THE story of the first corners to Garfield county has been touched upon in a former chapter. It remains for us to tell, in the passing, something further about their frontier experiences--for be it kept in mind, they were now the extreme outpost on the north. The Battle of Pebble Creek, Jan, 19, 1874, was distinctly their fight. It was fought practically in their midst and one of their number lost his life in the fray. Then relief came with the building of Fort Hartsuff. For two years the Indians kept to the bills and were rarely seen. But the great "Indian year"--1876--was at hand, growing out of the gold discovery in the Black Hills and the consequent expulsion of the Red Man from those favorite haunts. Everywhere the Sioux were on the war-path. Even now it is doubtful whether there would have been any trouble in the valley had not the settlers themselves precipitated the trouble.

     The story, in brief, of the last encounter between the settlers and the Sioux Indians--the so-called "Battle of the Blowout"--is as follows: A small band of Indians was discovered in the hills near Jones' Canyon. The settlers, aided by local trappers and gold seekers on their way to the Black Hills, immediately took the trail and, after a running fight of several miles, brought the redskins to bay in a large blowout above Pebble Creek. A messenger had meanwhile been sent post haste to Fort Hartsuff for reinforcements. A young and inexperienced lieutenant by the name of Hyle led a squad of soldiers to the battleground. In a ridiculous and unwarranted charge upon the blowout First Sergeant Dougherty fell mortally wounded. The besiegers now realized the folly of trying to drive the Indians out of their excellent retreat, and accordingly settled down to a siege. But, strange as it may seem, that very night the Indians escaped under cover of darkness and this in spite of the cordon of men surrounding the blowout.

     Mr. C. H. Jones has written his version of the battle, which I cannot (157) forbear repeating here. He has retold the story so often to appreciative listeners these thirty years past that it has inadvertently become somewhat enlarged. His personal prowess especially seems to be greatly overdone. But this touch of egotism may be readily overlooked in the face of the fact that the story is very interesting:

     "In the spring of 1876 the Sioux were on the warpath. One morning Tom Hemmett came down the canyon from his claim just as we were eating breakfast, and coming to the house asked me 'what those bareheaded men were doing up there on the hill?' I asked, 'where did you see any bare

headed men?' Right up there,' looking over the top of the hill, about 350 yards from the house. Bareheaded men h--l! they are Indians,' I yelled, and grabbing my gun went around the point on a double-quick. I went up a 'pocket' and peeked over very carefully but they were gone. I went to the spot and discovered tracks and followed the trail until I saw they were headed for the west canyon. Running back to the house I sent Tom down the valley to get out the boys and have them meet me at the forks of the west canyon.

     "I went back, took up the trail and followed the Indians. They knew they had been-seen and had stopped just over the bank of a canyon half way between the east and west canyons and were lying down watching the back trail. Instead of following the trail I trotted up the west canyon. I went up very cautiously, knowing almost exactly where they would cross it. Every point I approached very carefully, looking through the grass at the top, and lucky I did so, for at the last one I found them, not more than 100 yards distant and on the lookout over the back trail. My heart thumped so (158) loud I was afraid they would hear it, but I guess they didn't, for in about twenty minutes they moved west. I waited a few minutes, then went up the bank and peeked again. They were in plain sight, six of them well armed and watching everything. I kept to the left towards the canyon so that I could see the boys when they came up. The Indians finally went down into the south pocket of the west canyon and I circled around expecting them to come out at the head of it, but after waiting a long time I made up my mind that they had slipped out toward the valley, so I started back on the north side of the pocket, keeping a sharp lookout. Finally I discovered just a little smoke in the canyon, and slipping along peeking over cautiously, I discovered them around a little fire eating a turkey they had stolen the night

before from Dolph Alderman. How I wished for the boys then! But there was a misunderstanding. Instead of coming where I told them to they mounted their horses and went up the valley to head them off.

