Beautiful Beatrice

The Magnet City of Nebraska and the Capital of Gage County

Beatrice, Nebraska, June 20 – Special Correspondence of the Herald)

In writing a sketch of this city it is not improper to mention that it is well named, and in endeavoring to sustain the allegation it can be said that several times in the ages past, from 1200 down to the nineteenth century history tells us of one or two women who have borne the name with the inconsiderable distinction.

Dante, the poet who lived in the Twelfth century, met and loved Beatrice Portinnri, a lady of Florence.  Dante was said to have been born under the “twins” a stellar constellation, which fact the astrologers claimed was favorable to the literary pursuits of the embryo poet, alleging that “the glorious stars were pregnant with virtue to whom he—Dante—owes genius such as it is”.

Dante himself weaves a delightful romance around his own and the life of the young girl for whom he conceived the strongest affection.  He writes:  “My eyes, my soul that in her looks found all contentment.”

The reader will remember the story as the poet himself tells it in his “young life.”  He describes how he first met Beatrice a child, himself a child; how he sought her glances; how he once greeted her in the street; how he feigned to hid his true love; how he fell into and saw in a dream the death and transfiguration of his beloved; how she died and how his health failed from sorrow;   how the tender compassion of another lady nearly won his heart from his first affection for Beatrice; how she appeared to him in a vision and reclaimed his heart, and how at last he saw a vision which induced him to study that he might be more ilt to go to “Glorify her who gazes on the face of God forever.”

Few there re who, familiar with the lines of the great poet, do not allow their minds to go back to  those pages, the product of his gifted pen, upon hearing the name of Beatrice, whom he chose to call “The Glorious Lady of His Mind” representing her as “His Guide Through Paradise.”

Many readers will link the name upon seeing it in print, with the Cenci incident of the sixteenth century.  It was at that period that a beautiful young, 14 years old, was repeatedly; nay “constantly maltreated and for rued without cause by her beastly unnatural father; and who appealing fruitlessly to the pope for freedom from persecution, she with other members of her family alike abused, plotted and carried out the assassination of her brutal parent while he slept under the influence of an opiate adroitly administered.  An outside accomplice whom Beatrice induced and finally forced by taunts when he was disposed to weaken, to do the killing by driving spikes into and through the sleeping villain.  And which after death were drawn out by Beatrice herself.  This man became frightened and was induced to give the whole plot away, which resulted in the death of the Cenci children, Beatrice having her head cut off.

It is said that Roman palaces today contain the painting of a beautiful girl—the personification of maidenly purity.  The gaze of the tourist relaxes some of its sympathizing interest as his mind dwells on the sad story and his eye continues to rest on the sweet fact of the “Fair Parricide.”

Then, too, will be remembered the incident under which the town was actually given its pretty name. 

Can any of the old settlers forget, or any of their children lose interest in the story read on the historic pages which tell of the city’s birth.  What a picture for our imagination to paint—of a little, sunny-faced, light-hearted girl, paddling and splashing in the clear waters of the Blue, while the pioneer fathers in camp council assembled discussed and disposed of momentous questions bearing upon safety of red men and the firm establishment of a great city.

“Twas a happy thought that this child as we pictured her should have her name given to that which in after years grew into beauty as more of a city she became just as the same years fashioned Beatrice, the judge’s daughter, from an innocent child into a graceful girl and a pure woman.

However well the girls may have taken care of the name, adding in instances, and increased luster as from children they pass into womanhood.

The third city of Nebraska, with jealous care has, from its baptismal bestowal, ever guarded it.  Soon progress came to dwell within her gates, until now you rarely hear of Beatrice, unless is told some new accomplishment—some new step forward.

Here, where in 1857 a handful of men when into camp, hath grown a city of 12,000 people with all that such a people can make it. 

In large business blocks, built of brick and stone, we find stores on a metropolitan scale, the artistic display of the goods as well as the character and grade telling the story as it only can be told of the results of a combination of enterprise and thrift.

 The vehicle rolls along over paved streets, shaded by trees and lighted by gas and electricity, smoke from tall chimneys tells the tale of the factory humming along, and giving employment to the working populace.  Street railways convey the citizen to his home, distant from his place of business. 

School buildings, adequate to the wants of the growing city, equipped with an efficient force of teachers, insure the educations requirement of an intellectual community.

The residences are built not only with a view to comfort and utility within, but the exterior shows commendable attempts at architectural adornment.  This fact, indeed, applies to the churches, hotels

and other building which strikingly illustrate the beauties of modern design. 

