Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92402891 01 36 Cornell University Library F 594 S521867 Incidents of a trip througti the great PI olin 3 1924 028 910 136 X Bivi,. y lii -M-Vosry St N.Y, INCIDENTS OF A TRIP THBOTJGH THE GRE^T PLi^TTE VA.I.LEY, TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND LA.IIA.MIE PLAIN^S, IN THE FALL OF 1866, WITH A STNOPTICAI STATEMENT OF THE VARIOUS PACEFIC RAILEOADS, AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT UNION PACIFIC RAILROip EXCURSION TO THE ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN 01? LONGITUDE. SECOND EDITION. Nero ffiork: D. VAN NOSTRAND, No. 192 BROADWAY. 186 7. cs Entered, according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1867, By D. VAN" NOSTRAND. In the Clerk's OfQce of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. TO MAJOH-GENERAL JOHN A. DIX, President of the Union Pacific BaUroad Company ; American Minister to the Court of France, etc. Genebal : The following narrative of personal inci- dents, connected witli a professional "visit to the Eocky Mountains, and Laramie Plains, during the months of September, October and November of the past year, in company with Hon. Jesse L. Williams, Government Director, and Gen. G. M. Dodge, Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific Bailroad, was originally written for, and all but the last three numbers, pubhshed in the " New Tort Times." Tour appointment by the President of the United States, as Foreign Minister, made it necessary for you to leave the coimtry before the numbers were all published ; and also prevented you, much to the disappointment of yourself as well as of your associates in the management of the road, from participating in the great celebration of the completion of the Union Pacific Eailroad to the one hundredth meridian of longitude, which is imper- fectly described in the last numbers. I have, therefore, taken the liberty of collecting, revising, and dedicating them to you, in their present 4 TO MAJOE-GENERAL JOHN A. DIX. form, hoping that their perusal may afford you some pleasure in your moments of relaxation from the cares and responsibilities coimected with yoiu* high official position. I have the honor to be, General, Your obedient servant, SILAS SEYMOUE. New Yoke, Feb. 1, 1867. CONTENTS. I. — New York to Pittsbtngh — Chicago — Omaha — Fort Kearny and Denver — Trip over the Union Pacific BaUroad — ^Visit of Govern- ment Directors — ^First View of the Eocky Mountains — Denver City. n. — ^Denver City to Golden City — Idaho — Empire City and Berthoud Pass — ^Valley of Clear Creek — Mining Operations — Scenery of the Eocky Mountains — Mountain Serenade — Mr. WiUiams' Letter. m. — Snow Storm in the Eocky Mountains — ^Empire City to Idaho, Central, Golden, and Denver Cities — Virginia Canon— Eussell Gulch — Quartz Mills at Black-Hawk — Junction Eanch — Guy's Hill — Clear Creek Caaon — ^Entrance into Denver. IV. — Colorado Agricultural Fair — ^Denver to Laporte — Over the Black- HiU-Eange to Virginia Dale — Stone-wall Canon — Steamboat Butte — Antelope Pass, and Laramie Plains — ^Arrival at Fort John Buford. V. — A Day at Fort John Buford — Mr. Williams' Letter — Eastward Bound — Death of the Elk-Stag — Crossing the Black Hills at Evan's Pass — ^Descent towards the Plains — Lone Eock — Camp on Dale Creek — A Herd of Elk— JDamps on Lone-Tree and Box- Elder Creeks — ^Death of the Antelope — Eetum to Laporte. VI. — Parting Supper at Laporte — Eetum Trip to Denver, Kearny and Omaha — Mr. Williams' Theory — Ben HoUaday and his Friends — Tribute to T. C. Durant — Eemarkable Progress of the Union Pacific EaUroad — ^Arrival at Omaha — Troubles at the Hemdon House — Departure of Mr. Williams. Vn.— Two Weeks at Omaha— Wild Geese and Duck Shooting — ^Advent of Chicago and Northwestern Agents on their way to Denver — Parting Speech of Mr. Tappen— Anticipated Arrival of the great b CONTENTS. Pacific Railroad Excursion — Antecedents and Objects of the Excur- sion — Synopsis of Pacific Eailroads — Speech of General Simpson — Departure of Excursion from New York — Arrival at Chicago, Saint Joseph, and Omaha — Keception and Ball at Omaha . VUI. — Morning after the Ball — The Excursion Train^ — All on Board — Its Progress Westward — The Great Platte Valley— Stations on the Eoad — Anival at Columbus — Camping Out on the Plains — Indian War Dance — Morning Serenade — Town of Columbus — Sham Indian Eight— Presents to the Indians — Contrast between Civilized and Savage Life— Train still Going Westward — Way Stations on the Eoad — Arrival at Camp No. Two — Military Encampment — Another Night in Camp — Morning Exercises — Departure of the Elkhoms — List of Excursionists — End of Track found at last — ^Buffalo and Antelope Hunters — Dinner in Camp — Fireworks on the Plains — Third Night in Camp — Homeward Bound— One-Hundredth Meridian — Prairie-Dog City — Fire on the Prairies — Eetum to Omaha — Departure of Excursionists Eastward— Their Safe Arrival Home. IX — PubUo Eeoeptiou at Chicago — Eesolutions— Speeches of Mayor Eice, Mr. C. A. Lambard, and Senator B. P. Wade — General J. H. Simpson's Letter from North Platte Station — Death of General Curtis— Conclusion. WESTERN INCIDENTS. I. NEW YORK TO PITTSBURGH, CHICAGO, OMAHA, FORT KEARNY, AND DEN- VER TRIP OVER THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD VISIT OF GOV- ERNMENT DIRECTORS — FIRST VIEW OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS DENVER CITY. Denveb Cm, CoiiOEADO, Monday, 8ept. 17, 1866. It is now about two weeks since I left New York, in company with tlie Government Directors of the Union Pacific Eailroad, for the purpose of inspecting the rapid construction of that greatest of modem enterprises ; and also examining the different routes which have been pro- posed for the road through the passes of the Eocky Mountains ; and it seems to me that during that time I have learned more of the vast extent and resources of our continent than I had ever known before. Leaving New York on the evening of the 4th Septem- ber, by the New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Central Bail- roads, we arrived at Pittsburgh on the 5th for dinner, after which we were placed in the Government Presiden- tial car, which conveyed us most comfortably to Chicago in time to witness the interesting ceremonies of laying the comer-stone of the Douglas monument, pay our respects to the Presidential party, and hear the elo- quent address of General Dix. On Friday evening, the 7th, we continued our journey from Chicago westward over the Iowa division of the 8 WESTEEN mcrDENTS. Chicago and Northwestem Eailroad, in the magnificent Directors' car, which was kindly placed at the disposal of the Government Directors by Mr. Dunlap, the Gen- eral Superintendent, and which conveyed us to the end of the track, a distance of about four hundred miles west of Chicago. From this point we were compelled to make the balance of the distance to Omaha, about ninety miles, by stage. The rails are to be laid, however, upon this portion of the route by the 1st of April next. We arrived at Omaha, the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific BaiLroad, on the morning of the 10th, and spent the day ia examining the extensive shops of the Company, which have all been constructed within the past year. TRIP OVER THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. On the morning of the 11th, the Directors accom- panied by Gen. G. M. Dodge, Chief Engineer, Major Bent, Major Chesbrough and myseE, took a special train, in charge of Mr. S. B. Eeed, the General Super- intendent, for the end of the track, which was then laid two hundred and seventeen miles westward, in the Great Platte Valley. "We arrived opposite Fort Kearny at four p. M., having passed over two hundred mUes of road in eight hours, or at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour. It may not be improper to state in this connection, that only forty miles of track were laid on this road dur- ing the latter part of 1865. And the balance, or about one hundred and eighty mUes, has been laid during the present season ; and the track-laying is now progressing so rapidly that it will reach the crossing of the North Platte river, a distance of two hundred and eighty-five miles from Omaha, by the 1st of November. UNION PACIFIC EAILEOAD. VISIT OF GOVERNMENT DIRECTORS. The law requires the President of the United States to appoint five Directors to represent the Government ia the management of the road. And it also requires these Directors to visit the road as often as they think proper, and make a report upon its condition, management, and progress, to the Secretary of the Interior. The following are the names of these Directors — Hon. George Ashmun, of Mass. ; Hon. Jesse L. WiUiams, of Ind. ; Hon. T. J. Carter, of lU. ; Hon. Springer Har- baugh, of Perm. ; and Hon. Charles T. Sherman, of Ohio. Mr. Ashmun did not accompany the party. Our party separated at Kearny Station, and three of the Government Directors, Messrs. Harbaugh, Carter, and Sherman, remained on the north side of the Platte for the purpose of inspecting the balance of the com- pleted portion of the road, and then returning eastward. While the other Government Director, Hon. Jesse L. Williams, who is also an engineer of great experience, together with Gen. G. M. Dodge, Major Chesbrough and myself, crossed over to the stage station, near Port Kearny, for the purpose of continuing our journey by stage to the Bocky Mountains. FROM FORT KEARNY TO DENVER CITY. We left Port Kearny at one p. M., on Wednesday, the 12th inst., and arrived at Denver at ten A. M., on the fol- lowing Saturday, making the entire distance of four hun- dred miles in less than three days and nights. The speed, comfort, and regularity of these Ben Holladay Overland stages is certainly astonishing, when we con- 1* 10 WESTERN INCrDENTS. sider the fact that they pass through hundreds and thou- sands of miles of ahnost uninhabited country ; and that it is only five years since the experiment was first attempted. Our party was exceedingly fortunate in falling in company with Gen. Hughes, the attorney of the Stage Company, who, with his daughter, accompanied us from Omaha to Denver. FIRST VIEW OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. Our first view of the Rocky Mountaius was from a point on the Plains about one hundred miles distant, and about an hour before sunset on Friday evening, the 14th inst. A heavy cloud had been lying along the west- ern horizon during the whole afternoon, and it was feared that we should not obtain the long coveted view before the following morning ; but, fortunately, the sun broke through and dispelled the lower belt of clouds just in time to give us a magnificent view of the entire range, and en- able us to see the setting of the sun behind Long's Peak, the highest in the range. DENVEB CITY. The appearance of Denver, as you approach it from the east, is not very imposing. The town is situated in the vaUey of the South Platte, at the mouth of Cherry Creek, about twelve miles in a direct line from the base of the mountaius. And the swell, or elevation of the plain to the eastward, hides it fromi view until you ap- proach within about three mUes of the town. It then bursts upon the view as if by magic ; and presents a most comfortable and inviting appearance to the weary traveller from the Plains, who has seen nothing but log UNION PACIFIC BAILEOAD. 11 and adobe ranches, at intervals of ten and twenty miles, for many long and weary days and nights. Denver boasts of four or five thousand inhabitants. The streets are regularly laid out ; and there are many fine brick blocks,- either constructed or iu course of con- struction. Tou can purchase almost anything here that can be purchased in New York, but at prices from fifty to one himdred per cent, higher. The hotels are very ordinary. Nothing would improve the town more than the construction of two or three first-class hotels. We are about to start on our trip through the moun- tains by way of Golden City, Idaho, and Empire City, to Berthoud's Pass. General Dodge and Major Chesbrough will go from here directly to Laporte, where Mr. Wilhams and myself are to join them after our return from the mountains. 12 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. IL DENVER CITY TO GOLDE^f CITY— IDAHO EMPIRE CITY, AND BERTHO0D PASS— VALLEY OF CLEAR CREEK MINING OPERATIONS SCEN- ERY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS MOUNTAIN SERENADE ME. WILLIAMS' LETTER. Empiee City, Coloeado, September 19, 1866. Hon. Jesse L. Williams, one of the Goyermnent Direc- tors of the Union Pacific EaUroad, and myself, accom- panied on horseback by Mr. P. T. Brown, the Assistant Engineer, who had been making the surveys for the road through this wild and forbidding portion of the route, started out from Denver on the morning of the 17th, in a comfortable covered carriage, drawn by a pair of lazy, broken down mules, these being considered the most safe and reliable for the rough mountain roads we were to traverse. The outfit, as all conveyances are designated ia this country, was under the special charge of Mr. Brooks, a most venerable and experienced moun- taineer and driver. Our objective point was Berthoud Pass, and our route lay up the Yalley of Clear Creek, or as near it as the road would allow us to travel. From Denver, the base of the mountains appears so near as to invite a short morning walk to them before breakfast ; but we only reached them after a long two hours' ride of twelve mUes, behind our " safe and reli- able" mules, over the intervening plains. We entered the somewhat broken and irregular base of the first range, or Table Mountain, as it is called, through the opening made by the "Valley of Clear Creek, instead of by UNION PACIFIC EAILBOAD. 13 tte regularly travelled road some miles further south ; and made our first halt at Golden City, fourteen miles from Denver. This place is most beautiful for situation ; and should have been the great commercial city for the mimng interests of this portion of Colorado. But Den- ver, during the Cherry Creek excitement years ago, obtained a long distance the start of it, and wiU, from present appearances, retain the advantage. Here we found iron-ore, coal and fire-clay in abundance, aU which win, sooner or later, be turned to good account. GETTING- INTO THE MOUNTAINS. It being impossible to follow further up the Valley of Clear Creek, on account of the intervening canon extend- ing some twelve or fifteen miles in our proper direction, we were obliged to make a detour to the south, and enter the next range through a less formidable gorge, up which a very good road had been made in the direction of Idaho and Empire Cities. We stopped an hour for a very good dinner at the Genessee Eanch, where we were overtaken by our very intelligent and eccentric friend WoKe, whose acquaintance we had made at Denver, and who was wending his way to his mines in the mountains with a load of enormous cabbages, turnips, water, musk and oth,er melons, the products of his large and well-cultiva- ted Eanch on Clear Creek, near Denver. Aiter regaling us for dessert with one of his finest melons, Mr. Wolfe opened to us his plans of a new process for separating the precious metals from the quartz ; and also his theory for the extinction of cholera ; aU which, particularly the melons, it is needless to say, met with our unqualified approbation. 14 WESTEEN ESfCrDENTS. CLEAR CREEK VAiLEY. Our road towards Idaho now lay over a very rougli, precipitous country, to a point a few miles below that city, where we agaia struck the VaUey of Clear Creek. As we followed along the abrupt windings of this valley, we were continually reminded of the insatiate thirst of man for the filthy lucre gold, by the broken and decay- ing flumes and water wheels, and the crumbling and haK-refiUed excavations in the banks along the stream, which had been made and used by the earlier pioneers in their search for hidden treasure. Some two miles below Idaho we passed the extensive and more permanent works, now being erected for the same purpose, by Gen. Beaufort for an Eastern company of capitalists. A NIGHT AT IDAHO. At early dusk we found ourselves in front of the Beebe House, in Idaho, acknowledged to be the best hotel in Colorado, with good mountain appetites for an excellent supper which awaited us. Our venerable driver, and part owner of our outfit, was almost exhausted by his continuous wallopings of the mules ; and our mules (or rather horses by brevet, since the close of the war), were Tiors de com- bai from the effects of a long drive over rough roads, and the aforesaid wallopings of the venerable driver. On en- tering the hotel I was most agreeably surprised to find that it was owned and kept by old and familiar friends from SuUivan county. New York ; which fact rendered our short stay exceedingly pleasant. The hot springs, ample bathing, and hotel accommodations, render this place the Saratoga of the mountains for the good people of Denver and adjacent cities. UNION PACIFIC EATLEOAD. 15 ARRIVAL AT EMPIRE CITY. An early breakfast enabled us to reach Empire City, eleven miles furtber up tbe valley, at eleven o'clock in the morning. At no point along our road were we out of view of the gulch and mountain mining operations, being carried on by the sturdy and adventurous moim- taineers. Mr. Brown had informed us that we could not travel with our carriage nearer than a point about two miles from the pass; and that it would therefore be neces- sary for Mr. "Williams and myself to procure saddle- horses at Empire for the balance of our journey. This, together with our hasty lunch, detained us about an hour at Empire City. In the meantime we were informed by gentlemen at Empire, that we could not make the ascent to the pass and return during the afternoon, and had, therefore, better defer the trip till morning. Mr. Wil- liams, however, was too anxious to take a glimpse of the Pacific slope of the continent, and had come too far for that purpose, to be deterred by any such prognostications ; and we therefore set out at twelve on horseback, after arranging with our driver to meet us at five o'clock with the carriage, at the foot of the trail. Our road, stiU following the VaUey of Clear Creek, was quite good for six miles of the distance, to the foot of the trail which leads from the wagon road up the southerly slope of the vaUey of a small tributary of Clear Creek, which heads near Berthoud Pass. We made our way slowly up the trail without much difficulty, although in many places the path was quite steep and sideling, reminding one of the ascent as made years ago from the Glen House to Mount Washington. We dismounted several times to reheve our horses and 16 WESTEBN raCIDENTS. perhaps for greater safety. When near the top we started up a beTy of mountain grouse, one of which had the audacity to sit out the discharge of our revolvers, upon a hmb within twenty feet of us, without evincing greater emotion than an occasional wink of the left eye ; but after our pistols were unloaded, Mr. Brown fired a stone at the bird, which struck a tree near by, and caused it to beat a hasty retreat. I had unfortunately left, my rifle and fowling-piece in the carriage. BERTHOTJD PASS. We reached Berthoud Pass at two p. m. on Tuesday, September 18 ; and were, for the first time in our lives, greeted with a most extended and magnificent view of the Pacific slope of the Western Continent. The sum- mit of the Pass is but a few hundred feet below the tim- ber, or arborescent line ; and is about 6,100 feet above Denver City, and 11,200 feet above the level of the sea. The main range, or divide of the continent, was visible to the north and west for a distance of 100 miles at least, far beyond Long's Peak, which reared its bald head, spotted with eternal snow, high above the average level of the range. After spending an hour upon the Pass, and taking such note of the topography as would refresh our memories hereafter, we ascended the point of mountain south of the Pass to an elevation several hundred feet above the tree liae, from which the view of Middle Park, the valley of a tributary of Grand Eiver, leading west- ward from the Pass ; and the extended westerly slopes of the Eocky Mountain ranges, formed a most enchanting picture. The exhilarating effects of the high mountain air and stibhme scenery, inspired Mr. Williams with a desire for a patriotic song. After some urging from Mr. UNION PACIFIC EAILBOAD. 17 Brown and myself, he led off with " Sherman's March to the Sea." Mr. Brown followed with the " Star Spangled Banner," and I closed the exercises with Moore's seren- ade " Come o'er the Sea," etc., after the style of Major Scholefield, of the "North Woods Walton Club." The entire range, from Long's to Pike's Peak, seemed to catch the inspiration, and joia ia the chorus. After concluding that no improvised glee club had ever performed before a more select and appreciative audi- ence; and after refreshing ourselves, and cooling our over-taxed throats with some coarsely granulated snow, at least a century old, which lay at our feet, we com- menced the descent at four in the afternoon. By permission of Mr. Williams, I take pleasure in an- nexing the following letter written by him from the sum- mit of Berthoud Pass : — Berthoud Pass, Rocky Mountains, ) September 18, 1866. \ Editor Fort Wayne Gazette : — * Having reached the summit of this grand mountain range, in com- pany with Col. Seymour, the Consulting Engineer of the Union Pacific Kailroad, and Mr. Brown, Assistant Engineer, my first impulse is to write to my friends at home. One of the experimental surveys for the Union Pacific Raihoad fol- lows Clear Creek to this Pass. That valley was therefore our route from Denver, fifty miles east, bringing us through a rich gold mining district. Eight miles back we took saddle-horses, rising by a mule trail sixteen hundred feet in the last one and a half miles. The point on which I vfrite is some six hundred feet above the Pass, about six thousand seven hundred feet above Denver, and about twelve thou- sand feet above the sea. It appears to be some two or three hundred feet above the line of arborescence, or " tree line,'' above which no timber or vegetation grows. Patches of last winter's snow are lying around us on northern slopes, and some of them two hundred feet below. The proposed raihoad tunnel pierces the mountain far be- 18 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. neaih us. From the summit the waters flow to the Pacific through the Colorado of the West, and to the Atlantic through the Platte. Peaks, five hundred, and one thousand feet higher than this, are near us, while Long's Peak, supposed to be nearly iifteen thousand feet above the sea, is in fuU view forty miles to the northeast. During the next two weeks. Col. Seymour and myself expect, in company with Gen. Dodge, the Chief Engineer, to look over the routes surveyed across the Black HiU range, one hundred miles north of this place. The Union Pacific Railroad is under rapid progress. In November next the locomotive is expected to cross the bridge over the North Platte, two hundred and eighty-five miles from Omaha. The opening of this work across the plains, wiH soon make the people of the States more familiar with this Eocky Mountain range and its grand scenery ; and, what is more important, wiU afford ready access to a new field of enterprise in the work of developing its vast mineral wealth. J. L. WILLIAMS. We fomid oior venerable driver at the foot of the trail, as per arrangement ; but in order to iasnre his return to Empire the same night, he had taken the precaution to exchange his mules temporarily, with the Empire land- lord, for a pair of good horses. Mr. Brown and myself kept our saddles till we reached Empire City, at six p. M. ; but Mr. Williams, partieipatiag to some extent in the peculiar characteristics of a locomotive, from his long ride upon the back of old " Knock-imi-Stiff," as he face- tiously styled his horse, concluded to take his accustomed seat ia the carriage. On our way down to Empire City, a conspiracy was organized by our venerable driver to make a permanent exchange of his mules with the Empire landlord for his horses, but I am sorry to say that the scheme was not successful. ^ The name of Bayard Taylor, that greatest of descrip- tive travellers, who had preceded us but a few months over Berthoud Pass, was still fresh ia the recollection of the mountain residents who had been favored with his acquaiatance. UNION PACIMG EAILKOAD, 19 IIL SNOW-STORM IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS EMPIRE CITY TO IDAHO, CEN- TRAL, GOLDEN AND DENVER CITIES VIKUINIA CASoN RUSSELL GULCH QUARTZ MILLS AT BLACK-HAWK ^JUNCTION RANCH GUy's HILL CLEAR CREEK CA&ON ENTRANCE INTO DENVER, ETC., ETC. Denteb City, Coi,obado, Thursday, Sept. 20, 1866. On the morning of September 19tli, we awakened at Empire Oity to find that we were in the midst of a Eocky Mountain snow-storm. The weather for several days previous had been dehghtful — even on the day before, during our visit to Berthoud Pass, not a cloud had bedimmed the sky until after sunset, when thin, hazy clouds began to settle below the mountain tops around US, all which, we were told, foreboded a storm. As our Tenerable driver had not succeeded in his attempt to impose his old mules upon our worthy host of the Empire House, in exchange for a pair of horses, we were compelled to address ourselves to our return jour- ney behind these much-abused animals ; and he to resume Ms powerful persuasives of the previous two days. The snow had not accumulated to any great extent upon the roads ; but it was faUing fast, and prudence enjoined us to be early on our way. Our hitherto guide, and most intelligent and agreeable travelling companion, Mr. Brown, remained at Empire, for the purpose, when the storm abated, of rejoining his surveying party in the neighborhood of Boulder Pass. 20 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. BETUBN FROM EMPIRE.' Starting out at eight, we reached Idaho at ten in the morning, and stopped a few minutes to say some parting words to our friends of the Beebe House. We then commenced the ascent of the Virginia Canon, and the descent of Eussell Gnlch, a distance of seven miles to Central City, which we reached at twelve. I should not omit to mention, that in driving from Idaho to Empire the previous morning, we had met Messrs. Gukin and Ford, artists from Chicago, who were engaged in taking some mountain views ; and were on their return from the Parks, where they had been spending the summer months. At their invitation we had promised to call at their camp as we returned, and look over their pictures ; but the morning was so stormy, and their quarters looked so uninviting, that we con- tented ourselves with a passing salute, and a promise to visit their studios in Chicago on some future occasion. The place where we met these gentlemen is but a few miles from the Chicago Lakes, the scene of Bier- stadt's great painting of the "Storm in the Eocky Mountains." The snow had fallen to a depth of from six to eight inches on our arrival at Central City ; and we were fully conscious of having lost, by reason of the thick-falling snow, as we passed down Eussell Gulch to Central City, many fine views, as well as a passing inspection of some of the finest and most extensive quartz mining and crush- ing operations now being carried on in this part of the Territory. The result, however, was unavoidable, and we were obliged to content ourselves with such information as our venerable driver could give us, he being familiar with the country, and part owner of some of UMON PACIFIC BAILEOAD. 