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176

NEBRASKA'S ENTERPRISING CITIES.

American Bank	$100,000
Beatrice National Bank	100,000
German National Bank	100,000
First National Bank	100,000
People's Bank	100,000
Nebraska National Bank	100,000
Total	$600,000

Also two flourishing savings banks.

THE STREET CAR

system has for many years been operated on the old-time horse and mule plan. But by the time this work is in the hands of our readers, the most improved electric cars will be running to all parts of the city. The

SURROUNDING COUNTRY

is one of the richest sections of Nebrask (sic). It is not only a great agricultural district, but is a good fruit growing and stock raising country, while the earth contains an inexhaustable supply of pottery clay, brick clay, sand, building stone and lime rock. The

SOCIETY

of Beatrice is surpassed by no city in the west. It is a model "law and order" city, and a more courteous, progressive class of people is not to be found anywhere.

REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS FIRMS AND MEN OF BEATRICE.

     HARDY & WASSON, Lawyers, 505 Court Street, Telephone Number 155.--Albert Hardy is a native of New York State, and one of the most prominent lawyers in Nebraska, as the records of the Supreme Court abundantly testify. He has the benefit of a long and active experience, and has been one of Beatrice's citizens many years. He is the oldest lawyer in the Gage County Bar, and is president of the Gage County Bar Association, and a worthy member of the Masonic Craft. F. E. Wasson was born in Iowa, coming to Gage County six years ago, and has here a host of friends. He read law with Judge Hardy, now his partner, and was admitted to the bar in 1891. Mr. Wasson is fast gaining the confidence of the public. He was formerly engaged in contracting and building in this city, and is a man of push and energy. He belongs to the K. of L. and S. of V., and is a member of the Gage County Bar Association.

     BEATRICE STARCH COMPANY, Manufacturers of Laundry, Gloss and Corn Starch.--A leading industry of Nebraska, and the only institution of its kind west of Nebraska City, is the celebrated Beatrice Starch Works, which has done much to place this metropolis before the world as a great manufacturing center. This enterprise began its successful career in June, 1889, and in this short time has developed into one of the greatest manufacturing concerns of the West. The building is a large and commodious one supplied with the most improved machinery, and thirty hands are employed. The capacity is a half car load of starch per day, and 2,000 bushels of corn are used every week throughout the year, thus making an excellent market for the farmers of the surrounding country. The finest laundry, gloss and corn starch is manufactured, the sales extending to all parts of the United States, the main shipments being, however, to the West and South. Two salesmen are kept on the road, while brokers represent the interests of the company in all the leading Western and Southern cities. Mr. C. Stoll, the president, is resident in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. A. C. Scheiflich, the secretary and treasurer, is a native of Illinois, coming to this city in 1889. He is a pleasant, pushing business man, and the success of the works is largely due to his efforts. The starch of this institution compares with that of any similar concern in America.

     THE ARCADE. Warren & Ward, Proprietors, Dry Goods, Etc., 121 N 5th Street.--The ladies of this city do not consider a day's shopping complete without a visit to the popular Arcade, the temple of the latest styles. It has been only two years since Messrs. Warren and Ward came here as strangers and opened their dry goods emporium. But they came here with a determination to succeed and being young men of energy and courtesy, and thoroughly understanding their business, they at once jumped into popular favor, and have since been gradually nearing the top round of the commercial ladder. Their building measures 25x110 feet, in which is beautifully displayed an elegant $20,000 stock of plain and fancy dry goods, notions, and ladies' and gents' furnishings. Ten polite ladies and gentlemen preside over the various counters, and take pleasure in making visitors acquainted with the prevailing fashions and the low prices. Besides the large retail trade. some jobbing is also done, and dealings at this house bear a high flavor of probity. Mr. J. A. Warren is a native of Missouri, while Mr. John Ward was born in Ireland, and two more pleasant pushing young business men are not to be found in Beatrice. It is the goal of their ambition to please the customers, and that they are doing so is evidenced by the crowd that throngs this mart of trade at all hours in the day.

