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Statistics of the distributable school fund for and Elkhorn River. It has no important

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Nebraska embraces an area of 75,995 square miles, and has a population of about 260,000. The general surface approximates to a vast plain rising gradually from the Missouri River toward the mountains. The bottoms are level; the prairies, of which the surface mostly consists, are either gently undulating or broken into low hills and ridges. There are few hills of magnitude, and no mountains except at the west and northwest, where the land rises into the Black Hills and Rocky Mountains. No large lakes have been discovered, but lakelets, rivers, and streams are numerous. The only navigable river, however, is the Missouri, which forms the northeast and east boundary line. Entering the State near the northwest corner is the Niobrara, which, after forming a part of the northern boundary, empties into the Missouri near the northeast corner of the State. The Keya Paha, a tributary of the Niobrara, also forms the boundary line for a short distance on the north. The principal river is the Platte, which, rising in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, flows east through the central part of the State, and empties into the Missouri. It is wide, rapid, and shallow, and passes through a valley which is remarkable for its fertility, and which for 200 miles west from Omaha is from 8 to 10 miles wide. The Platte has numerous tributaries on the north, the chief of which are Wood River, Loup Fork,

tributary from the south, but that part of the State is well watered by streams flowing into Kansas, the chief being the Republican, Little Blue, West Blue, and Big Blue Rivers. The Great Nemaha and Little Nemaha are small rivers in the southeastern part of the State, flowing into the Missouri.

Excepting that made in 1867, under the direction of the United States Geologist, Dr. F. V. Hayden, there has been no geological survey of Nebraska. But four of the principal geological formations are represented in the State, Carboniferous, Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary. Of the Carboniferous strata, only the upper members occur, and these are overlaid, from the longitude of Lincoln west, by the Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary deposits. Minerals have not yet been found to any considerable extent. Thin beds of bituminous and block coal exist in the southeast counties, and of lignite in the Cretaceous and Tertiary. The scarcity of coal renders more valuable the extensive beds of peat found in some parts of the State. Some iron ores occur, but the coal yet found is not sufficient to utilize them. Stone for building purposes is found, including limestone, dark yellowish-gray sandstone, and a dark-red freestone. Clay for the manufacture of brick is easily obtained, and good potter's clay is abundant. In the southeast part of the State are extensive saline deposits. The principal basin is in Lancaster County, near Lincoln, and embraces an area of 12 by 25 miles. These springs contain by weight 29 per cent. of remarkably pure salt. The salt is obtained by solar evaporation, which is facilitated by the marked dryness of the atmosphere. Alum has also been discovered.

The eastern part of Nebraska is a rich agricultural region, while the western half is well adapted to grazing. The line of division is about longitude 99° west, although there is a large amount of fine agricultural lands west of this line, and some grazing lands east of it. The agricultural region embraces about 30,000 square miles, extending about 150 miles west of the Missouri, and in the valley of the Platte about 300 miles. It is divided into bottom and prairie lands. The soil of the latter is a rich, black vegetable mould from 2 to 5 feet deep, slightly impregnated with lime, and withstands great extremes of drought. The bottom lands along the river banks have a rich alluvial soil. Wheat, corn, barley, oats, sorghum, flax, hemp, and all vegetables flourish, and below latitude 42° sweet potatoes are easily cultivated. Wild plums and grapes are found in great abundance, while raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, and other small fruits are common. Tobacco also finds a congenial soil and climate. Apples, plums, and pears are cultivated, and peaches succeed south of the Platte River. The wild grasses, of which there are upward of 150 species, grow luxuriously on the bottom and table lands, yielding from 13 to 3 tons per acre;

many are exceedingly nutritious and admirably adapted to the raising of sheep and cattle. Cultivated grasses, as the blue-grass of Kentucky and timothy, are raised with great success. Large numbers of cattle are brought from Texas and Kansas to be fattened on the grasses of Nebraska, preparatory to sale. The grazing region comprises about 23,000,000 acres, and is generally well watered. Wood is of free, natural growth only on the bluffs and river banks, but the species are numerous. Cottonwood is the most common; oak, elm, maple, black walnut, cedar, hickory, and hackberry are also found. Planted timber grows rapidly on the prairie. Forests of pine are reported to exist in the northwest part of the State.