21 the mines around us, as well as of the outfit in which we were travelling. CENTRAL CITY. Central City seems to be situated at the confluence of several gulches, which, united, form the north branch of Clear Creek ; and the streets are made to follow the wind- ings of the beds of the streams. The houses are gen- erally built upon benches cut in the side hill for the dif- ferent stories, with basements upon the streets ; so that, ia order to reach the cellar or back-yard, you are frequently compelled to ascend one or two pairs of stairs from the office or dining-room of your hotel. I mention this fact, not so much the result of my own observation, as from information derived from my esteemed friend and traveUing companion, Mr. Wil- liams, who spent at least a half hour in an investi- gation of the subject, immediately upon our arrival at the hotel. Central City boasts of several thousand inhab- itants, or, at least, as many as Denver. We noticed several fine blocks of brick and granite buildings, two or three large banMng houses, and also the " Big Bam," situated directly in the centre of the city, and which seems to be the general corral for all the town and sur- rounding country. After partaking of a very good dinner, and giving such attention to our surroundings as the gloomy state of the weather would permit, we held a consultation as to our future movements. It had been our intention, on leav- ing Denver, to spend the present afternoon and night here, which would give us an opportunity to examine many of the mines, as well as quartz mills in the vicinity. Mr. Chaffee, Senator-elect from this forthcomiag State, whom we had met in Denver, had very kindly promised 22 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. to meet us here and show us about ; but the Tiolent storm had evidently prevented his coming. It had also been our desire and intention to spend the one or two following days in an examination of the Boul- der Valley and Pass, under the guidance of Mr. Eawhns, whose works are situated on the Boulder ; and whom we had met in Denver ; but he was nowhere to be found. The storm was still ragiag and the weather growing colder. Icicles a foot in length were hanging from the eaves of the houses. Our venerable driver and more venerable mules also became objects of our deepest sohcitude — ^the driver claiming that the out&t was wmfit to go further this stormy day ; but if we would let him and the mules rest till to-morrow morning, he would then drive us to Denver (forty miles), or perish ia the attempt. We finally concluded that, as the main object of our journey had been accomplished ; and as the state of the weather rendered a further examination of mountain passes and scenery exceedingly unpropitious at the pres- ent time, we would turn our faces toward Denver, with a view of reaching there on the following night. To insure this result, it appeared important that we should accom- pHsh a portion of the distance during the present after- noon. We therefore set out again in the storm at four p. M., with the intention of reaching the Junction Ranch, nine miles distant, before nightfall. BLACK-HAWK AND LYONS MILLS. On our way down the valley of North Clear Creek, we passed through the town of Black-Hawk, about two mUes below Central City, where we stopped an hour to examine two of the largest quartz mills now in operation in this valley. One, the Black-Hawk mill, which adheres to the UNION PACrPIO KAILKOAD. 23 old method of stamping and washing the ores from the quartz ; and the other, the Lyons mill, in which the new process of decomposing the quartz and separating the ores by the action of heat, is being carried on. This matter of separating the precious metals from the quartz, is one of vast importance to the mining interests of Colorado ; and he who shaU first succeed in economi- cally and successfully accomplishing the object, will be entitled to the lasting gratitude of " aU the world and the rest of mankind." The exact and proper process seems yet to be hidden in the womb of the future ; and many an alchemist is now racking his brain, and experimenting in his crucible over his midnight lamp, in the hope of first discovering this great secret in chemical science, which the Almighty has, for some great and wise purpose, thus far withheld from us. JUNCTION, OB BOUTWELL'S RANCH. Our journey up the long hill of four or five miles, between the valley of Clear Creek and Junction, was most tedious and uncomfortable. Like most other ob- stacles in this world, however, it was finally surmounted ; and on descending one or two miles beyond the summit, we found ourselves in front of a most excellent and hos- pitable Baneh, kept by Mr. Boutwell, with a huge fire blazing from a large, old-fashioned fire-place, inviting us to comfort and repose. A hearty supper, good night's rest, and early breakfast, enabled us on the following morning to resume our jour- ney with every prospect of reaching Denver before night. The storm had passed over, and the weather was clear and cold — snow one foot deep, ice one inch thick, and the thermometer sixteen degrees above zero. Our venerable driver was also in high spirits at the prpspect of a speedy 24 WESTERN INCIDENTS. termination of his arduous labors. He had frequently bemoaned his fate in having, at his age, and for the first time in his life, become reduced to the level of a common naule driver. The near sorrel mtde, whose thick and unfeeling' hide had, for three long days, been the recipi- ent of unceasing wallopings from the driver's almost worn-out whip and nearly disabled arm, seemed to be inspired with the idea that he was approaching the end of his journey. His long ears, instead of flopping Hst- lessly back upon his neck, suddenly assumed a rigid posi- tion a Httle forward of the perpendicular ; and away he went over the almost trackless road, down hills, through • caverns, gulches and gorges, at a rate which seemed to hazard the safety of our outfit, to say nothing of our own Hves and limbs, till we reached the foot of Guy's Hill, which suddenly stretched its huge and uncouth sides directly athwart our path. ' GUY'S HILL. The road up this formidable lull is located upon the zigzag principle— that is, it switches back and forth in the gorges, and along the rough mountain sides a dis- tance of nearly two mUes from the base to the summit. Fearful tales were told us by our driver, of the many acci- dents and hair-breadth escapes which had occurred here ; and we were impressed vdth the idea that so important a thoroughfare, and one over which so large a traffic be- tween Denver, and the heart of the mining regions about Central City, was necessarily carried on, shoidd have been made to foUow the equally direct, and far more gentle and uniform grades of the Valley of Clear Creek. This will, as a matter of economy, if not necessity, be done sooner or later, either by railroad or turnpike. Having safely reached the high summit of Guy's Hill, our descent through Golden Gate to Golden City, a dis- UNION PACIFIC BAILBOAD. 25 tance of sixteen miles from the junction, was speedy and uninterrupted. CLEAR CBEEK CANON-mON AND COAL. Mr. WUliams was desirous here, if time permitted, of making some further examiuation and notes of the coal and iron deposits ; and also of the lower end of the Clear Creek canon. Halting therefore, at eleven o'clock, at the Cheney House, we were speedily furnished with excellent saddle-horses, through the kindness of Messrs. Loveland and Fisher, the former of whom accompanied us some distance up the canon ; and also over a considerable ex- tent of the outcroppings of iron-ore and coal, of which he is the principal owner. After which, and the partaking of a very good dinner, in company with the stage passen- gers from Denver to Central City, we resumed our jour- ney to Denver. The snow had nearly disappeared from the surface at the foot of the mountain ranges ; and had left in its place a deep salvy mud, which rendered the roads heavy and tedious. The near sorrel mule had evidently lost much of the interest in our progress which he had so satisfac- torily manifested in the earher part of the day ; and his ears (that unfailing indication of a mule's thoughts) were manifestly tending considerably backward of the perpen- dicular. Our venerable driver's right arm, however, had become well rested, and he was able, by its constant use, to reach Denver by four o'clock in the afternoon. ENTRANCE rNTO DENVER. It was, however, at this last stage in our eventful jour- ney, and when near its termiuation, that Mr. Williams' 2 26 -WESTEEN INOIDENTS. commendable desire for further information, came near being tlie innocent cause of a most serious calamity to our venerable driver and outfit. Mr. WiUiams had in- timated that he would hke to approach, and enter the city, by another road from that by which we had departed, so that he might obtain a different view of its present extent and future resources. This induced the driver to take a road which, unfortunately, led past his stable, on the way to the Planter's House, where we were to stop. On passing the stable, the contest between the driver and mules was most spirited and exciting ; business in town for the moment seemed to be suspended ; and every one was anxiously awaiting the result of the driver's efforts to reach the hotel on the^ next block. It was in vain that I suggested that we had plenty of time to stop at the stable, and exchange our outfit before proceeding to the hotel — the driver swore that he would drive the d — ^n mules to the hotel or h-11, and he did not much care which. And he came near succeeding in both; for, on finally reaching the hotel, and just as our venerable friend had taken the last article of l3aggage from the carriage, the pesky animals (if they may be dignified by that re- spectable name) started off suddenly on their own hook for a run-away. The driver was knocked down while closing the carriage door, but fortunately the wheels did not pass over him. And the outfit went sailing and crashing down the street, among the carriages, and herds of mules and cattle, towards the river. After recovering from a most improper, but uncontrol- lable fit of laughter, occasioned by the sudden and very unexpected turn things had taken, I assisted our venera- ble friend to his feet. He was covered with mud, his countenance was pale with rage and fright, and his'lips and clenched teeth muttered curses low but deep against UNION PACIFIC BAILEOAD. 27 fhe whole family of mules and their offspring, now, hence- forth and forever. The mules and carriage, unimpaired, were soon brought back, however, by an intrepid horseman who had stopped them in their mad career ; and the last I saw of our out- fit, it was going at double-quick toward the stable, the head of the driver surging above and below the top of the carriage, as he administered to the refractory mules such merited punishment as his remaining strength enabled I him to do. Thus ended our trip to Berthoud Pass, and the Snowy Eange of the Eocky Mountains. 28 WESTERN INCIDENTS. IV. COLORADO AGRICULTURAL PAIR — TRIP FROM DENVER TO LAPORTE OVER THE BLACK HILL RANGE TO VIRGINIA DALE — STONEWALL CA^ON STEAMBOAT BUTTE ANTELOPE PASS AND THE LARAMIE PLAINS ARRIVAL AT FORT JOHN BUFORD. PoBT John Bttpobd, Lahamtf, Plains, D. T., ) Thursday, September 27, 1866. j The first Agricultural Fair of Colorado had been advertised to come off on Thursday, September 20, and be continued on Friday and Saturday; but the severe storm of the preceding Wednesday had made the travel- ling so bad, that thd Committee determined to post- pone the commencement till Friday, and continue the exhibition till the following Tuesday. On Friday morning Mr. Williams and myself were invited to visit the grounds by General Pierce, the Sur- veyor-General of the Territory, and General Hughes, the general agent and attorney for HoUaday's Overland Stage and Express Company. We found that the grounds, which are situated about one and a half miles to the northeast of Denver City, consisted of forty acres of most beautiful plain in the form of a parallelogram, inclosed by a tight wall, composed of concrete, about two feet thick and eight feet high. Upon one side of the rectangle was an elliptical track one half mile in length, for the trial of the speed of horses and mules ; and upon the other side were innumerable stalls for the exhibition of domestic animals. In the centre was a large covered amphitheatre, in which were exhibited the products of the soil, and such articles of [trade and commerce as the mechanical skiU of UNION PACIFIC BAILItOAD. 29 the Territory could produce. The whole affair, both in its iaeeption and execution, would have done credit to any State east of the Missouri Eiver. The articles which most attracted our attention were the mammoth specimens of yegetables on exhibition. Such cabbages, beets, turnips, tomatoes and potatoes I have seldom seen at any State or coimty exhibition in New York, and they were all produced by irrigation. The farmers with whom we conversed informed us, that they much preferred this sure method of raising a crop, to the uncertainty attending all farming operations in the Eastern States where they had resided; the expense was comparatively trifling, and their preparations for irriga- tion had now become so far advanced, that they felt sure of being able to supply the entire demand hereafter, and at moderate prices. The knowledge of this fact has changed my whole former theory on this subject. I had supposed that the immense population which is settling in the motmtaias, woidd have to be supplied with agricultural products, for aU time, from the productive regions of the lower Platte, and the States of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. But now I see that aU these lands, lying along the eastern base of the Bocky Mountains, and susceptible of being irrigated by the mountain streams, whose sources are the eternal snows upon their summits, will sooner or later be made to produce aU that will be required for the millions of hardy mountaineers, whose thirst and search for gold and the other precious metals preclude them from devoting their time to agricultural pursuits, even though the cli- mate and soil of the mountain regions should warrant it. The specimens of jewelry, saddlery, needle-work and other varieties of mechanical skill too numerous to men- tion, were remarkable for their ingenuity and perfection. 30 WESTEBN INOIDENTS. And we came away from the fair groimds, after witness- ing one or two trials of speed between a lot of second or third class trotting horses, impressed with the idea that this young and imfledged State was bound soon to take higher rank in the confederacy than some of the " Old Thirteen." Under the new programme, the trial of the fastest horses, and riding by the ladies, which we would like much to have seen, had been postponed to the foUowing week. FROM DENVER TO LAPORTE. On the afternoon of Saturday, September 22, we again left Denver, by HoUaday's Overland Stage Line, for the scene of our future explorations in the Black Hills, north and west of Laporte. The light from the stars and wan- ing moon was barely sufficient to reveal the dim outline of the ragged sides and crest of the mountain ranges as we passed within a few mUes of their base, and across Clear, Coal, Boulder, St. Vrain, Little and Big Thomson and Cache la Poudre Creeks, that flow from the huge gorges in their sides. We reached Laporte, a distance of sixty-seven miles by stage road from Denver, at daybreak on Sunday morning, and found most comfortable quarters at the stage-station, kept by Mr. Taylor ; and were joined, in the evening, by General G. M. Dodge, Chief Engineer, and Mr. James A. Evans, Division Engineer, of the Union Pacific Eaitroad. We were now about to enter in real earnest upon the rough and adventurous features of our excursion. Gen- eral Dodge commenced our education by intimating in the most gentle manner, that we woiold be expected to feed, water and clean our saddle-horses during the trip. UNION PACIMC EAILBOAD. 31 Our host of the Eanch also informed us, that he had no sleeping accommodations for us, and that we had better look around for lodgings. In yiew of such an emergency, Mr. Williams and my- self had fortunately provided ourselves with plenty of buffalo skins, blankets and ponchos. We therefore inti- mated to the landlord, that one of us would occupy the lounge in the corner of the dining-room, and the other would sleep on the floor by the stove. Upon this the cook, a buxom middle-aged woman, with a sucking child, called out from the kitchen, ia not very gentle tones, that that lounge was her bed. Mr. Chamberlaiu, an enterprisiag merchant ia the vicinity, here came to our relief, and kindly offered us the use of the floor in the back room of his log-store, which we were very glad to accept. The following day was spent in making preparations for our intended reconnoissance on horseback, of the Black Hills and Laramie Plains. An easy-going black saddle- horse was procured of Mr. Chamberlain, for the use of Mr. WiUiams. A chestnut cavalry horse, procured by General Dodge from Fort CoUins, was allotted to me. He had previously selected a fine roan from the same place for himself. And Mr. Evans adhered to a large black mule which he had been riding for some days pre- viously. He very kindly offered this mule to Mr. Wil- liams, with the quiet remark, however, that he was apt to huck once in a while, which meant, as he afterward ex- plained, that he would occasionally stick his head down between his fore legs, kick up behind, and throw his rider over his head. Mr. Williams having had some experience with mules, on our trip to Berthoud Pass, very promptly declined the offer. Hon. Green Clay Smith, Governor of Montana, break- fasted with us as he was passing through with his suite, by stage, on his way to the scene of his future labors. ■WESTERN mCIDENTS. FROM LAPOETE OVER THE BLACK HILL RANGE. On Tuesday morning, September 25, onr party, con^ sisting of Mr. Williams, General Dodge, Mr. Evans and myself, started from Laporte, fully mounted and equipped as cavalry, and armed to the teeth with breech-loading carbines dangling from our saddles, and revolvers buckled around our waists, accompanied by a supply wagon, in charge of Mr. McLain, one of Mr. Evans' assistants, in which were our bedding, and such supplies as we would be likely to want on our trip. Our course lay up the valley of the Cache la Poudre a few miles, and then we turned more northerly and fol- lowed up the valley of one of its tributaries, which again led us into the valleys of the Pitchfork, Stonewall, Poisen and Dale Creeks. To the right of us, toward the Plains, were what time had suffered to remain of the rough, jagged crests of the secondary formations as they had rested from the great upheaval of this portion of the earth's surface, when, dur- ing some former age, Old Vulcan had undoubtedly fallen asleep, and allowed the subterranean fires, which he used in forging those immense iron wedges and other machinery with which he keeps the universe in equili- brium, to attain too great a degree of heat. To the left of us were the higher and more imperish- able debris of these same formations, flanked in the dis- tance by the snow-clad summits of the primeval rocks, which have for so many centuries withstood the combined attacks of time and the elements. The objects of more immediate interest, however, were the " Stonewall Ca- non," with its perpendicular walls of rock several hundred feet in height ; and the " Steamboat Butte," which from a distance presents to view all the characteristics of a UNION PACEPIO EAILBOAD. 33 steamboat, with upper cabin, chimneys, pilot-house, etc., the passer-by pausing unconsciously to hear the bell ring, and the familiar cry of " All aboard," before it shall start away. Our wagon, haying followed the travelled road, which we were compelled in a great measure to avoid, had ob- tained some distance the start of us; and we did not overtake it until about two p. m. Having been in the saddle at least six consecutive hours, we were very glad to dis- mount, and, after unsaddling, watering and picketing our horses, and extending ourselves upon the grass in the shade of the wagon, partake of a lunch which our com- missary (McLain) had made ready for us ; after which a ride of three hours brought us to Virginia Dale, one of the stations of the Overland Stage Company. A NIGHT AT VIBGINIA DALE. This is a most beautiful amphitheatre, surrounded by moimtains, with Dale Creek running through the centre ; and is near the boundary line between Colorado and Da- kotah. Gen. Dodge here suggested that aU the requisites for a good camping ground were at hand, to wit — ^wood, water, and plenty of grass for our animals ; but while the wagon was coming up, I took the Hberty of riding forward to the stage ranch, and received the gratifying intelligence that the proprietor was prepared and willing to afford both man and beast very comfortable accommo- dations for the night. Mr. Williams at first objected, saying that he had come out expecting and fully pre- pared to rough it in the mountains, sleep on the ground, &c., and he thought it was about time to try it ; but he finally yielded very gracefully ; and, after providing for the comfort of our horses, we soon found ourselves seated 2* 34 WESTEEN INCrDENTS. before a cheerful fire, talking over tlie peculiarities of the country and incidents of the day. A most excellent supper of coffee, warm roUs, boiled potatoes and stewed antelope, together with the fatigues of the day, inclined us to seek early repose ; but here a new embarrassment awaited us. There was but one spare bed in the ranch, and there were at least three of our party for whom, with proper deference to age and rank, the enjoyment of this luxury would seem quite appropri- ate ; but both Mr. Williams and Gen. Dodge were inex- orable ; and I, whose romance had nearly oozed out dur- ing the day, was obHged to submit to the mortifying necessity of occupying the comfortable bed, while they camped down in their robes and blankets upon the floor, in opposite corners of the same room. ANTELOPE PASS AND LARAMIE PLAINS. We were again on our way early the following morn- ing. Having ordered the wagon to halt for lunch at the Willow Springs stage station, we followed up the valley of Dale Greek in the direction of Antelope Pass, which we reached at one p. M. This pass is supposed to be the lowest point in a depression extending several miles longitudinally along the crest of the Black TTill range, and is about 8,000 feet above the sea. From this sum- mit we were greeted with our first view of Laramie Plains, extending as far to the northward as the eye could reach, bounded on the east by the Black BHUs ; and on the west by the much higher range of the Medicine Bow Moun- taius, which form the easterly side of the North Park. This pass was named " Antelope '' by Gen. Case (who first explored it for the Union Pacific Eailroad Company in 1864), on accoimt of the numerous herds of antelope UNION PAOIHCC BAILEOAB. d5 that he found in its Ticinity. We saw several groups, but they were careful to keep beyond the range of our carbines ; and we were therefore obliged to proceed on our journey with only a mountain grouse, and jack rabbit in our haversacks, which I had brought down with my Ballard carbine during our morning ride. Our descent toward the Laramie Plains, soon brought us to an intersection with the stage road, which we fol- lowed to the station at Willow Springs, where we found ous attentive commissary prepared to receive us, with an excellent lunch for ourselves, and provender for our animals. A further ride of six or eight miles, brought us to Fort " John Buford," just at sunset, where we were most hos- pitably received and entertained by Col. Mizner, the offi- cer in command. In addition to his own quarters, which he placed at our disposal, he caused to be put up another fine wall-tent for the accommodation of the balance of the party ; and our stay thus far of one night in his camp has been both pleasant and refreshing. 36 • WESTEBN INCIDENTS. y. A DAY AT rOBT JOHN BDFOBD,* ON THE LARAMIE PLAINS MB. WILLIAMS' LETTER EASTWARD BOUND ^DEATH OF THE ELK CROSSING or THE BLACK HILLS AT EYANs' PASS — ^DESCENT TOWARDS THE PLAINS CAMP ON DALE CREEK LONE ROCK NARROW ESCAPE OP A HERD OP ELK — CAMP ON LONE TREE BOX-ELDER— DEATH OP THE ANTELOPE RETURN TO LAPORTE. Lapobte, Coloeabo, Monday, October 1, 1866. Thursday, the 27th of September, was spent by our party at and about Port John Buford, on the Laramie Plains. Mr. Evans and myself took a leisurely ride ia the afternoon, of some seven or eight mUes down the Laramie Eiver, for the purpose of inspecting one of the crossings proposed for the Union Pacific Railroad. Mr. "Williams employed himself in posting up his notes, writing letters, and examining maps and profiles with General Dodge. And the General himself examined, with his military eye, in company with Colonel Mizner, the extensive warehouses, barracks, etc., which were in process of construction for the better accommodation and protection of the troops and their supplies. The following letter was written by Mr. WiUiams on the day of our sojourn at the Fort, a copy of which he has kindly furnished me : — Port John Bufoed, Dakotah Tbkritoet, September 27, 1866. To the Editor of the Fort Wayne Gazette — My last was from Berthoud Pass, September IStli. The day was delightful. The next day we encountered a snow storm. Stopping half way down the eastern slope of the mountain, we found the snow * Name since changed to "Fort Saunders.' UNION PAOrPIO EAILEOAD. 