The city is provided with first-class water works, the water being pumped from the Blue River by the Holly system, filtered and run through seven miles of mains, care being taken to amply provide for the want of the people in the ordinary use of water and for the city in case of fire, the pressure being arranged to meet any emergency.  The capacity is 2,000,000 gallons per day, and the cost $100.000.00.

The river coursing through the valley beautifies and makes attractive the entire vicinity.  In it the tiny tribe disports themselves in their own glee, as well as for the sport of would be anglers.  The stream here and there widens, taking the aspect of miniature lakes.  Beatrice, the Florentine beauty of illustrious family; the ideal of Dante’s platonic fancy, would scarcely be more admired on canvas than would some of the landscapes in and around the city, were they penciled by artistic touch. 

But the city is not more naturally favored or artistically adorned than are her people industrious and contented as is evidenced from the start she has already made in manufacturing.

The Sewer Pipe works employ 80 hands, and can manufacture in one year pipe to the amount of $200,000.  The paving brick made by this company have come into almost general use in Nebraska cities.

A company has been recently organized for the exclusive manufacture of paving and building brick, the capital stock being $100,000.  The company will have a large field with which to supply their product.

A canning factory makes an immense market for about ten thousand loads of vegetables per season.  Three hundred hands are engaged in the work of turning out three million cans of corn, peas and tomatoes in a season.

An extensive wind mill manufacturing plant employs sixty workmen, turning out some two thousand mills per year besides tanks, pumps and other fixtures.

A flouring mill with the capacity of 100 barrels per day supplies not only the home demand, but ships to all the surrounding towns, not infrequently by the car load.

But a short year ago the citizens advertised that they would assist in promoting any new manufacturing enterprise suitable to the section, in response to which there has been build and full equipped an oat meal mill.  It is thought that the demand of this immediate section will consume the entire output of one hundred barrels per day.

An eastern syndicate has accepted the plans for and immense paper mill which will be a 50x103 four story brick and will engage in the manufacture of paper under an entirely new process by

Which, it is said, one third will be saved.  The site selected is at the new water power two miles south of the city on the Blue River and the company expect to be in operation by October first.

The entire cost of the plant will be $70,000 and will employ some fifty hands.

The paper company have also in view the opening of the cement quarries on their grounds and the manufacture of cement in large quantities.

Preparations are completed for the erection of an extensive starch factory, the only one in the state.  The company operating this enterprise is composed of men who have spent the best years of their life in manufacture of starch and therefore bring with them valuable experience.  The company has accepted plans and invited bids for their buildings, and in a few months the factory will be in operation, still enhancing the industrial character of the city.

In addition to these substantial concerns there are many factories of lesser note; but in the aggregate they furnish employment for upwards of 1,000 people.

The citizens of Beatrice are able to hold out unexceptional inducements for the building an operation of a woolen mill, pointing with pardonable pride to their county sheep raising industry. 

Flax is extensively raised; so much so that the citizens speak wit confidence as to the admirable location for a linseed oil mill.  In the nine counties tributary to this city 610,000 bushels of flax was raised in one year.

A large farm implement and wagon factory would do well here, this being the most extensive distributing point in the state west of Omaha.

There is room for a packing house on an extensive scale, as over 100,000 hogs and 80,000 head of cattle are shipped annually from this vicinity.

“Have you water power?” is a question which Eastern manufacturers ask of the advocates of Western towns.

It is an easy query to answer so far as Beatrice is concerned.  The sum of much of the machinery receives its momentum by the agency of the water wheel. So that a practical illustration of this advantage is afforded.

The Blue River flows through several excellent manufacturing sites, the value of which is greatly enhanced because of its being adjacent to the railroads.  One dam is built in the main part of the city, while another is being erected by the paper company.  Three great railway systems make their way through this admirable manufacturing site and all are of easy access being with 300 feet of the water.

The different railroads entering Beatrice make the city easy of access.  The numerous passenger trains as well as the freights that carry passengers, rendering it possible for one to go and come almost at his convenience.  The city is accredited with unusual facilities, both in passenger traffic and in shipments of freight.  The Great Rock Island furnishes the city with a line east via St. Joe and to Denver and the west.  The Union Pacific reaches into the territory tributary to Kansas City, to Lincoln and the north.  The same line gives quick transit to the Pacific coast.  The outlet of the Burlington and Missouri River is north, south, east and west.

Thus it will be seen that Beatrice is splendidly equipped with railroads.  There is now a project on foot to extend the Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern from Summerfield to this point and on to the Black Hills, thereby making a vast northern country tributary to this city.

