AS A WHOLESALE POINT.

     Why Hastings should become an important wholesale point, or why such a point should be established nearer the central or western portion of the State, lies in the fact that western merchants purchase their goods as they need them, making small but frequent orders, Hastings being one hundred miles nearer these merchants than any other jobbing point saves them at least two days, and in most instances three days, between the date of order and the receipt of goods. Being situated upon a railroad connecting with every town within the territory tributary to this city, the delay consequent upon transfer of goods from one line to another is saved. There is also a saving in freight from the same cause It must not be understood from the above that Hastings has no wholesale houses. Two wholesale grocery houses are doing a good and satisfactory business. A wholesale hardware house keeps three men constantly upon the road.
     Two wholesale harness and saddlery houses have agents employed in the territory contiguous and tributary to this city, and sell ready-made harness in five western states. There is room for more wholesale business, and Hastings should and will soon become as prominent in this line as any of her older competitors.

PROSPECTIVE ADVANTAGES.

     The opening of the deep harbor at Galveston, Texas, will place Nebraska's grain much nearer ocean navigation than heretofore. Instead of an all rail route via Chicago to the sea board at New York or Boston, the opening of the Galveston harbor will place us within less than half the distance of an ocean seaport. Our cars will go to Galveston loaded with grain, pork, and beef, and be returned to us loaded with tropical fruits, the importations from the South American States, the lumber from Arkansas, and iron from Alabama. More ocean navigation and less rail navigation will lessen freights and raise the price of farm products. Direct connections with the extensive pineries of Arkansas will cheapen the price of lumber and thus benefit the agricultural interests of Nebraska. The day is not far distant when Galveston will be the grain port of the western world. The opening of that port will inaugurate a new system of railroad building and the trade of the western States will be with the gulf cities instead of Chicago. Baltimore, New York and Boston. The lumber business alone will be of great advantage to Nebraska.

A PAINT MILL.

     With a bed of yellow ochre thirty-five feet in depth and only 240 feet beneath the surface, and of a quality equal to the best French ochre, and an excellent flax-producing country, a large paint mill will be operated here.

WHAT HASTINGS NEEDS,

     Hastings affords a grand opportunity for profitable investment in several enterprises. Among these are:

An oatmeal mill.
A canning factory.
A creamery.
A soap factory.
A packing house.
A brewery.
A distillery.
A tannery.
A starch factory.
A paper mill.
A shoe factory.
A furniture factory.
An implement factory.
An oil-cake mill.
A linseed oil mill.
A beet sugar factory.
A vinegar works.
A rope-walk.
More wholesale houses.
A sewing machine factory.
A brass foundry.
A bicycle factory.
A cracker factory.
A mammoth grain warehouse:
A shirt factory.
A husk mattress factory.
Several other manufactories, employing capital and skilled labor.

     To the proper, experienced persons, assistant capital and reasonable encouragement will be given.
     The material for most of these enterprises is here. For others named above, the raw material can be shipped here and manufactured cheaper than the same goods can be manufactured in the East and shipped here.
      Look over these wants and see if you cannot take advantage of the situation and secure a good paying and profitable investment.

A CREAMERY.

     One of the needed things at Hastings is a creamery. The milk from 12,000 to 15.000 cows can be delivered at Hastings every day. There is all the time a good demand for creamery butter at Denver for the mountain trade. Any eastern man who understands the creamery business can establish

himself in a good paying business by taking advantage of the opportunity here offered.

ELECTRIC LIGHT,

     Hastings was the second city in Nebraska to adopt the electric light system of street lighting. This was more than seven years ago. We now have the incandescent system also. The electric light plant is one of the most complete in the West. At present the electricity is generated by steam power, but a syndicate has been formed for the purpose of putting in a darn in the Blue River, where water power will be used in place of steam and the electric current transmitted to this city.

GROWTH OF POPULATION.

     The following table from the State and national census shows the wonderful increase in population:

UNION CLUB ROOMS.

     The finest social club rooms in the State are located here. All the eastern and western daily papers, the latest and most popular magazines and story papers are found upon the tables. Card tables, billiard tables, and other means of social enjoyment and recreation are furnished. The visiting stranger is always welcome to call.

ADAMS COUNTY.

     The county of which Hastings is the county seat is one of the best in an extensive agricultural belt. The county is twenty-four miles square, and ninety-five per cent. of it is fine, level farm land, easy of cultivation, The other five per cent. is occupied by creeks or rivers, and the uncultivatable portion of this makes excellent grazing ground. Besides Hastings there are eight other towns and villages, all containing good business houses and are good trading points. Adams County does not boast of mineral wealth hidden beneath the surface, yet there is beneath the city of Hastings an ochre bed and salt vein, both of which will ultimately be worked to good advantage and at a profit. Adams County is an agricultural and live stock county.
     The following extracts from an abstract of the county assessor's returns for 1891 will be found interesting and instructive. The abstract shows that in the county are:

     A very low and reasonable estimate of the crop product for the present year would give the following in bushels:

     The county finances are in excellent condition. According to the treasurer's report of June 30, 1891, there were $107,010.20 in the treasury. County warrants are at par, and interest upon all outstanding warrants stopped. There are but few outstanding warrants, all having been called in more than a year ago.
     In the banks of the county, subject to draft or check, to the credit of citizens of the county, there was on July 1, 1891, $1,062,500, or $43.72 per capita. All of the above figures are from the sworn statements of the proper county and bank officers, and may be relied upon as actually correct. In judging of the actual valuation of any portion of Nebraska it must be taken into consideration that no where is the assessment expected to be more than twenty per cent. of the actual cash valuation. It must also be considered that at the time the assessment is made there is but little surplus grain or produce left over. Upon this basis it is not unreasonable to place Adams County's actual valuation at $20,000,000.

REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS FIRMS AND MEN OF HASTINGS

     McKINLEY-LANNING LOAN & TRUST COMPANY, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania--The McKinley. Lanning Loan & Trust Company of Girard building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was established in 1879 and incorporated in 1888. Capital, $500,000. Western office, Hastings,

Nebraska. First mortgage farm loans a specialty. Choice municipal securities negotiated. Correspondence solicited. The officers are: W. H. Lanning, president, Hastings, Neb.; T. W. Marshall, first vice-president, West Chester, Penn.; E. L. Stevens. second vice-president, Rome, New York; Wm. P. Huston. secretary, Philadelphia, Penn.; W. H. Carnalian, treasurer and assistant secretary, Hastings, Neb. The facilities they have for successfully conducting the large business are very complete whereby they are enabled to offer customers advantages difficult, if not impossible, to duplicate. W. H. Lanning. president and manager, is a native of Ohio. and has been well-known in this city since 1878. He is a Mason, energetic, and fair in all transactions, while to his judicious judgment must be attributed the success this concern has achieved.

     NEBRASKA LOAN & TRUST COMPANY.--Prominent among the loan and trust companies of to-day is the well-known and highly indorsed Nebraska, Loan & Trust Co., which is regarded by all as a pillar of financial strength. It was established in 1882, with a paid up capital of $500,000.00 and guarantee fund of $136,468.00. Its investments are in real estate, loans and other first-class securities. Guaranteed first mortgages and debenture bonds for sale. James N. Clarke, president, born in Pennsylvania; D. M. McElhinney, vice-president, who came here from Pennsylvania, is a capitalist; Edwin C. Webster, treasurer, and Charles P. Webster, cashier, came here from Ontario County, N. Y. This company employs fifteen hands in their office, which they built and is one of the handsomest in the State. Their success is due largely to the fact that they conduct their affairs on the soundest principles and their agreeable manner to all makes it pleasant to visit them in their nicely appointed quarters.

     CRYSTAL LAKE ICE COMPANY, 315 Second Street--The ice business is one of the most important factors of metropolitan commerce, giving employment to large capital and much business ability. The Crystal Lake Ice Company, 315 Second Street, was organized the first of July, 1891, and has enjoyed a well merited degree of public favor since. F. A. Sweezy, president, and F. L. Griffing, secretary and treasurer, are natives of New York.

They are wholesale and retail ice dealers, and harvest their ice from the Blue River, when they employ at least forty hands. They enjoy the esteem of their many customers as painstaking and honorable gentlemen. They are a Hastings institution; they are hereto stay and have plenty of good ice; will sell it reasonably and try to accommodate you, and they want your patronage.

     L. A. KINNEY & CO., Wholesale Dealers in Foreign, California and Tropical Fruits, Manufacturers of Fine Candies 315 East Second Street --A leading enterprise in the city of Hastings is that of L. A. Kinney & Co., successors to the Hastings Fruit & Candy Co. The concern has been founded five years, and occupies premises 20 x 120 feet. They do an extensive wholesale business in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado in foreign, California and tropical fruits. Specialties: Oranges, lemons, bananas, cider, nuts, etc., fine confectionery, etc. They are also manufacturers of fine candies. Mr. Kinney is a native of Wisconsin, and is a Mason and an I. O. O. F. The transactions of this firm are based on the cardinal principles of honor and probity, and their success is but the natural result of their legitimate deserts.

     HASTINGS FUEL CO.--The fuel trade is one of the most important in the United States, and probably gives employment to more people than any other line of business. The Hastings Fuel Co. was started August 26, 1890, being the successors to H. L. Edwards. The deal in all kinds of fuel: Canon City, Rock Springs, White Breast, Rouse, Eastern and Western hard coal, blacksmith and charcoal. Five assistants are required to meet the demands of the voluminous trade. Geo. Hocknell, president, is a native of New York, and is president of the First National Bank, McCook, Neb. B. M. Frees, treasurer, resides in Chicago. E. J. Pease, manager, is a native of Vermont, and is a Mason. He has been in this business fourteen years in Nebraska. He is practically experienced in every detail of the business, and is amply qualified for conducting the enterprise with ever-increasing success.

      MICHEL A. HARTIGAN, Lawyer.--This gentleman is one of the most vigorous of the Hastings bar. and during his career in the city has conducted several large cases to a success-