     "When I got home and found out why the boys had not shown up, I saddled my pony went back and found that the Indians had gone and then pulled out for Pebble Creek, to the north of the canyons, looking for their trail. Just as I neared the head of the creek I saw some of the trapper boys coming and two of them came over to where I was. They had gone four miles beyond, and seeing nothing had turned back. I told them the Indians were hidden somewhere in the canyons near Pebble Creek and they went to looking. During this time others had joined us, most of them on foot, however. Two of us remained north of the canyons to see whether they (159) would appear again and, sure enough, in about thirty minutes the footmen routed them out of Pebble Creek, but no shots were fired. As soon as they came out we gave the alarm and went for them. After about a mile of hot chase the Indians threw away everything except guns and ammunition. When I came up I dismounted and picked up a cartridge belt of Indian manufacture with 16 44-calibre empty shells in it. The belt I wanted as a memento, and I have it yet after nearly 30 years. After joining the advance it became evident that we would have to throw out flankers, as they would stop over every hill and let fly a couple of shots, but they could not hit a barn after running as they had.

     "In our party were four mounted trappers and three young men who were en route to the Black Hills,--James Flint, EImer Raymond, John McNutt, and myself (C. H. Jones). The trappers and strangers took the flanks and left us the center. There had been only five or six shots fired by our side when we lost the Indians in the sand hills just to the north and east of the head of Dry Creek. We knew they were somewhere therefore we commenced looking in the blowouts and in so doing our party became scattered over a mile of territory. Some of the trapper boys, were to the northwest, the rest east, and my party to the west and southwest of the blowout where the Indians were. Will Wirtz and two of the Black Hills men were about 300 yards to the north and a little west. Steve Chase and his partner were about 200 yards east and a little north. Dave Shroyer and George Baker were southeast 100 yards. McNutt and I were south 175 yards. Jas. Flint was 200 yards southwest and Elmer Raymond had stopped on a knoll 200 yards west. Now I will go back and bring up the reserves.

     "When the trapper boys started to head them off above  Pebble Creek and left me alone, with the Indians, Newt. McClimans mounted a horse and made for the Fort, yelling 'Indians!' as he went. He dashed into the Fort and told Capt. Coppinger and immediately thereafter the bugle sounded 'boots and saddles.' In less than 15 minutes after McClimans got there Lieut. Hyle dashed out at the head of 15 mounted men and went flying up the valley. The Indians were about two miles from the Calamus valley. These troops rodeup the Calamus above where we were, but scout 'Buck Shot' being with them and having a powerful glass was taking advantage of the high places-to look over the country and discover us.

     "At about this time I had located the Indians in a blowout and yelled to Raymond. But he, having sighted the soldiers, paid no further attention to me. Dave Shroyer heard me and asked me where the place was, Dave was in the valley between the parallel ridges and about 150 yards from me. I pointed north and he turned, and dashed up the hill to the very edge of the blowout, in fact the horse's head was over the edge. Just then a shot rang out and Dave's horse wheeled and plunged down the hill, blood spurting from his neck. Immediately after an Indian jumped out of the hole and shot again, then started down the hill after Dave. Then another Indian joined the chase. I jumped off my horse and told McNutt to hold him but he had skipped down the slope about 30 feet. I yelled at him to stop, (160) telling him that I would shoot him if he didn't, and then ran down the hill and gave him my horse and told him to stay there, and ran back just as the last Indian was getting out of the hole. I dropped down, rested my gun over the top of the hill, took sight and fired. The Indian threw up both hands and fell with a yell backward into the hole. The other Indians looked around in time to see him disappear and just then George Baker opened fire. The Indians immediately broke for the hole again and went in much quicker than they came out. I got another shot at them just as the last one went over the edge, but not being a good wing shot I missed him. I then fired a couple of shots into the hole. The Indians now made an attempt to escape by the north side but three shots from the Wirtz party put them back. Steve Chase was standing on the hill to the right and shortly after two shots in quick succession came from the Indians and Steve dropped out of sight. I left Fling and Raymond and went around to see what had become of Steve. I found him lying on the slope, out of range with his partner holding the horses. I asked him if he was shot and he said 'no, but I don't see how the d--l (webmaster note: devil?) that Indian shot on both sides of me at once.' He said the balls didn't miss him on either side over five Inches. I told him two Indians fired at the same time. I gave my horse to the man holding Steve's and we crawled up to the top of the hill, one to watch while the other shot. A shot or two was tired. Then the Indians replied, the first shot striking just between us. We moved a little and then began a fusillade. It wasn't long till the Indians ceased firing. Then we, hollowed to Dave and George to come out. They were behind a little knoll just large enough to cover them, but too low down to fire from at the blowout. They came out and everything was quiet for awhile. Then the Indians raised a rag on a gun and shook it. I afterwards thought they wanted to parley but at the time of it I didn't think a black flag denoted anything but blood, so I let drive a shot and the flag disappeared. (The fact of it was, they didn't have any white cloth, but I didn't think of it at that time.) Now, I never felt just right over this matter for I believe that the Indians either wanted to surrender unconditionally or else get us out from under cover and shoot one or more of us to even up the score. But we will never know just what their intention was. At all events that was the last shot for awhile.

