UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1882 [PAGE 176]

Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1882
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170

Manitoba railroad running to the south of them, and the distance of the Northern or Glynden branch of the same road, there is at present no outlet for this section of Pope county. Your committee were unable to make as careful a survey of these lands as of the lands 'in the other two counties. They were met on their ride into Pope county by a hard northwest rain and cold wind storm, which lasted several days. Notwithstanding their unpleasant reception they were able to drive onto portions of the lands and to learn from the Town Assessor of their character and quality. These lands are situated on an almost level plateau, gently undulating, surrounded in the distance by belts of timber, and almost entirely free from low places. Tne lands are uniform in character and quality. Not as rich or fertile as in the other counties, but evidently well adapted to sheep grazing, and eventually will become fair farming lands. At an interview with the officials of the St. Paul and Manitoba railroad, we learned that that enterprising company were already extending a line of their road from Minneapolis west midway between the two roads north and south of Pope county, which when built will run in close proximity to the University lands, when they will have a market value and be more sought after by settlers. Your committee, therefore, are of the opinion that there is at present no sale for these lands and would recommend that no immediate steps be taken to place them in market. Your committee file herewith a map of Minnesota with all the University lands marked in color. Also all papers and maps furnished them by your Secretary. All of which is respectfully submitted, S. M. MILLARD, T. T. FOUNTAIN, Committee. To the Honorable, the President and Board of Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University: The undersigned, your committee appointed by resolution of this Board passed at the June meeting of 1880 to examine the lands belonging to the University situated in Gage county, State of Nebraska, would respectfully submit the following report: In pursuance,of said appointment, your committee did in the month of November, 1880, visit and examine said lands, first proceeding to Beatrice, the county seat of said Gage county, and there ascertaining that the taxes on said University lands had been regularly paid and University's title in fee perfect. We then proceeded to examine each tract of land as per list of same furnished us by this Board, and endeavored to get as correct a knowledge of the county, its advantages and country in general, as limited time and zero weather would admit of. Beatrice is pleasantly situated on the east bank of the Big Blue River, at an elevation of fifty feet above high water; the ascent from the river is gradual and beautiful. It now has a population of three thousand. Its principal stores are first class anywhere, permanently built of stone and brick, three stories high and well filled with goods. And residences that compare favorably with those in older towns. The business men are a live, go-ahead, wide-awake set, well calculated to make their miniature city a great one in a short time. Gage county is very favorably situated, being in the second tier of counties from the east, and adjoining the State of Kansas on the south. The surface is generally high, gently and beautifully rolling, is well watered by the Big Blue River, which runs through the county diagonally from the north-west to the south-east, with its many tributaries. Many of them never failing, makes it one of the best watered counties in the State. There is a great amount of timber growing along the streams in the county, which seemed of good quality and different varieties, much more than an average of other counties of the State, as far as we observed. There is an abundance of building and lime stone, in different parts of the county, of a superior quality; some of the quarries are now being extensively worked and stone shipped to Lincoln and other parts of the State. The soil is rich, black and deep and capable of producing all crops raised in the same latitude, where cultivated corn, oats and wheat seemed to be the principal crops. Your committee think the county can be classed with the best land in the State of Nebraska. Your committee are satisfied that our lands in Gage county will raise cereals of every kind usually produced in that climate. Yet we see and are convinced that the main or principal interest of Nebraska is now and will be for all time the growing of stock, mainly cattle and sheep; and while at this time there is more money invested in cattle, the day is not far distant when sheep will be the principal stock of Eastern Nebraska, and now there are many large flocks of sheep and their numbers are fast increasing. The talk was much of sheep. We learned from many persons who have devoted many years to the sheep raising and wool-growing business, that the climate, water and soil was everything desired to make the business successful and profitable. That sheep were free from diseases known in other sections of our country and returns very satisfactory. The price of land, while for the present largely governed by the advantage of contiguity to railroads, towns, streams and timber, yet there is a value that extends throughout the county which can be named as a minimum: to-wit, five dollars per acre, and that situated farthest from the advantages above referred to. We do not think that minimum will long exist, from the fact every improvement that is made enhances the value of such land as may be contiguous to such improvements. Gage county is rapidly filling up with enterprising and intelligent emigrants of means, and for a newly settled county may be classed as above the average in financial ability, which is shown by the nature and extent of improvements made on their farms.