Union Pacific Railway Land Guide.

[Omaha?]: [Land Dept., Union Pacific Railroad Co.] 1880. 8vo, original blue printed wrappers. 16 pp., including 2 maps, one 4.25” x 7.5” and the other 4.5” x 8.25”.

A Nebraska land guide issued by the Union Pacific Railway at the height of the state’s land grant boom.

The boldly printed cover advertises “Cheap Homes!” and “3,000,000 Acres!” and the contents cover everything from general background about the Congressional land grants to the railway company and what kinds of land were available (“Agricultural Lands,” “Grazing Lands,” and “Waste Lands”) to the natural conditions of Nebraska (“Climate,” “Nebraska Soil,” “Water Resources”), what crops and industries thrive (“Corn, grains of all kinds,” “fruit growing,” “livestock-raising,” “good dairy products”), what amenities are available (“Manufacturing Interests await greater development” but “Schools and Education Privileges in Nebraska have been early and well provided for”), and what the current levels of population and taxation are. A final section, entitled “General Information” sketches a picture of the “Many good Colonies” already established in Nebraska, offers lists of prices for various livestock and goods in Omaha, and answers questions like “What is a homestead?”, “Who may take Homesteads?”, “Where to Apply?”, and “How to Come?”

The first of the two maps, on page 2, shows a coast to coast view of “The Union Pacific R. R. : Its connections, and Land Grant,” with Galveston, Texas and New Orleans in the south and Lake Winnipeg in the far north. The second, on page 11, is a “Map of the Union Pacific Railroad Land in Nebraska,” from the Missouri River in the east to North Platte in the west.

CONDITION: Upper cover partially browned, lower cover worn at spine with some chipping, otherwise very good, with bright, clean contents. Stamp on cover reads “H. H. Geeting, Dist. Agent U.P.R.R. Office Dewees’ Hat Store, Canton, O.”