     "Dave Shroyer suggested when he joined us that perhaps they wanted to surrender when they made the signal. But I told him that I thought they had adopted the wrong course in raising the black flag, so the only consolation I have is to blame the government for not furnishing their good Indians with white handkerchiefs to use when they got into a hole and chances were desperate.

     "When 'Buckshot' saw Raymond's signal he dashed down the hill, joined the soldiers and led them on a gallop over the country to our position. As the soldiers came over a point about 250 yards from the blowout the Indians fired two shots at them. One of the shots cut the mane of a horse, next to Lieut. Hyle. After Hyle had asked a few questions he told (161) us that this was no way to fight Indians. 'Why didn't you go up in a body and take them out?' he asked. You may believe I was somewhat taken aback as I thought we had done very well. Hyle then told us that his experience of three years with the Apaches was to go right after them and keep them going. By this time I had gotten my wind. 'Lieutenant,' I said, 'they're in the blowout; go and get them.' After a little parleying seven of our party took a position on the top of a knoll to keep the Indians from firing on the soldiers as they advanced, and the soldiers with Lieut. Hyle on the right and Sergt. Dougherty on the left, advanced up the hill. Sergt. Dougherty got to the top first and came in sight of the Indians. He stepped back, motioned to Hyle that they were there; then, with gun ready, stepped back to the edge of the blowout when an Indian fired, shooting him through the heart. This threw the soldiers into a panic. They squatted down holding their guns over their heads and fired into the hole without effect all except Lieut. Hyle. He deliberately stepped to the top, took aim and fired but missed, and the Indians fired three shots at him but missed him. After the soldiers fired they all ran down the hill and when Hyle stepped back to reload he found himself alone. He could not get any of his men to go up after Sergt. Dougherty's body. Bill Wirtz and one of the Black Hills men finally joined the lieutenant and recovered the body. The lieutenant stood and looked at the body of the dead sergeant and then at his cowardly squad of men without saying a word. Finally one of the strangers spoke to him and he roused up, and sent one of the soldiers to the Fort after more men and the ambulance. It was then sundown. Pickets were put around the hole. James Flint and one or two others and I left for home. The reinforcements arrived about midnight and at daylight another advance was made, but the Indians were gone.

     "In about three weeks we got word from the Rosebud Agency that our party of six had come in almost naked and that one of them had a bad wound, being shot across the breast from right to left and that the bone on the right side was splintered. I knew then that he was my Indian and that if I had shot two inches farther to the left he would have been a good Indian.

     As an immediate result of this brush with the Indians, a number of families feeling themselves insecure in life and property abandoned their claims and left the frontier. Thus the settlers McNutts, Harpers, Raymonds, and others set their faces southward, away from the settlement.

