The lake region in Nebraska is chiefly in the sand-hills, on the headwaters of the Elkhorn and Loup, making an area about 200 m. long by so m. wide. Several hundred lakes in this district furnish ideal fishing and hunting grounds. The lakes vary greatly in size and in water, from fresh spring-fed bodies to strongly alkaline. Artesian water exists in at least ten different counties with over 1,500 flowing wells.
Climate.—The climate of Nebraska is inland or continental. The prevailing wind of the year is north-west ; but in the spring, summer and much of the autumn, its predominance is greatly reduced by south and south-west winds from the Gulf of Mexico. Wet and dry years run in irregular cycles with no sufficient data to formulate a rule for them. A curve covering the past 70 years would show dry cycles in 186o-63, 1890-95, 1910-13, 1933-36. The normal mean annual temperature (compiled from records 1876-1927) is 48.7°. There is a considerable difference in the averages for different months, the normal means of January and July through 5o years being 21.9° and 74.6°. The actual growing season between frosts varies from 165 days in the south-east to 135 in the north-west. The normal mean annual precipitation for the whole State is about 23.54 in. in rain and melted snow, the actual yearly average varying through so years from 13.30 to 35.6o inches.
Soil.—A soil of remarkable fertility is Nebraska's fundamental asset. Silt is the most common and most fertile physical element in the State soils. It is the dominant element in the richest areas and, supplemented by fine sand, forms a combination easily worked by farm implements and responding with quick and sus tained growth in the cultivation of the world's staple food crops which are the chief product of Nebraska. The top soils over most of the State are from I to 8 f t. in depth, a rich brownish-black vegetable humus. Below this top soil over the largest area is found the loess subsoil, varying from i o ft. to over 200 ft. in depth. The soil in the sand-hills region is largely very fine sand mixed with silt. It never bakes, it holds moisture and, under favourable treatment, covers itself with vegetation. Fertile valleys and slopes in the sand hills grow exceptional crops. The soils of the high plains and the butte region are chiefly a mingling of silt and fine sand, rich in lime, derived from the decomposing Arick aree strata. These soils produce splendid crops with a minimum of rainfall under modern soil culture methods. The Pierre Shale soils contain elements of great fertility.
Flora.—Grasses are the outstanding feature, 200 species grow ing within the State, a greater variety of native forage species than any other State. Between 3,00o and 4,000 floral species have been identified within the State, including 64 trees and 77 shrubs grow ing native. About 1,000,000 ac. out of 49,000,000 are in forest trees.
Government.—A constitution adopted in 1875 forms the basis of the State Government. Eleven amendments were made dur ing the period 1875-1918. A fourth Constitutional convention assembled in 1919 and submitted 41 additional amendments, which were adopted in 1920. An amendment approved in 1934 substi tuted a unicameral legislature for the old assembly and senate.
The general election, State and local, is in even-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, but municipal and school district elections may be held at other times. In 1909 the State enacted a law providing for the non
partisan nomination of all judges, of all superintendents of public instruction and of regents of the State university.
The governor is the chief executive officer of the State, and one of the 1 o executive State officers chosen by direct vote of the people. The other 9 executive officers are : lieutenant-gov ernor, secretary of State, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, attorney-general, 3 railway commissioners. The commission of public lands was abolished in 1936. All, governor included, are elected for a term of two years, except the superin tendent of public instruction, who is elected for four years and the railway commissioners for six years. The governor appoints, with the approval of the assembly, secretaries of the code depart ments, members of the board of control and a few other officers.
He fills vacancies in State offices arising from death, resignation or removal. The governor may remove any officer appointed by him for incompetency, neglect of duty or malfeasance. Legisla ture, beginning in 1937, consists of a single house of 43 non-parti san legislators representing geographic areas of about equal popu lation. The chamber is presided over by the lieutenant-governor. Except at the governor's request, no bill or joint resolution may be introduced at a regular session after its loth day. Special legisla tion of various kinds is expressly prohibited, and in the bill of rights it is declared that "all powers not herein delegated, remain with the people." Administration of justice is vested in a supreme court, 18 dis trict courts, county courts, municipal courts, justices of the peace, police magistrates and certain State administrative officers. The supreme court consists of six associate justices, elected one from each congressional district, and one chief justice elected from the State at large, all being chosen for a six-year term. Each district court consists of from one to nine judges, total number 35, elected for a term of four years. County courts have one judge, elected by the voters of the county. Municipal courts have from one to five judges each, elected by voters in the city. Lincoln and Omaha were the only cities with municipal courts until 1927, when the legislature enacted that cities having a population of 9,000 to 25,00o could, by initiative petition and referendum, create munic ipal courts. Police magistrates are elected from the municipality at large, justices of the peace from each rural precinct. Police judges and justices of the peace are the only judges paid by fees, all others receiving salaries. The district court is the court of general, original, legal and equity jurisdiction. It is a court of record, and its jurisdiction is unlimited in amount, and almost unlimited as to subject matter. Its appellate jurisdiction extends to all appeals from inferior courts. The inferior courts—county, municipal, police magistrates and justices of the peace—all have a limited jurisdiction, both in amount and in subject matter. The supreme court is the court of last resort. Under the Constitution, appeal to this court may not be denied in any case.