37 on the morning of the 19th eight inches deep — icicles on the eaves two feet long, and the thermometer only sixteen degrees above zero. West of the mountain range, the snow fell to the depth of two feet, com- pelling Mr. Brown's engineer party to abandon the survey, for the time being, and cross the range for subsistence for the mules, after dividing with them the rations for the men. At Denver there was but a sprinkling of snow. Such are the varied meteorological effects caused by difference of elevation, and the influence of the mountain range, in arresting and precipitating the moisture. Passing north to the Black HiUs ; and beginning the ascent of this range at the Cache-la-Poudre, the largest tributary of the South Platte^ which takes its rise in the snowy heights of Long's Peak, we followed on horseback to this place, another of the experimental lines run for the Union Pacific Railroad, crossing at Antelope Pass. Our party in this most interesting reconnoissance consisted of Gen. Dodge, Chief Engineer of the U. P. R. R., Col. Silas Seymour, Consulting Engineer, and Mr. Evans, the engineer who made the surveys. Travelling in a northwest direction, we had the snow-capped peaks of the grand snowy range always in view twenty to thirty miles to the left. The highest altitude reached on this survey is 8,050 feet above the sea. The tran- sition from the sedementary rocks forming the slope near the base, to the granite which everywhere composes the central and higher parts of these mountain ranges, is plainly marked. In the secondary forma- tion, and lying geologically next above the granite, is observed near the base of mountains on both slopes, what our geologist decides to be the veritable " old red sand-stone" of Hugh Miller ; which the genius of that distinguished devotee of geological research invested with so much interest in the scientific circles of Europe. The valley of the Laramie river, in which we have travelled for twenty miles, on the western side of the mountain, is a vast plain without a shrub. It is twenty-five to thirty mUes wide. The groves of pine on the Medicine Bow Mountains, forming its western bound- ary, and on the Black Hills to the east, is a relief to the view. Fort Buford, from which I write, is a newly established U. S. mili- tary Post, now in the course of erection, taking the place of both Ports HaUeck and Collins, which are to be abandoned. It is on the Laramie Plains, 125 miles northwest of Denver, on the road to Salt Lake. The name is in honor of the distinguished Cavalry General, who defeated the rebel General Stewart in Virginia, but died soon afterwards. Col. Mizner, of the 18th U. S. Infantry, who hails from Detroit, is in 38 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. command. His kindness to our party, while resting here for a day, is unbounded. From this point we expect to return over another experimental sur- vey, crossing the Black Hills further north at Evans' Pass, and thence to Crow Creek and Lodge Pole Creek — branches of the South Platte. In that section the Indians indulge in mule steahng (and sometimes in scalping their owners), having recently taken seventy mules from a transportation train. General Dodge has been furnished by order of the Department Commander, with an escort of twenty soldiers, ten of whom are mounted. Major-General Dodge, before the war, was a civU engineer on the railroads of Illinois and Iowa, and had explored, extensively, these plains and mountains. Until recently, he was in command of this military department; and by all these opportunities has ac- quired much knowledge of the topography of this region. His services in the location of the Pacific Railroad will be valuable, as, in the late war, they were eminently distinguished in the high commands which he held in the Union army. But the people of the Council Bluff district, in Iowa, are about to lay violent hands on him, and, without any effort on his part, make him a member of the Fortieth Congress. J. L. WILLIAMS. I desire to add my testimony to that of Mr. Williams, in relation to the perseverance and skill wluoh General Dodge lias brought to bear in directing the surveys during the past year, through this difficult and mountainous country. And, also, to the intelligence manifested by Mr. Evans, ia aU the important details of topography connected with the extensive surveys and reconnoissances made by him for the Baihoad Company, during the past three years, upon this and other portions of the hne. Captain McOleary, the very accomplished and gentle- manly officer second in command at the Port, returned in the evening from a hunting excursion on horseback, with his horse and that of his orderly literally laden with wild geese and ducks, which he had slaughtered during the day on the Laramie Eiver, within a few miles of the Fort. UNION PACrPIC BAILEOAD. 39 Arrangements were also made vdth Colonel Mizner by General Dodge, for an escort of twenty infantry, ten of wliom were to be mounted; this precaution being deemed prudent, if not absolutely necessary, on account of the late depredations of the Indians in the vicinity of the route by which we proposed to return. EASTWABD BOUND. All preparations being perfected, we bade our friends at the Fort adieu, at an early hour on Friday morning, and started on our backward course. The weather was now, and had during the past few days, been perfectly delight- ful. The sun, perhaps a little too hot during mid-day, had bHstered our ears and noses somewhat ; but the soft, bahny air of the Plains tended to elevate our spirits j and the hazy, dreamy state of the atmosphere, rendered the dissolving views of the distant mountains truly enchant- ing. Our road for several miles was the same which we had previously followed to the Fort. DEATH OF THE ELK. On reaching a point some six miles from the Fort, in the vicinity of a beautiful lake, we were electrified by the appearance of a very large and beautiful Elk-Stag upon the verge of the lake ; and apparently transfixed to the spot by some mysterious and fatal power which he could not control. Several shots were fired almost simultane- ously, and after staggering a few rods he fell. "When we reached the noble animal, hfe was extinct. Modesty, while it will not justify any material departure from truth, always forbids the historian of any great achievement from arrogating to himself peculiar prowess. 40 WESTERN INCIDENTS. or writing himself down tte hero of the occasion. Suffice it to say, therefore, that Mr. Williams, whose knowledge of the sporting laws will be unquestioned by those who know him, decided that the splendid horns of the elk, the acknowledged trophies in all game cases of this kiad, should be appropriated to me, with the under- standing that I should take them to New York and present them, with the united compliments of the party, to Dr. Durant, Yice-President and General Manager of the TJnion Pacific Eailroad ; and that a sufficient quan- tity of steaks for the subsistence of our party during the trip, should be gratuitously distributed. All which was satisfactorily done, and the immense horns made fast to our wagon.* The animal was estimated to weigh at least eight hun- dred pounds. EVANS' PASS. After following the travelled road to a point withia about two miles of the Willow Spring Station, we diverged to the left, in a more northerly direction, and ascended the westerly slope of the Black HUls to a depression iu their summit, some miles north of Antelope Pass, and considerably to the south of Cheyenne Pass, named Evans' Pass, ia honor of the Engineer of that name, who formed one of our party ; and to whose energy, and skill in his profession, the Eailroad Company are iadebted for most of the information in their possession respecting the region over which we were travelling. * These horns have been elegantly mounted, and may now bo seen at the office of the Company in New York. UNION PACIFIC RAILBOAD. 41 FISHERMEN'S LUCK. We reached our camping ground, in the beautiful val- ley of Dale Creek, at four o'clock in the afternoon, having ridden about siKteen miles. Gen. Dodge had promised to regale us with plenty of speckled trout, from the clear, cold mountain streams along our route ; but up to this time, the only ones we had seen or tasted were upon the dinner table of our excellent and hospitable friend. Gen. Pierce, of Denver City. As we were watering our animals in Dale Creek, just previous to our halt for the day, the General declared that he saw several speckled trout ia tlie stream ; and imme- diate preparations were therefore made to secure suffi- cient for our supper. The General and myself trolled the stream for a half mile in each direction, Mr. Wil- liams following with a gunny-sack in which to bag our prey ; but it was of no avail ; not a bite, nor even the faintest nibble, did I have ; but the General protested to at least one fair bite, and some half-dozen glimpses of the httle rascals as they dodged around the bends in the stream. We were therefore compelled to fall back upon our regular bill of fare for dinner, aided by our elk- steaks, which, being fried with bacon, we found most excellent. CAMPING- OUT. We had at last reached the realization of our hopes and dreams, and were actually " camping out" in the mountains. We could roU in the long grass, drink our fill from the sparkling stream, sing and haUoo as loud as we pleased, without disturbing any one outside of our own Kttle party. The Indians might be watching us from some of the surrounding crags, and coveting our 42 WESTEBN INCIDENTS. scalps as trophies for the adornment of their wigwams ; or might be planning an escapade for our stock ; but what matter — we aU felt that hmate sense of security and rehance upon ourselyes, which always accompanies a wild and roving mountain life ; and which, we felt confi- dent, would enable ns to cope successfully with five times our number of these savage denizens of the forest. Our " headquarters" had been furnished, through the kindness of Col. Mizner, with two wedge tents, each cap- able of sheltering and sleepiag two persons comfortably ; these were pitched near our wagon ; and the wagons and tents of our escort were distributed at a respectful dis- tance in our rear. The General gave the necessary instructions to the Sergeant in command of the escort, respecting the careful picketing of our stock, and the posting of the guard for the protection of our camp from surprise during the night ; and after we had indulged in our most comfortable eveniag talk and smoke, by the light of our waning camp-fire, we were admonished by the cool evening air, and the noiseless quiet which reigned around us, that it was time for us to retire to rest. LONE ROCK-ESCAPE OF AN ANTELOPE. After an early breakfast the following morning, we pur- sued our way over the high and somewhat broken divides tiU we reached the plain which stretches itself between the valleys of Lone Tree and Crow Creeks. On pass- ing an immense detached pile of granite rock, eighty feet high, and fifty feet square at the base, Gen. Dodge and Mr. Evans ascended with some difficulty to its summit, and reported a most extended view of the surrounding country. A nttle farther on, while most of our party were col- UNION PACmO EAILEOAD. 43 lected upon an eminence, some of the escort started up an antelope at some distance from us, wMcli, from the shouts and firing of its pursuers, became almost fran- tic with fright ; and, after circling partly round the hill, actually approached so near to where we stood that we could distinctly see its wild, staring eyes, and pantiug chest. Stopping for a moment immediately in front of us, it seemed to take in the situation at a glance, when it turned and left us Hke the wind. Several shots were fired at the beautiful animal, but it seemed to have a charmed life. NAEBOW ESCAPE OF A HERD OF ELK. Still further on we espied, at a distance of about a quarter of a mile in advance, a herd of some thirty elk, quietly reposing in the valley. Gen. Dodge, Mr. Evans, and myself immediately dismounted, and endeavored to make our way to the shelter of an intervening ledge before they should discover us ; but what was oiur cha- grin upon reaching the desired spot, which was within easy range of our carbines, to find that some of the escort, in hurrying over a hill to our right, had alarmed the herd ; and that they were flying from us at full speed. These, with an occasional shot at a sage hen, or far-off antelope, comprised the only sporting recreations of the day. We made our camp in the vaUey of Lone Tree Creek at four p. M., having travelled eighteen miles from our camp of the previous night. After partaking of our frugal dinner, and arranging matters for the night, Mr. Evans and myself stroUed a few mUes up the creek, in the faint hope of meeting again with the herd of elk which had fled in this direction ; but they were nowhere to be seen. The next day being Sunday ; and, as 44 WESTERN INCIDENTS. "The sound of the church-going bell, These valleys and rocks never heard — " we concluded to work our way out upon the Plains by easy stages, and camp sufficiently far in advance to enable us to reach Laporte for dinner on the foUowing day. "We stopped an hour or so in the middle of the day, at Jack's Springs, where General Dodge regaled us with lunch from a French patti of plover, which was most excellent, and should form a staple for aU self-subsisting travellers. At four p. M. we reached the vaUey of Box-Elder Creek, and encamped for the night. Our route during most of the day had passed over the heavy swells, or sedimentary formations, which lie be- tween the former base of the mountains and the present level of the plains ; and which were formed, undoubt- edly, by dibris of the more perishable rocks, brought down by the mountain torrents, and deposited in long, irr'fegular slopes at their base. DEATH OF THE ANTELOPE. On Monday morning we resumed our course towards Laporte, having left our escort to await orders at Camp Box-Elder. Our route lay over very much the same character of country as we had traversed the previous day. "When at a distance of about two miles from camp, Mr. "Williams, who was riding in advance, observed an antelope, lying down, some three or four hundred yards directly in our front. He quietly halted until the balance of the party came up, when General Dodge and myself dismounted and prepared for action ; Messrs. Williams and Evans remaining in their saddles, the better to observe the effect of our guns. The General, from his long practice, was able to unlim- UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. 45 ber his carbine and bring it to bear before I was quite prepared, and consequently obtained the first shot, upon whicli the animal, evidently aroused from a quiet sleep, quickly arose to its feet, and looked toward us for an ex- planation. Seeing my advantage, and having observed that the General's ball struck the ground some distance short of the antelope, I concluded that the distance was too great for a point blank range, and therefore decided to fire upon the ricochet principle, which proved entirely successful. The animal fell instantly, and when we reached the spot was almost lifeless from loss of blood, caused by the passage of the ball through the neck, and severing the carotid artery. Mr. Williams, although evidently entertaining some doubts as to the legitimacy of the shot, manifested great delight at the result ; and, without intending any disrespect to General Dodge, whose reputation for skill in bagging much larger game had become so well estabhshed during the late war, im- mediately pronounced me the huntist of the party, and awarded me the beautiful skin as an additional trophy. Our commissary, McLain, on coming up soon afterward, hung the antelope upon the elk-homs at the rear of the wagon, and thus followed us triumphantly into Laporte, where we arrived at eleven A. m. END OF THE MOTTNTAIN EXCUESION. Thus ended the equestrian part of our excursion. The exercise had been long and somewhat severe ; but the natural as weU as professional interest which Mr. Wil- liams and myself had taken in the features of the country (150 miles of which we had traversed on horseback dur- ing the past six days), together with, to us, the unusual 46. WESTERN INOrDENTS. and exciting incidents connected with mountain camp- life, had made the time pass most pleasantly; and caused us to regret the pressure of other engagements which would soon compel us to leave it, and part, for a time, at least, with our most attentive and agreeable travel- ling companions. My faithful horse had also become an object of sincere attachment. His fast, ambling gait was most easy and comfortable, after the first one or two days of 6ac^-clima- tion; and he had never failed me, either in a sudden dash across the plain after an antelope, or the difficult crossing of a mountain-ledge or chasm ; and I parted from him with sincere regret. But I fear it was not so with my friend Mr. WiUiams, whose black horse " Chug-water" (which name he gave him on account of some peculiarity in his gait) came near failing him on several occasions ; once, I recollect, when he stumbled and broke his saddle-girth ; and quite fre- quently when he would persistently try to descend a hill upward, or, rather I should say, sideways or backward, instead of the straightforward way doivnward. UNION PACIFIO BAILKOAD. 47 VL THE PARTING- SUPPER "AT LAPOETE JOURNEY TO DENVER HETUEN TEIP OVER THE PLAINS TO KEAENY ME. WILLIAMS' THEORY MEETING WITH BEN HOLLADAY AND FRIENDS RAILROAD TEIP TO OMAHA TRIBUTE TO THOMAS C. DURANT EEMAEKABLE PROG- RESS OF THE UNION PACIFIO RAILROAD — TROUBLES AT THE HERNDON HOUSE ^DEPAETUEB OF ME. WILLIAMS. Omaha, Nebeaska, MomSay, Oct. 8, 1866. After a most excellent parting supper from the antelope, killed tlie previous day, and other fixings which, our hostess, Mrs. Taylor, provided in her best style, Mr. Williams and myself parted from our friends, Gen. Dodge and Mr. Evans, at Laporte, on the evening of October 1, and took the stage for Denver ; which place we reached for breakfast on the following morning, with- out accident or adventure. The succeeding day was spent in preparing for our departure eastward. On Wednesday morning, October 3, we took our seats in one of Ben HoUaday's best coaches, in company with Senator Chaffee, of Central City, Colorado bound for a connection with the somewhat more comfortable cars of the Union Pacific Baihoad, at the nearest practicable point, which we hoped to be Plum Creek, or some point further west. The roads were in excellent condition; and nothing worth noting occurred to break the dull monotony of our passage over the dry and sterile plains, covered with low tufts of yellow frost-bitten grass, and the whitened bones or decaying carcasses of innumerable cattle which had fallen out by the way, until we reached 48 WESTEBN INCIDENTS. Fort Kearny on the following Saturday morning for breakfast. MR. WILLIAMS' THEORY. Mr. Williams, howeTsr, did not lose an opportunity of impressing upon our minds, as we met and passed the long emigrant and freight trains, wending their slow and tedious way to and from the more distant West, the truth and practicability of his favorite theories in relation to the formation and ultimate destiny of this portion of the country, which were : First. — That the Great Platte Valley, extending, as it does, in a direct line eastward, nearly six hundred nules from the base of the Eocky Mountains to the Missouri VaUey, was intended as the great thoroughfare for the overland commerce of the world. Second. — That the Platte Eiver itseH was intended, ia the first instance, to supply water to the early pioneers and emigrants in their pilgrimages to and from the Bocky Mountains ; and subsequently to afford the, means for inigating the immense plains along its borders ; and thus render it eventually one of the finest pastoral and agri- cultural regions upon the continent. And, Third. — That the perpetual snows upon the mountains were intended to furnish an unfaUing supply of water to the mountain streams which flow into the Platte ; and thus, during all time, afford the means of irrigation to the extensive table lands along the eastern base of the mountains. BEN HOLLADAYSAND FRIENDS. At Fort Kearny we met the veritable Ben. Holladay himself, with his agent, Mr. Street, and travelling com- panion. Dr. Sayre, of New York city ; together with a UNION PACIPIC EATLEOAD. 49 select party of friends, who had accompanied him the previous day in a special train over the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha. Mr. Holladay was on a tour of inspection over his stage route to Denver and Salt Lake Oity ; and he in- formed us that he should probably visit San Francisco before returning to New York. We examined with some curiosity his fine private four-horse coach, which seemed perfect in all its appointments, having ample stow- age and sleeping accommodations for a party of three or four gentlemen, Or even ladies. Mr. Holladay also informed us, that he could not well shorten up this end of the stage route, and make an earlier connection with the Cars, which were now running some forty or fifty miles west of Kearny, until the track had reached a point opposite Cottonwood Station, where the Platte river could be crossed without difficulty. This wiU be done about the first of November ; and then the staging to Denver will be reduced to two days instead of three, as it is at present. KEARNY TO OMAHA BY RAILROAD. We crossed the Platte, in company with Mr. HoUaday's returning friends, and took a special train for Omaha, over the Union Pacific Railroad, at ten A. M. Here we learned that during our absence, the Government Com- missioners had been out and accepted thirty-five addi- tional miles of track, making in aU, two hundred and forty-miles of road, from the initial point at Omaha. The scene along the road was both interesting and exciting. Here was a fine passenger station in course of construction ; there, a freight or water station was being put up, as if by magic. Now, we were halted upon a side- 3 50 ■WESTEEN INCIDENTS. track to allow a train of thirty or forty cars laden witli ties, raUs, chairs, and spikes for the track, to pass. And then, we would meet a traia laden with stone or other material for the foundations or superstructure of a distant bridge. ETsrything, and everybody seemed full of life and energy ; and aU working to the same great end, and being directed by the same master mind. TRIBUTE TO THOMAS C. DUEANT. No one who knows Mr. Thomas C. Durant, the Vice- President of the Union Pacific Eailroad ; and has wit- nessed his entire devotion to this great enterprise, and the untiring energy which he has brought to bear in over- coming the many difficulties in its rapid construction, while acting as the principal executive officer of the Company, in the absence of the President, Gen. Dix (whose time, during the late war, was principally devoted to his duties in the army), will hesitate to award to him the highest honors, both as a railroad manager and public benefactor. One year ago, not a mile of road had been accepted by the Government ; only twelve or fifteen miles had been laid west of Omaha ; and it was struggling along at the rate of from one-quarter to a half mile per day. To-day, two hundred and forty miles of track have been accepted by the Government. Some twelve or fifteen miles addi- tional have been completed, and it is steadily progres- sing at the rate of from one and a half to two miles per day. Fourteen thousand and two hundred feet, or two and seven-tenths miles, have been laid in a single day. One year ago, the foundations were commenced for the machine shops at the eastern terminus of the road. To- day, they are substantially completed, and in full opera- UNION PACIFIC EAILEOAD. 51 tion, with stalls for twenty locomotives, and macMnery for doiag the repairs of three hundred mUes of road ; also car- shops, manufacturing and turniag out two cars each day ; and the whole giving employment to three hundred and fifty mechanics. One year ago, there were only three locomotives and twenty platform cars engaged in the transportation of materials. To-day, there are twenty-three locomotives, and two hundred and fifty freight cars employed in the same business — ^five first-class passenger cars, with the necessary mail and baggage cars, and two magnificent excursion and sleeping cars, prepared for their appro- priate use. One year ago, passengers for Denver, Salt Lake, and San Francisco were obliged to ride the whole distance from the Missouri river in old-fashioned stage-coaches, hacks or mud-wagons. To-day, there are no stages run- ning east of Fort Kearny ; and nearly one half the dis- tance to Denver may be travelled in ten hours, and in the most luxurious passenger cars. One year ago, every pound of freight, owned either by the Government or individuals, had to be transported west of the Missouri, by means of ox or mule teams, at the slow rate of fifteen or twenty miles per day.» To-day> cars heavily laden with Government stores and private freight, destined for the western slope of the continent, are attached to the construction trains, and find their way in twenty-four hours to the end of the track, many miles west of the one hundredth meridian. One year ago, the great Union Pacific Eaihoad was regarded as a myth, and the men engaged in and con- trolling it, as a set of stock-jobbing Wall-street speculators. To-day, it is known and felt to be a power and a reahty ; and Mr. Durant and his associates are beheved to be in earnest, and fuUy capable of carrying out to successful 52 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. completion tlie mammotli work wliicli they have under- taken. When it is remembered that this great transition has been accomphshed in one short year, in a country desti- tute of labor, materials, and supplies ; and with nothing but the dangerous and uncertain navigation of the Mis- souri Biver to rely upon during the summer months as a base of operations, it must be admitted that a new era is dawning, or rather has already been successfully inaugu- rated, in the history of railroad construction. ABRIVAL AT OMAHA-TROUBLES AT THE HEBNDON. Airriving at the Omaha depot in the early evening, we were met by our genial friend Major Bent, of bumetiz- ing notoriety, who Mndly assisted us to the Hemdon House, and saw that we were comfortably quartered for the night. We found, however, that the Hemdon, which has long been regarded as one of the most prominent institutions of Omaha, was in a sort of transition state, and its guests, as the farmers say, " between hay and grass." Our long time friend, and distinguished host, Mr. Allan, had been called upon by Dr. MoneU, the landlord, to surrender its use and occupation into the fair hands of Mrs. Brown- son, who had recently leased it, and stood ready to enter upon the duties of hostess as soon as Mr. Allan could find it convenient to evacuate the premises, all of which the said Allan seemed in no haste to do. An entire week had been spent by the parties in strat- egy and legal skirmishing, during which it was not unu- sual for Allan, on visiting the kitchen in the morning, to find Mrs. Brownson's cooking-stove standing in the place of his own, which had been thrown over the adjoining UNION PACrPIC BAILEOAD. 53 fence during the night ; and not nnfrequently were the guests of the house stopped in the middle of a meal (while waiting, perhaps, for more warm cakes), by iatelh- gence from the waiter that the stoTe had just been thrown out of the kitchen. Fortunately for us, however, Mrs. Brownson's stove was outside of the fence when we arrived, and remained so during the following day, Sunday. DEPAETUEE OF MR. WILLIAMS. But the condition of affairs about the hotel seemed so unsettled and critical that Mr. WilHams concluded to cross over the river to Council Bluffs, during Sunday afternoon, where he could enjoy that rest and quiet which he so much needed after his long and fatiguing journey ; and at the same time be prepared to take the stage on Monday morning for Dennison, and there take the cars of the Chicago and Northwestern Kaitroad, for his home at Fort "Wayne, Indiana. In parting from Mr. "WiUiams, I desire to say, that it has never been my good fortune to spend so many weeks, either socially or professionally, with a more agreeable and intelligent gentleman and travelling companion ; and I hope he may hve long to give the world the benefits of his sound judgment, and professional skill and expe- rience, in all matters connected with our great national improvements, such as the Union Pacific Baihroad, with which he has been so long, and so honorably connected. 