was the purpose of the publishers to make Omaha Illustrated a complete compendium of information, relating both to the early history of the city and to the Omaha of today. Every facility which could possibly contribute to this, was at hand. The library of Byron Reed,--itself a complete repository of Omaha history,--the writings of Dr. Geo. L. Miller, and many other valuable resources, were cheerfully rendered accessible, and what was of paramount importance, the work of editing was placed in the able hands of Alfred Sorenson, Esq., than whom there are few, if any, more competent to write upon the history of Omaha.
      Through no fault of the publishers there have been a few unavoidable omissions in the matter of illustrations, both portraits and buildings. Several prominent citizens whose portraits would have made the book more complete, were absent from the city until too late to admit of making engravings. The unfinished state of some few buildings, also, of which it was impossible to obtain even comprehensive drawings, rendered it impracticable to have satisfactory cuts made.
      Appreciating the expressed aversion of distinguished citizens for the gratuitous "pufting" which is usually indulged in by writers of personal sketches, it has been the endeavor of the publishers to confine biographies to a plain and brief review of the salient features of individual histories, and much of the data for this has of necessity been obtained from others than the subjects, by reason of their excusable reticence which imposed upon the publishers the rather difficult work of gathering information for sketches which the parties themselves could have easily furnished but for reasons of modesty.