, 1863-03-14
Opening OF The Cedar Hsapids
and Missouri River Railroad
to MEorkhaIltO1yn.

~ 1ueso"1 HoliAIe ana cTenlng trains On
the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, to
celebrate, on Wednesday evening, the opening
OF the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Rail-
road to MarshalltoWn, on the Iowa Riyer-two
hundred and ctghty-two miles west Of this
city. The President Of tie Galcna and Chi
cago Union Railroad, Hon. William q. Brown,
seyernl Of the Directors, Mr.. Secretary Lar
sabee, and E. B. Talcott, Esq, the indrfati-
gable Superintendent Of the road, accompa-
MED the party, and We need scarcely add,
that nothing WAS wanting on their part to Sc.
cure the highest possible enjoyment Of the
company. Judging from the unanimous
opinion Of the party, their efforts were entire
ly successful.
On leaving Clinton onWednesdsy morn
Ing, the first train contained eight cars en-.
tircly filled, and the party, after enjoying
comfortable dinner ut Cedar Rapids, with
plenty Of time to do 1t Justice, arrived at Mar
ehalltown at haEpast four. The entire town
and country, old men and 1natrons, lads and
lasses, seemed to hare turned out to give us u
light cordial Western welcome. The band
discoursed stirring music, the welkin rang
With huxzas, and unbounded joy beamed from
every conntenance. Some little anxiety vas
at first felt as to how so large crowd was to
be cared form town only ten years old from
its very inception, hundred and lfty-two
miles west Of the Mississippi. All doubt en-
that score was soon happily dispe1led, and all
the more grateful was the snmptuous hospi-
tality Of the good people Of Marshal1town,
that 1t was SO quietly attained. The commit
tee had been through the cars, and all were
promptly assigned to the home Of some one,
where hearty good cheer aud the greetings Of
the household made each guest sure that he
had the advantage over all his fellows. On
The return trip the generous hospitality Of
the citizens Of that thriving town was the
theme of frequent aud complimentary remark.
In the evening at halfpast seven, citizens
and guests met at the Court House, when His
Honor, Judge Woodbury. was called to pre-.
side, and several vice presidents and secre-
taries we're appointed. The President, after
few happy remarks, called on the Rev. L. II.
Loss to open the exercises with prayer,
which duty tho reverend gentleman performed
In o very appropriate manner. An excel
lent speech Of welcome to the guests was then
made by H. c. Henderson, Esq, Of Marshall
town. In referring to the history Of the
couaty, he said that seventeen years ago it did
not contain q single white inhabitant. Now
it Las seven thousand, and Marshalltown laid
out on the open prairie only ten years ago,
| now Inns population Of fifteen hundred.
Hon. William II. Brown, President Of the
Galena Railroad, replied on the part of the
guests, and after appropriately responding to
the cordisl welcome that had been extended
to us, gave most interesting account Of the
rise md progress Of railroads in this country,
and showed their immense importance in dc.
vcloping our resources, adding 10 our wealth,
and promoting the social, intellectual and
moral welfare Of the people,
| Mr.. Brosa of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE was
next called. He referred to the rapidity with
which this generation was making history
ofmost absorbing interest, one that would
be read with glowing emotions BY every lover
Of flibcrty to the end Of time. In the contest
that was now going on to saye the Govern,
ment bcqueathed to us by our fathers from de
struction By rebels and traitors with the in.
stinc's Of fiends, none had done nobler ser.
vice than the brave SONS Of Iowa. The hero.
ism Of the Iowa First at Wilson's Creek, and
the deeds Of daring and death OF the Iowa boys,
standing shoulder to shoulder with their
brethren Of Illinois, and other Western regi.
meuts, on every battlefield in the Mississippi
Valley, would form one Of the brightest pages
by the speech Of The honorable gentleman
who preceded him, that we we're celebrating
d peaceful triumph The paragraph in his.
tory which We were making tonight, would
record another important movement in the
physical progress Of the West. We were to
rejoice in what had already been accomplish.
ed, but never to cease our efforts till this road
was completed 10 the Pacific, and new and
enlarged facilities were obtained for the tran
sit Of our immense surplus products to tht
ocean. lie referred to the interest which
Iowa had in the enlargement Of the. Eri'
Canal, and the opening Of new routes through
Canada. Corn could not now be shippe,
from Marshalltown On account of the 11gl
frcights; but If it could be poured from til
car, loaded in Central Iowa directly into tn
hold Of 4 vessel Of thousand tons burthen
the case would be quite different.
Hon. Charles Walker was then called AMI
gave a very interesting acconnt n thc =, Il,
ctror4s of h,msc1f md ossoc;,tas n ardas :.
build the Galcua railroad He o1so sno,.o -
tie vast commercial nrogrcss og t,,e 1vest :,
which. our readers need mt bc to1d ,,n h.
.1ways taken an act;yc and a 1c,i7;ng n,tt
Appropriate speeches were also made b.
Peter pape esnl- nnd Hon NJ E.rr~ =
1r,;c, N uha, +lo o1o-;,,e. a,an.sa
h,e1,,v ;nterast;rg .na- auns;nsr 49, - -.
nedc bv NJ uendo-eo. - Ms ] ~.
1hon +1,a ,,,n,,;n,r ~ " s.o" s,.s
'au e1SlH'n
ing in the Nitching mazes of the dance.
Of Marsha11tovn We hare M roon ~ cno,,
; nj 1ensth. ITS s;tuatcd m a bich and ho,n
tiful rolling pratrie. ycfy near thc ecorr,ph,
J cal center ofIoga. The vicw In al1 i7,rect;on
might well enchaIn the attention Of thc mos
. accomplished artist, The county of which ;
is the shire town, Is one of the richest nm,
most inviting in the State. It is yarieo,te
with delightful groves and hiph rolling nr,,
rics Of the richest soil. at the basc of rh,c1
springs Of The brst water ,ro. fonnd in ,,,rn
dance, It is cetain1g. in a11 reanects ona =
The most productive. and in al resnacts ~,
of tbe verv hest nort,ons ~ +ho ,f;se,.,,1,.
vo11ov 1@'A'7I'7'pp
vos.a~aa<~ ~o,,. ,a a.. .-.:
o,,oet. ~, rot,..aas - Ass ss,, .,sn ~ ~,
th.;rt.;- 60, ~, "''
Iowa visited onr c,tv md "a 49, s aa,,, :, -
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