54 ■WESTEEN mOIDENTS. VII. TWO WEEKS AT OMA^A WILD GEESE AND DUCK SHOOTING ^ADVENT OP CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD AGENTS ON THEIR WAY TO DENVER PARTING SPEECH OP MR. TAPPEN — ANTICI- PATED ARRIVAL OP THE GREAT PACIFIC RAILROAD EXCURSION ITS ANTECEDENTS AND OBJECTS DEPARTURE PROM NEW YORK — ARRIVAL AT CHICAGO, ST. JOSEPH, AND OMAHA FORMATION OP THE ELKHORN CLUB ^RECEPTION AND BALL AT OMAHA. Omaha, Nebeaska, Oct. 23, 1866. The difficulties at tte Herndon House, heretofore alluded to, were amicably arranged on the Monday fol- lowing our arrival from the Kocky Moimtains ; and Mrs. Brownson, the new lessee, was fully installed in quiet possession. A favored few of the guests were allowed to retain our rooms in the gloomy, half-deserted house ; and vegetate, as best we could, among the restaurants, untU the hotel could be renovated and refurnished. Mrs. Brownson wiU not only prove herself to be a public benefactor, but do much towards establishing the doctrine of the social and business equahty, and vested rights, of women, if she succeeds in the hazardous undertaking of keeping a good hotel. She certainly has the best wishes of her numerous friends in the town, as weU as of the raihoad people and travelling public generally. But the city of Omaha should boast of several first- class hotels. The town is growing, and wUl continue to grow rapidly. It has the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Eaihoad ; and is the half-way point between Chicago and the Eocky Mountains. No finer site was UNION PACIFIC BAILEOAD. 55 ever selected for a large city ; and tlie country about it cannot be excelled for beauty, as well as productiveness. Elegant residences, and large brick blocks of stores, are continually being erected. " The Credit Foncier of America," and other capitalists, are making large invest- ments there, and the inhabitants are wealthy, -energetic, and hberal. Why, then, not give us one or two more hotels, equal at least to the Tremont, and Sherman House of Chicago? WILD GEESE AND DUCK SHOOTING. Having received orders to remaia for the present at Omaha, I was very glad of an opportunity, when other duties would permit, of accompanying my friend Collins on his hunting expeditions to the Florence lakes, a few miles above Omaha, where fat wild geese and ducks did much aboxmd. And here I must be permitted to say, that a young wild goose, when cooked under the supervision of Mrs. Collins, is the finest eating of the feathered game kind that I ever tasted. My friend Major Bent would sometimes join us in these excursions, and then we would be sure to return with enough game to supply our restaurant table for one or two days. CHICAGO AND NOETHWESTERN RAILWAY AGENTS. Another pleasant incident, in this somewhat dull and monotonous period of my "Western sojourn, was the advent of Messrs. Tappen, Patrick and Brown, heads of the freight and passenger departments of that " Oreat connecting link," the Chicago and Northwestern Bailroad, who tarried a few days at Coimcil Bluffs and Omaha, as they were passing on their way to Denver, for the pur- 56 ■WESTERN INOrDENTS. pose of establishing offices, and making otlier business arrangements in connection with their road, and its far- reaching Western tributaries. As they started westward, on the morning of the 17th October, in a special train laden with demijohns, cases, canned meats, fruits and pickles, roUs of buffalo robes and blankets ; together with almost any number of breech- loading carbines and reyolrers, one would think that they expected to spend at least six months among savage beasts and Indians, before returning to the land of civilization. PARTING SPEECH OF MR. TAPPEN. When the train was about starting from the depot at Omaha, Mr. Tappen was loudly called upon by his friends who remained behind, for a few parting words. Upon which he promptly made his appearance upon the rear platform, raised his hat, bowed gracefully to the audience, steadied himself by a firm hold upon the railing, and spoke substantially as follows : " Fellow-Citizens : But a few short years ago, the spot on which my foot now rests, was part and parcel of a howling wilderness" — -Just here, the sudden starting of the train so disturbed the spot upon which the distin- guished speaker's foot was resting, that he came near being thrown overboard; but, on recovering himself instantly, he proceeded with great composure to say : "During a somewhat short but eventful life, I have held every position, from"— at this point, the ta-ain being fairly under way, it became quite diflicult to hear distinctly, except the closing sentence, which was as follows : "I leave the Great connecting link in your hands, while I proceed to swing around the" — the remainder of this rrNioN PAcmo bailboad. 67 happy speeeli was lost ; but the speaker evidently aUuded to a curve in advance of the train. The train soon disappeared, but the telegraph wires kept us continually posted, during the day, as to the pro- gress of the party ; and the nature of the despatches was such as to afford the most gratifyiag evidence of the expansive powers of the air and scenery west of the Missouri Eiver, particularly when a party, like our friends, are borne for the first time with raihoad speed along the broader expanse of the great Platte Valley, on their westward course to the Eoct^ Mountains. The following specimens have fortunately been pre- served : Fbemont, 10:12 a. m. — " Green leaves grew where my hand now rests. Wild beasts roamed unmolested by the hand of man. More to come." NoETH Bend, 10:35 a. m. — " The shriU whoop of the savage alone broke the sohtude and silence of nature. It was at this epoch of our nation's existence, that two solitary horsemen might have been seen — To be con- tinued." Columbus, 11:25 a. m. — " Or words to that effect. Con- clusion." ANTICIPATED ABEIVAL OP THE GREAT EXCURSION. By far the most exciting event of all, however, was the official announcement received on Thursday, October 18 that the great Pacific Bailroad Excursion had reached Chicago, on its way westward from New Tork, and that it might be expected to arrive at Omaha on the foUowirig Monday morning. The worthy Mayor immediately convened the Com- mon Council ; and the President of the Board of Trade 3* 58 WESTEBN INCIDENTS. called that august body together at once, for the purpose of conferring upon the subject, and giving a proper re- ception to the distinguished strangers. It was finally arranged that the freedom of the city should be tendered to the excursionists ; and that a grand reception ball and supper should be given them at the Hemden House, on the evening of their arrival ia town. ANTECEDENTS AJSTD OBJECTS OF THE EXCURSION. Before speaking further of this great excursion, it may be well to refer briefly to its objects, as well as to its im- mediate antecedents. The public generally, is so ignorant respecting the identity of the many railroads in this country, which bear in some form the appellation of Pacific, that I will take the liberty of inserting the foUowiag letter written upon that subject, and published for general information, more than a year ago, in the National Intdligencer, at Wash, ington. The status of many of the roads referred to has un- doubtedly become changed somewhat since the letter was written ; but it is beheved that it will be found substan- tially correct for our present purpose : — UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. Confused Ideas as to its Locality — Nine Different Pacific Railroads — Location and Present Condition of JEach — Government Aid, etc. Office op the Union Pacific Raileoad Company, j No. 13 William Stebbt, New York, Febrttary 10, 1866. j To the Editors of the National Intelligencer : — So mucli doubt and confusion appears to exist in the minds of the people, and possibly of some members of Congress, in relation to the UNION PACIFIC RAILBOAD. 59 locality, present condition, and future prospects of the Union Pacific Railroad, that, with your permission, I will endeavor to throw some light upon the suhject. There are, at the present time, no less than nine different projects, or organizations, known as Pacific railroads — ^and, consequently, when allusion is made to either one of these, it is erroneously, and some- times quite injuriously, apphed to the one great trunk line chartered by Congress for the purpose of constructiug a raUroad through the entire Territories of the United States, and thus connecting the rail- roads of the extreme Eastern and Western States in one continuous line across the continent. In speaking of these different organizations, I shall refer to them in their proper geographical order, from the east and south to the west and north ; and shall endeavor to confine myself to a simple and con- cise statement of facts : 1. The Pacific Railroad of Missouri, a State organization, extending from the city of St. Louis to the east line of Kansas, at or near Kansas City, a distance of 283 mUes. This road is now completed and in operation. 2. The Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division, extending from the western terminus of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, at the eastern boundary of Kansas, to an intersection with the Union Pacific Rail- road, " at a point on the one-hundredth meridian of longitude west from Greenwich, between the south margin of the RepubUcan River and the north margin of the valley of the Platte River, in the Territory of Nebraska, at a point to be fixed by the President of the United States after actual surveys." The total distance is about 380 miles. This is also a State organization, and was formerly known as the " Leaven- worth, Pawnee, and Western Railroad Company of Kansas ;" but the Company, in 1863, assumed the name of" Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division," by which title it has since been recognized. This Company receives the same amoimt and kind of aid from the General Govern- ment as the Union Pacific Raihoad, which, to avoid repetition, wiQ be described in connection with that road. The laying of track was com- menced in 1863, since which sixty-two miles have been completed, and the road is now open for use to Topeka, the capital of the State. This Company is also required to " build a raihoad from the city of Leavenworth, to unite with the main stem at or near the city of Lawrence ; but to aid in the construction of said branch the said Com- 60 WESTERN INCIDENrS. pany shall not be entitled to any bonds.'' This branch will be com- pleted early next season. 3. The Central or Atchison Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad, extending from Atchison, on the Missouri river, in Kansas, to an in- tersection with the Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division, in the val- ley of the Kansas River or Republican Fork. This Company by virtue of an assignment from the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company, receives the same aid from the Government as the Union Pacific Rail- road for the first one hmidred miles west of the Missouri River. The grading and mechanical work upon the first section of twenty miles is substantially completed, the iron on hand, and track-laying com- menced. The second section of twenty mUes is under contract to be completed by the first of May next. There is now a raib-oad connec- tion from the east, via the Haimibal and St. Joseph, and Platte Country railroads, to a point on the east bank of the Missoiuri opposite Atchison. 4. The Union Pacific Railroad, extending from the western boundary of the State of Iowa, at Omaha, " to the western boundary of the Territory of Nevada, there to connect with the line of the Central Pacific Railroad Company of California," a distance of about sixteen hundred miles. The capital stock is one hundred million dollars. The organization is entirely the creation of Congress, and being located within the Territories, is not subject to any State or municipal regulations. To aid in its construction the Government grants " every alternate section of public land, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of ten alternate sections per mile, on each side of said railroad on the hue thereof, and within the limits of twenty miles on each side of said road, not sold, reserved, or otherwise set aside by the United States, and to which a pre-emption or homestead claim may not have attached at the time the line of said road is definitely fixed." The law further provides that " said company shall designate the general route of said road, as near as may be, and shall file a map of the same in the Department of the Interior, whereupon the Secretary of the Interior shaU cause the lands within twenty-five miles of said desig- nated, route or routes to be withdrawn from pre-emption, private entry, and sale ; and when any portion of said route shall be finally located, the Secretary of the Interior shall cause the said lands herein- before granted to be surveyed and set off as fast as may be necessary for the purposes herein named. UNION PACrPIC RAILROAD, 61 To aid further in the constniction of this road, the law provides that as certain portions merein specified are fully completed and equipped, the Secretary of the Treasury shall " issue to. said Company bonds of the United States of one thousand dollars each, payable in thirty years after date, bearing six per centum per annum interest (said interest payable semi-annually), which interest may be paid in United States Treasury notes, or any other money or currency which the United States have or shall declare lawful money and a legal tender," as fol- lows : " For three hundred mUes of said road, most mountainous and difficult of construction, to wit : One hundred and fifty mUes west- wardly from the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, and one hun- dred and fifty miles eastwardly from the western base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, said points to be fixed by the President of the United States," forty-eight thousand dollars per mile ; and between the sections last named of one hundred and fifty miles each, thirty-two thousand dollars per mUe; and for the entire balance of the road, sixteen thousand doUaxs per mile. These bonds constitute a second mortgage upon the whole line of the raUroad, rolling stock, and fixtures, and " one-half of the compensation for services rendered for the Gov- ernment shall be required to be applied to the payment of the bonds issued by the Government." The Company is also authorized to " issue their first mortgage bonds to an amount not exceeding the amount of the bonds of the United States, and of even tenor and date, time of maturity, rate and character of interest," with the Government bonds, " and the Hen of the United States shall be subordinate to " these first mortgage bonds ; and it is also authorized to issue these bonds " to the extent of one hundred miles in advance of a continu- ous completed line of construction." The work of construction has been materially hindered during the past year by the delay of the President of the United States in deciding upon a question of location near the eastern terminus. The laying of track was commenced in July last, and forty miles were completed and examined by the Government commissioners on the 6th instant. Since that time the track has been extended to Fremont, fifty-five miles from Omaha. The grading of the first one hundred and ten miles is now completed, and arrange- ments are perfected for opening one htmdred miles to the public before the 4th of July next. The progress of the work is very much retarded and embarrassed by the want of an easterly railroad connection ; but it is hoped that this wiU be remedied during the present year. 62 -WESTEEN INCIDENTS. Large and commodious brick shops, engine and station houses have been constructed by the Company at the Eastern terminus of the road, and these will be repeated as often as may be necessary to operate the road successfully. The surveys of several routes have been extended as far west as the meridian of Salt Lake City, and of one line to the Humboldt Val- ley ; but the location cannot be regarded as definitely fixed beyond the first two hundred miles. 5. The Sioux City and Pacific Raikoad, extending from Sioux City, Iowa, on the Missouri River, to a connection with the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad, ", saifl point of junction to be fixed by the President of the United States, not further west than the one hun- dredth meridian of longitude aforesaid, and on the same terms and con- ditions as provided in this act" (approved July 1, 1862) " for the con- struction of the Union Pacific Railroad." This branch was originally to have been constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company ; but the act of July 1, 1862, was amended by the act of July 2, 1864, so as to release the Union Pacific Company, and authorize the Presi- dent of the United States to designate a Company to construct it upon the same terms and conditions as were previously granted to the Union Pacific Company, with an additional grant of " alternate sections of land for ten miles in width on each side of the same al/mg the whole length of said branch.'' The President, on the 24th December, 1864, designated the " Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Company" for this purpose. The map designating the gen- eral route of the road was filed in the Department of the Interior, June 27, 1865. Nothing further has been done towards its construction. 6. The Central Pacific Railroad of California, extending " from the Pacific coast, at or near San Prancisco or the navigable waters of the Sacramento River, to the eastern boundary of California." This is a State organization, but it receives from the General Government the same aid as the Union Pacific Railroad. It has also been authorized by Congress to extend its road one hundred and fifty mUes eastward into Nevada, in case the Union Pacific Railroad is not completed to the State line when it arrives there. This Company has' transferred to the Western Pacific Railroad Company the right to construct the road to the Pacific coast, and is now engaged in the construction of the line easterly from Sacramento to the State line, a distance of 164 miles. The laying of the track was commenced in June, 1864, and UNION PACIFIO EAHiEOAD. 63 56 miles of road have since been completed and accepted by the Grov- ernment. Seventeen additional miles of grading are now completed, and the balance of the grading is well under way. The line, as estab- lished by the Company, intersects the easterly boundary of California in the valley of the Truckee River. 7. The Western Pacific Railroad of California, extending from Sac- ramento to San Francisco, by way of San JosS, a distance of one hun- dred and seventy miles. This is also a State organization, and receives, through an assignment from the Central Pacific Railroad Company, which has received the sanction of Congress, the same aid from the Grovermnent as the Union and Central Pacific Companies. The line from San Jose to San Francisco, a distance of fifty miles, is com- pleted. From San Jose eastward, twenty miles are about completed, and the iron for the balance of the distance to Sacramento is already purchased and going forward. The grading is entirely out of the way. 8. The Southern Pacific Railroad of Cahfornia, extending from the bay of San Francisco to the port of San Diego, and thence to the east line of the State of Cahfornia, a distance of about four hundred and twenty miles. Capital $30,000,000. This is a State organization, and receives no aid from the General Government. Very little, if any, work has been done up to the present time. 9. The Northern Pacific Raihoad Company, extending from the head of Lake Superior to Puget Sound, " with a branch via the valley of the Columbia River to a point at or near Portland, in the State of Ore- gon.'' Capital stock $100,000,000. This Company was chartered by Congress in 1864. The Company receives from the Government " every alternate section of public land, not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mUe on each side of said railroad line as said Company may adopt, through the Territories of the United States, and ten alternate sections per mile on each side of said railroad whenever it passes through any State, and whenever on the line thereof the United States have full title, not reserved, sold, granted, or otherwise appropriated, and free from pre-emption or other claims or rights at the time the line of said road is definitely fixed, and a plan thereof filed in the ofiBce of the Commissioner of the General Land OflSce ; and whenever prior to that time any of said sections or parts of sections shall have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, or pre-empted or 64 WESTERN INCIDENTS. otherwise disposed of, other lands shall be selected by said Company in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections and designated by odd numbers, not more than ten miles beyond the limits of said alternate sections." I am not aware that anything further than an organization of the Company has been effected up to the present time. In addition to the above it may be proper to mention the old organization known as the Southern Pacific Railroad, which was in- tended to run from Memphis to San Diego, about which very little has been heard for some years. S. SBTMOTJR, Consulting Engineer, U. P. B. It. GENEEAL SIMPSON'S SPEECH. The following speech of General Simpson, President of the Board of GoTemment Commissioners (copied from the Chicago Tribune), dehvered at Chicago, on the return of the excursionists, wUl also be found to contain much interesting and valuable, as well as later information upon this subject : — Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen : — The interests of the Pacific Eailroad have been ably pre- sented by the gentlemen who have preceded me ; but as there are some points upon which they have not touched, and it may be expected of me, as the President of the Board of Com- missioners on the road and its branches east of the Eocky Mountains; and the officer to whom has been intrusted by the President of the United States the charge of the road and its branches, so far as concerns the General Government, to say something in this regard, I trust I shall be pardoned for making the following statement : — magnitude op the enteepeisb. Preliminary, however, to this, I cannot but generally descant upon the magnitude and importance of this great en- terprise. If we take a railroad map of .our country, we UNION PACIFIC BAILKOAD. 65 cannot but be struck -with the net of railroads which traverse our domain on the east side of the Missouri Eiver, from Maine to Florida. This bird's-eye view immediately evolves the immense traffic, social comfort, and political homogeneity and harmony which these roads must develop and enforce ; and not only so, it also discloses the wonderful progress which has been made in bringing the different sections of the por- tion of our country alluded to, in close bonds of affiliation, and therefore of Christian love and sympathy. But still farther scanning the map of our extended country, we find a most important portion of our domain along the Pacific coast, already filled with a teeming population, and capable, agriculturally, mineralogically, commercially, mili- tarily, politically and socially, of still farther development, so remotely situated, with regard to the portion on the east side of the Missouri River — so isolated by distance and barriers of mountain chains and extended deserts, that it at once suggests the deficiency and the absolute requirements of the extension of our railroad system, so as to bring this portion of our republic into closer and more sympathetic relation with the other ; and thus to bind all portions of our country in one homogeneous organism of political, military, social, com- mercial and Christian nationality and power. This is to be effected by the Pacific Railroad and branches ; and because of their infinite importance in this respect, their completion ought to be pushed forward by the people and Gov- ernment with the greatest possible dispatch. CONQEESSIONAIi ACTION. The acts of Congress bearing on this important project are chiefly the act of July 1, 1862, the act of July 2, 1864, and the act of July 3, 1866. These acts, as they now stand, author- ize the construction of one main line, commencing at Omaha, Nebraska, the initial point fixed agreeably to law by the late President Lincoln, and extending westward in the most direo* 66 WBSTEBN mOrDENTS. and practicable line, till it meets the Central Pacific Eailroad of California, extending eastward from San Francisco. These two Companies are unrestricted in the extent of the road they shall build, except that they are required to locate and join their respective portions in the most direct and practicable manner. THE UNION PACIFIC EGAD. The Union Pacific has been constructed and accepted by the President of the United States, west from Omaha to the two hundred and seventieth mile post, or to a point seventy- seven miles west from Fort Kearny ; and the probabilities are that by the setting in of winter there will be about three hundred and ten miles of the road finished ; which will carry it beyond the Forks of the Platte, and embrace the bridge now near completion over the North Fork. The surveys for this road have extended across the Eocky and Wasatch Mountains to the valley of the Humboldt ; and lines of routes have been found which will not require a grade, at any point, over one hundred and sixteen feet per mile, the maximum grade of the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad, and the limit fixed by law. THE CBNTEAL PACIFIC ROAD. The Central Pacific of California, on the 6th of the present month, had been graded from Sacramento eastwardly to Cisco, a distance of ninety-three miles, or to a point within twelve miles of the summit of the Sierra Nevada ; and the track has been laid from Sacramento, eighty miles of that dis- tance, and the cars are running thereon. The surveys show a perfectly feasible route over the Sierra Nevada, with maximum grades within the limits prescribed by the law ; and as they show a very easy line along the valley of the Humboldt, not requiring a grade over fifty-three feet to the mile, the Presi- dent of the Company, Leland Stanford, Esq., confidently antici- pates that they will be able to reach Great Salt Lake during the year 1870. UKtON PACIFIC EAILEOAD. 