 Hence with all these competing lines insuring cheap transportation; the magnificent water power furnished by the Blue River; an almost inexhaustible supply of all sorts of raw materials must at once convince the fair minded that Beatrice has an unusual number of advantages to offer the Merchant and the manufacturer and that the character of such advantages is that which must insure great benefit.

All these things and many more point to one object, and that Beatrice will secure in becoming within the next half decade the manufacturing metropolis of Central Nebraska.

The banking business of the city is handled by five financial houses, the money employed as capital reaching an aggregate of $500,000.  Their transactions are on a safe basis and kept within the bounds of security.

No boom Idiocy is allowed to disturb the quiescent, healthy state of the finances so that investors and depositors are kept in a friendly as well as contented mood, relying on the city financiers to properly regulate matters in their line.                                   

Two of the banks operate savings features of their business by which small sums may be safely cared for and on which interest is made to accrue, so that in place of being frittered away by those who labor industriously to earn a livelihood, it is not only laid away for possible emergencies, but becomes a source of revenues which any sensible, thrifty man must highly appreciate.

The banks too, have kept pace with the times.  Money does not clear itself in any old fashioned way in Beatrice, but modern buildings and bank apparatus by which celerity and security are assured, are brought into use.

The banks together issue nearly twenty million dollars of exchange per annum.

The Beatrice Club, an organization for social purposes, has furnished several rooms in a sumptuous manner with an equipment of card and billiard tables.  The membership is 75.

Visitors to the city-friends of members are cordially entertained.  An elegant club house, by a Beatrice syndicate, is confidently talked of the coming year.

Investments in Beatrice properties must prove to be a lucrative employment of money.  Business lots 25X140 bring from $150 to $400 a front foot.  Residence sites in desirable parts of the city readily sell for from $300 to $2,000 per lot.

The permanent improvements now being made as well as those planned for the near future give realties a healthy tone which is sought to be preserved without having it assume the fictitious phase which has so often resulted in the ruination of Western towns started on such quick-sand foundations.

The lavish hand with which dame nature has beautified portions of the city, seemingly having herself selected such for homes, secures ready buyers, who, not building themselves, readily dispose of the property profitably.

Some fifty residences and several stone and brick business blocks are being built..

The total valuation of both real and personal property in the city is $13,500,000.

Contiguity with the retail trade and shipping facilities must recommend Beatrice as a wholesale centre.

We have already written of the railroads which enter the city and of the prospects of more coming in.

There are few points susceptible of greater advantages for distributing, and wholesales looking for a location would find much in Beatrice to commend for that purpose.

The natural location of the city being built upon an eminence from which there is a gentle slope entirely around it, and sided by artificial means in the shape of several miles of sewerage, Beatrice has an advantage.

In this respect of no inconsiderable importance and which strengthens her claim of being able to make the sanitary condition of the city beyond reproach.

Within the last year has been built the Paddock Hotel, which is admitted by all who have availed themselves of its hospitality to be one of the most complete in Nebraska, having all the modern improvement of the day.  It is managed by Messrs. E. K. Criley & Company, who also operates the Windsor at Lincoln.  The dining room is an object on which money has been lavished in the successful attempt to make that appointment a leading one, and herein perfection has well nigh been attained.  The table, under skillful hands is supplied with all that goes to make a weary sojourner forget that travel robs one of home comforts.  The office, elevator and electric bell equipment, is well selected and arranged, while the rooms, of which there are a large number, are furnished for comfort in a substantial manner, and are of easy access to several fire escapes with which the house is provided.

In connection with the hotel, built in a sort of “L” on the same block is almost completed an Opera House of which the citizens are justly pleased, the stage, acoustic, and seating arrangements having all the features of modern play house improvement.

The hotel cost $150,000 and was opened in April last.

To not inconsiderable extent the substantial growth of Beatrice has been fostered by Senator A. S. Paddock, now serving his second term in the United States Senate, and who has a handsome residence in town.  The hotel which bears his name and the opera house almost completed near themselves monuments to his enterprise, and are the products of his capital.

In addition to the Paddock, there are other first-class hotels of long and favorable standing, the Grand Central and the Randal continuing to sustain a favorable reputation.

Altogether the hotel accommodations of the city amply meet the requirements of the traveling public or of visiting bodies.

One hundred and fifty thousand dollars are invested in school buildings, in which 2,500 pupils

Are educated by thirty-two teachers.  Their course embraces all grades including high school, the graduates of which receive admission into the freshman class of the state university without examination, and several by special examination, have entered immediately upon their studies in the sophomore class.

