CRETE, SALINE Co NEBRASKA
Immigrant Issue
Lincoln State Journal
Sunday 5 June 1887
Situated in Saline County on the Burlington and Missouri and Missouri
Pacific Railroads-Twenty Miles South West of Lincoln-Population Three
Thousand.
Crete, Saline County, Nebraska, is situated on the Big Blue river, a
deep rapid stream with high banks, affording very large water power
the year round. The city has a population of 3000 and the educational
institution, which has grown up with the city, has drawn in a
class of citizens, which make very desirable society. The business
portion of the city is situated on a level plateau about thirty feet
above the river. The residential portion rises gradually on either
side of the river to an elevation of about 120 feet, giving very fine
sewerage, and making healthful and attractive residence places.
Crete City has an well-organized system of public schools, with
competent teachers and superintendent. The German
Congregationalists of Nebraska have a seminary here, and Doane
college, under the auspices of the Congregationalists of Crete,
Nebraska, but non-sectarian in all its teachings, is well
equipped and provides excellent collegiate opportunities. It has
two large three story brick structures, one used for class rooms,
library and dormitory for the young men, the other the other,
built three years ago at a cost of $35,000, is a ladies hall with
a chapel in connection, built with all the modern improvements.
There is also a well equipped observatory and signal service,
with a United States signal officer in attendance.
Its curriculum compares favorably with eastern colleges. The
Nebraska Chautauqua, comprising 100 acres of shaded ground lying
in a most convenient locality, on the west side of the Blue
river, connected with city and railroad platform by sidewalk and
pontoon bridge, is permanently located here. Its annual sessions
are of two and three week's duration and command an average daily
attendance of from two to three thousand people. The very best
lecturers have been secured for the Command Assembly. Last year
the B and M Railroad ran two excursions per day from Lincoln and
others during the sessions, from Omaha, Plattsmouth, Beatrice and
Hastings. In all probability this is the most instructive and
popular summer gathering in the state, and in a few years will be
equal to the "Eastern Chautauqua" in attendance, which
are visited during a "camping out" session by more than
100,000 people.
One of the principal inducements we have to offer to eastern
capitalists is our most excellent waterpower. The Big Blue flows
through the eastern side of the county from north to south, a
distance of twenty-four miles, and has tributaries the West Blue river,
Turkey creek and Swan creek, flowing the entire length of the
county from east to west. Each of these is turning the wheels of
one or more flouring mills, yet not one-tenth of the waterpower is
utilized.
Two large, flourmills at Crete, only half a mile apart, with a
capacity of 200 barrels of flour per day are running night and
day. They ship in the bulk of the wheat, and send out many cars
of flour and feed during the year. At the mills, from 5 to
10 cents more than the Chicago market will bear, is paid for No.
two wheat. The freight bills paid by these mills to the B and M
company last year amounted to over $50,000. The waterpower will be
further utilized, during the present month, by lighting the city
by means of electric light. The city council having just closed a
contract with the Brush company to put in a plant for fifteen arc
and 150 incandescent lights for lighting the streets and business
houses.
The business houses are substantial brick structures and the
business interests represented, are up to the usual, live western
town of three or four thousand inhabitants. The businessmen are
energetic, push-ahead men who are bound to make the town come to
the front and will do it. Crete shipped, in 1888, 763 cars of
grain and seed, 665 cars of livestock and 380 cars of ice. This year
Crete has shipped over 400 cars of ice and has 375 carloads more
to ship. The freight paid to the Burlington and Missouri Railroad
Company last year, besides passenger traffic, was $327,000.
Crete is on the direct line of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy
railroad from Omaha to Denver, with a branch south to Kansas
City, giving it a direct Chicago, Kansas City and Denver market.
The Missouri Pacific railroad is now building into town, and will
go out in two ways, making Crete a division station with round
house and repair shops. One branch will go to the northwestern
part of the state, the other branch will go southwest to make the
Denver connection. This will be a main line of the Missouri Pacific
from Omaha to Denver. When connection is made with the Wabash
railroad, which is being rapidly pushed to completion, it will
give Crete two competing lines to Denver and Kansas City and
a through line to New Orleans, St. Louis or any point in Texas.
Among the other interests here, are the Crete nurseries, started
in 1887. They have such substantial growth that they now operate
580 acres and employ from 75 to 80 hands, paying over $20,000 a
year for labor. A large creamery is running to its full capacity
and making weekly shipments to New York City. Crete has six strong
churches, the Congregational, Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal, United
Brethren and Bethel. The Methodist people are now building a fine
new church that will cost $8,000.
There are two banks, the State and the First National. There is
no point in the west, which affords such inducements for
capitalists to locate manufacturing interests as in Crete. The
exceptional facilities for shipment, together with the
waterpower, make it a desirable point for any kind of manufacturing
industries.
A Branch of the large Rochester seed house has been established
here and has 150 acres planted this year. The city will, this
summer, put in a complete system of water works. Those who
contemplate locating in the west and value first class church and
educational facilities, together with an enterprising, go-ahead business
community, where capital invested will be sure to bring a good
remuneration, should visit Crete before locating.
