198 NEBRASKA vate. The whole number of newspapers and periodicals was 42, having an aggregate circu- lation of 31,600, and issuing annually 3,388,- 500 copies. There were 7 daily, with a circu- lation of 6,850; 1 tri-weekly, 500; 30 weekly, 22,400; and 4 monthly, 1,850. In 1874 the total number had increased to 95, including 10 daily, 1 semi- weekly, 77 weekly, 1 semi- monthly, and 6 monthly. The total number of religious organizations in 1870 was 181, hav- ing 108 edifices, with 32,210 sittings, and prop- erty valued at $386,000. The leading denom- inations were represented as follows: DENOMINATIONS. Organi- zations. Edifice*. Sittings. Property. Baptist, regular 26 15 5,400 64,800 Christian Congregational Episcopal, Protestant. . . Evangelical Association. Lutheran 9 10 15 5 14 4 7 12 3 7 1,550 2,050 8,500 600 2,000 14,500 38,500 81,000 7,000 27,900 Methodist. 50 36 10,150 118,400 1 1 200 1,200 Presbyterian, regular . . . Roman Catholic 24 17 9 11 8,125 2,935 48,800 34,900 Unitarian 3 8 700 4,500 United Breth'n in Christ Universalist 4 3
The territory of Nebraska was formed May 30, 1854, embracing 351,558 sq. m., extending from lat. 40 N. to the national boundary, and from the Missouri river W. to the crest of the Rocky mountains. On Feb. 28, 1861, 16,035 sq. m. were set off to the territory of Colorado, and on March 2, 228,907 sq. m. to Dakota. At the latter date Nebraska received from Wash- ington and Utah territories a triangular tract of 15,378 sq. m. lying on the S. W. slope of the Rocky mountains N. of the 41st parallel and E. of the 110th meridian. This, however, was included in the 45,999 sq. m. taken from Nebraska March 3, 1863, to form the territory of Idaho. Nebraska was thus reduced to its present limits. In March, 1860, the question of forming a state government was submitted to the people and disapproved by a vote of 1,877 to 1,987. ' On April 19, 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. The con- tinuance of the war and the prevalence of Indian hostilities checked the growth of Ne- braska; but prosperity came with the return of peace. Early in 1866 the territorial legis- lature framed a constitution, which was rati- fied by the people on June 21. The first legis- lature under the new government assembled July 4. On the 28th a bill for the admis- sion of Nebraska as a state was passed by con- gress, 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 NEBUCHADNEZZAR prescribed, and that the population of the ter- ritory did not justify its becoming a state. The bill, however, was passed over the execu- tive veto by a vote of 30 to 9 in the senate, Feb. 8, ajid 120 to 44 in the house on the fol- lowing day. 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, which assembled at Omaha on Feb. 20 for that purpose, and com- pliance with the congressional conditions waa announced by proclamation of the president of the United States, March 1, 1867. Soon after Lincoln was chosen as the seat of government. On May 2, 1871, delegates were elected to a convention to frame a new state constitution. This convention was in session from June 5 to Aug. 19, and completed a constitution which was rejected by the people, Sept. 19. Another con- vention was ordered by the legislature of 1875. NEBRASKA CITY, a city and the capital of Otoe co., Nebraska, on the Missouri river, at the terminus of the Midland Pacific railroad, 35 m. S. of Omaha, and 45 m. E. by S. of Lincoln; pop. in 1860, 1,922; in 1870, 6,050. The Kansas City, SL Joseph, and Council Bluffs railroad runs along the opposite bank. The city is handsomely situated on rising ground, and is surrounded by a fine agricul- tural country. It has a beautiful brick court house, an opera house, gas works, two nation- al banks, a private bank, an elevator, flouring mills, a distillery, two plough manufactories, four large public schools, a public library, two daily and four weekly (one German) newspa- pers, a Catholic convent, and 13 churches. It is the seat of Nebraska college, an Episcopal institution, which was organized in 1865, and has theological, collegiate, and preparatory or business departments. In 1874-'5 it had 10 professors and instructors, 88 students (most of whom were in the business department), and a library of 1,500 volumes. Nebraska City was founded in 1855. NEBUCHADNEZZAR (on the Babylonian monu- ments, Nabu-lcuduri-uzur), a Chaldean king of Babylon, born about 645 B. C., died in 561. He was the son of Nabopolassar, who toward the close of his reign sent him to repel the in- vasion of the Egyptian king Necho. He routed the Egyptians, and pursued them through Judea, which he reduced to a Babylonian dependency, but was recalled to Babylon by the death of his father (604), whom he'succeeded as king. He brought back a multitude of captives, and em- ployed them as slaves in the construction of gigantic works, the remains of which are still visible. He rebuilt all the cities of upper Baby- lonia upon a magnificent scale, and embellished
