; A. L. Ulstrom, Memphis.

Elevator Enterprises

The following newspaper account of the meeting for organizing a cooperative elevator, and perhaps coal and lumber yard, at Grand Island describes the manner and zeal with which this enterprise is approached by the farmers.

Organization of one of the largest farmers' cooperative elevator associations in Nebraska was completed Friday night when 100 farmers met in the court house, ratified the constitution and by-laws of the organization and paid in about $17,000 to the treasurer. The new association is known as the Farmers' Educational & Cooperative Union of Nebraska.

Some idea of the strength of this association may be gained from the knowledge that it comprises seven farmers' union locals lying around this city. These locals are the Lake local, Prairie Creek local, Sand Krog local, Pleasant Ridge local, Center local, Harmony local and the Island local.

John Schimmer has been chosen president of the cooperative union and Robert Niemoth is secretar}^ W. A. Hagge was elected one of the directors and also was made treasurer. Directors were named by choosing one man from each local union as follows : Lake, August Stoldt ; Prairie Creek, Emil Wegner ; Sand Krog, John Schimmer; Pleasant Ridge, Robert Niemoth ; Center, J. M. Black ; Harmony, August Schimmer; Island no director. The Island local did not wish to put a director on the board.

The committee which has been working on the cooperative union for two years cooperated with County Agent White in getting Mr. Filley here from the state farm to assist in organizing.

The object of the new association is to buy, sell, store, ship and handle grain, grain products and farm necessities. The capital stock is $60,000 with $20,000 paid in. Each share has a par value of $100. Only persons belonging to one of the seven farmers' unions can join the association and no one may hold more than five shares of stock.

The board of directors is now arranging for a proper site on which to build a warehouse and elevator, and is seeking a manager for the elevator.

Each local will still exist in its own locality. Two years ago the locals interested in this association appointed a committee to get action on reorganization, but the war prevented completion of their plans.

This is the second cooperative elevator association formed in Hall County this season. Wood River organized one about three weeks ago. Doniphan has three cooperative elevators, the newest one being formed last year.

"This association may help prices for the farmers' products and for his purchases at the place where they belong," remarked one of the men interested in the organization.

It is understood the association hopes in the future to do much cooperative buying and selling along general lines. It is expected the strength of the association will give it a chance to make big wholesale purchases of coal, lumber, groceries, farm implements, and other necessities.

The stockholders who signed the articles of incorporation of The Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of Grand Island were John Schimmer, J. M. Black, Robert Niemoth, August Stoldt, August Schimmer, Emil Wagner, J. M. Hanssen, Otto Guenther, Arthur Roby, Hans H. Gulzow, Fred J. Hagge, Henry Frauen, Walter Scherzberg, Fred Moeller, C. R. Culbertson, Henry C. J. Stolle, A. J. Niemoth, Albert Gosda, Ernest Ostermeier, Emil Hann, D. L. Engleman, Henry Knuth, B. C. Newtson. Fred A. Buchfinck, Henry Buettner, H. W. Bockbrader, Gustav Roby, William Heesch, Henry Krohn, Fred H. Gosda, J. W. Rathban, Ernest Matthiesen, Richard Gosda, Nicholas Kaufman, H. C. Busboom, C. Hongsemeier, E. F. Niemoth, Chris Niemoth, \\'m. F. Langenneder, Augvist Langenneder, Fred Stoltenberg, William Blaise, Fred Schoel, Henry Ewaldt, Reinhard Kunze, Wm. Vogel, Wm. N. Gulzow, Elmer Gosda, P. Sanders, August Rener, John Falldorf, Wm. Niedfeldt, Wm. J. Rief, Dick Niedfelt, John Schuller, Wm. H. Buttner, John Baasch, Charles Muller, G. C. Heine, T. W. Heine, Jacob Shipman, Ed Stuhr, Julius Mathiesen and Wm. Wrage. A site has been secured for elevator on West Front street.

Wood River Co-Operative Grain Co

A movement was perfected at Wood River in the organization of the Wood River Cooperative Grain Co. for purpose of handhng and shipping grain, farm produce, coal, live stock, and farm supplies. The incorporators who signed the articles on May 8, 1919 were William A. Bouton, Thos. P. Hoye, Jas. G. Kunz, Henry W. Wiese, Wm. B. Parks, Wm. A. Francis, M. J. McDermott.

Cairo

Farm.ers Mercantile co. at Cairo was organized for a general mercantile and shipping business. The incorporators on June 13, 1919, were Max J. Voss, Glenn C. Roberts, John M. Veeder, M. A. Benton and Frank J. Veeder.