Beatrice is not deficient in those prerequisites which enter into the social and religious foundation of the city’s progress. Over $125,000 have been expended in the erection of church buildings, in which worship nearly all the different denominations found in any city of Nebraska or elsewhere.

The ornate character of the buildings has been preserved almost throughout the interior being decorated with pleasing effect and arranged for comfort and convenience.

Within the city are lodges of all the prominent orders of the day, which from time immemorial have been mighty factors in the country’s social advancement.

Through the medium of the newspaper the advancing steps of the city have been accurately recorded daily and weekly.  Literary ability, newspaper experience and inventive genius in printing machinery has given incalculable aid in commercial momentum.

New life and vigor has been instilled into the Daily Express by its new owners, into whose hands the entire plant passed last March.  The sole possession and control is now vested in the Beatrice Express publishing company, of which W. C. Strohin is president, and A. C. Jordon, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Jordon is also the managing editor, and his facile finish to editorial matters attracts favor and fair criticism.

City matters are in charge of Mr. S. S. Peters, who make and fills his own assignment with journalistic precision.

The Democrat, daily and weekly, has since 1879 carried news, local and world wide, into thousands of homes.  The managing editor and proprietor is George P. Marvin, from whose profound pen flows pure democracy.  Carson Cole fills the capacity of city editor with expert ability and pleasing manner.

There are also, firmly entrenched in popular favor, the Weekly Republican, the Woman’s

Tribune, the Free Lance, and the News.

The interests of the city have been and are being looked after by the board of trade, and organization composed of five, go-ahead men of the city.  The prosperity of the town is the only object in view, and the accomplishments of the board have been sufficient to give commercial impetus and manufacturing vitality to the city.  Regular meetings are held at which new phases of municipal growth are discussed intelligently, and plans adopted for securing new enterprises.

The Beatrice traveling men’s club is an organization of the present year and has already done much to popularize this city of its home as a place for business and homes.  They have a suite of rooms handsomely furnished with rendl grand writing room, billiard room and reception parlors.  Friends and members are always welcome to these rooms.

O. E. Kreislinger ably fills the official position of Mayor, and the city council is composed of representative citizens.  They are:  G. L. Cole, John Shaw, L. E. Walker, C. G. Dorsey, J. T. Phillips, R. J. Smith, J. S. Grable and William Ebright.  The city hall and jail is a substantial brick structure, cost $10,000.

In her wisdom the great state of Nebraska delegated to the city of Beatrice the care of those objects for which human pity goes out unrestrained and for whom the heart swells in amelioration.  Deep sympathy must be the feeling of all who understand the capacity of a healthy brain when they think of a child born with a clouded mind, and that we should, by all the means which genius and science, aided by kindness and forbearance, brings into usefulness, lighten the burden and brighten the days of these unfortunates in the work of noble purpose and divine direction.

In this cause the state has enlisted by appropriating $80,000 for the erection and maintenance of an institution for the feeble-minded children of the state.  Beatrice was selected as the location for the commendable charity, and the buildings were rapidly pushed forward to completion, so that today upwards of 130 reason bereft children, in ages ranging from 5 to 18 years, are being educated so that at least some of the enjoyments of life may in a measure be seen.

The institution and children are under the care of Dr. J. T. Armstrong and a corps of teachers and assistants; and much is being accomplished for those helpless wards of the commonwealth.

The first session of the Beatrice Chautauqua Assembly commenced on Friday, June 28, and will close July 9.

This is another Beatrice enterprise and an abundance of Beatrice capital has been provided by leading business men to make it the success that is already assured.  It is presided over by Bishop Newman of Omaha, Mr. S. S. Green of Beatrice being the secretary.  The executive committee is composed of Rev. S. D. Robert, J. L. Taft, W. D. Nichols, J. S. Grable and S. S. Green.

Riverside Park, just outside the city limits, a delightful retreat, has been selected for the location of the assembly.  It is on the south bank of the picturesque Blue River and is further made charming by a smaller, stream forming itself into nooks and bends within the ninety acres of the park.

The tabernacle is 92X132 and stands on a pleasing plateau position.  The study halls being situated in different portions of the grove.

Those who seek contentment in a brief respite from care and toll, cannot more joyfully find the diversion needed, than to spend eleven days along the shores of the shores of the Blue, or in the retreats of Riverside Park, where is spread a great literary feast, and is encamped age intellectual

Army.