The climate is dry and exhilarating; the mean temperature in winter is about 22°, and in summer about 70°. The heat of the summer is tempered by the prairie winds, and the nights are generally cool. The Territory of Nebraska was formed in 1854, embracing 351,558 square miles, extending from latitude 40° north to the national boundary, and from the Missouri River west to the crest of the Rocky Mountains. In 1861, 16,035 square miles were set off to the Territory of Colorado, and 2,228,907 to Dakota. In 1863, a part was taken for the formation of Idaho Territory, and Nebraska was reduced to its present limits. In 1860 the question of forming a State government was submitted to the people and disapproved. In 1864 an enabling act was passed by Congress providing for the admission of Nebraska into the Union; but the necessary action for admission was not taken at that time by the Territory. Early in 1866 the Territorial Legislature framed a constitution which was ratified by the people on June 21st. The first Legislature under the new government assembled July 4th. On the 28th a bill for the admission of Nebraska as a State was passed by Congress, but did not receive the signature of the President. In January, 1867, another bill for this purpose was passed, but was vetoed by the President, on the ground that it embraced conditions not contained in the enabling act, that the proceedings attending the formation of the constitution were different from those prescribed, and that the population of the Territory did not justify its becoming a State. The bill, however, was passed over the Executive veto. The act was not to take effect except upon the fundamental condition that, within the State of Nebraska, there shall be no denial of the elective franchise, or of any other right, to any person by reason of race or color, "except Indians not taxed; and upon the further fundamental condition that the Legislature of said State, by a solemn public act, shall declare the assent of said State to the said fundamental condition." This act was ratified by the Legislature, the State was admitted into the Union, and Lincoln was chosen as the seat of government. A new constitution was framed in 1871, but was rejected by the people. In 1875 a new

constitution was adopted. For its provisions see ANNUAL CYCLOPÆDIA for 1875.

NEPOKOITCHITZKY, General ARTHUR ADAMOVITCH, chief of the general staff of the Russian Army of the Danube, is of Polish descent, and was born at Sluztk, in the government of Minsk, in 1813. After receiving a full military education, he entered the active service in 1841, in the Army of the Caucasus, where he served for seven years in the campaigns against Shamyl, receiving several promotions and decorations for his gallantry. In 1848 he was appointed chief of the general staff of the Russian contingent which assisted Austria against the Hungarian revolution, and was present at the storming of the pass of the Rothenthurm, and the capture of Hermannstadt and Cronstadt. For his services in this campaign the Emperor of Austria awarded him a decoration, and his own sovereign made him a major-general. During the Crimean War he served at first in the Army of the Danube, with which he participated in the operations at Braila, Matchin, and Silistria, and was afterward, having become a lieutenant-general, chief of staff at Sebastopol. He was appointed president of the Military Council in 1864, and has since been busily engaged in matters pertaining to the reorganization which has been effected in the Russian army. The plans of the later campaigns in Central Asia were arranged by him. More recently, he has served as president of the Commission of Military Codification which has been occupied with the digesting and arrangement of all the military laws and regulations of the empire. He is described as a "short, square-set, active-looking man, hale and hearty, in spite of his seventy years," and appearing as fit to make a campaign as if he were twenty years younger. His name means "the unquiet or restless man," but expresses the opposite of his character, which is one of remarkable sobriety and placidity. He has been called, in the Russian newspapers, the Moltke of Russia.

NETHERLANDS, THE, a kingdom in Europe. King, William III., born February 19, 1817; succeeded his father, March 17, 1849. Sons: 1. William, Prince of Orange, and heirapparent to the throne, born September 4, 1840; 2. Alexander, born August 25, 1851. Brother of the King: Henry, governor of the grand-duchy of Luxemburg. The area of the kingdom is 12,679 square miles.*

The population was, in December, 1876, officially estimated at 3,865,456. A census is taken every ten years. The last census was taken in 1869, according to which the population was 3,579,529, showing an increase of 285,927. The following table gives the population of the several provinces in 1876, and the percentage of Protestants and Catholics, leaving out of account the Israelites and the minor sects:

For the area of the several provinces, see ANNUAL CYCLOPÆDIA for 1572.

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The army of the Netherlands in Europe consisted, in 1877, of 2,063 officers and 60,867 men; the East Indian army numbered 1,425 officers and 33,996 men.

The navy of the Netherlands on July 1, 1877, consisted of 86 steamers, with 376 guns, and 19 sailing-vessels, with 94 guns: total, 105 vessels, with 470 guns.

15. Receipts from the colonial administration....

Total.......

Deficit.......

5,535,613

9,974,872

106,392,823

11,585,362

The financial estimates are always framed with great moderation, mostly exhibiting a deficit, which in the final account becomes a surplus.