67 BBANCH KOADS. The branch roads west from the Missouri river joining the Union Pacific Railroad, are, commencing at the most northern point and running southwardly, first : — THE SIOUX CITY AND PACIFIC EAILEOAD, extending from Sioux City westwardly, and to join in the most practicable and direct manner at such part of the Union Pacific Railroad as the Company may select. Surveys, I have been informed by Mr. John J. Blair, the President of this Company, have been made for this road, but as they have not yet been officially reported to the Government, the final location of the route has not yet been established, and nothing further remains to be said than that no work has yet been done on this branch. Next, THE EXTENSION OF THE BUELINGTON AND MISSOUEI EITBE EAILEOAD, which by law is to cross the Missouri River south of the mouth of the Platte, and, according to the map filed in the Interior Department, has been located by the Company as far as Kearny City, along the south side of the Platte, and getting into the Platte Valley again within eighteen or twenty miles east of Fort Kearny. The road is to join the Union Pacific, not further west than the one hundredth meridian of west longitude. No work has been commenced on this branch. Next, THE EXTENSION OF THE HANNIBAL AND ST. JOSEPH EAILEOAD, BY THE WAY OF ATCHISON, which the Company have, by law, the option of connecting in the most direct and feasible way with the Union Pacific, not farther west than the one hundredth meridian, or the Union Pacific, Eastern Division, without restriction to dis- tance. Twenty miles of this road west from Atchison has 68 WESTERN INCrDENTS. been constructed and accepted by the President of the United States, and another section of twenty miles is represented to be nearly ready for examination by the Commissioners. The next branch is THE UNION PACIFIO BAILWAT, EASTERN DIVISION, which starts from the mouth of the Kansas Eiver, on its south side, and has been located up the valley of the Kansas River as far as Fort JRiley, and thence across to and up the valley of the Smoky Hill Fork, as far as the western boundary of Kansas ; thence it is to go to Denver City, and join the Union Pacific at a point not farther than fifty miles west from the meridian of Denver. This road has been accepted by the President of the United States for a distance of one hundred and thirty miles west from the initial point at the mouth of the Missouri Eiver, and has been represented recently as com- pleted and the cars running thereon as far as Fort Riley, a distance of one hundred and thirty-six miles. GOTBENMENT AID. The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroad of Cali- fornia, on the completion of sections of not less than twenty miles of their roads, will be alike entitled to bonds respec- tively from the Government to the extent of $16,000 per mile from their initial points to the east line of the Rocky Moun- tains, and to the west base of the Sierra Nevada, thence across the Rocky Mountains to the west base of the same for a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, and across the Sierra Nevada to the east base of the same for a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, they respectively got three times $16,000, or $48,000 per mile. Between the western base of the Rocky Mountains and the eastern base of the. Sierra Nevada, they will be entitled to twice $16,000, or $32,000 per mile. UNION PACIFIC BAILBOAD. G9 Both these Companies will, by law, be entitled to ten alter- nate odd sections of land on each side of their road, not sold, reserved, or otherwise disposed of by the United States, and to which a pre-emption or homestead claim may not have been attached. The Union Pacific Eailway, Eastern Division, (properly the Southern Division), agreeably to the act of July 3, 1866, receives, on the completion of sections of at least twenty miles of its road, $16,000 per mile, for a distance from its initial point at the mouth of the Kansas Eiver, as far westward as would be equal to the length of its road, had it, according to the act of July 1, 1862, joined the Pacific Railroad on the one hundredth meridian of longitude, between the north bank of the Platte Eiver, and the south bank of the Eepublican Pork of the Kansas River. This road is entitled, in addition, on the completion of sections of not less than twenty miles of its road, to ten alternate odd sections of land on each side of its line, subject to the reservations, as in the case of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Eailroad before stated. The Atchison and Pike's Peak Eailroad, or Pacific extension of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Eailroad, on the completion of sections of not less than twenty miles, gets bonds of $16,000 and ten alternate sections of land on each side of the road, per mile, but only fijr a distance of one hundred miles west from Atchison. The Sioux City Pacific Eailroad under the act of July 2, 1864, is entitled to bonds of $16,000 per mile on the comple- tion of sections of not less than twenty miles, for a distance from the initial point at Sioux City, not greater than it would have been entitled to under the act of July 1, 1862, which re- stricted its junction with the Union Pacific, at a point not farther west than the one hundredth meridian of west longi- tude. This road also gets land, but only to the extent of five alternate sections within a limit of ten miles on each side of the road, with the same restrictions as stated in the case of the roads already mentioned. 70 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. The Pacific extension of the Burlington and Missouri Eiver Eailroad, by the act of July 2, 1864, is not entitled to bonds, but to lands to the extent of ten alternate odd sections on each side of its line of route. THE COMPLETION OF THE KOADS. Having thus given the chief points of the law with regard to the Union Pacific Railroad and branches, I would recall your attention to the anticipation confidently entertained by Mr. Stanford, the President of the Central Pacific Company of California, that they will, even under the present law, be able to reach Great Salt Lake during the year 1870. General Dix, the President of the Union Pacific Eailroad Company, has informed me that they will meet the Central Pacific, of California in five years ; and, thus, according to both the gentlemen named, we may expect the completion of the road in 1811, or six years before the 1st of July, 1877 — the limit fixed by the law. It is submitted, however, that as the work in the Eocky Mountains and Utah will be very heavy, there should be some legislation which will enable the Union Pacific Eail- way Company to work in advance of their completed line, at least eight hundred miles ; so that the Company could now be employing the Mormons in Utah, who, with the " Gentiles," are willing and anxious to take contracts for grading the road, getting out the ties, and making the necessary iron.. The act of July 3, 1866, enables the Union Pacific, and Cen- tral Pacific of California, to work three hundred miles in advance of their continuous line ; but while this privilege is probably sufScient for the California Company, on account of the nature of the country through which it will have to con- struct its road, it is not so for the Union Pacific, whose diiS- cult portions stretch out for so great a distance west of their present work. It is hoped that this matter will receive the attention of Congress at the earliest possible moment. UlhON PACITIC RAILKOAD. 71 CONPnSION OF NAMES. There is another item of legislation required, which has grown out of the confusion that exists with regard to the names of the roads, which should be attended to. The branch road, which starts from the mouth of the Kansas Eiver, is called the Union Pacific Eailway, Eastern Division. The con- seqiience is, that though this road is being made by an entirely different Company from the Union Pacific Eailroad Company, which is constructing its road all the way through from Omaha, till it meets the Central Pacific of California, the credit or discredit which attaches to the one naturally attaches to the other, to the enhancement or depreciation of its bonds ; and already I am informed there have been consid- erable serious misapprehensions existing on this account, to the advantage or detriment of one or the other Company. This liability to error can only be obviated by Congress changing the name of the Union Pacific Eailway, Eastern Division, so that it may not by any possibility be confounded with the Union Pacific Eailroad,. with which it is in no way pecuniarily connected. A sufiiciently distinctive name would be the Kansas Eiver Branch of the Union Pacific Eailroad. BENEFITS TO CmCAQO. Thus, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, I have at some length given you a description of the Union Pacific Eailroad and branches, with the provisions of law relating thereto ; but I cannot close my remarks without pointing out to you the great benefits which must inure to your city from the com- pletion of this great highway of nations. Standing as you do pre-eminently related to the great lakes of the North ; and by your railroads with all portions of the United States on the east side of the Eocky Mountains, with the prestige of your past and present growth ; and immediately on the great air- line route across the continent from New York, you cannot but become the great entre-depot of trade and travel of the 72 WEBTEEN INCIDENTS. world ; and therefore without doubt one of the greatest cities of the world — second on this continent to probably only the metropolis of New York. Adding my thanks to those of the gentlemen who have preceded me for the very kind and munificent reception which the Union Pacific Railroad excursion party has re- ceived at your hands, I will here close my already, I fear, too extended remarks. The laws of Congress require that the first one hundred miles of the Union Pacific Eailroad, west of the Missouri Elver, shall be completed on or before the 27th Jmie, 1866 ; and that it shall be completed to the one-hundreth meridian of longitude, a distance of one hundred and forty-seven miles further, at the rate of one hundred miles per year thereafter ; or, say, by the middle of December, 1867. The Eailroad Company however, had, in utter disre- gard of all precedents in railroad construction, completed the first one hundred miles on June 2d, 1866, and had laid the track across the hundredth meridian on the 5th October of the same year. In fact, the Company had become so regardless of these precedents, and of the slow progress contemplated by Congress, that it had allowed Mr. Eeed, the Engineer in charge of construction, to do the grading, construct the bridges, and lay the superstructure, all complete, upon two himdred and forty-five miles of road in one hundred and eighty-two working days ; averaging more than one and one-third miles per day. It was therefore deemed expedient and proper, by the managers of this great national enterprise, that the com- pletion of the first division, extending from the Missouri Eiver, at Omaha, to the one-hundredth meridian of longi- UNION PACmc BAHiKOAD. 73 tude, ■within considerably less than a year from the time required by law, should not only be suitably advertised to the world, but satisfactorily verified by the proper officers of the Government, and members of Congress. Invitations were accordingly extended to the President of the United States, and members of his Cabinet ; also to all the members of Congress, Foreign Ministers, mili- tary and naval commanders, and to the principal railroad men and leading capitalists throughout the country, to join in a grand excursion from New York City to the one- hundredth meridian, in the Great Platte VaUey, a dis- tance of about seventeen himdred mUes, and more than half way across the continent. No railroad excursion of similar character and magni- tude had ever been projected in this, or any other coun- try ; and the parties most interested were, of course, un- tiring in their efibrts to make it a complete success. The different lines of connecting railroads, steamboats, and stages between New York and Omaha, were at once placed at the disposal of the Company by their liberal and enterprising managers, who seemed to vie with each other in their efforts to aid the Union Pacific KaUroad Company in its great and somewhat novel undertaking. Very much to the regret of the excursionists, as well as the receptionists along the route. General John A. Dix, the President of the Company, was prevented from accompanying the party, by receiving from the Presi- dent of the United States, the appointment of Minister to France, just previous to its departure from New York. The charge of the excursion therefore devolved upon Mr. Thomas C. Durant, Vice-President, and Messrs. Sherman, Cook, Dillon, Lambard, and Duff, Directors ; assisted by Mr. B. F. Bunker, Assistant Secretary of the 4 74 WESTERN INOrDENTS. Company, Col. N. A. Gestner and Mr. E. Simmonds, from the New York office. DEPABTUEE FROM NEW YOBK. The party, consiBting of about one hundred persons, fully supplied -with everything that could be improvised or thought of for its comfort and enjoyment, left New York on Monday evening, October 15th, by way of the New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Central Bailroads, to Pittsburgh; and the Pittsburgh Fort Wayne and Chi- cago Eaihroad to Chicago, where they arrived ia high spirits on the following Wednesday evening. Considerable accessions of invited guests were made to the party on the way to, and at, Chicago. Messrs. Springer Harbaugh, of Pittsburgh, and Jesse L. Wil- liams, of Fort Wayne, Government Directors of the road, accompanied the excursion to Chicago ; but, as both these gentlemen had just returned from a somewhat extended inspection of the road, they were very reluc- tantly excused from proceeding farther with the party. Several of the excursionists preferred to remain a day or two at Chicago ; and then proceed over the Chicago and Northwestern EaUroad, in company with the offi- cers of that Eoad, to Dennison ; and from thence to Omaha by stage. But by far the largest portion, accom- panied by the Great Western Light Guard Band, started from Chicago on Thursday morning, October 18th, by way of the Chicago BurHngton and Quincy, and the Hanni- bal and Saint Joseph Eaihoads, and arrived at St. Joseph on the following Friday evening. Here they were met by Mr. H. M. Hoxie, the General Western Agent of the Union Pacific Eaiboad, to whose UNION PAOmO BAILEOAD. 75 care had been assigned tlie transportation on the Mis- souri Eiver, a distance of two hundred and fifty imles, by river, from St. Joseph to Omaha ; and also the subsistence of the entire party until its return to Saint Joseph. Two of the largest class Missouri River packets — the Denver, Captain WaddeU, and the Colorado, Captain Hooper — with an additional band of music on board, were in readiness to receive the party on its arrival at Saint Joseph ; and the excursionists soon found them- selves, with bands playing and colors flying, steaming up the great Missouri River, which, for many hundred miles of its turbid, snaggy, barry, winding course, forms the western boundary of the Atlantic portion of the United States. The journey from Saint Joseph to Omaha was accom- plished, without serious accident or detention, in less than forty-eight hours ; and the party reached the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad on Monday morn- ing, the 22d of October, having been on the way from New York a little less than one week. Some idea of the manner in which the excursionists were subsisted under the supervision of Professor Hoxie, wHle passing up the Missouri River, may be formed by a perusal of the following bills of fare on board the steamers : — 76 WESTBEN INCIDENTS. OOMPLIMENTAEY EXOUESION TO THE dljief ©toners of all Uailroairs in tl)e Eniteb, States, ON BOARD THE SPLENDID STEAMER COLORADO. J. D. MOOPMM, Com, \ O. M, BIROWN, ClerJe. JS. JFOUXft General Superintendent Faclcet Idne, BILL OF FARE. STEAMER iCOLOEADO, October 20, 1866. Chicken aumbo. sonp. :l Oyster. Bated Pike, Oyster Sauce. nsH. Boiled Trout, a-la Normande. Leg of Mutton, Caper Sauce. Turkey, Oyster Sauce. Chicken, Egg Sauce. BOILED. Ham. Tongue. Corned Beef and Cabbage. Beef, a-la-mode. BOiST. Turkey, Qiblet Sauce. Saddle Mutton. Lamb, Barbecued. Quails on Toast. Spare-Rib of Pork. Elba of Beef. Sugar-Cured Ham, Champagne Sauce. Chicken Salad, Toung America Lobster Salad, Boston style. Fresh Tongue, in Belvue. Anchovy Salad. Ham. COLD DIHHB3. Stylo. Boast Beof. Boned Turkey, with Jelly. Leg of Mutton, Boiled. Pressed Corned Beof. Buffalo Tongue. UNION PACmC RAILROAD. 77 Rabbit, sauti, a-la- Chasseur, Small Patties, a-la-Frangaise. Lamb C!hops, a-la-Millionaire. Chicfeen Livers, fried in paper. CalPs Head, stuffed, it-la-Royal. Fricas&ee of Chicken, a-la-Rhine. Escaloped Oysters, Louisiana style. Fillets of Beef, larded, a-la-Soubise. Rice Croquettes, garnished with Preserves. Fried English Cream, flavored with Vanilla. CalTs Brains, fried in Batter. Veal Cutlets, breaded, Sauce Tortue. Baked Pork and Beans , Boston style. Prairie Chicken, larded Tomato Sauce. Tenderloin of Venison, Vel au Vent, aus huitres. Petis Pates, gamie a-la-Bechamelle. Croquettes de Volaille. , Boudins, a-la-Richelieu. Filet de Bceuf , Sauce Medere. Supreme de Volaille, aux Champignons. Canards Braise, aux Oliaes, Fricandeau de Veau, pica aux Elpinards. Pigeons, Braise, a-la-Financiere. Baked Salmon, with Cream. Turkey Giblets, a-la-Valenciene. Antelope Steak, Sherry Wine Sauce. Maccaroni, with. Oparmesseur Cheese. Fried Oysters, brazed, a-la^Italian. Antelope, larded. Sauce Bigarade. Bear, brazed. Port Wine Sauce. Saddle of Venison, Cranberry Sauce. Mallard Ducks — ^Teal Ducks, Malaga Wine Sauge. Grouse, larded, Madeira Sauce Quails , on Toa^t. Wild Turkey. Babbit Pot Pio, Boston style. Oyster Plant. Carrots. Onions. Boiled Potatoes. Parsnips. Turnips. Sour Crout. Cabbage. Hominy. Boiled Rico. Mashed Potatoes. HBXISHES. Tomato Catsup. WoroostershirD Sauoo. Boston Pickles. Beets. Celery. Olives, PiSTEIES. Cold Slaw. English Plum Pudding, White Sauce. Rum Jelly. Pound Cake. Jelly Cake. VaniUa Ice Cream. Champagne Jelly. Lady Fingers. Fruit Cake, ornamented. Chocolate Cake. French Kisses. Pyramid of Macaroons. Princess Pyramid. Old Castle. Cranberry Tartlets. Minco Pie. Cream Pie. Apple Pie. Almond Macaroons. Cranberry Tartlets. Swiss Cottage. Oranges. Pecans. Almonds. Eaisins. Gateau Genoise, a-la-Jelee. Charlotte Russe au Marasquin. English Walnut. Apples. Figs. Merungues aux Peches. Bonbon, a-Ia-Vanilla. Bavarois Glace, aux Amandes. Grapes. Peaches. Filberts. Pears. TEA^ COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE. HOURS FOR MEALS: Breakfast 7 to 9 1 Dinner 1 to 3 Tea 6 o'clock. 78 WESTEBN rNOEDENTS. Union Pacific EaiLroad Excursion — Eoad open from Omaha to one-liundredtli meridian, DmHSH BILL OF FARE. STEAMER DENVER. Oaioher S8, 1866. SOUPS. Puree of liabbit, a-larChantiUy . Kioe Soup, a-la-Florentine. FISH. Trout, a-la- Victoria. Pike, a-la-Clievaliere. Beef. Mutton. Pork. Pig. Turkey. Chicken. Duck- Veal. Grouse. Leg of Mutton, Caper Sauce. Turkey, Oyster Sauce, Chicken, Supreme Sauce Tongue. Duliield Ham. Corned Beef and Cabbage, VEGETABLES OF THE SEASON. Chicken, a-la-Montraorenci. Chartreuse of Vegetables, garnished with Cushion of Veal, a-la-St. George. Partridges, Timbal of Macoaroui, a-la-Mazarine, Border of Potato Paste, garnished with Tourte of Ox, Palates a-la-Francaise. Calves Brains a-la-Bavigotte. Croustade of Bread, garnished with Calves Tails a-la-Pouleto. Saddle of Elk, a-la-Bellevue. Teal Ducks, a-la-Royal. Snipes, a-la-Essler. Pheasants, a-la-Monclas. Goose, a-la-Anglaise, COLD DISHES. Boar's Head, with Aspie Jelly. Italliene Salad. Gelatine Turkey, with Aspie Jelly. Salina of Duck, with Aspie Jolly, RELISHES. Celery. Currant Jelly. Tomato Catsup. French Mustard. Horse Radish. Walnut Catsup, Chow-Chow. Cold Slaw. Pineapple Cheese. Pickles and Olives. Mushroom Catsup. Assorted Sauces. tmiON PAOmO BAILBOAD. 79 PTIDDINGia. Cocoanut, Croam Sauca. Pisa i3n> TAXIS. Apple. Poaoh. DamBon. Blaokberry. Tiirnovor of Apple. Jelly Tarts. Pound. Lady. Fruit OREAHS AND J1BIXIE9. MarascMno Bavarian Cream. Celestine Strawberry Cream, Englisli Cream, with Peaches. Pineapple Jelly. Orange Jelly, a-la^Anglaise. Macedoine of Fruits. "Web Meringue, a-la-Parisiene. Nouilles Cake, apla-Allemando. Cream Fouett, a-la-Printanier. Strawberries and Cream. Fruit Meringues. Cocoanut Candy. ORNAMENIS. Horn of Plenty. Pyramid of Sponge Candy. Pyramid of Rook Candy, Gothic style. Ornamented Fruit Cake, with Nougat Vase, SXnS AJfD FRUTIS. Grapes. Oranges. Apples. Pears. Prunes. Figs. Raisins, Almonds. English Walnuts. Filberts. Brazil. Peanuts. Pecans. Dates. COFFEE, TEA AND CREAM. HOURS FOR MEALS: Breakfast 7 to 9 | Dinner 1 to 3 Tea 6 o'clock . WILLIAM DWYEB, Steward. 80 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. FORMATION OF THE ELKHORN CLUB. That portion of the party wMch had crossed the State of Iowa by land, including Mr. Perry H. Smith, the Vice-President, and Mr. George L. Dunlap, the General Superintendent of the Chicago and Northwestern EaUroad, Messrs. Turner, Ayer, Bowen, Orerer, and sev- eral others from Chicago, with the most important addi- tion of Professor Kinsley, the justly celebrated caterist of Chicago, and a strong detachment of his assistants, hav- ing re-joined the party in the morning, were assigned to quarters on the Eaihoad Company's steamer MJchorn, which lay at the landing immediately across the bows of the steamer Denver. It should here be recorded for the benefit of aU future historians, as well as the " rest of mankind," that, on this memorable day, and upon this veritable steamer ElJchorn, the famous, and never-to-be-forgotten ElMiorn Club was duly organized and established upon a firm, and it is to be hoped an enduring basis. RECEPTION AND BALL AT OMAHA. The authorities of Omaha were on the alert at an early hour for the purpose of welcoming and entertaining the distinguished party. Governor Saunders, Secretary Pad- dock, Mayor MiUer, and Vice-President Patrick, of the Board of Trade, soon made their appearance upon the steamers, and welcomed the excursionists in appropriate speeches, tendering them the freedom of the City and Territory ; and inviting them to a reception ball at the Hernden m the evening ; all which were duly responded to and accepted by Senator Patterson, Government Director Sherman, and others of the party. UNION PACEFIC BAILEOAD. 81 Carriages were in waiting, to convey such of the num- ber as desired to leave the boats, either about the town, to the hotels, or to the residences of several of the pri- vate families, which had been most liberally thrown open for the occasion. The excursionists, with their insignia of ribbons and rosettes, were soon to be seen ia all parts of the town, and among the extensive workshops of the Eailroad Company, evidently deHghted, and somewhat astonished to find themselves, after a week's journeying westward from New York, still among people of wealth, refinement, and enterprise. The ball in the evening, however, was perhaps the greatest surprise. The presence of General Phil- lip St. George Cooke, commanding the Department, with his staff; Governor Saunders, Chief- Justice Kel- logg, Secretary Paddock, Senators Thayer and Tipton, all of Nebraska ; together with the city authorities, and the wealthy, enterprising, business and professional men of Omaha, with their families, aU conduced to make it an entertainment which would have done credit to any gather- ing of a similar character in Chicago, Washington, or New York. The dance, alternating with the promenade, and a Judicious sprinkling of excellent and substantial refresh- ments, occupied the time most pleasantly tiU the small morning hours, when all separated in the best of spirits, ready for the new and exciting scenes which were to open upon them on the morrow. Here we wiU leave them for the present, and be pre- pared to accompany them many hundred miles farther westward, towards the never-setting Star of Empire. 4» 82 ■WESTEEN INCrDENTS. VIII. MORNING AFTER THE BALL ^THE EXCURSION TEAIN ALL ON BOARD ITS PROGRESS WESTWARD THE GREAT PLATTE TALLEY STATIONS ON THE ROAD ARRIVAL AT COLDMBUS CAMPING OUT ON THE PLAINS INDIAN WAR-DANCE ^MORNING SERENADE TOWN OF COLUMBUS SHAM INDUN FIGHT PRESENTS TO THE INDIANS — CONTRAST BETWEEN CIVILIZEJ) AND SAVAGE LIFE — TRAIN STILL GOING WESTWARD — WAT-STATIONS ON THE ROAD AERIVAL AT CAMP NO. 2 MILITARY ENCAMPMENT ^ANOTHER NIGHT IN CAMP MORNING EXERCISES DEPARTURE OP THE ELK- HORNS MORNING NEWSPAPER LIST OF EXCURSIONISTS — END OF TRACK FOUND AT LAST BUFFALO AND ANTELOPE HUNTERS ^DINNER IN CAMP FIRE-WORKS ON THE PLAINS ^THIRD NIGHT in camp homewaed bound one hundredth meridlin prairie-dog "city fire on the plains return to omaha — depajktuee of excursionists eastwaed elkhorn cheers to mr. durant their safe arrival home. Omaha, Nebbaska, JTob. 5, 1866. MOBNTNO AFTER THE BALL. The elegant entertainment given by the citizens of Ne- braska and Omaha to the excursionists the previous evening, did not prevent them from beiag astir at a reasonably early hour on Tuesday momiag, October 23. Nearly all the gentlemen interested or curious ia such matters, visited the extensive depots and machine shops of the Union Pacific Bailroad, and expressed their astonishment and dehght at the magnitude and adaptation of the works, the construction of which had only been commenced withia a year from the present time. UNION PACmO BAILKOAD. 83 It was a source of very general regret, that Mr. Samuel B. Eeed, the efficient General Superintendent of the Boad, and Engineer in Charge of Construction, was prevented, by severe iUness, from showing any attention to the excursionists at Omaha, and also from accompa- nying them over the road. His place, however, was admirably filled by Mr. Webster Snyder, his principal assistant, aided by Mr. G. W. Frost, Major L. S. Bent, General Casement, Mr. A. A. Bean, Mr. Congdon, Mr. Gambol, and the other heads of departments. The Chief Engineer, Gen. G. M. Dodge, who had re- turned from the mountains during the previous week, rendered every assistance in his power ; and the Consult- ing Engineer, by his timely presence, was enabled to reKeve the others from much, if not all the heavy standing around. THE EXCiniSION TRAIN. The excursion train consisted of nine cars drawn by two of the Company's powerful locomotives. The mag- nificent Directors' car, constructed by the Pittsburgh, Eort Wayne and Chicago Railroad Company for this road, was placed in the rear, and devoted to members of Congress, and other distinguished guests, who felt desir- ous of making a critical examination of the road and adjacent country, which they now visited for the first, and possibly the last time. The next car forward, was the celebrated Government, or Lincoln car, the private property of Mr. Durant, and was therefore devoted principally to his own personal friends and their families. In front of this, were four fine passenger coaches, put up at the Company's car-shops at Omaha. These were 84 WESTERN rNOIDENTS. devoted to the excursionists generally. One of whicli, however, was occupied almost exclusively by the Elkhom Club. Next ia order, came the mess, or cooking car, con- structed also at the. Fort Wayne shops, and designed as a tender, or companion to the Directors' car. In front of this was a mail, or express car, conveniently fitted up as a refreshment saloon. Ajid in front of all, or next to the engine, was the baggage and supply car. The en- gines were profusely decked with flags, and appropriate mottoes ; and the whole outfit presented a most imposing appearance, as it left the Missouri Valley, and steamed away towards the Eocky Mountains. ALL ON BOABD. It had been annoimced by Mr. Durant that the excur- sion train would start westward at ten in the morning. But the difficulty and delay attending the gathering together of the excursionists, prevented our departure tiU about twelve, when the entire party, enlarged by the civil and military authorities, members of Congress, etc., of the Territory, with their families, started westward in high spirits, to view, most of them for the first time, the great, and almost uninhabited Platte Valley, extend- ing, as it does, in an almost direct westerly course from the Missouri Biver to the Kocky Mountains, a distance of six hundred miles. The train had been supplied by Mr. Hoxie with every conafort and even luxury that the heart could wish ; and soon after starting, the guests were invited to partake of an excellent lunch, served through the cars by the atten- tive waiters. UNION PACIFIC EAILEOAK. 