1939: Nebraska

Area and Population.

Known as the 'Cornhusker State,' Nebraska, one of the central block of agricultural plains states, was admitted to statehood March 1, 1867. It is 15th in size in the Union, with an area of 77,520 sq. mi. More than a third of its fertile plains are in cultivation; more than half are in pasture and cattle ranges.

Nebraska's population of 1,364,000 (Federal estimate, July 1, 1937) ranks it 37th among the states. More than a third of the population live in cities, and (as in Kansas and Iowa) are concentrated in the eastern end of the state. The chief cities are Omaha, 214,006; Lincoln (the capital), 75,933; Grand Island, 18,041; Hastings, 15,490. About 11 per cent are foreign-born, chiefly Germans, Swedes, Czechoslovakians and Irish; and about 1 per cent are Negroes.

Agriculture.

The large-scale farming of the state is highly mechanized, with robot tractors and other modern, stream-lined machinery. Corn is the main crop; with wheat an important second. Hay is a third, followed by oats and barley. Second in importance to these crops are livestock and dairy products. The associated industries are slaughtering and meat-packing, food processing and milling. In the drier western part, irrigation and dry-farming are highly developed.

Education.

In addition to the University of Nebraska (established in 1869), there are four state-supported colleges for teacher-training. The Superintendent of Public Instruction reported (June 30, 1938) that the state had 382,601 persons of school age (5 to 21), of whom 289,916 were enrolled in 6,635 public schools, 25,125 in private and parochial schools, and 7,317 in vocational training. In the public schools 206,779 pupils were in elementary grades, and 83,137 in secondary. The 13,865 teachers (1,966 men, 11,899 women) received average salaries of $812 for men and $730 for women. State expenditures for education amounted to $20,067,257.

Events of the Year.

General conditions in Nebraska in 1939 changed little from 1938, except in agriculture where the cumulative effects of several drouth years made farm relief needs more acute. Banking and finance, directly dependent upon agriculture, suffered correspondingly. Unemployment and the resulting relief needs increased slightly. A national advertising campaign during the year brought into the state a few small industries.

In legislation, the unicameral body drew attention by refusing to pass a price-fixing bill for barber-shops, as well as other 'little NRA' measures to regulate private business. The Legislature has saved money on its own salaries and expenses, not as much as its 1937 predecessor saved, but far more than the old bi-cameral Legislature did. The second purpose of the new body — to minimize lobbying — is also being achieved: the legislators, fewer in number, are more in the public eye, and all hearings are open to the press. The third aim — to elect legislators on a nonpartisan basis and have a nonpartisan chamber — is still being pursued, though less effectively than in 1937.

The industrial event of the year was the discovery of oil at Falls City, Richardson County, in the extreme southeastern corner of the state. This is a part of the Forest City basin underlying the adjoining corners of Kansas and Missouri. The well is producing about 150 bbls. a day, and wildcat drilling has started feverishly in that section and elsewhere in the state. A refinery was established in Omaha, and in December a Falls City milling company was buying from Omaha the distillate from the new well to run its own Diesel engines, the first event of its kind in Nebraska history. Omaha was already benefiting as a commercial center by the development of barge traffic on the Missouri. (For dam construction, see RECLAMATION.)

Finance.

The state continues to proclaim itself proudly as 'the white spot of the nation' financially, with no state income tax, no sales tax, no luxury taxes, and no state debt. The Constitution prohibits the issuing of state bonds.

The State Treasurer reported for the year ending June 30, 1939, total receipts of $42,680,096 and expenditures of $42,589,242. Gasoline tax collections for the highway fund — the largest single item — amounted to $11,801,840, of which $11,247,346 were disbursed. Federal funds received were $7,687,834; disbursed, $8,225,422.

Banking.

The 289 commercial and savings banks of the state reported, October 2, 1939, as follows; capital stock, $7,709,500; loans and discounts, $35,361,180; surplus fund, $2,528,350 (increase in twelve months of $139,050); undivided profits, $1,651,750; reserve for contingencies, $298,651; total deposits, $69,314,965 (an increase in twelve months of $4,367,053).

State Officers.

The leading officials of the state are: Governor, Roy L. Cochran; Lieutenant Governor, Wm. E. Johnson; Secretary of State, Harry R. Swanson; Auditor of Public Accounts, Ray C. Johnson; Treasurer, T. W. Bass; Attorney General, Walter R. Johnson; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Charles W. Taylor.

United States Senators.

George W. Norris, Edward R. Burke.