Dawes County NeArchives History .....Chadron, Its Wonderful Growth And Future Prospects February 9, 1886
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The Nebraska State Journal Tue Feb 9, 1886
             OUR NEIGHBORS

Chadron, Its Wonderful Growth and Future Prospects

            CHADRON	
Chadron, Feb 6, -- [Special.]-- It is quite time
that among the neighboring towns represented
in the columns of THE JOURNAL, Chadron should
have occasional mention.
  The prospect of the early completion of the
Northwestern road to Lincoln gives promis of
close connection with the capitol city with
it's network of railroads and with the whole
South Platte region. Among the good things 
expected by the people along the line is the
arrival of THE DAILY JOURNAL the same day of
publication. THE JOURNAL is conceded by all to
be the best daily in the state, and as soon
as it has a flair field it will easily win its
way against all competitors. 
   Notwithstandingthe prediction that Chadron
would be a mushroom town and lose its trade
and importance as soon as the road ran on
beyond it, all indications point to a business
center here of trade and activity that will
far surpass anything which the vivid imagination
has pictured.
   The situary of the town in the centre of a
large agricultural region, at the junction of
the main line of the Black Hills branch of the
T. E. & M. V. road, otherwise the Northwestern,
it's ready access to the mines of the Black Hills,
and the immence coal fields of Wyoming, the capitol
already centered here and rapidly accumulation the
enterprise and intelligence of its wide awake 
citizens, the fostering care of the railroad, an
earnest of which is seen in the large amount of
money already expended for side tracks, passenger
and frieght depots, hotel, and eating house,
road house, coal house, etc., etc.; all point to
the importance of Chadron in the near future.
    There need no longer be any question as to
the future importance in and agricultural point
of view of these three great counties of Sheridan,
Dawes and Sioux. When in their rapid development
each one of these counties shall have become
four, making twelve in all; when the rich valleys
and tablelands shall have been brough under a
good state of cultivation by the practical and
progresssive farmers now taking possession of them,
the wheat and oats and corn, with the root crop
which flourish so marvelously in this soil, will
form the basis of material prosperity for a 
commonwealth.
   The living springss and many running streams
afford admirable advantages for the small cattle
and horse ranches which are taking the place of
the great ranges now being broken up by the farms
and homes of the actual settlers. It should 
surprise no one if the time should come, and 
within a few years, when this part of Nebraska 
will raise as much wheat as all the rest of the
state combined.
    For a great shipping point Chadron has
advantages not likely to be possessed by any 
other town in all this region.
    The experience of the last two years has
shown that corn is a good crop here as in other
parts of the state. The shipment of cattle the
past season, with the short time the road had
to work up the trade, gives assurance of an 
immense traffic in that direction. It was a 
common thing during the season for four full
trains of cattle to leave the stock yards for
the Chicago market.
    It is no wonder that the people of Omaha 
are beginning to wake up to the importance of
northern Nebraska. The only wonder about the
matter is that this part of the state has not
been understood and appreciated heretofore.
The observations of the enquirers along the 
main line of the road fully confirm all prvious
reports as to the extent and richness of the
immense coal fields in Wyoming to be reached
by the road this present season.
   The Dawes County Journal a few weeks since
had a full and carefully written article upon
the wealth and prospects of that region, and
so great was the demand for it that it has
been reprodced and hundreds called for. Dr. Waller
of this city, a wide awake physician, skillful
surgeon and close observer, a Pennysylvania-reared
boy,  speaks of Central Wyoming in connection
with its coal and mining interests as Pennsylvania
undeveloped. There can be no longer any question
as to the wealth of the mines of the Black Hills.
The Homestake Mining company alone turns out rom
$200,000 to $300,000 a month of bullion.
    The firm of English capitalists who have
bought the Etta tin mines are already working
a force of 300 or 400 hands in simply erecting
buildings and making preparations to work the mines.
   Ih hope soon to lay upon the table of THE
JOURNAL office a sample of their block tin, several
pieces of which I have seen. The men who have charge
of the work are said to be practical workmen from
the famous works at Cornwall, England.
       A gentleman thoroughly familia with the mining
operations of the Hills infrms me that the Homesake
company have ore enough in sight to last twenty
years at the present rate of working. Some of our
young arithmeticians who read THE JOURNAL can 
figure out how much gold that will be at $250,000 
a month for twenty years.
    The weather up this way ought to have a good
word said for it. While you have been floundering
through great snow banks and freezing your ears
and noses with the thermometer nearly low enough
to freeze the mercury, the weather here has 
been for the most part delightful. There have
been of course some blustering days and cold
nights, but it is a significantfat that on the
passenger division from Long Pine to Chadron
and on the Black Hills branch from here to
Buffalo Gap there has not been half a day's
delay of any train on account of snow drifts.
   Speaking of pleasant weather reminds me of
an incident connected with the dedication a
few weeks since of the Congregational church
of this city. A good deal of interest has been
manifested in the enterprise, not only by the 
people of Chadron, but by many outside, and
on Saturday previous to the Sunday of dedication
quite a delegation of friends arrived from the
east and went from here to Buffalo Gap and
from there by team seven or eight miles up
into the hills. The company consisted of Rev.
K. L. Maile of Omaha, Prof. G. A. Gregory and
wife of Gates college, Neligh, and Rev. H. Bross
and wife of Norfolk. Although it was but one
week before Christmas the day was charming
and a picnic dinner was as enjoyable as it would
have been in September.
    Among the things done by this pushing town
has been the erection and completion of the
church above named, ready for occupancy when 
the town was only four months old. It was
estimated by a local paper that 400 people were
present at the dedication and all the money
needed to pay last bills was pledged in fifteen
minutes.
    A visit last week to Rapid City, 104 miles
from here, afforded an opportunity to see
something of the Hills country and to meet 
some old friends from the South Platte region,
but of that by and by.
                        Observer

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