      Mr. Jones, nothing daunted, constructed an almost bulletproof fort at a short distance from his house, and placed Tom Hemmett in command. Under him was a garrison of two. The ruins of this fortification are yet traceable on a sharp ridge, at some 85 to 90 yards distance from the old Jones cabin.

     But the Indians had gone to rally around Sitting Bull and other chiefs in a vain hope to drive back the regulars which General Miles was beginning to hurl against them.

     Aside from the Indian troubles just narrated, life in the upper settlement (162)  was much akin to that of the lower settlements. The "Gillespie Star Route" was at an early date extended as far as Willow Springs on the north side, and to The Forks on the south of the river. Truman Freeland carried the mail, in 1874, from St. Paul to the "Springs," via the Springdale-Calamus route. That same year Henry Maxon opened the first postoffice, at The Forks, that being the northern limit of the route extending from St. Paul, through Cotesfield, North Loup, and Ord.

     Here too were the settlers jealous of the education of their children. In the summer of '75 a very neat, shingled loghouse was erected and Almira J. Freeland installed to teach the first school in the county.

     But, all considered, the settlers experienced some fearfully hard years; and yet, as was said of the early New England 

Pilgrims, not a one of the real settlers lost heart and wished himself back to the flesh-pots of the East. Neither loss of crops by grasshoppers and hail, with consequent shortage in bread, nor winter storm and summer drought could dishearten them, and they lived to see their part of the valley bloom like a rose--great farms, well stocked with choice cattle, and growing marvelous crops. Carefree, with larder well filled and good balances in the bank, they may now take the well-earned rest which is theirs. They opened the Trail of the Loup, and those who came after do them honor.

     For more than eight years after the first nucleus of pioneers has reached what we now know as Garfield county, that part of the state continued as "Unorganized Territory." For judicial purposes and for purposes of taxation, all that portion lying immediately north and west of Valley county was attached to the latter county. But this condition of things was never satisfactory; accordingly a new county, Wheeler, was organized. (163)  This took place on the 11th day of April, 1881. The act provided for the organization of a territory forty-eight miles east and west, by twenty-four miles north and south, comprising the present counties of Wheeler and Garfield.

     J. F. Cummings was elected County Clerk and for some time he kept the county records at Cumminsville on Beaver Creek, which may therefore be termed the first county seat. But this place

was altogether too far east to suit the settlers living in the western part of the county. So it came about that a new county seat, Cedar City by name, was founded near the middle of the county, on Cedar Creek, or as it is now, often designated --"River." This town proved, however, to be a "bird of passage" only, for as soon as Wheeler county was again divided, in 1884, and Bartlett made (164)  the permanent county seat, Cedar City passed away so rapidly that today its very foundations are no longer to be seen.

     Since the organization of Wheeler county there had been considerable dissension among the settlers relative to an eventual division of the county into regular congressional counties. In 1884 such a division actually took place and Garfield county was organized. Burwell was by gubernatorial proclamation made the temporary county seat, and an election was called to be held at the store of Mr. Graber, at Burwell, December 30, 1884.

     The ante-election campaign brought out three rivals for county seat honors--Willow Springs, Burwell and Midvale. A bitter struggle ensued, wherein county officials and settlers took sides and joined the faction which seemed at the time to suit their own ends best. All Garfield county was divided into rival camps. However, election day dawned and even before the formality of a regular count had been gone through with, it was seen that Willow Springs was the winner with votes to spare. But the law provides that where more than two contesting points are voted on, a second election shall be called to choose between the two getting the highest vote in the first election. Midvale had received the smallest vote and was therefore dropped. The second election was set for January 30, 1885.

     Another month of bitter campaigning and full of anxiety passed, and election day was again at hand. Both factions were out in force as the vote all along had promised to be a very close one. In this respect no one was disappointed, for out of a total vote of 277, Willow Springs received 142 and Burwell 135, a difference of only seven votes. But this result was not satisfactory to the south siders, who asked and received from the State Supreme Court, a writ of mandamus, issued April 9, 1885, whereby a recount of votes was ordered.