     BEATRICE LIGHT AND POWER CO., 509 Ella Street.--The people of Beatrice have just cause to be proud of the system by which the city is lighted, it being recognized as one of the most perfect in operation in the State. The gas company came into existence in 1885, while the electric light plant was established a year previous to that time, and thus they continued to operate independently until July 1, 1891, when the two concerns were consolidated, and incorporated with a capital stock of $250,000. In the spring of 1892 the capacity of the electric light plant was doubled, thus making the system still more complete. Ten miles of gas mains extend to all parts of the city,
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178

NEBRASKA'S ENTERPRISING CITIES.

while nearly fifty miles of wire and 100 arc and 2,000 incandescent lights are in operation. A large force of employes is kept busy, and the rates for gas and electric lights are both very low. The gentlemen who stand at the head of this important institution are wide-awake, nineteenth century business men. Mr. J. E. Smith, the president, is a prominent citizen, and the president of the First National and the Beatrice Savings Banks. Mr. Ed. P. Maxwell, the vice president, is treasurer of the Kearney Gas Co. The popular secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. S. Maxwell, may be found in the handsome office at 509 Ella Street, and those who meet him will form the acquaintance of a very pleasant man. He was originally from Dixon, Illinois, and was the founder of the gas works of this city. It is such enterprising men as these that transform a little country village into a cosmopolitan city.

     J. A. WILKINS, Real Estate, 401 East Court Street.--In order for a country to prosper, and cities to assume metropolitan proportions. it must have a good supply of wide-awake, progressive real estate dealers, such as Mr. J. A. Wilkins, of Beatrice. Mr. Wilkins came here eight years ago, and after devoting two dozen months to the service of the Exchange Bank, branched out in the present line, since which time he has made many important transactions in which the interested parties have been highly pleased with their bargains. He deals in farm and city property and western lands, and makes a specialty of organizing syndicates and sells and buys large tracts of lands. Mr. Wilkins is a native of Indiana, and since coming here has established an enviable reputation for honorable and reliable dealings. He is of a genial, energetic nature, and is what would be called, to use a western term, a "rustler." Next to the interests of his customers, comes the welfare of the city of his adoption, and parties will find it a real pleasure to deal with him. He is a member of the Beatrice Real Estate Exchange, and is a leader in realty circles.

     P. B. SPRAGUE, Dispensing Pharmacist, 509 .Court Street.--The largest, most complete and best arranged pharmacy in this city is that of Mr. P. B. Sprague, who came here from Red Oak, Iowa, and opened his business four years ago. He is the grandson of the first settler in Ohio, his grandfather having cut the first brush at Marietta in that State. Mr. Sprague has built up an extensive business both wholesale and retail. The building measures 25xl00 feet, with basement. All prescription drugs and chemicals are kept in cases of colored glass. The large stock represents an investment of from eight to ten thousand dollars and two polite clerks are employed. Mr. Sprague also sells seeds, particularly flax seed, having sold over 5,000 bushels last year. He handles by carload all the products of the celebrated Manitou, Colorado mineral water and the Excelsior Springs County, Missouri and is agent for the Sherwin & Williams mixed paints. A specialty is made of prescriptions, and a beautiful soda fountain is a valuable accession during the hot months. Mr. Sprague was orginally (sic) from Ohio, and is a pharmacist of seventeen years' experiences.

     W. G. BURNS, Dentist, 517 Court Street.--The oldest, and the leading dentist in Beatrice, is Dr. W. G. Burns, who has devoted thirty-five years to his profession. His family is connected with that of the great Scottish bard, and his father was president of Liber College, Iowa. and author of the well-known English grammar. He came to this city nine years ago. Dr. Burns is a native of the Buckeye State, and began the study of dentistry in 1857. taking a course in an Ohio dental college. His assistant is a graduate of the Chicago Dental College. At the breaking out of the war the doctor went to the front with Company G, 118th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and belongs to the G. A. R. He is an enterprising citizen, is honored by the public and his fellow practitioners alike, and is a member of the Nebraska State Dental Association.

     LINGLE & WHITNEY, Land, Loan, Collection and Insurance Agents, 500 Court Street.--A firm prominently identified and thoroughly conversant with all the details of the real estate business, is that of D. H. Lingle & Co., established two years ago. They deal in all kinds of farm and city property, and always have a list of excellent bargains to offer. They also have money to loan at low rates of interest, can write you insurance in three leading companies, the Continental, American Central, and the State, of Des Moines, while a specialty is made of collecting. Although this firm has been before the public but a short time, yet it has succeeded in winning the confidence of the people, and establishing a reputation for fair and honorable dealings. Mr. Lingle is a native of Iowa, and came here upon the opening of the business. Mr. D. L. Whitney came here from Illinois six years ago.

To all who want a western home,
we extend a hearty welcome; come!
A few dollars an acre here will buy
The finest land beneath the sky.
Come and see us--we'll tell you why,
This means business, by-the-by.

