The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-03-18

From the Chicago Democratic Press, Feb. "a.
Opening Of the Chicago and Rock Island Rail-
road,

road.
On Wednesday morning. the 22d inst. at 81
O'Clock. the Mayor and Common Council of the
city of Chicago and a number of citizens. in all
about tw o hundred and fifty. left the depot Of
the ROCK Island road, in a train of six splendid
passenger cars from the mandatory of A. B.
Stone Il Co. of this city. for an excursion to
Rock Island. in honor of the completion of the
road. The day was one of the most delightful
OF the season. and the genial sunshine and the
exhileratlng atmosphere chimed in we'll with
the exultant spirit which sparkled in the eve
and shone IN the countenance of every one of
that goOdly company. The train was tasteful
y ornamented with flags and evergreens, and
its arrival at the different towns along the line
was greeted with the shouts of the people and
the firing OF cannon. AtJOilet, Norris Ottawa
Lasalle. Peru, Tiskilwa, Genesee, Moline, and
other places, accessions were made to our num-
Der, and when the train arrived at Rock Island
there could not have been less than three hun
dred and fifty persons On it.
The reception at Rock Island was magnif-
cent spectacle. Thousands of people lined the
streets and crowded the doors and windows.
FAR ladies waved their kcrchiefs and stout men
and youths shouted exultingly, while ever and
anon the thunder Of Col. Swift's guns went
booming across the Mississippi, arOusing the
echoes from the majestic biuffs. 1t was glo-
rlous day for Rock Island and for her neighbor-
ing city across the river. The citizens of fthose
places had looked forward to it for wears some
OF them with fear and trembling lest their ewes
should not behold it. Hundreds ofpeople from
the contiguous country, both in Illinois and
Iowa, mad come in to witness the scene and to
mlngle their shouts and congratulations with
their city neighbors. Delegations were there
from most of the river towns from Dubuaue to
st. Louis, and some had come from the far inte-
rior towns ofIowa, for they knew that the arri-
val of the iron horse upon the banks ofthe Mis-
sllsIppl was but an earnest of his speedily ap-
pearing beyond it, aud stretching away on his
destined course toward the Pacific We think
we are not above the mark in estimating the
number present on the arrival of the train at
from five to six thousand persons.
On leaving the cars. the company were escor-
ted into the depot buildings by Messrs. NJ B..
Osborn and A. K. Philleo, members of the com
mittee oil arrangements. where most bountiful
repast was spread. Here they were welcomed
in neat and eloquent address by J. J. Boards
ley. Esq, on the part of the city ofROck Island
after which the viands were discussed. At the
conclusion of the dinner, Col. n. B. Buford, Pres
ldent of the day. called the vast assembly to
order and proceeded to read the following reg
ular toasts:
l. The 22d Of Fe5rudry--The birthday OF our coun.
try's Father, GEORGE wAsHINaroN.s
2. The 22d of Fet uary, 1s5l.-The espousel day of
vandal hand ever break the connexion.
3. Thcprcjecto7s Of the e. & R. /. Raihoad-Thc.r
hearts rejoice in what their eyes behold. What
ceved in weakness is this da, brought strength.
4. Aiessrs. FGrnhGm ShcDfcl9 the builders Of the
c. g. X. RaitroaG-1hcy have demonstrated by their
nieliy and enterprise that corporation have soul.
In their march 10 the Pacific the blessings
States left behind will follow them
8. The r. !. and LGsaIIe RoiToCd--it never met
death but translated.
6. The President and nirec:o,s of the C. & R.I.H
R--One star may diner from another glory. but
~ M and
cason.
7. The State of Inyis--
s. The State of Iowa.
g. Chicago and the intermediate cities on the c. & r.
1. Railroad
10. Davenport, sister ciy--IIer l:berality and
promptness in aid of common enterprise prove gen.
erosity and magnanimity know locality May nothing
but our noble river divide Us.
IL. The Press the Telegraph and the Steam Engine
The three levers which the of modern civil
lzatou.
II. guests--If our houses are not roomv euousb
to receive them our hearts are full.
l3. The Future--
These sentiments were responded to in an el-
oquent manner by Gov. Bebb, Messrs. J. J.
Beardsley, Henry Farnham, W. Bracket 2.
MaHYeIi, Churchill Cotfing W. Duane Wilson,
Judge K. 5. Wilson, A. Corbin, Jr., and Others
The speeches were highly appropriate to the
occasion, and elicted, throughout. enthusiastic
applause from the vast concourse. While these
things were transpsing within, grand specta-
Gle was witnessed without.-The two cities of
Rock Island and Davenport were most beauti-
fuiy illuminated. The windows of stores, pri-
vate residences, and public buildings were lit
up on both sides of the river, and the lights re-
f1ected back from the bosom of the Mississippi
We're indefinitely multiplied, the whole presen-
ting scene cfimpcsing grandeur After the
reading of the regular tOasts a large portion of
the company headed by the Moline brass band
marched in procession through the principal
streets OF the city. Others remained in the de-