     This recount took place April 18, and resulted, --Willow Springs 105 and Burwell 128. Such a remarkable figure was the direct result of gross irregularities. It seems that before the canvassing board had time to count the returns, the entire "Dry Cedar" vote was done away with. The story goes that there are those still living in Garfield county who could, if they were so inclined, tell the secrets of that remarkable coup d' etat. But howsoever this may be the machinations proved of no avail, as the Supreme

Court set aside the alternative Writ after a careful hearing of both sides in (165) the contest. The judges subsequently gave the certificate of election to Willow Springs, declaring that town the legally chosen county seat.

     Now ensued a spectacular fight for the possession of the county records. The County Clerk, Henry W. Hartley, and County Commissioner O. E. Randall, insisted that Burwell was and should remain the county seat. A majority of the board, James Butler and M. E. Guyer, on the other hand, were as insistent on making Willow Springs the county seat. The county records contain some very interesting reading in this connection. First the county clerk called a meeting of the commissioners as follows:

     Commissioners of Garfield county will please meet at my office on Saturday, May 16th, 1835, for the purpose of declaring Burwell the county seat of Garfield county, Nebraska.

     Then it appears that two of the members ignored this call entirely as the minutes here appended show:

Office of Clerk. Burwell, Nebraska, May 16,1885.

     In accordance to above call Mr. O. E. Randall appeared at office and as he was unaccompanied by either of the other commissioners, no business was done.

Attest: H. W MATTLEY, Clerk.

     But all this time the other two members of the board were planning to organize the county government at Willow Springs. To that end a meeting was called for June 2. On their minutes we read these terse, epigramatic statements

Willow Springs, June 2, '85.

H. W. Mattley ordered to appear instanter--fails--Sheriff sent after him.

     It would appear from the above, and from statements of eye witnesses and participants that at first the clerk flatly refused to move his books from Burwell to Willow Springs, and that there was talk of holding the temporary court house by force of arms if need be; but better judgment finally prevailed, so that when the sheriff a second time crossed the river for Mr. Mattley, he was found in waiting on the south side of the river, willing to be transported to the victorious "Springs".

     But the end was not yet. In 1887 the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska commenced building northward, up through the valley, on the south side of the river. From Ord it extended its grade to Burwell, and on to Butka on the Calamus. This was a death blow to Willow Springs. Poor "Springs!'  had she not been living in the almost certain hope of getting an extension of the Union Pacific which had these many years had its terminus at Ord? And, now, at one fell stroke she was utterly ruined! As was expected, a new election was ordered, and this time resistance was simply hopeless. February 16, 1890, decided the county seat question forever. Burwell received 288 votes, while Willow Springs could muster only 148. Thus the change was made and Willow Springs passes out of history.

     The above is a terse outline of the bitter struggle which for years set neighbor against neighbor in Garfield county, almost threatening (166)

for a brief time intestine war. But fortunately this is all over now, and though not entirely forgotten. has long been forgiven; so that those who participated in the fight, are again on as good terms of comradeship as when they first, as brothers, toiled over the Trail of the Loup.

      No one person, perhaps, was more vitally interested in the county seat struggle than H. C. Jones of Willow Springs. He furnished much of the "sinews of war," and when all was lost and Burwell won, it meant financial ruin to him. It is but proper then that he should be allowed to tell his story of the matter, and in his own way. The narrative gives many sidelights and is, in the main, correct, though his memory may at times err in minor details. He says:

     "In 1884 the proposition for a division of the county was submitted to the people and carried. Frank Webster had laid out a townsite the year before and there were five or six buildings up at that time, and perhaps more--I have forgotten--and it had gotten the temporary county seat. Tom Hemmett and the Acrees had laid out a town a quarter of a mile west of my store and called it Willow Springs. Frank Webster's town was named Burwell. John Acree at that time was our main politician. He was a talker, a great schemer of very nervous disposition and never at his best unless well loaded with Hostetter's Hunki Dori Bitters of which I kept a good supply.