85 THE GEEAT PLATTE VALLEY. ' The fine valleys of Mud Creek, and the Papillon, were passed successively, and at about two p. M., the Great Platte Valley opened to the view, and elicited an excla- mation of wonder and admiration from all who now saw it for the first time. The train — ^which had been ordered by Mr. Durant to proceed at a slow rate of speed, so that the excursionists could obtain a satisfactory view, not only of the surround- ing beautiful country, but of the road and structures, as they passed — after halting at the fine bridge structures over the Papillon and Elkhom Eivers, stopped a short time at the Fremont and North Bend stations, in order to give the guests an opportunity of examining the commo- dious depot buildings, water stations, etc., which had been constructed by the Company at intervals of fifteen or twenty miles along the line. AEEIVAL AT COLUMBUS. The train finally reached Columbus, the proposed end of the first day's journey, a little after night-fall, and here a new surprise awaited the party. The train was halted immediately in front of a bril- liantly illuminated encampment, which covered several acres of beautiful ground situated a few rods northward of the Columbus station bmldings, and so arranged as to afibrd comfortable accommodations for aU who wished to leave the cars and enjoy the novelty of a night's sleep in camp. Soon after our arrival, supper was announced by the ubiquitous Hoxie, and the party found themselves com- fortably seated in a large tent, and urged to partake of 86 WESTEEN INCrDENTS. substantials and luxuries, wMcli might well have vied with those found upon the tables of our Eastern hotels. The irrepressible Elkhoms were seen and heard every- where, adding hfe and exhilaration to the scene ; and thus an hour or two were passed ia social intercourse untU the evening's entertainment was announced. INDIAN -WAB-DANCE. This entertainment consisted of a war-dance, at a short distance from the encampment, executed by a large delegation of Pawnee braves, under the immediate super- vision of that celebrated Indianist, Professor Taylor, who had most kindly volunteered his valuable services for the occasion ; and of all the wild and hideous yells, grotesque shapes and contortions that have ever been witnessed by a civilized assemblage in the night-time upon the plains this was most certainly the chmax. The light of the moon, aided slightly by that of a dim camp fire, was barely sufficient to enable the spectators to distinguish the features and grotesque costumes of the savage per- formers ; and the congregation of lady and gentlemen spectators were only too glad to know that the Indians were entirely friendly, and catering only for the amuse- ment of the company, instead of being enemies, dancing and gloating over their scalpless bodies. This amuse- ment being ended, the waning moon and camp fires admonished' the excursionists that the hour for retire- ment and rest had arrived. Each individual, family, and party, found comfortable tents allotted to them, well stored with soft hay mattres- ses, buffalo robes, and blankets. Without the least dis- order or confusion, therefore, aU were soon dreaming of the wondrous novelty of the situation ; and nothing but UNION PACHTO EATLEOAD. 87 the howliag of the distant wolf, or the subdued mutter- ings from the Indian camp, broke the stillness of this first night on the plains. A MOENINO- SERENADE. Before daylight, however, the more timid of the party were startled from their slumbers by the most unearthly whoops and yells of the Indians, who were tramping about among the camp fires in front of the tents ; and many disordered heads, with anxious and inquiriag coun- tenances, were to be seen protruding through the aper- tures of the tents, to ascertain whether they were to be immediately roasted aJxve, or allowed a short time in which to say their prayers, and write a few parting words to their distant friends. All was soon explained however, when it became known that Mr. Durant himself, assisted by General Dodge, Secretary Paddock, and a partially standing, but more generally reclining committee of Elkhoms, had these wild denizens of the plaias, under the most complete con- trol ; and were only makiug them dance and perform this most imique and savage morning serenade for their own particular amusement. Quiet was therefore soon restored, and, after a re- freshiag momrag nap, the party was iavited to par- take of a sumptuous breakfast before again starting westward. THE TOWN OF COLUMBUS. This goodly town of Columbus should, however, have more than a passing notice. It is situated near the confluence of the Loup Fork Eiver with the Platte, and is surrounded by one of the finest agricultural countries in the world. Being near 88 WESTEBN mCIDENTS. the centre of the Territory, it bids fair soon to become the Capital of this embryo State. The large and valuable Pawnee reservation is situated only a few miles from the town, in the Valley of Loup Fork. The Credit-Fonder of America has invested largely in town and suburban property, and promises, through its far-seeing and enterprising managers, to add much to its future growth and prosperity. The tents were soon struck, and the pioneer traia was to be seen steaming far away in the distance ; after which, our excursionists leisurely resumed their places in the cars, ready for new surprises and adventures. Many of them little dreamed, however, that one, most rare and novel in its character, was so soon to be realized. SHAM INDIAN FIGHT. The train halted upon a high embankment, in front of the Indian encampment, near the east end of the beauti- ful bridge which spans the Loup-Fork river. The Indians, fully dressed and adorned in the war costume of the Pawnees, were in council, many of them evidently in a high state of excitement, gesticidating, whooping and yelling, in the most frantic and unearthly manner. Twenty or thirty horses stood near, ready to be mounted. Soon a band of about thirty mounted Sioux warriors were to be seen emerging stealthily from a thicket, some distance down the river, and making their way cautiously in a circuit, as if to surround the Pawnee camp. Our Pawnees were instantly mounted, and following their stalwart chief, with shrieks and cries of vengeance, to the attack. The shock of meeting was grand and ter- rific. Horses reared and plunged against each other. Indian grappled Indian, and both fell to the ground in UNION PACIFIC EAILEOAD. 89 deadly embrace. Rifles, revolvers and arrows were dis- charged apparently with deadly effect. Eiderless torses, and horseless riders were to be seen roaming wildly over the plain. And all was confasion and intense excitement, nntn at length the victorious Pawnees brought their van- quished enemies into camp, amid the most tempestuous shouts of triumph and exultation. All this had been but a sham Indian fight, between a party of Pawnee warriors, dressed in the costume of the Sioux, and an equal number of their own tribe. What then must be the terrible reahty, when these ever hostile tribes meet, as they often do, iu deadly conflict ? After the battle had ended, Mr. Durant distributed several hundred dollars' worth of presents among the Indians and their squaws. And it was most amusing to see these greedy savages exercise all the arts and indicmuity of which the most civilized mind is capable, for the purpose of obtaining more than their just and proper share of the spoils. The squaws, too, were most curious in their observation of the peculiar construction of the hoop-skirts and elegant bahnorals worn by our lady excursionists ; and also tried by every means in their power to enlist the sympathies of these kind-hearted ladies in behalf of the young papooses hanging upon their backs. Perhaps no better illustration could have been given of the extremes of civilized and savage life, standing face to face with each other, than the one now before us. On the one side was the track of the Union Pacific Eaihoad, upon which stood that great civdlizer, the locomotive and train, looking westward over the Loup-Fork bridge, fifteen hundred feet in length; and in the foreground stood the group of excursionists, composed of beauty, intelligence and refinement ; wMle, on the other hand, 90 WESTEEN mOIDENTS. were grouped these tmooutli savages, many of them almost in their normal state, except for the profuse dis- play of feathers and trinkets which bedecked their per- sons ; low and brutal in their habits, and mentally elevated but sHghtly, if at all, above the level of the beasts that inhabit this vast and beautiful country with them. But the laws of civilization are such that it must press forward ; and it is ia vain that these poor ignorant creatures attempt to stay its progress by resisting iach by inch, and foot by foot, its onward march over these lovely plains, where but a few years since, they were " monarchs of all they surveyed." The locomotive must go onward until it reaches the Eocky Mountains, the Laramie Plains, the great Salt Lake, the Sierra Nevada, and the Pacific Ocean. Lateral roads must also be built, extending in all directions from the main Hne, as veins from an artery, and penetrating the hunting-grounds of these worse than useless Indian tribes, until they are either driven from the face of the earth ; or forced to look for safety in the adoption of that very civilization and humanity, which they now so savagely ignore and despise. THE TBAIN AO-AIIT STARTS WESTWABD. When this most interesting exhibition of savage Hfe and customs was ended, the excursion train started again on its westward course, passing successively the embryo towns of Silver-Creek, Lone-Tree, Grand-Island, Wood- Eiver, Kearny, Elm-Creek, Plum-Creek, and Willow- Island. Soon after which, and at about eight p. m., it arrived at the termination of the second day's journey, a distance of two hundred and seventy-nine miles west of Omaha. UNION PACIEIO EAILEOAD. 91 ARRIVAL AT CAMP No. 8. Here, as at Oolumbus, on tlie previous evening, a large and brilliantly LUununated encampment had been pre- pared for the reception of the guests. A military encampment had also been established during the previous day by Colonel Mizner, in command of Fort McPherson on the opposite side of the Platte, so near the excursionists' camp as to preclude any fear from the roaming bands of Indians, which were said to infest this portion of the coimtry. Comfortable quarters were immediately assigned to each one of the party, and very soon thereafter an elegant supper was annoimced, and partaken of with a gusto, known only to a party whose only sustenance for hours had been the pure bracing air of the illimitable plains. When the excursion party left New York, it was under- stood that it would overtake the western end of the Union Pacific Kailroad track, at or about the one hundredth meridian of longitude, some two hundred and forty- seven nules west of Omaha; and that then and there the great celebration would come off, as per iavitation and programme. But here we now were, more than thirty miles west of the one hundredth meridian, and no end of track yet visible. Nothing remained for the excursionists, therefore, but to take another night's rest, and endeavor by an early start on the following morning, to overtake this long-sought-for goal, which to many of the party seemed only a myth, or most perplexing illusion. The spacious headquarters tents, which had been hung about with transparencies, and elegantly decorated with flags for the occasion, were therefore soon bereft of their occupants, who had sought the greater retiracy of the 92 WESTEEN mOEDENTS. more private quarters assigned to them ; and after the establishment of a telegraph, and printing office, by means of which to communicate with the outer world, the encampment soon became as still as solitude itself, except the measured tramp of the guard or distant sentinel, whose duty it was to See that we were not molested either by friends within or foes from without. MORNING EXERCISES. On the following morning the camp showed signs of early hfe. Indi-viduals and parties were to be seen loot- iag about for the means of ablution and renovation. The famous Elkhom Club formed in line in front of their quarters, with President Dunlap and Vice-Pres- ident Smith at its head, and followed in proper order by its professional speecMsts, singists, cheerists, punists, joheists, eatists, drinkists, etc., etc., marched in a body to the banks of the Platte Eiver, where each member underwent the pleasant operation of a wholesome outward application of an element to which the inner man had, from the force of circumstances, become a comparative stranger during the few preceding days. After a hearty breakfast, the inquiry became quite gen- eral as to the programme of operations for the day. A bulletin board was therefore placed in front of head- quarters, upon which the following printed announce- ments and orders were soon posted for general informa- tion : — Camp No. 2, U. P. K. R., Buffalo Co., Nbb., Thursday, October 25, 1866. SPECIAL NOTICE. " Colonel N. A. Gestner is announced as Offloer-of-the-Day. Office at headquarters tent. Chiefs of all working and fatigue parties will immediately report to him for orders." By Order. .} UMON PACIFIC BATLEOAD. 93 Cmr OKQANIZATION. " A meeting of citizens will be held this day at the Music Stand in the Public Square, at 9 a. m., for the purpose of locating a city, the election of a Mayor, City Council, and the transaction of such other business as may be presented. " Let there be a fuU attendance." By Order. TO THE EBPEBSENTATITliS OP THE PEESS. " The Representatives of the Press are requested to meet at the Press headquarters (left wing of the dining hall), at 10 o'clock this morning." " An Exoubsion Train wiU. leave for the End of the Track, at 11 A. M." THE BUFFALO HUNT. " Gentlemen wishing to go on a buffalo or antelope hunt wiU please report to Captain Hollins, at headquarters. Captain H., with an ex- perienced hunter, wiU accompany the party. Buffalo are said to be in abundance on the Republican, and antelope nearer camp. The party will be absent about four days. Horses and ponies will be provided." DEPARTXJRE OF THE ELKHORNS. Very much to the disappointment and regret of all parties, a large number of the officers, professors, and leadiag spirits of the Elkhom Club were obliged to leave soon after breakfast, in a special traia for the east. Pro- fessor Ayer, the goutist of the Club, remained however, and added very much to the hilarity of the party by riding about in an old one-horse wagon, driven by Major Bent ; this method of locomotion being rendered neces- sary, as he remarked, by the unmanageableness of his stuttering feet. The following dispatch was received from the Elkhom party during the day : — "Kbaent, October 25, 1866. " Db. T. C. Dubant— " Our eyes are fiUed with unaccustomed tears ; and our hearts are bowed with grief. The EMiorns mourn for their Fawns. " Blkhorns." 94 WEBTEBN INCIDENTS. The following reply was immediately sent : — TO THE DEPAETED BliKHOBKS. " The better half of all our joys Departed -with the Elthom boys ; To their memory we'll light the lamp, And dance around our prairie oamp. "Fawns." LIST OF EXCURSIONISTS. The first number of the JSailway Fioneer was issued from the press during the morning, and contained, among a large variety of interesting and amusing matter, the following : LIST OF NAMHS OF TEtE EXCURSION PARTY— GUESTS OF THE U. P. K. K. EiouBsioN Camp, October 25, 1866. DIEEOTOBS AND OITiaEES OP THE T7. P. E. B. OOMPANT. Thomas 0. Durant, New York, Vice-President, E. Oook, Iowa, Sidney Dillon, New York, C. A. Lambard, Massachusetts, John Duflf, Massachusetts, Hon. 0. T. Sherman, Ohio, Government Director. General J. H. Simpson, Washington, ) General S. K. Curtis, Iowa, >- &ovemmeni Oommisaioners. Hon. W. M. White, Connecticut. ) Gen. G. M. Dodge, Iowa, Chief Engineer. Col. Silas Seymour, New York, Consulting Engineer. W. Snyder, Assistant Superintendent and General Freight and Ticket Agent. Attaches : H. M. Hoxie, in charge of steamboats. B. F. Bunker, N. A. Gestner, in charge of special train. Directors. UNION PACIFIC EAILBOAD. 95 G. W. Frost, Pnrohasing Agent. Maj. L. S. Bent, Bnmetizer. General and Daniel Casement, in charge of track. J. Carbutt, Photographer ; Mr. Hien, Assistant Photographer. Great Western Light Guard Band of Chicago — A. J. Vaas, Leader. Eosenblatt's Band of St. Joseph — H. Kosenblatt, Leader. INVlTEi) GTTESTS. Hon. B. p. Wade, U. S. Senator. Hon. J. W. Patterson, TJ. S. Sen- ator. Hon. M. Welter. Hon. W. Lawrence. Hon. J. B. Alley and wife. Miss Emma AUey. Hon. E. B. BucMand. Hon. I. T. Kogers. Hon. B. B. Hays. Hon. B. M. Boyer and wife. Hon. S. E. Anoona. Hon. J. H. Farquar and wife. LeGrand Lockwood. Henry B. Lockwood. Earl of Arlie, England. M. O'DiUon Barrot, Secretary French Legation. Marquis Chambrun. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. McCobb. Miss A. M. Williams. Horace Williams. Wm. Leighton. Mrs. J. H. Simpson. Miss Minnie Simpson. Miss Graflf. J. T. Tuttle, M.D. J. E. Sherman. Miss M. H. Sherman. Eev. Br. G. F. Wiswell and wife. B. D. Stewart. Miss H. E. Stewart. J. E. Duff. Miss Duff. Miss Hall. EeT. L H. Tuttle, D.D., and wife. Col. E. D. Taylor. Miss Kate Offley. S. J. Jones, Surgeon, U. S. N. Gen, J. H. Bates. Hon. Augustus Schell. Eev. W. E. Brown. John Crerar. Mr. and Mrs. George Francis Train and maid. Mrs. George T. M. Dafis. Miss Sallie Clark. Mrs. J. S. Polhemus. Miss M. S. Dodge. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. BaUhache. Hon. Thomas P. Plunkett. Hon. G. B. Senter. G. A. Benedict. Ool. Thomas Dimmick. Ezra H. Baker. MissE.H. Baker. Miss Bugbee. Dr. F. Plummer. Isaac S. Waterman. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Connelly. H. M. Smith. Col. William Osbom. Mrs. E. A. Park. Mrs. A. P. Clark. Oapt. St. Albe. S. R. WellB. WE8TEBN INCIDENTS. H. M. Kinsley. Dr. and Mrs. S. L. Sprague. J. A. GUden. E. T. Watkins. Wm. Hilton. Joseph MedilL CoL A. W. Johnson. John Potts. J. H. Bowen. E. M. MoHeniy. T. W. Pabens. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Painter. 0. F. Atkinson. Josiah Hastings. P. H. HaU. 0. B. Hazeltine. B. P. Hazeltine. Perry H. Smith, Jr. Col. B. H. Jenks. Dr. H. B. VanDeventer. E. D. Hicks. E. Eeily. W. G. Mendenhall. Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Kjlboume. George B. KUbonine. Mr. and Mrs. E. Harris. Ira P. Bowen. F. S. Lathrop. A. N. Allen, M.D. F. "W. Hinsdale. Mrs. S. Seymour. J. M. Seymour. Franklin C. White. Thomas H. Cuthell. S. P. Holmes. Luther Koxmtze. J. W. Miller. WiUiam L. Woods. Major Hennings. Mr. Winter. Capt. John B. Turner. W. H. Ferry. . Perry H. Smith. George L. Dunlap. E. B. Talcott. Col. J. H. Howe. John G. Ganlt. Isaac B. Howe. John V. Ayer. George M. Pullman. Hiram Wheeler. Charles H. Hapgood. Eobert T. Lincoln. Norman WiUiams. John M. Eountree. Hon. H. B. Curtis. Henry L. Curtis. Dr. J. M. Buckingham. Charles T. Sherman, Jr. Dr. E. D. Hicks. S. Lathrop. Miss Hattie V. Lathrop. A. Winton. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Balch. C. F. Atkinson. Eev. W. E. Brown. T. E. Montgomery. L. L. Harman. George E. Smith, P. M., Omaha. Gen. G. M. O'Brien and lady. Dr. Alexander, Medical Director. St. A. D. Baloombe and lady. Major Bird. George L. Miller. E. B. Taylor. P. M. MoDonough. Judge C. Baldwin. H. C. Nutt, Esq., and lady. Mrs. Gen. Dodge and daughter. Miss Julia M. Dodge. Mrs. H. M. Hoxie. Mrs. G. W. Frost. Miss C. M. Frost. Miss A. J. Shaw. Mrs. D. T. Casement. John Jones. UNION PACIFIC EAILBOAD. 97 Hon. A. Saunders, Governor of Nebraska. Hon. S. M. Thayer and lady, and Hon. T. W. Tipton, U. S. Senators elect. Hon. William Kellogg, Chief Justice of Nebraska. Major-General PhilUp St. George Cooke (commanding Department of the Platte) and Staft Hon. A. S. Paddock, and lady. Secretary of Nebraska. Major Gushing, Chief Commissary of the Platte. CoL J. K. Mizner, (Fort MoPherson), lady and sister. Lieut. Tates, Second Cavalry, United States Army. Lieut. A. S. Adams, Second Cavalry, U. S. A. 0. L. JenMns, in charge Railway Pioneer Printing Establishmeut. J. Shepherd, Superintendent TTnited States Express Company. " Giles," Editor Bugle, Council Bluffs, Iowa. "W. F. Burke, Editor Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa. The following account of a public meeting held in the hollow square, in the centre of the encampment, is also taken from the Railway Pioneer : — PUBLIC MEETING. " A public meeting was held in the square this a. m., pur- suant to notice. Hon. Alviu Saunders, of Nebraska, was called to the chair, and appointed secretary. " Brief and appropriate addresses were made by Senators Wade of Ohio, Patterson of New Hampshire, Tipton of Ne- braska, Hon. Mr. Lawrence of Ohio, Hon. John B. Alley of Mass., Dr. Wisewell, and others. Mr. Lawrence of Ohio, offered the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted : " Whereas, An excursion party of ladies and gentlemen from various places in both hemispheres, started from New York city on the evening of October 15th, 1866, to visit the Union Pacific Eailroad so far as finished, to a point west of the hundreth meridian of west longitude ; and " Whereas, Said excursionists, with many others who have joined them on the route, have this day reached said destina- 5 98 WESTERN mOIDENTS. tion, at a point on said railroad two hundred and seventy- nine miles west of Omaha ; and " Whereas, Said excursionists have passed over all or parts of the following railways, and lines of travel, to-wit : — the New Jersey Central Eailroad ; the AUentown Eailroad ; the Pennsylvania Central Railroad ; the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad ; the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad ; the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad ; the Des Moines Valley Railroad; the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad ; the steamers Denver and Colorado from St. Joseph to Omaha ; and the Union Pacific Railroad. " And Whereas, This excursion was designed to celebrate the formal opening of the Union Pacific Railroad — so far as fin- ished — for travel and the transportation of commerce to and from the great interior of, and across, the North American continent, with its vast agricultural and mineral resources. " Resolved, That this excursion party here assembled in the centre of this vast continent, now offer up our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Almighty God for His manifold bless- ings, among which we enumerate that country subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of America, republican institutions, civil and religious liberty, the freedom of speech and the press, a Union unbroken and indestructible, with all the material resources necessary for the comfort of mankind in a high and rapidly advancing state of development; and with a vast net-work of railroads and telegraphs essential not only to our national prosperity and the interests of all our people ; but also to the civilization and commerce of the world, including among the most important of them all, that vast work — The Union Pacific Railroad. " Resolved, That it is the deliberate opinion of this excur- sion party that our nation and the world have abundant reason to rejoice that the Union Pacific Railroad was pro- jected, and is in successful progress to completion, and we UHION PACIFIC EAILEOAD. 99 congratulate mankind at the success of this magnificent enter- prise. " Besolved, That our thanks are due and are hereby ten- dered to the Union Pacific Eailroad Company for their energy and enterprise in the rapid construction of their railroad, as well as for their excursion, celebrating thus far the opening of their railroad. " Besolved, That Thomas C. Durant, the Vice-President and General Manager of the Union Pacific Eailroad Company, and his subordinates in its direction, deserve and have our sincere thanks for this excursion and for the energy and enterprise they have displayed in organizing and conducting it ; and for the splendid and unsurpassed accommodations provided for the convenience and comfort of the excursionists. " Besolved, That our thanks are due and hereby tendered to the Central Transportation Company for the splendid ' Palace Sleeping Cars,' so generously furnished by them for this Excursion, " Besolved, That our thanks are due and are hereby ten- dered to George M. Pullman, Esq., of Chicago, for his liberal hospitality and generosity in furnishing the magnificent train of 'Palace Sleeping Cars,' for our party over the Chicago and Quincy Eailroad, and for the sumptuous entertainment pro- vided at his instance by the prince of caterers, ' Kinsley,' of Chicago. " Besolved, That our thanks are due and are hereby ten- dered to Governor Alvin Saunders of Nebraska, for the cor- dial welcome to this Territory which he extended to our party at Omaha ; and to the Mayor and Council of Omaha, and to the people of that city for the hospitalities and the splendid entertainment given us during our stay at that flourishing capital. " Besolved, That our thanks are in like manner extended to the several Eailroad Companies of the lines of road over 100 WESTEBN INCrDENTS. which we have passed, and to the officers and crews of the steamers ' Denver,' and ' Colorado,' on the Missouri Elver, for the excellent accommodations and safe and speedy transpor- tation furnished by them each and all for our large party. Hon. Wm. Lawrence, of Ohio. " E. H. Baker, Mass. " A. C. ScHELL, New York. " John H. Farquar, Indiana. Col. E. H. Jenks, Penn. Joseph Medill, Illinois. Gen. J. M. Thayer, Nebraska." END OF THE TRACK FOUND AT LAST. At eleven o'clock the party started, as per announce- ment, in tlie train for the end of the track, which was finally found some eight or ten miles stiU farther west. On the way to the end of the track, we met one of Mr. Durant's foraging parties, on horseback, laden with ante- lope and other game for the table. This party reported that the party which had previously been sent out to himt for buffalo, had been quite successful, but unfortu- nately, ag they were returning to camp, they met with a strong party of Indians, who took their buffaloes from them, and spared their Hves only on condition that they should never be found again upon their hunting-grounds. Some hours were spent by the party in the vicinity of the end of the track, in observing the process adopted by those great trackists, General and Daniel Casement, in laying the track, subsisting their men, distributing materi- als, etc. Photographic pictures were also taken by the celebrated Vieioist, Professor Oarbutt of Chicago, of the construction train ; and also various groupings of the offi- cers of the road and excursionists. The shootists of the UNION PACIFIC EAILEOAD. 