Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-12-03
LATEST NEWS

O0AhA3 NJ - Lee. 4.
The President Of the ,. ). having fixed
the initial point OF this great National
Highway, the officers OF the corporation
determined upon the Second OF December q
. day for the inauguration enterprise BY
formally breaking ground on the vest bank
o! tie Missouri river, ia front Of this city.
Telegrams announcing this fact was re-
ceived at IN early hour this morning.
Two o'clock P. n. was fxed upon a. the
hour for commencement Of ceremonies. At
the appointed time at least thousand per-
sons had assembled upon the ground.
Gov. Saunders, Of Nebraska, Mayor and
Council, citizens of Omaha and Council
Bluffs, and various distinguished strangers
were among those present.
At 3 O'Clock the roar OF artillery and
shouts Of the assembled multitude filled
the air. The engineer Of the road, assisted
by several gentlemen with picks in hand,
commenced the work. Gov. Saunders, Au.
gustus kountz, one director and Mayors OF
Omaha and Council Bluffs soon after pro-
ceeded to remoye the earth amid cheers and
rejoicings Of the people. The ceremonies
being concluded, Gov. Saunders briefly adj
dressed the assemblage in substance as fol.
lows:
sin meeting to open the grandest work
ever commenced by man, nothing less than
banding with iron the Atlantic to the Pa
cfic; opening q thoronghfare for all na-
tons exchanging gold, produce, teas and
silks, emphaticsily making it the highway
Of the world. This work is not one OF fancy
out reality. Great masses Of this Union
have taken hold and resolved the work this
day commenced shall be rapidly pushed to
completion"
He concluded BY reading the subjoined
telegram from the President Of the United
States. which was received with great ap.
plause:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsHINeroN,
December lst, 1868.
To General Dig
GENERAL: l have not been permitted
until to day to present to the President
your communication Of the 23d November.
lie directs me to express his deep regrets
that his illness will prevent him from CIV
ing expression to the profound interest he
feels in the success Of q work so vast and
beneficial as that which you are about to
lnaugurate. / have the honor to be your
obeditnt servant,
Jso. Hay,
Asst. Private Secretary.
George Fra,icis Train, and various other
gentlemen were called upon and addressed
the people briefly.
Dispatches were received from various
distinguished gentlemen. The following
were among the telgraphic dispatches read
to the large assembly:
New York, Dec /.
To Committee Of arrangements, Union Pacific
X. X. Co.:
Your kind note inviting me to attend the
ceremony of breaking ground for the Union
| Pacific railroad, in Nebraska, has inst been
| received. For the first time, as think,
| -ince the foundation Of the Government,
the foreign relations Of the country occupy
the attention of this department so con
stantly that its head is often obliged to
forego customary good offices and courtesit 8
toward loyal citizens who are engaged in
| Dc veioping the resources of the country
and establishing its domestic interests. For
this reason, can reply to your invitation
only very hastily and very briefly. OI
| course cannot go to Nebraska, and there
tore | must decline. With your brave
help and that Of your armed companions
% sea and land hope we shall soon pu'
| down this wretched and wicked insurrec.
tion against the Union. With the help Of
our capitalists aud our free and loyal la.
boring men, the Union Pacific railroad can
and trust will be, extended to the Pacific
| Ocean. When this shall have been done
| disunon will be rendered forever afterwards
impossible. There will be no fulcrum fol
the lever OF treason to rest upon.
Truthfully yours,
WIN. II. SEWARD.
ST.. NICHOLAS HOTEL, N. Y, Dec l.
To Bloj. Gen. Jao. H. Dir, President Union
Pacific r. K. Co.,:
SIR: / have regarded the enterprise o
buildng:the Union Pacific r. r. as OF the Ut
most national Importance. While inCcngrest
whenever opportunity offered, urged it.
necessity and it is with peculiar pleasure
that | learn that the building of the
road, SO long delayed, is to become verify
When complete it will be an enduring
Of the country for firmly uniting the two
extremes of the nation and rendering then
! indissoluble for all time to come.
lam, respectfully yours,
| RICHARD YATES.
MAYoR's OFFICE, N. Y, Dec. l.
To Committee of arrangements, Union Pacif.
r. r. Co.:
May this, the greatest work ever pro-
jectcd in any ago or country: prove last
ing bond of political and commercial union
between the Atlantic and Pacific States.
Very respectfully, your ob'd't servant,
GEO. OPDrKE, Mayor.
| New YORK, Dec. l.
10 Committee Of arrangements, Union Pacific
r. r.
The honor of inaugurating the creates,
enterprise of the age is this day yours
| With the aid Of the Government and of ouI
patriotic people, the work is to be pushed
vigorously forward, and the day we cele'
| brate the completion Of the road from the
| Missouri river to the Pacific Ocean is nearer
at hand than our most sanguinary friend.
anticipate.
Very respectfully you're,
| THos q. DuMoNr,
| Vice President.
New York, Dec. l.
To Committe of arrangements, Union Pacif.
r. r.
The Inauguration Of tho U. P. r. r., the
greatest enterprise on the Western Hemis
phere, whether considered 10 reference t
its commercial importance or its ihfiuenct
az band Of union, is to be pushed on Il
completion, WITH all the rapidity which &
command Of nesns will permit, and | con
graduate those who are to be present a,
the breaking of he ground on carly ccm
meucement CT the work.
JOHN a DIX.
A cannon on the Nebraska shore was res
pc nded to by salvos from the lowe side Q
the river.
The proceedings OF the day was conclud
ed by greand banquet and tall at thu