     "The same year, I think, the location for county seat of the now county of Garfield came up. The contest was very warm between Burwell and Willow Springs. In the contest Willow Springs won with the aid of our friends in the north and east part of the county. As soon as the result was known Tom Hemmet and the Acrees began to put up a building for county offices. At the end of the time allowed for canvassing the vote it was found that the ballots, poll book, etc., of Dry Cedar precinct had been stolen and the Burwell people had the clerk (who was a Burwell man) declare in favor of Burwell, but soon after he wanted to take it back as his own brother was going to scalp him. About that time there was a strong talk of war--a war of extermination. Most of the citizens on both sides of the river denounced the act, and on account of it the feeling was very strong in favor of Willow Springs.

     "In less than two hours after the clerk had announced the result, men were riding over the country on different missions; one to Cedar City after a certified copy of the poll book, another to the district judge for an injunction, etc., and a letter was written to the governor to "head off" the clerk's returns and everything was done that could be thought of to get our rights by law. Wise council prevailed and there was no resort to arms, but the matter was kept in the court for some time, Willow Springs winning.

     "The building was completed in the meantime and a store started in the lower room thereof. Other buildings went up and by the first of June 1887, Willow Springs had two general stores, one grocery, one newspaper, two drugstores, one bakery, one hardware, one bank, one blacksmith shop and several dwellings. I then bought the Hemmett building, (168) had it remodelled and moved my store up there but found it too small. Just before I moved, the county records were brought over from Burwell by sheriff  W. C. Johns, who had a little squabble with the Burwellites to obtain possession of them, and we had the county seat in fact. But the B. & M. Road built to Burwell and we had to fight for our existance. Some of the newcomers got skittish and made arrangements to move their buildings to Burwell and give up our town. As soon as a start was made away went everything but one other and myself. I had doubled the size of my buildings and had the largest stock of goods in the county, and held a good share of, the trade. But the fight for relocation of the county seat was kept up continually by Burwell. Whenever they got up a petition we got up a counter petition which carried more names than theirs, consequently the commissioners would not grant their petition.

     "About this time W. Z. Todd started the "Enterprise" at Willow Springs. Soon after Geo. Gill came out from Ohio and started a hardware and tinshop and Willow Springs was "looking up" again. Burwellites got out another petition; we got out a remonstrance and hired men to canvass the county with it. When the commissioners met there was considerable oratory and wire-pulling but the board decided not to call an election. The Burwellites applied for a mandamus. H. W. Todd was sent to Grand Island to look after the interests of Willow Springs and succeeded in knocking them out. I wish to go back a little and show what we had to do to keep up our end of the fight.

     "At the time our town had reached its best we wanted a bridge across the Loup, The county wasn't able to build it; a bond was out of the question, so we had to bustle. $780 were subscribed towards the building of a bridge. $100 of this amount was subscribed by Commissioner Jackson and others, of Burwell, who when they discovered that the bridge would not be located just where they wanted it, promptly withdrew their subscriptions.

     "Then we got busy and laid out a road on the south side of the river and one on the north side, both terminating at the river, and demanded a bridge. It was then up to the board. We agreed with them to make up what the county lacked in funds to put in the bridge and it was built.

     "All this cost me money. And to make matters worse a hailstorm destroyed the crops about this time and I was compelled to do a large credit business and had to borrow money to pay my bills. We had gotten tired of the continuous fight on the county seat. Burwell folks raised about $1,200 to use in the election in 1889 and came over to see some of our friends. They sent them to me. I told them if they would give me a lot in Burwell and move my store onto it and would provide for W. Z. Todd and Geo. Gill, I'd quit. They agreed to it. Todd and Gill were moved over and my goods and building were also moved. Then the election returns showed Burwell to be victorious.