101 party amused themselves by firing at marks, or other objects on the distant bluffs and river. Senator "Wade of Ohio, distinguished himself by making several fine shots -with the little BaUard rifle, which had recently done such excellent execution among the elk and antelope of the Biocky Mountains ; and he finally became so much attached to the rifle, that he would not allow his photo- graph to be taken without holding it in his hand. A general abandon seemed to pervade the entire party ; and every one appeared inclined to yield to the influence of the quiet and majestic repose, which reigned supreme over aU the vast plains. DINNER nsr CAMP. A sumptuous game dinner awaited the hungry excur- sionists on their return to the camp during the latter part of the day, as will be seen by referring to the fol- lowing bill of fare, a printed copy of which was foimd beside the plate of each guest : — UNION PACIFIC EAILEOAD EXCUESION. ! BILL OF FAKE. Platte Crrr, Nebeaska. HoxiE House, Oddber 25, 1866. EOAST. Beef. Mutton. Lamb, -with Green Peas. Brazen Ox. Tongue. Maecaroni a la Italian. BOILED. Mutton. Tongue. Ham. Corned Beef. GAME. Antelope, Boasted. Sardine Salid. Koman Goose. Chinese Duck. 102 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. VEGESABLEa Peas. Tomatoes. Asparagus. Mashed Potatoes. REUSHEP. London Club Sauce. Worcestershire Sance. Horrey Sauce. Pickles. Pineapple Cheese. Swiss Cheese. PASTRY. Pies. Strawberries. Damson. Peach. Cherry. FRurrs. Apples. Pineapples. To which should be added, as representing the princi- pal feature of the unpublished wiae list : THE UNION PACIFIC EAILROAD, VMBZMNA Y- vb max SUTAINE ET CIE. t. "v^t. &; c3-. id. b -a. -«■ -a. xt 13, Sole Agents for United States ami Canada. The following special notices appeared in the evening edition of the Railway Pioneer : SPEdAl NOTICE. A concert will be given this evening at Bunker Hall, by the celebrated Northwestern Band of Chicago. Tickets for sale at all principal hotels, and at the door. Doors open at 7i o'clock ; performance to commence at 8 o'clock precisely. Seven locomotives were at the depot in this city, this morning. Eastern papers desiring an exchange with the Pioneer, will be placed upon our exchange list by publishing our prospectus three times in their daily and one month in their weekly issues. A photograph gallery and a first-class barber-shop are among the recent additions to our embryo city. UNION PACmO BAHiBOAD. 103 The excursion train for the end of the track left promptly at 11 a. m. The exoursionists witnessed the laying of about 800 feet of track during their brief stay of half an hour. Casement's men are putting down the iron at the unprecedented rate of a mile and a half per day. So we go, on our march to the Pacific ! FrRE-WOBKS ON THE PLAINS. The principal attraction of tlie evening was the mag- nificent display of fire--works from the stand in the centre of the camp, under the immediate supervision of those distinguished pyrotechnists, Professors Snyder and Seymour. Eockets, fa llin g stars, golden rain, serpents, magazines, Koman candles, together with all sorts of eccentric wheels,- and other ingenious contrivances, were to be seen and heard, shooting and whizzing through the air for more than an hour, much to the amazement, no doubt, of the distant savages and wild beasts, who might happen to be the witnesses of this first exhibition of the kind in the great Platte VaUey. Later in the evening, the grand concert at Bunker HaU came off, as per special notice. This was followed by an interesting lecture upon phrenology, delivered by that great Bmnpist, Professor WeUs, which was most amusingly illustrated by a reference to the head of Mr, George Prancis Train, the humorist of the party. The party finally retired to rest in the best possible humor with themselves, and their hospitable entertainers. HOMEWARD BOUND. On the following morning all was commotion at an early hour in the encampment, in consequence of the following bulletin, which had been issued by Mr. Durant : — 104 WESTEBN INCrDENTS. Union Pacifio KAHiUOAi), Headquajjtbes, Camp No. 2, ) Friday, Oct. 26, 1866. J Special Train No. 1 will leave with the Government Commissioners at 1}^ A. M. to examine thirty miles of the road. Special Train No. 2 will leave at 8 a. m., and will unite wiiii Train No. 1, thirty-five miles east of this camp, arriving in Omaha at 7 p. m. Ample provisions have been made for those of the guests desiring to take the stage from Council Bluffs to the western terminus of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. The Iowa stage ride will oc- cupy but ten hours' time, and the trip by rail thence to Chicago will be in Pullman's magnificent sleeping-cars. Guests desiring to remain can use their excursion tickets during the two weeks next ensuing. Parties preferring to return via St. Joseph wUl please take the steamer Denver at Omaha. The tickets issued for this excursion are good for the return trip on the Hannibal and St. Joseph, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and Pittsburg Fort Wayne and Chicago, and Pennsylvania Railroads by making application to Mr. Creighton at Pittsburg. Those desiring to return via Michigan Southern, Lake Shore and New York Central Railroads can do so by giving notice of their intention at Omaha. T. C. DURANT. Professor Carbutt was now in great demand. Every- body wanted to be taken just as they appeared at the breaking up of the camp. The Professor finally suc- ceeded in obtaining some excellent groupings, as well as camp and landscape views before the train started eastward. At about ten A. m., the whistle of the engine gave the signal for the start homeward. Although every one seemed delighted with the trip, and satisfied to return, yet many longing eyes could be observed looking back- wards, as if, other duties permitting, they would prefer, having started the other way, not to return until they had obtained a view of the Eocky Mountains, and the fabu- lous miues of treasure which are hidden ia their embrace. UNION PACIFIC RAILBOAD. 105 ONE HtnSTDREDTH MERIBIAN. The train was halted for nearly an hour directly oppo- site the monument designating the point where the hne of the road crosses the one htmdreth meridian of longi- tude, for khe purpose of enabling Professor Oarbutt to photograph some views representing the excursion train, with groupings of Government officers, members of Congress, Directors of the road, and excursionists, com- ing to this point /rom the west. This being accomplished, and the train which had been placed at the disposal of the Government Commissioners having been attached, the excursion train sped onward again at the rate of thirty miles an hour, stopping only for wood and water, until it reached a point about four nules below Kearny. PBAIBIE-DOG CITY. Here the train halted for nearly two hours, for the pur- pose of enabhng the excursionists to pay their respects to the inhabitants of by far the largest town through which they had passed since leaving Chicago. This pleasing duty had been in contemplation as the train passed westward two days previously, and was prevented only by the lateness of the hour. This town occupies an area of about twenty-five square mUes, and the railroad track passes^ through its centre. The visit was evidently a surprise to the vast number of its quiet and peaceful iohabitants, and no preparations had therefore been made, as at Omaha, for the reception of their distinguished guests. Their native poUteness and curiosity, however, induced many of them, soon after the arrival of the train, to peep 5* 106 WESTEEN INCrDElSITS. out of their doors and eliatter an incolierent welcome ; but the salutation wMcli awaited them was not of a kind calculated to encourage a protracted acquaintance of even this unsatisfactory nature, and aU civilities were therefore soon at an end. The huntists of the party soon spread themselves over several acres of the town, in the hope of securing a few specimens as mere matter of curiosity. Several hundred shots were fired; and, if the accounts of our brave hunt- ists may be credited, at least one half that number had been killed ; but by some strange fatality or illusion, on arriving at the spot where the baU was seen to strike them, they were not there. Only one was brought to the train, and he, after being subjected to the critical exami- nation of all the excursionists, was turned over to the cook ; and the last that was seen of him, he was rapidly disappearing before the steady gaze of Professor Ayer, who protested meantime that, " it had come to a pretty pass, if this grand excursion was reduced to such a strait that its guests were obhged to subsist on prairie-dog" These prairie-dog cities are a great curiosity m. their way. They generally occupy the most dry and elevated table lands of the Plains. The Union Pacific Eailroad passes through or near many of them. The harmless little animals are somewhat the nature and about one-half the size of the common ground hog or woodchuck. They burrow in the ground, and evi- dently subsist, without water, upon grass and roots in the near vicinity of their town, as they are never seen far away from it. Tradition, as well as more modem authority, insists that their apartments are occupied conjointly with owls and rattlesnakes ; but of the truth of this, deponent pre- fers remaining silent, remarking only, that he has seen. UNION PAcnnc bailboad. 107 and kUled prairie-dogs, owls and rattlesnakes, in the im- mediate vicinity of the same town. FIRE ON THE PRAIRIES. Beaching the lower end of the Platte Valley a little after dark, the excursionists were electrified by what, to most of them, was their first "view of a night-fire on the prairies. The train was immediately halted, and time given for all to drink their fiU of the subUme spectacle. The flames extended in an unbroken line a distance of from fifteen to twenty miles ; and one end of the belt of fire was so near, that we could feel the heat, and distinctly hear the roaring and crackling of the devouring element, as it swept over the plains with almost railroad velocity, and shot up its forked flames into the sombre smoky sky. "What surprise awaits us nest? " "When, and where will these wonders end ? " " We did not know that this was in the programme ! " exclaimed the excursionists, little dreaming that Mr. Durant had given private in- structions upon this very subject, as the train passed up the vaUey two days before. RETURN TO OMAHA. The train arrived at Omaha at about ten in the even- ing. Carriages were in waiting to convey the excursion- ists either to the Hemden House, or the steamer "Den- ver," where an excellent supper, and good quarters awaited them. And all retired to rest, "perchance to dream" of the " loved ones at home," whose happy faces would soon be seen again ; and whose ears would soon be tingling with the most romantic and improbable tales, 108 WESTERN INCrDENTS. of Indian fights and war-dances ; adventures witli the Elkhoms ; camping-out on the great plains almost in sight of the Eocky Mountains ; living on buffalo and antelope meat ; prairie-dog towns ; fire on the prairies in the night time, etc., etc. DEPABTURE OF E2CUBSI0NISTS EASTWARD. On the following morning the continuity of the party was broken, after many hearty hand-shakings, and affectionate adieus, by the departure of a large number via the overland route, by stage and rail, for Chicago and the East, under the charge of Mr. C. A. Lambard, one of the managing Directors of the Union Pacific Eaiboad. These were met at the western end of the railroad track by the officers of the Chicago and Northwestern Rail- road Company, and a delegation from the Elkhom Club, who accompanied them to Chicago, and entertained them on the way in the most princely style. The balance of the party remained at Omaha till Sun- day morning, and then left by the steamer Denver for St. Joseph, in charge of Mr. Hoxie and Mr. Simmonds. Before starting, however, the crowd was called to the land side of the boat by Mr. John V. Ayer of Chicago, and Major Wm. M. White, and invited to unite in three rousing JElMorn cheers for Mr. Durant, who was just retiring from the boat, after having bid adieu to the excursionists. These were given with a hearty good will, in loudly suppressed silence, thus : H — sh ! H — sh ! ! H — sh ! ! ! Tiger, H — sh ! ! ! ! and then the steamer rounded to, and moved majestically down the river. Mr. Durant remained at Omaha, and on the line of the road, several days after the departure of the excur- sionists; during which time he received frequent dis- UNION PACIFIC BAILKOAD. 109 patches, informing him of their uniterrupted progress eastward, and safe arrival home. Thus ended the most important and successful cele- bration of the kind, that has ever been attempted in the world ; and it is believed, that its favorable effect upon the progress of the greatest work of the age, will be felt for many years to come. 110 WESTEEN INCrDENTS. IX. PUBLIC RECEPTION OF THE EXCURSIONISTS AT CHICAGO SPEECHES OF MAYOR RICE, C. A. LAMBARD, AND UNITED STATES SENATOR B. F. WADE GENERAL J. H. SIMPSON's LETTER FROM NORTH PLATTE STATION ^DEATH OF GENERAL CURTIS CONCLUSION. New Yobk, Feb. 1, 1867. The following extract from the Chicago Tribune, giving an account of the public reception given to the excursionists on their return through that city, together vrith the speech of Senator Wade and others, on the occasion, affords most satisfactory evidence that the anticipations of the railroad company, \¥ith reference to the favorable effects of the excursion upon the public mind, vsdU be more than realized : — UNION PACIFIC EAILBOAD. EBTUKN OP THE EXOCTRSIONISTS TO CHICAGO. Formal Reception — Meeting at tTie Opera House — Address of Welcome by Mayor Rice — Replies by Director Lamhard and Senator Wade. The returned excursionists from the Far West, over the route of the Union Pacific Railroad, were formally welcomed yesterday back to our city. The Committee of Reception, whose names were published in our issue of yesterday, met the excursionists at the Tremont House at nine o'clock in the morning, and escorted them around the city. A tug was chartered in which the party visited the crib at the other end of the lake tunnel, then sailed up the river, inspecting those portions of the city which lie along its variegated banks. Flint & Thompson's elevator, and one or two UNION PACIFIC EAILEOAD. Ill other objects of special interest, were halted at, and the party en- tertained with a description of the modes of doing business which obtain in our young giant city. The tug having performed its duty, the party proceeded to the Board of Trade rooms, and tarried a few moments ; there were, however, no speeches made, those being reserved for the formal reception of the afternoon which was given at the Opera House. At two o'clock the doors of the Opera House were thrown open, and the few who were waiting in anticipation of that act walked in. A little later came Vaas' Light Guard Band, pre- ceding a delegation from the Board of Trade. They entered the hall, and took their places in the orchestra, and while playing the overture — a selection from Massaniello — the citizens came. The attendance was not large, but eminently respectable. Many of our oldest citizens were there, but the great mass of the business world was too much occupied to be able to spare an afternoon on so short a notice. The lower part of the house was nearly filled, and a few ladies and gentlemen occupied the balcony circle. The platform was occupied by the excursionists, the Commit- tee of Reception, and a few other prominent citizens. The scenes were thrown open to the extreme rear, exposing the full depth of the magnificent stage. INTROnUCTOET. Hon. J. B. EiCE, Mayor of Chicago, called the assembly to order, and delivered the following address : " Ladies and Gentlemen : " I was very much gratified this morning when I was informed by one of our citizens that I should be permitted here this day to speak a word of welcome to the ladies and gentlemen who have just returned, and who have been on an excursion to the Far West, and are back now in the city. It is very gratifying to me, as the Mayor of the city, to find this demonstration made here to receive with welcome and heartfelt kindness these gentlemen who 'are so 112 WESTERN INCIDENTS. earnestly enlisted in improving our country, in opening our great thoroughfares by which cultivation, commerce, civilization, and Christianization shall pervade all parts of our common country. [Applause. J " But little more than one week has elapsed since the ladies and gentlemen, that are here, as your guests, left Chicago for the Far West by railway. Since that time they have been in the midst of the lodges of the Pawnee Indians who are scattered on the boundless and fertile, but uncultivated prairies of our country. This party is called a party of excursionists, but they are really a party of men of energy and ability, with minds to conceive and genius and talent to execute this great national work which is to connect this city of Chicago with the Pacific Ocean. [Ap- plause.] Where could they expect or where will they receive a more heartfelt welcome than they will in Chicago ? [Great ap- plause.] Not for the pecuniary gain alone to commerce and to agriculture, but for those higher qualities by which our whole race is to be benefited in mind as well as in body, and which only wait the completion of the work which they have undertaken and are carrying on so successfully. It is no part of mine, being en- tirely ignorant of what has been done, to explain to you the oc- currences and the results of this excursion, this formal opening of so large a portion of the eastern end of the great railway line now completed, I believe, two hundred and seventy-live miles beyond Omaha. Not many of us know even what Omaha is. We will hear. In the first place I will announce to you some resolutions that have been passed, after due consideration, by many of our most eminent citizens, some of whom were in the company. These will be read to you. After these have been read, I will in- troduce to you some of the men who have been there to see, and who wiU tell you what has been done and what is going to be done, and when it will be done. I call on Mr. Eountree to read the resoluttons." UNION PAOrPIC BAILEOAD. 113 THE EBSOLUTIONS. "J. M. Eountree, Esq., then read the following as the resolu- tions which had been adopted, and were submitted to the meet- ing for its action. They were unanimously adopted on motion of the Mayor: " In view of the appreciation the citizens of Chicago have always entertained for enterprises which tend to the development of the resources of the country, and to our power, wealth, and unity as a people, rendering us consolidated at home and the special objects of admiration abroad, we recognize in the construction and open- ing of the Union Pacific Eailroad another great achievement, re- flecting vast credit upon the American people, binding together by, we trust, indissoluble bonds, the hitherto widely separated districts and peoples, outlets for central wealth, avenues for new enterprise, and another great artery through which shall flow boundless wealth and prosperity to our city. Therefore, be it "Resolved, That the city of Chicago does hereby tender to the Managers of the Union Pacific Eailroad, and the excursionists who have celebrated the formal opening of that road, its most cordial and hearty welcome. "Resolved, That we esteem the projection and prospective com- pletion of the Union Pacific Eailroad, a matter of vital interest to our city, securing to us the most direct, cheapest and conven- ient mode of transit from one section to another across our vast continent, rendering Chicago the most prominent point on their great line of communication from seaboard to seaboard, and the principal entrepot of ever increasing and multiform products of the vast region which this national highway traverses. "Resolved, That, in the name and in behalf of the citizens of Chicago, we cordially endorse and heartily support the action of the National Legislature, which has loaned the public credit to aid private capital and enterprise in building the gigantic work of national utility and necessity ; and we hope and trust the same public spirit which has actuated Congress in behalf of the Union 114 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. Pacific Railway will be exhibited to aid the proposed improve- ment of tlie inter-State water way-from the Mississippi to the At- lantic seaboard, believing that such pecuniary assistance will be repaid to the Government one hundred fold in the development of material naval and military resources of our country. '' Hesolved, That our thanks are due and are hereby tendered to the proprietors and managers of this signal enterprise, assuring them of our highest appreciation of its magnitude, and for the skill, boldness, and ability which projected, and the marvellous rapidity with which it is being carried forward to completion." REPLY OP HON. 0. A. LAMBARD. Mayor Eice — I will call now upon one of these men who are engaged in this noble national work, and in doing so I again oiFer them the hearty welcome of the people of Chicago. I call upon the Hon. Charles A. Lambard, of Boston, one of the Directors of the Pacific Railroad. Mr. Lambaed spoke as follows : "As a Director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, I feel bound to say one word to you in response to this cordial welcome, for Mr. Durant, our Vice-President, who is kept away from us by sickness. In his behalf, then, and in behalf of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, let me thank you for this kind recep- tion. Let me return thanks here in a public manner for the many kindnesses we have received in the West. Wherever we have been we have received the greatest kindness and the most lavish hospitality from all your citizens. Indeed, sir, the devices and ingenuity with which they have insured our comfort, safety, and happiness over these long lines of railroad, have excited the ad- miration and wonder of our friends. No men educated in a country less magnificent in resources or less expansive and liberal in influence, could conceive or do more for stranger friends ; no men less learned in nature's learning could have devised the mise en scene we have so thankfully beheld, and so successfully carried out a plan to develop it. In regard to this subject, XINION PACIFIO RAILEOAD. 115 and in relation to the great enterprise which we have been more than seven hundred miles west of your city to celebrate its partial completion, I wiU say, it is. an enterprise more grand in its con- ception than any which has yet been completed or conjectured. I do not propose to make any very serious remarks in behalf of the excursionists, but let me say they never will forget your city of Chicago, and the Chicago and Northwjestern Railroad Company, and its gentlemanly officers ; we wiU never forget the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. They wJU never forget you, Pullman, and you, Kinsley. (Great applause.) These excur- sionists, Mr. Mayor, consisting, as they do, of gentlemen from almost every State of the Union, men of all professions, men hold- ing high positions in the gift of the Government, men and women of judgment, will carry back to their homes new ideas of the greatness and the magnificence of this section of our country. Such excursions cannot but be beneficial in their influence upon ns all. Let me again, sir, thank you for these pleasant hospital- ities, and give way to other speakers." SPEECH OP HON. B. P. WADE. The Chairman then introduced Honorable B. F. Wade of Ohio, as a gentleman who had seen the country over which the party had travelled and would tell them what he thought about it. Mr. Wade, on being introduced to the audience was received with loud and long continued applause, and upon its subsidence spoke as follows : "Mb. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen: — " I feel entirely inadequate to express to this assemblage the feelings which I entertain upon the subject under consideration. I have looked over the map of the whole country for a good many years, and at an early period of my study of the geography of our country and its history I was impressed deeply with the importance of this location, Chicago — and about thirty-two years ago I visited this city, or the site where the city now stands, for 116 WESTEBN mCIDENTS. at that period there was no city here — there were a few rude buildings, and some gentlemen, attracted by the looation and prospective importance of the place, interested in its future building up, and, like myself, believing it might grow into a great city. I attended, I recollect, a court here at that time, but there were hardly any inhabitants and very little to do in the court. I cannot describe the condition of this place at that time. I have been over the city to-day, and endeavored to recollect the sites where the important transactions were, even where the Court House stood ; but I am entirely unable now to form any definite opinion where the place was, and so of all the rest of the city. We have all heard of the wonderful and amazing growth of this city ; of the great, bold enterprise of its inhabitants — the whole country is deeply impressed with these sentiments, but, sir, it takes the presentation of the reality before us to enable us to understand the full power of your operations here. [Applause.] I have been amazed to-day, as I passed through your thorough- fares and viewed the wonderful progress that has been made in that short period. I believe that to-day you constitute a city, third in point of population, and first, I may say, in point of enterprise, upon this continent — [applause] — and I doubt whether you yourselves understand tbe full importance of the position on this continent which you occupy. I am sure, sir, until I passed through this excursion, I had really no conception of the importance of this point, Chicago, and, what is still more important, of the vastness and richness of the great country that lies west of you, and which is bound to contribute in the future, so much to build up the second, if not the first city upon this continent. [Applause.] I have always been a strenuous advo- cate for a railway communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I have never doubted that it was a political as well as a commercial necessity, without which I do not believe that our great and glorious republic could be amplified and grow to its full dimensions. I have always been willing, as a member of the National Legislature, to do almost anything that XJNION PAOrPIC EAILROAD. 