O'maha

O'maha, the chief city of Nebraska, is on the right bank of the Missouri, by rail 774 miles W. of Chicago and 501 NW. of St. Louis. It is the terminus of four important railways, and the Missouri is spanned by a bridge (2750 feet, cost 1,250,000) to Council Bluffs, where a number of others start. It is especially important as being practically the Eastern terminus of the Union Pacific, and so the gate of the West. The city is built on a plateau 80 feet above the river, and has wide streets. A belt line of railway encircles it. There are numerous large buildings, including the city hall, United States court-house and post-office, Chamber of Commerce (1885) and Exposition (1886) buildings, Creighton College, and the high school; the city has also a medical college, sixty public and private school buildings, and over a hundred churches. The manufactures include the making of linseed-oil, boilers, safes, machinery, agricultural implements, &c.; there is brewing, distilling, and a large grain trade; above all Omaha possesses large silver-smelting works (said to be the largest in the world), and the third largest pork-packing business in the United States (1½ million of hogs slaughtered per annum, besides 250,000 cattle). In 1890 the value of manufactured products was 43,340,000. There are eight daily and thirteen weekly newspapers published in English, German, Swedish, Danish, and Bohemian. Near the city are the headquarters of the military department of the Platte, embracing 82½ acres, and containing commodious barracks. Omaha was founded in 1854. Pop. (1860) 1912; (1870) 16,083; (1880) 30,518; (1890) 140,452.