KIND READER, it may be that you are not familiar with Dawson county, Nebraska, and its people. Possibly you are interested in finding out about the lay of the land, the soil, the crops, the rainfall, banks, schools, churches, towns and farmers' organizations, as well as livestock.

Location

   Dawson county is located in the Platte valley, in the west-central part of Nebraska. The main line of the great Union Pacific railroad, with one of its branches, together with a branch of the Burlington railway, furnishes us with ample transportation.

   The Lincoln Highway, a noted transcontinental highway, passes through the heart of the county.

Topography and Soils

   Approximately one-half of the land in our county lies in the Platte and Wood river valleys, which are as level as any in the United States. The soil in these valleys is of a rich sandy loam, which is as fertile as any land to be found in this part of the United States. It produces abundant crops. Twenty-five thousand acres of this valley land is irrigated, the water being taken from the Platte river.

   The remaining portion of the county is broken up by creeks and canyons leading to the valleys. The larger portion of this land is under cultivation in that the creeks and canyons are as a rule three to eight miles apart. This land is level or sloping and the soil on these divides is of the same character as that in the valley.

Rainfall

   The government weather bureau shows that the average rainfall in this county is approximately twenty-four inches per year. This is evenly distributed throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.

Crops

   Combination farming is generally practiced with us. Each farmer strives to raise enough grain and hay to feed out the stock kept and have a little extra to put on the market.

   Corn ranks first in acreage, followed in rotation by wheat, alfalfa, oats, rye, barley, sugar beets and potatoes. Corn and