117 would encourage our enterprising men to engage in this gi-eat enterprise — so great, sir, that the minds of our most courageous capitalists were almost appalled at its magnitude; and its importance was still greater than its magnitude. But, I have been over the ground, and as I passed over it, sir, looking out of the car windows and endeavoring to view every acre of the ground we passed, of the most fertile character I have ever seen, I have realized that there was nothing in the East that at all compares with it. Its capabilities exceed the imagination of any man, and we can hardly arrive by our imaginations to the importance of this great and fertile country, when it shall be covered with a dense and enterprising population, and all those fertile acres culti- vated, even as the land is now cultivated in the Eastern States, and the whole of its agricultural wealth is to find its outlet through this great city. [Applause.] And that, sir, is only the commencement of it. Its agricultural wealth and productions are nothing compared to the mineral wealth lying hidden now in the mountains of that region. Why, sir, to speak of the political necessity, some men have talked about the disunion of these States. I never was one who believed in that, because I have never seen where the Almighty had erected a barrier sufficient to divide our nation into parts. [Applause.] You may look to the Gulf of Mexico, and to all our extreme southern boundary; you may traverse that line up to Canada, and oven there you will find no adequate boundary. [Great applause. ] You may go west from the Atlantic Ocean, traversing these vast fertile plains over which we travelled, and you will find no place for an-international boundary line. No secessionist nor disunionist can go over the ground and designate the line where disunion could possibly take place. [Applause.] I never believed the thing possible, and with a genial people, homogeneous in all their sentiments, their habits, their education, all, as it were, one family, for any man to suppose that there is anything that can finally rend them asunder, is utterly preposterous. I mean to the crest of the Rocky Mountains, for there, in my judgment, is the only place where 118 WESTERN INCIDENTS. any separation could by any possibility take place. And when I contemplate that and see that vast region beyond, rich as the other in agricultural capabilities, and infinitely richer in the material wealth, and peopled too by the same class of people, still, sir, I might fear that ambition might conceive the idea that beyond the Rocky Mountaius, on the Pacific coast, a great and prosperous nation, separate from us, might be built up, and when I contemplate that, sir, I think I see the necessity of intimate connections with that people by commerce, by social relations, and all those ties that bind nations ^together. [Applause.] Not believing that there is any danger of such a thing, for, for the honor of that great people over there be it said, they have given us no intimation that there is any design to separate themselves from the rising and prospective glories of this great republic. [Applause. J But, sir, it is a dictate of prudence politically to cultivate the most intimate relations with that people, and use every facility for connecting ourselves most closely with them. How, sir, should this be done ? Man's ingenuity has invented no other way except the all-efflcient instrumentality of the railway. And that is sufficient to bind nations together this day infinitely stronger than the people of the old time were capable of. Therefore, sir, I do honor to all those who, either through patriotism or the far- reaching knowledge of their own interests, are taking in hand to expend their capital, their thought, and their labor on this great enterprise. And as we proceeded west over those vast plains, and found what the energy of those men had done, it filled our minds with the greatest degree of admiration. As the gentleman who preceded me has said, there was no man among us whose heart did not warm toward the men who engaged their fortunes in this great enterprise. They have prosecuted it with an energy that astonished me, whether it did others or not. I had no idea that this road was creeping along with such facility toward its western termination ; and when I saw it 1 felt glad that all the votes I have ever given in Congress, having any connection with this gi-eat enterprise, have been to aid it. [Applause.] I labored UNION PACIFIC BAILBOAD. 119 to have it done, long before it was. There was a time pre- ceding the war — for this great work has been in contemplation for a good many years — that we fought this thing persistently, but without success ; we could not get it through Congress. We sent out surveyors to prospect and estimate the cost of the differ- ent roads through the Rocky Mountains and on to the Pacific coast, and they reported that it would cost a hundred millions of dollars to establish this road there, and men thought this sum so great that no nation could afford to engage in the enterprise. You all know the arguments used in Congress against it. It was extrava- gant, it was enormous, it would bankrupt the nation to under- take it, yet a private company of individuals, aided a little by the Government, have gone on and rendered it not only possible, but have, in a great measure, accomplished the work. [Applause.] As the gentleman who preceded me stated, we traversed the road seven hundred miles west of this place, into the very heart and centre of the continent, and there we found them going on almost as fast as man could walk. Indeed I did not know at one time if we should be able to get to the end of it, for I will say that they are prosecuting it with an unabated energy, and with a unity of purpose that is perfectly amazing. Every workman knows his place — every one is as busy as he can be — the work goes per- ceptibly on while you stand there viewing it ; and, sir, this is most honorable to those gentlemen who have this great work in charge. I tell you that five years will not elapse before you may take the cars here and go to San Francisco in four days. [Ap- plause.] And then think of the developments of that great coun- try which will be disclosed. How is it now, sir, in your Eocky Mountain region, a region so remote and so little known, that ten years ago, I recollect, in Congress, when we undertook to divide it up into Territories, we were puzzled most of all to fix the boundaries, because we did not know where they would run, and, if you look in our work you will find that we have bounded them on the west "by the crest of the Eocky Mountains, wherever that might be." We knew not if there was any gold or other minerals 120 WESTEEN INCIDENTS. worth looking after there. These, however, the energy and enterprise of our age have disclosed, and the question now is, how shall the wealth of those regions be developed for the advantage of the nation and the benefit of the world at large ? I will say one thing here, by way of digression, that there are those who look upon the public debt consequent upon this work with great apprehension, bul such gentlemen have not been of these excur- sionists. [Applause.] They have not looked to the amazing resources of this Government, agricultural, mineral, and other- wise. Now, just think for one moment what amounts of gold and silver have been dug out of these mountains under all the disadvantages of having no great mode of communication, when men had to drag their heavy and ponderous instruments for getting out these minerals over thousands of miles of untracked territory, and yet, sir, they have dug out those precious metals by hundreds of millions. Now, think of the vast chain of moun- tains, extending from the north of Mexico to the remotest north, running through this great Republic from end to end, and all full of these precious metals, and think when this railway shall be accomplished there, when these great and ponderous instruments .so necessary to develop those minerals, shall be taken there by the speed of the railway, and that great mineral region shall be exposed to the enterprise of the American people everywhere with such ease and facility — where the workmen may be fed by rail- way communication — where all their wants can be so easily supplied — imagine, if you can, the immense wealth that will be developed almost instantly when the railway reaches those re- gions, and then doubt, if you can, the ability of this na- tion to encounter any debt whatever. [Applause.] And another thing occurs to me that I have no doubt will take place the moment this great thoroughfare reaches the Pacific Ocean ; the whole course of trade and commerce wUl be changed by which all nations, ancient and modern, have sought the great and rich countries of the East. China and India will be reached in one-half, nay one-third the time we reach them UNION PAOmC EAILBOAD. 121 now, and they will find — for self-interest governs all these things, whatever the pride of nations may dictate — it will not divert the course of trade from its easiest channels, and when you have diverted the course of trade through our republic, all that Europe uses of the spices, teas, and silks of the East will come through this channel, here by you, the people of Chicago. [Applause.J I tell you, sir, and I say to this company, you have a right to be proud of what you have done, for you are revolu- tionizing the commerce of the world. I do not know that any man can now form a judgment of the exceeding importance of this great work ; but I am glad, sir, that it has fallen to my lot to support it before the nation, to give my voice and influence in its behalf. [Applause.] I am glad, sir, that it stands recorded there that, through good report and through evil report, I stood by this as I stand by all those great thoroughfares that connect the interests of this great republic with one another. The gentleman alluded to that great international work, the water communication between here and the East, almost as important as the other, and worthy the enterprising people of Chicago to bring before the public, and I trust they will have the intelligence and the power to impress its importance on the whole people of the United States, so that that work shall go hand in hand with the other, and finally be accomplished. [Applause.] Therefore, again I say to you that the importance of this location transcends probably what most men think of it. If you are not to be the first city of this continent, you will never have but two rivals — San Francisco, on the Pacific, may contend the palm of greatness with you, and New York has got to run fast to get out of your way. [Laughter and applause.] You may deem that an extrav- agant expression, but recollect that New York city had to struggle for one hundred and fifty years before she had the popu- lation and wealth that you have to-day. Look at her history, and then at all this you have made up since 1 visited this, then bar- ren spot, thirty-two years ago, and certainly neither your intel- ligence nor your enterprise are slow to perceive the great advan- 6 122 WESTEEN rNCIDENTS. tages of your location ; and what I have seen to-day convinces me that you vi^ill not be slovi^ to appropriate all the advantages you possess. No people of this country have more of intelligence, more of enterprise, more of the American Yankee go-ahead- ativeness than the people of Chicago. [Applause.] I say again, there are but two cities on this continent that can compete with you and your posterity for the palm of greatness. " And now, as to the excursion. I have said before, and I re- peat it here, that it was on the most comprehensive scale of mag- nificence that I have ever seen. The Company have stopped at nothing that would promote our happiness or bring within our grasp all the intelligence we could possibly acquire on this subject. They stopped at nothing, and there is not a member of that ex- cursion party who would not admit the perfect organization that was brought about by the managers of the excursion. It was thoroughly organized — and, traversing this continent more than fif- teen hundred miles, having to use diiFerent modes of conveyance, transporting this great company from one point to another with- out the least confusion or the least delay, was a work that re- quired brains as well as generosity. Their arrangements were all perfect, and the enjoyment of the excursionists was as great as it was possible that it could be made by all that human ingenuity could give, and I believe there is not a man among them but feels to-day, in his heart, gratitude for the opportunities it gave him to be acquainted with our great country. Here I may also say, sir, that we took away out there, among the Pawnees, and brought face to face with barbarism, almost the entire instrumentalities of our highest civilization. We had there a printing-press ; a morning paper was printed in the Platte Valley, beyond the hun- dreth meridian, and while the Pawnees were dancing their wild dances, the printers were working off a description of the scene. The spectacle was a novel and a gratifying one, and I doubt if, in the history of these times, which amaze and surprise men, there has been anything more surprising than took place on those re- mote plains. With the printing-press we had the telegraph, that UNION PACIFIC BAILBOAD. 123 we might in a moment communicate with our friends at home from that distant region among the yells of the aborigines. For one, I enjoyed it more than I can express, and my gratitude to the gentlemen who invited me to participate in this great occa- sion is greater than I can express. To the people of Chicago, to the Mayor of the city and its officials generally, I also wish to re- turn my most sincere thanks for their abundant hospitalities. They have done all to promote our pleasure, and make interesting this great excursion, that men could do. " I am thankful that I am enabled to return my thanks thus publicly to aU who have contributed to our enjoyment, and with this . expression will detain you no longer, as there are to follow me gentlemen who are much better able to describe the scenes through which we have passed. They will now address you." Senator Wade was followed by Mr. J. 0. Dora, tlie President of the Chicago Board of Trade ; Colonel A. W. Johnson, of Maine ; Colonel J. "H. Howe, Solicitor of the Northwestern Eailway ; Lord Airlie, of England ; Hon. S. S. Hayes, of Chicago ; Hon. B. M. Boyer, of Penn.; the Marqtiis of Chambrun, of France ; Hon. J. "W. Patter- son, U. S. Senator from New Hampshire ; General J. H. Simpson, and others, all of whom spoke most enthusias- tically of the excursion, and also of the Great West, from which they were now reluctantly returning. GENERAL SIMPSON'S LETTER FROM NORTH PLATTE. The following letter, copied from the Washington Chronide, signed " Westward, Ho !" was written by Gen. J. H. Simpson, U. S. Engineers, and President of the Board of Commissioners, appointed by the President of the United States to examine and report, for his accept- ance or rejection, completed portions of the Union Pacific Eaikoad, 124 WESTEEN rNOIDENTS. The name of General Simpson is also very honorably identified with some of the most important surveys that have been made across the continent, by order of the Gov- ernment, for railroads, wagon roads, and military posts. It wiU be found to contain much valuable information respecting the character and progress of the work ; and it is inserted here by permission of General Simpson, for the purpose of affording the latest reUable information upon that subject, as well as a complete and official refu- tation of the slanderous articles recently published in St. Louis and other papers, which are evidently hostile to this road, with reference to the manner in which it has thus far been constructed : — NoETH Platte Station, Union Pacific RAn,BOAD, } Nebraska, December 2itJi, 1866. ! Editor of the Washington Chronicle : — I address you from this station on the world's great highway, the Union Pacific Railroad. The distance from Omaha is two hundred and ninety-three miles, and it is short of the west end of the com- pleted track twelve miles, making the total number of mUes of track in running condition, west from Omaha, three hundred and five miles. When we consider that two hundred and sixty miles of this road have been constructed during the present year in this out-of-the-way country, to which the iron, rolHng stock, pine lumber, and many other essen- tials of the road had to he transported from St. Louis and St. Joseph by water, on account of the raiboad connection being incomplete over Iowa, with Chicago, we are struck with amazement and delight at the boldness, enterprise, and energy with which this great undertaking has been carried forward by the Company constructing the road. A road constructed with such celerity naturally conveys the idea that it has been caused by the level character of the Platte Valley, through which it runs, and must have been accomplished at the ex- pense of the good character of the track. But one has only to traverse it, as the writer has done, to assure him that this has not been the fact. trNION PACIPIO EAUJIOAD. 125 I know no road in the country, except it may be the great railroads in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, which have been perfecting for a score or more of years, that can compare with this read ia the general good character of its embankments, cuts, ditches, station houses, water tanks, depots, round houses, machine and car- shops, and alithe other adjuncts which are essential to the construc- tion of a first class railroad. To ride over the road and through the almost limitless valley of the Platte, with a speed equal to that experienced in the great rail- roads of the States I have mentioned, is to start within you ideas of the greatness, power, and progress of our country, which you cannot get in any other way in connection with the arts of peace. The power of the Government was shown in suppressing the late rebellion against the rightful authority of the nation, but equally is it now shown in the peaceful, happy, and yet powerful manner in which it is extending its influence over this whole continent, and ultimately ex- tending the blessings of Christianity and good government over the whole world. Surely we are in the hands of an Infinite and Beneficent Power, who is making this free G-overnment a great instrument for carrying on BQs gracious purposes with regard to the ameUoration of the human race ; and is not aU this a blessing for which the whole country should be thankful. To revert to the aheady happy effect of this road in shortening dis- tances in time between remote places, the writer received a letter yes- terday, the 23d instant, post-marked Washington, December 18th, or five days from the capital of the country ; and this at the forks of the Platte, three hundred miles out on the Plains, and at the close of the wintry month of December. Surely this shows progress towards the Pacific. All along the road, where the Company has established its stations settlements are springing up rapidly ; and here, at this point whence I write, North Platte Station, where three weeks ago, there was nothing, are already some twenty buildings, including a brick engine round- house, calculated for forty engines, founded on a stone foundation, at present nearly completed for ten engines ; a water tank of beautiful proportions, as they all are along the road, kept from freezing by being warmed by a stove, also a fixture in every tank house ; a frame depot of the usual beautiful design ; a large frame hotel, nearly finished, to cost about $18,000 ; a long, spacious, movable building, belonging to 6» 126 WESTERN INCIDENTS. General Casement, and his brother, Daniel Casement, the great track- layers of the continent, calculated for a store, eating-house, and for storage purposes ; together with sundry other buildings. To this point the Company think of removing their ofEces from Omaha, and establishing it as a more convenient base for furthering their operations west. * The great idea which this Company has in its aims and objects, is to get this great highway through to California ; and it is this all-ab- sorbing purpose which gives unity in aU their operations, and has been the main spring of their hitherto unrivalled success. Already the route has been definitely fixed to Great Salt Lake, and the prox- imity to an air liae from Chicago, considering the difficulties of the route through the Black HiUs, Rocky Mountains proper, and the Wasatch Range, is a source of heartfelt gratulation. The Government Commissioners, Generals Simpson, Curtis, and Dr. White, are now here, examining the last completed section of thirty- five miles, extending from the two hundred and seventieth to the three hundred and fifth mile post west from Omaha ; and they express themselves highly pleased with the admirable manner in which the road has been built throughout. They occupy the beautiful car which was gotten up by the Quartermaster's Department, during the ate rebellion, for President Lincoln, and which first carried him when his mortal remains were borne through a weeping nation, from the capital of our country to his home at Springfield, Illinois. The Gov- ernment sold the car to this great national railroad company, and now it is used by its officers for national pin:poses in connection with the progress of this highway of the world. This main trunk is so admirably linked with the Sioux City branch, the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad branch, the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad branch, by the way of Atchison, and the Missouri Pacific branch, west from St. Louis, that all these roads should con- tinue to be fostered by the General Government. These branches give equal facilities to all parts of our common country, and every citizen, as weU as the Government, should take equal pride in encouraging Ihis greatest of all enterprises. The writer had nearly forgotten to speak of the railroad connection with the net of railroads east of Omaha, by the near completion of the Iowa branch of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. This road the writer rode over last week, from Chicago, as far as St. Johns, UNION PACIFIC RAILBOAD, 127 twenty-two miles east of Omaha, and certainly before spring, if not within a month, the connection will be complete all the way from New York to the west end of the Great Pacific Railroad. Already an Express Company has been organized, called the West- ern Transportation Company, which is in operation day and night, and transports freight within five days from this. North Platte Station, to Denver. This, again, is progress. Westwaed, Ho ! DEATH OF GENKRAL CURTIS. Major-General Samuel E. Curtis, whose name is men- tioned in the foregoing letter as one of the Government Commissioners of the Union Pacific Eailroad, died very suddenly while returning from this visit to the road. He was riding over from Omaha to Council Bluffs, in a car- riage, in company with the other two Commissioners, when he expired almost instantaneously, and was taken to the house of his friend Colonel Nutt, in Council Bluffs, a corpse. Commissioners, General Simpson and Major White, together with Col. Nutt and Major L. S. Bent, accom- panied his remains to his home in Keokuk, where they were received, and escorted to their last restiag-place, with distinguished honors. General Curtis was a civil engineer of great experience and good reputation ; an able and distinguished officer in the army during the late rebellion ; and an upright, honest man, respected and beloved by aU who knew him. He was one of the earliest advocates and promoters of the Union Pacific Baitroad, both in and out of Congress ; and lived to see more than three hundred miles of that great work completed, and accepted by the Government. 128 WESTERN XNCIDENTS. CONCLUSION. Since the occurrence of the events hereinbefore re- corded, other events have either transpired, or may be predicted with some degree of certainty, in connection with the Union Pacific Eaih"oad, to which it may not be improper to refer, in closing this somewhat prolix and desultory narrative. The Directors have fixed the location of the road over the Black TTill Eange of the Eocky Mountains, upon the route followed by our party a portion of the distance on its return trip from the Laramie Plains. After three years spent in making the most careful surveys of the Eocky Mountain Passes, extending from the sources of the South Plate, on the south, to Fort Laramie on the north, it w^s found that this route would be much more direct ; and could be built in less time, and with much lower maximum grades than any of the other routes surveyed. The route as located, leaves the valley of the South Platte, at the mouth of Lodge Pole Greek, opposite Julesburgh, and foUows up the valley of that creek about one hundred miles, when it crosses obhquely the divide between Lodge-Pole, and Crow Creeks. And thence across Crow Creek to the divide between that stream and Lone-Tree Creek, which divide it follows to the summit of the Black HiU Eange at Evans' Pass. From the stunmit it foUows down the southwesterly slope of the Black HiUs to the Laramie Plains. Beyond this nothing has been decided upon with refer- ence to the location, although several routes have been surveyed to the eastern Une of California. This location leaves Denver city about one hundred miles to the south of the maia through line of the Union UNION PACIFIC RAILBOAD. 129 Pacific Eailroad ; but a brancli road, over a very good route, may, and probably will be constructed from Den- ver and the rich mineral regions of that portion of Colo- rado, to the main line, ■within one or two years. The route through Denver and Berthoud Pass was found to be comparatively impracticable — and the Com- pany could not consistently bend the line nearer Denver, without discriminating too much against the through business of the road. The staging from the end of the track to Denver is now reduced to from thirty-six to forty hours ; and a fast freight line has been established for the transportation of freight, from the end of the track to any point in the western Territories. The track laying was suspended in December, at a point three hundred and five miles west of Omaha, on account of cold weather, and the want of materials. The gradiug is completed about fifty miles, and the ties are provided for more than one hundred miles west of that point. A sufficient quantity of iron rails has been purchased to extend the track to the Laramie river, a distance of two hundred and seventy-one miles from the end of the present track ; and if an excursion party should start for the end of the track, just one year from the time that the late excursion party left New York, it win be quite sure to make its last campiag ground as far west as the Laramie Plains. The Great connecting link has been completed from Chicago to the Missouri Eiver opposite Omaha ; and preparations are now being made to construct a bridge over the Missouri duriag the coming season ; when this is done, an.d the track of the Union Pacific Eailroad is extended to the Laramie Plains, the traveller may ride in the same car from New York city, a distance of nineteen 130 WESTBEN mOIDENTS. hmidred and sixty-seven miles, on his way westward across the Continent — and he must not be surprised if, during the year 1869, he can continue iu the same car to Great Salt Lake City, a distance of two thousand four hundred and twenty-eight miles from New York. So MOTE IT BE. mmmmmm& &MM^"t ■:^i ^■^^'i^.^^Yi^H- ■■■■ ■ -a*^