tiful Nature which has bestowed many of her best gift's upon this rich and fertile section of the great state of Nebraska.

The men who have settled here and taken up the various vocations that go to make a town one of eminence, have all been of that enterprising, energetic nature, ever ready amd willing to take up any cause that might lend a chapter to the advancement and development of their home.

Less than thirty years ago on the spot where Cedar Rapids now stands, the prairie dogs constituted

mill, good opera house, large elevators, handsome residences, substantial business houses and broad streets with trees growing on either side.

It is a city of active business facilities, and there are reasons for its prosperity. The main reason is that it is surrounded with farms that yield bountiful harvests and is substantial in every way. It is not like manufacturing and shop towns that exist only on the laboring trade, but draws its commercial existence from the farmer and stock raiser.

Each year new houses are erected and new business firms go into operation. There is scarcely a vacant building within its limits.

It has a splendid waterworks system furnishing an abundance of water, with a reservoir stationed on a hill. The supply comes from a well near the river and is as pure as may be found on earth. Because of its pure water and the general cleanliness of the city few epidemics of disease have come to us. We have two banks, which stand high in financial circles. All lines of mercantile business are well represented, some of the merchants carrying stocks far superior to those carried in larger cities.

The church interests are represented by the Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Advent Christian, Catholic

and German Lutheran, the latter having no church edifice.

The Baptists have regular services every Lord's day, Sunday school at 2 o'clock and prayer meeting on Thursday evening, besides other minor announcements. A stranger is always greeted with a hearty welcome at this church. They own their church building and parsonage. The Methodist denomination have a neat church building and parsonage and a large congregation. Rev. Shacklock is the present minister, and has done much good here. The church organization is as large as

any in town, and all the members work harmoniously together.

The Advent Christian church is located in the south part of town. Elder J .J. Schamburg is the pastor in charge. He is a. young man but a logical talker. The church has recently been thoroughly renovated and decorated and is a credit to the city.

Perhaps the largest and most nobby arranged church in town is the Episcopal, presided over by Rev. A. Harper, Jr. It is a church of which the members should feel proud. The membership is large.

The Catholic people have a large and commodious house of worship and have just completed a handsome parsonage which adds much to the appearance of that part of the city. Rev. Father G. Vermeulen is young and energetic, and a sincere worker for the cause of Christianity--the upbuilding and betterment of mankind, He takes a deep interest in the spiritual wants and welfare of his members.

The Seventh Day Advents hold services from house to house, but have no church of their own.

As seen from the above paragraphs the spiritual wants of our people are well looked after. The next thing that a stranger contemplating moving into a neighborhood

inquires about is the educational advantages, and we want to stop right here and say that there is not a town in the state of Nebraska that has better schools than Cedar Rapids. Our school building is a large three story brick building, large rooms, good ventilation and its standard is recognized alongside of the best schools in the state. There are seven teachers, and only the best are employed.

The town is well represented with fraternal orders, nearly every lodge of consequence having a good membership.

Cedar Rapids has a commodious opera house, which affords a place for shows, conventions and other gatherings and would be a credit to a town much larger than this.

In the year of 1895 a system of water works was put in and this accounts for the beautiful lawns all over the town, and also affords the best protection against fires. The system is owned by the city, and is one of the best and cheapest in the west, being operated by water power.

To show that our people are enterprising and keep abreast with the times we have only to refer to our lighting system. The Cedar Rapids Improvement Company, with S. S. Hadley as business manager, erect-