     "The result of the fight was disastrous to me. I was compelled to sell out at 75c on the dollar and eventually lost my home also. One part of the county never went back on me--Erina, and I never lost a cent by them (169) Bless the people of Erina. May they always prosper."

     Burwell is the only town of consequence in Garfield county. It may in a way be said to be the outgrowth of  "The Forks" postoffice, located down near the old mill on the river road. The townsite lies at a bend in the river not far from the point where the Calamus blends its waters with the eddying North Loup.

     As to the origin of the name there are several stories told, more or less reliable. One has it that it was given, to perpetuate the name of a certain young woman, the betrothed of one of the Webster family platting the town, but who died before the nuptials could be solemnized. The writer will not, however, vouch for the truth of this rather romantic christening.

     The town was platted by Frank Webster on his home farm and was for many years "Webster's town." This gentleman's ideas of what an ideal townsite ought to be were certainly remarkable and may best be understood by a glance at the erection of the public square. This is very large, but instead of being approachable by streets intersecting at its far corners, they approach it as bisectors of the four sides.

      Even this would not have been so bad had the inside plat of ground been dedicated to the city as presumably first intended. When Mr. Webster later sold his interests to the Burwell Townsite Company it appeared that the inside of the square had not been so dedicated. Accordingly he began selling this in parcels for building purposes. A protest and threat on the part, of the townsite company led to a compromise and a division of lots on the "inside square." This unfortunately has for all time spoiled the appearance of the public square. (170) The first store building at Burwell was that of Wm. N. Becker & Co. This was in 1883. Alfred A. Graber soon followed with a small hardware store. Almost at the same time Frank Webster commenced building. A very few residences were added and we have Burwell's embryo. In 1884 Garfield county was created and the governor of Nebraska made Burwell the temporary county seat. Frank Webster's store

became the depository for the official records and documents. Here the temporary county government met. Then came the county seat troubles and Webster's store was for a time the objective point in the operations.

     A. A. Graber et al's writ of mandamus was overturned by the very court which had granted it and Willow Springs was declared the county seat. This made the Burwellites pretty glum for a time. But the gloom was not to last Iong, for in 1887 the B. & M. commenced building up the Valley. The old rival was overthrown utterly and was only too glad "to move over'' and become a part of the new county seat. As if by magic Willow Springs residences and stores left their "anchorage" and in an incredibly short time became a part of Burwell. Thus the town grew at a moderate pace and had a population of 150 when the decade of general prosperity closing with 1890 terminated. During the next ten years its progress was not marked. In fact between 1890 and 1896 it experienced a considerable set-back. The remaining four years of the decade were spent in getting the town back on a normal footing.

     In 1900, and more particularly since 1903, Burwell has made good strides onward. In the latter year the town had less than 500 inhabitants; now it is almost 700. Four years ago there was hardly a modern house on (171) the townsite; now on the other hand, as so aptly illustrated in the cuts in this chapter, Burwell boasts a surprisingly large number of very fine houses.

     Excellent cement sidewalks are rapidly displacing the old wooden structures. A new eight-room school building was completed in the fall of 1903 at a cost of $10,000. 

     The city owns its own waterworks system, and a private corporation furnishes an ample supply of acetelyne gas to light the (172) streets and homes of all who desire it. It is safe to prophecy that Burwell will continue to prosper and to grow. By degrees the sand-hills to the north will be reclaimed to fruitfulness and the town's territory will as gradually become more and more populated.

     Garfield county is in main a grazing district, well adapted to raising cattle and sheep. The Loup Valley part of the county alone is fit for true agriculture. But the despised sand-hills will yet be the making of the county. Alfalfa grows well in the draws and lowlands. Bromegrass and English bluegrass will soon spread their green, succulent mantle from hill to hill and make this one of the richest hay producing belts in the entire country. Such is pretty sure to be the future of Garfield county.

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* From the bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, Lincoln, Nebr., 1902.

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