In 1877, the national debt was represented by a capital of 922,192,152 florins, divided as follows:

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Debt bearing interest at the rate of
8 per cent..

Debt bearing interest at the rate of
8 per cent.....

Debt bearing interest at the rate of
4 per cent..
Miscellaneous

The merchant-navy, on January 1, 1877, consisted of 1,749 sailing-vessels, of 449,700 tons, and 86 steamers, of 76,827 tons: total, Bearing no interest.

1,835 vessels, of 526,527 tons.

The aggregate length of railroads in operation was, on January 1, 1877, 1,695 kilometres (1 kilometre = 0.62 English mile), of which 997 were State railroads.

Total....

Amortization...

Total, 1877..

Total, 1876..

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The budget estimates of the Dutch colonies for the year 1877 were as follows:

COLONIES.

The aggregate length of the State telegraph lines was, on January 1, 1877, 3,470 kilometres; the aggregate length of the wires, 12,666 kilometres; the number of offices was 335; the number of telegrams carried in 1876 was 2,376,900; the revenue was 773,143 florins; Surinam.. the expenditures, 1,285,320.

Revenue.

Fast Indies..
West Indies..

Florins. 146,666,146

1,156,700
400,501

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The imports and exports in 1874 and 1875 were valued as follows:

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The commerce of the East Indian colonies by the King in person on September 18th. In was as follows:

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In February, the Second Chamber of the States-General ratified the treaty with Prussia, regulating the connection of the Dutch with the Prussian canals. In reply to an interpellation, the Government stated that war material had been shipped from Curaçoa, at the request of the Government of Hayti, and that it had no official knowledge that these arms were intended for Venezuela. Venezuela had offered to buy the island of Curaçoa, but the Government had refused this offer, and hoped that it would also be refused by all succeeding Governments. The Chambers adjourned on May 20th, after the ministers had been severely censured by the Chamber of Deputies. The elections for onehalf the members of this Chamber occurred in the beginning of June, and resulted in a decisive victory of the Liberal party. The sessions of the States-General were opened again

the speech from the throne he stated that the relations of his Government with foreign powers left nothing to be desired. The harvest was sufficient, and the state of the finances satisfactory. He eulogized the conduct of the naval and military forces in Acheen, and pointed out that no operations had been necessary for some months past. It was hoped that after the submission of a few remaining districts it would be possible to reduce considerably the forces. The royal speech announced the presentation of bills for increasing the number of deputies and reforming the system of taxation. The ministerial measures also included bills for the execution of public works in Java, and for increasing the supply of labor in Surinam. The budget for 1878 was submitted to the Second Chamber on September 25th. The Minister of Finance estimated the total expenditure at 121,000,000 florins, and the revenue at 113,700,000 florins. The anticipated deficit of 7,300,000 florins depended mainly upon the charges incurred by the war in Acheen, which in 1876 cost 26,500,000 florins, and would probably cost as much in 1877. This charge would, however, be diminished, should it prove pos

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might be considered due to temporary causes and to the wish of the Government to continue the public works now in hand, such as the

THE CATHEDRAL OF ANTWERP.

construction of railroads and the completion of the defensive system of the kingdom. On September 26th the Chamber of Deputies adopted,

by 44 to 28 votes, a paragraph of the address in reply to the speech from the throne, containing the declaration that the Chamber and the Government did not agree on the education question. This was regarded as a vote of want of confidence; and on September 27th the ministry, in a body, asked the King for permission to resign, but did not make known the fact until October 2d. In the beginning of November a new cabinet was formed as follows: M. Kappeyne van de Capello, Chief of the King's Cabinet, Minister of the Interior; Deputy Smidt, Minister of Justice; M. van Heeckeren van Kill, Minister for Foreign Affairs; M. Wichers, Minister of the Navy; M. Gleichman, Minister of Finance; Deputy Deroo, Minister for War; M. van Bosse, Colonial Minister; and M. Tak van Poortvliet, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Public Works. On November 19th the new ministry, for the first time since their appointment, attended the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies. M. Kappeyne, addressing the House in the name of the cabinet, invoked the good-will of all, and the cordial support of the majority. The ministry would firmly uphold constitutional principles, and had accepted office as a duty toward the country. In conclusion, he announced that several bills would be withdrawn, notably that relating to primary education. In the latter part of December the budget for 1878 was adopted by the Chamber. A bill was also passed providing for a redistricting of the country, by which the number of deputies was increased by six. The Chamber then adjourned.

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