Gage County, in which is located Beatrice, abounds in the agricultural lands, and as to stock, crops and fruit, there is little danger of writing these products in language too strong.

Underneath, too, lays mineral wealth, the builder being supplied almost in measureless quantities of lime, rock and clay.

Railroads, six in number, trace their way through the county, while others in prospect will soon add to the already first-class facilities for moving to market that which is, produced in abundance from the fertile soil, and for bringing in needed foreign supplies.

No county in the central part of Nebraska boast of as many fine horses as Gage County.  Among the more notable horses may be mentioned the handsome chestnut stallion, Chit wood, owned by Captain W. H. Ashby (see special article.)  The dark bay stallion, Counsellor, owned by J. G. Ladd and Son, has won a reputation all over the West.

Dr. A. C. Sabin owns a bay 2 year old stallion that has all the points required to make him one of the best horses in the nation.  He is called Sabin’s Counsellor, is of royal horse blood and bound to be a winner this fall at the races.  One of the sights of interest to all visitors of Beatrice are the Arabian Stables of General L. W. Colby.  Among the beautiful specimens of horse flesh of Arabian blood is the famous Linden Trec given General Grant while abroad. There are many other stables in and about Beatrice, all containing fine horses.

The County officials are:  E. J. Roderick, Treasurer

George Emery, Clerk

O. M. Eslow, Judge

Ed. Hayes, Register of Deeds

Fny Davis, Sheriff.

A new court house to cost $100,000 will in a few months occupy the site of the old one.

One river, the Blue, waters the land, field and forest alike,  In varied green testify its efficiency, while here and there the stream is guided over the wheel which turns, giving its great power to whatever enterprise has enlisted it into manufacturing.

Gage County is twenty-four by thirty-six miles in extent and of its 552,900 acres, 302,210 are improved.  The county was settled in 1857, since when all the government and railroad lands have been taken up and now form farms then which none better are in the length and breadth of the land.  The character of the farm buildings indicate thrift and prosperity and the wayfarer lingering to admire, the traveler speeding through by stream or the capitalist investigating to invest naturally falls into the error that settlement was made fully a half century ago.

Progress as evinced in the up building of Western town excite national wonderment.  Even Eastern people, who from and impression given, perhaps by Bill Cody’s Wild West shows, forget to get pale around the gills at the mere mention of the almost obliterated aborigine and the no less unloved cattle boy and cow girl.

Visiting Beatrice they find she has passed the giddy period and has matured her municipality into symmetrical beauty and in undisputed possession of Nebraska’s Eden.  Prosperity through the day and peace by night keeps her company.  While intelligence prevails because of the school she teaches.  Her faith beams through partly colored glass in church windows.  Charity—Christ’s favorite of the three graces—is one of her instincts and her walks take her to the haunts of the unfortunate, where the clouded mind and the palsied brain peek out of their darkness in grateful recognition.  The future’s horizon is not always cloudless neither are the rifts undiscovered.  She bears no ill will toward the New Englander who jeers at the “rowdy west, nor for her somewhat envious city cousins, who are rain to call her coquettish.

The very pink of politeness, she welcomes all within, refreshes them at the sumptuous board, sings in her own hall for their entertainment and amuses them on her own stage.

As such, kind render, we introduce Beatrice.  Not Dante’s  idol; not Cenci’s victim of the block; nor yet the child of the Pioneer land, but Beatrice, Nebraska, third daughter of the bright star—one of Uncle Sam’s constellations.

Such a city could not have reached its high commercial altitude and its proud social position without numbering among it citizens men with money and brains, to make it what is has become and, taking this view of the matter, believing in the eternal tilnems of things.  Such character and the institutions presided over by them should make the subject of mention in these lines and they are therefore given place as follows:

The First National Bank.  The business pulse of the community registers its force, its vital energy and its invincible report of the commercial body at the bank counter, as surely as the heart throb makes its infallible record of physical status at the wrist.  The importance and high standing of a banking business of a city is a reliable barometer of its material advancement and prosperity.

The first National Bank of Beatrice, lent its stimulus to the trade and commerce of the city in 1872, when Messrs J. E. and S. C. Smith introduced and firmly entrenched themselves in the confidence of this community, while successfully conducting a private banking business.  These active business relations grew and centered such a vast field that in 1877 it was deemed a step of policy to organize a national bank so that the First National Bank of today with credentials at hand which show that with a cash capital of $100,000 it has a surplus of $20,000 and is handsomely equipped to meet such demands as business in varying moods my make upon it.

The Omaha Daily Herald – June 30, 1889