     CITY STEAM LAUNDRY, J. S. Ball & Co., Proprietors, 414 Ella Street.--In the City Steam Laundry the "Jet White" System was introduced on the 1st of January, 1892. By it the alkalis and mineral ingredient are eliminated from the water before contact with the clothes, the result being that the goods are not nearly so much worn and otherwise more satisfactory. This has added greatly to the popularity of this laundry which was founded two years ago, passing into the management of Mr. J. S. Ball in May, 1891. To use a western term, Mr. Ball is a "rustler," for by dealing fairly with the people, taking the best of care of the garments entrusted to him, and turning out first-class work, he has, in the few months he has been in charge of the laundry, placed it among the leading institutions of its kind in Eastern Nebraska. A room 25x80 feet is occupied, and fifteen hands are employed. The patronage

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BEATRICE

35

extends to all the surrounding towns, and prompt delivery forms an important feature. Mr. Ball was born in Vermont in 1834, and although he has been here only a year, yet he has made many friends, and become a leading business man. He belongs to the Masonic and I. O. O. F. orders.

     BEATRICE IRON WORKS, Horace Langdon, Proprietor.--A substantial and growing industry of this city is the Beatrice Iron Works and Foundry, well located at the foot of Market Street, on the line of the B. & M. Railway. Mr. Langdon is a practical machinist and understands his business thoroughly. He came to this city three years ago, and immediately established his business, the patronage now extending over the entire State. The building, a portion of which is two stories, measure 50x70 feet. Machinery of every description is made to order and repaired, while special attention is given to engines. In the foundry machine castings, architectural iron work, cresting, mill and elevator work are promptly executed at reasonable rates, and warranted to prove just as represented. Three thousand five hundred dollars are invested in machinery, which is operated by steam, and from seven to ten hands are employed. The office maybe reached by telephone No. 7. Mr. Langdon is a native of Wisconsin and has been within the borders of Nebraska for the past twelve years.

     J. C. FLETCHER & CO., Real Estate Brokers, 408 East Court Street.--Mr. Fletcher was born in Canada, coming to this city twenty-one years ago, and was formerly engaged in the furniture business. He opened his real estate office seven years ago. He owns the beautiful residence addition, Fletcher's Place, situated in the north part of the city. Mr. Fletcher is identified with the G. A. R. and A. O. U. W. orders, and in 1877 was elected county coroner. At the breaking out of the war he went to the front with Company I, 3d Iowa Cavalry, under Col. Noble, the present secretary of Interior. He spent seven months in Andersonville and it was while confined here that he secured a relic that has made his name familiar to the old veterans. This novelty is in the shape of a glass jar, containing his last day's rations at Andersonvil!e, and consists of a pint of ground cornmeal, cob and all. He also has a fork, which he made out of a bone, and a wooden spoon given him by an Irish prisoner. These curiosities have been exhibited in all the leading cities, and have attracted much atttention (sic).

      HOYT BROS. LUMBER AND COAL CO., Fourth and Bell.--The leading institution of its kind in this city, is that of Hoyt Bros. The business was founded in 1883 as Hoyt Bros. & Co., changing in 1880 to Hoyt Boos. (sic) and in 1891 it was incorporated under the present name, with a paid up capital of $50,000. The lumber yard covers ground to the extent of 150x140 feet. while the coal yard, located at the corner of Third and Ella Streets. on the line of the Union Pacific, measures 50x200. The stock represents an average outlay of $13,000. The trade requires the services of ten employes. The firm are New Yorkers by birth, and are live, pushing men, Mr. C. G. Hoyt. the president. is of the firm of Strohm, Hoyt & Hull, the well-known railroad contractors, Mr. Wm. E. Hoyt, the vice president, is the father of the two brothers, and has lived in this city only since 1891. R. C. Hoyt, the secretary and treasurer, came to Beatrice in 1883. Much of the success of the business is due to his efforts.

     DEMPSTER MILL MANUFACTURING Co.--Among Nebraska's manufacturing concerns we find few possessing as high a sense of enterprise, or reaching out over as wide a field as the one which forms the caption of

this article. This company began businsss (sic) in 1884, and in June, 1886, it was incorporated with a capital of $100,000, fully paid up. A pleasant feature of the company is that the greater portion of the stock is owned by the employes. The foundry is on West Court Street on the Blue River, from which stream it secures its power, and from eight five to one hundred skilled workmen are employed. The various departments cover a large tract of ground, and the most improved machinery is in operation. The main building is a four story structure, 46x110 feet; warehouse, two stories, 30x60,