The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-14
MAIL FROM CALIFORNIA BY THE OVER
LAND MAIL.
ITS RECEPTION AT ST. LOUIS
OVATION To MIR BuTTERFIELp.
prom Tho s. Louis Republican, Oct. lO.l

From the s. Louis Republican Oct lol
great feat is accomplished What has hitherto been
regarded as visionary and speculative enterprise has
been established beyond oil doubt and st. Louis and San
Francisco have been brought within twenty four days
travel of each other, stage line, and route which
will admit of easier and safer travel than did the trip
from st. Louis TO Philadelphia thirty years ago
Mr. Bailey, agent Of the Post Office Department, we
believe, the only passenger who through last
night, the others having stopped at Springfield from
fatigue. Mr.. Bailey, being called out by gentlemen who
had assembled at the Planters House. the occasion
gave briebu interesting history of his trip The great
difficulty in the way the want Of water In Of
the deserts but this remedied to very considerable
extent by the foresight OF the company in sending water
forward for the Of the animals The company has
than two hundred stations the road. Mr. Bailey
believes that all the difficulties which attended this trip
will be overcome in short time, and he proclaims the
whole enterprise ia perfect success The Indians gave
them no trouble.
AS a matter Of course the reception of tho news by
telegraph from Jefferson City, that the overland mail
with Mr. Butterield, who had been chiefly instrumental
in putting it into successful operation would arrive in the
city by the Pacific railroad created very considerable feel
ing 1t was at determined that fitting reception
should be given to Mr.. Buttcred and before o. clock
large number of our most respectable citizens had
sembled for that purpose
The procession formed in front Of the Planters
House last evening at o'clock, headed by the ST. Louis
Silver Band, in Arnots band wagon, drawn by six
horses and proceeded to the depot of tho Pacific railroad
On the arrival OF the train at little before clock Mr.
mittec and large Of citizens present. by John
r. Darby, esq, who said
SIR On behalf of the committee and the citizens of
ST. Louis, extend to you hearty congatulation on
the achievement of an undertaking worthy the genius
and perseverance of an American Applause You
have demonstrated to the nation the practicabity Of
bringing communications from San Francisco to the cen
tire Of the valley of the Mississippi in the wonderfully
short space of twenty days. and for the accomplish
men of which you deserve the thanks and gratitude
tho whole American people We have experienced for
years the difficulty Of communicating with brethren
the shores of the Pacific and for ten years have been
striving for means which would obyiate those difficulties
and bring in closer contact You, sir, have
psicd that object by your interchangeable cxertions and
secured result desirable and ught with 30 many
blessings that you entitled to the warmest gratitude
of the American people. You, sir have inauguratcd q
system which, though yet in the ncpent stages of its
operation Is Of paramount importance in the results
which 1t will in social, POLITICAL and mercantile
points of view the same time illustrative of the tran
scendence of American SKILL enterprise and untiring
perseverance, In conclusion let again return to you
our most hearty thanks and congratulations your
noble achievement
In reply Mr. Buterfeld expressed the emotions which
filed his heart at this demonstration of the good will and
appreciation of his ellowczens and said they not
tho less Pleasurable by being unexpected He regarded
it as the happicst moment Of bis e in view of the fact
that he had accomplished object which had SO long
been desired by the citizens of St. Louis and had
ceived their hearty approval for his labor.
Great difficulties had lain in the way but what obsa
Giles, he continued cannot be srmounted by American
enterprise [Appause He had entered upon the work
with determination to succeed and by the help Of his
assistants whom he complnentcd very highly had
cccded But the operations yet imperfect, this
being the first trial For the next six years thirty thou
sand miles of mail travelling will be accomplished every
day. Nations had taken hold of great works. but had
not reported An Atlantic telegraph had been laid il
was true but the overland mail ahead of the sub
marine lightning at last, and had reported Applause
He thanked the people and the committee for their
dial welcome, and concluded amid continued applause.
Upon leaving the depot the carriages proceeded to the
starting point on Fourth street. preceded by the band
chariot and, passing around Pine did not draw up until
they reached the post Office, when the mail turned
to the proper officials Some extra bags containing
the San Francisco Evening Bulletin the special edition
Of the Alta California, and other papers, retained
and put out at the hotel Here they opened and
the papers handed round to the assembled spectators
who read them with great apparent interest The Alta
California most in demand, it spored fine special
head of By the Overland Mail " and an imposing picture
of mail coach with four horses In full gallop 1t WINS
weekly edition. and bore evidence of the most commend
able enterprise on the part of its publishers