The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-08-30
CELEBRATION OF THE UNION
The Excursion Yesterday

"a primitive mode of travel inms1ssly
fashionable in those days in this wsStsrn
country-up the Des Aoines Valley OF the
line Of the present Valley road, toward the
then unpre.en.ioas village up At Raefoon
Forks, now the growing capital of the State.
Col. Leighton, Mr.. Edward Kilbourns, J. K.
Hornish, s. Dwight Eaton. DR.. Farnam and
q gentleman from Indiana, composed the
party. 1t went on . reconnaissance it was
to spy out the land. Nothing military entered
into the enterprise, however; it was fot no
belligerent purpose. Peace and social good
and commercial and business prosperity were
to come of it. 1t was TO map out practica-
BILE route for railroad from our then unchris>
tened GATE CRY to the aforesaid village up
at the Raccoon Forks. The party went up
the river; it came back the "Ridge" route.
1t was gone thirteen days 1t couldn't have
syllable Of communication with keokuk
from the time of starting until its return.
Railroads were talked about then; but the
Senior and Junior Sineons expected to de-
part in peace without their eyes having been
favored with o sight of the glory Of the COM
ing of the Iron Horse.
Des Moines was wooden place, up toward
the North Pole, surrounded by wildness and
uncultivated country. We don't know but
that there was an Indian Wigwam where the
Savery House now stands; . crab-appls
thicket where the Reyister from its Office
disseminates light, and news, and political
righteousness and journalistic good things
unto its admiring readers. The Capitol hill
with its building, no great credit TO Hawkeye
architecture, may have been borough of
prairie dogs with its attendant owls and cop
perheads. We don't know. But the Des
Moines of then wasn't the Des Mones Of to-
day. The Register wasn't there; Dobbs was
pursuing in quiet and without notoriety the
uneven tenor of his domestic way; yielding
passive obedience to Sophronia, and never
dreaming Of oil wells. Visions Of municipal
greatness had not come upon. Des MONIES.
That trip was made. A railroad has come
of IT.
When the Company was organized it was,
we believe, as the "keekuk, Fl. Des Moines
and Minnesota Railroad Work began in
the fall of 1856; in 1867 the road was opened
to Bentonsport; in the fall of 1860 to Ot,um
Wa; and in the spring following to Eddyvine.
In 1864 it was flushed to Pella, in 1865 it was
extended to Monroe, and in this present
year of grace it brings up in Des Monies in
advance Of the time hitherto announced for
completion an almost unparalleled thing
in such enterprises.
Never has q company shown more energy,
spirit and perseverance, than have character
lied the lessees of the Valley Road Means.
WV. LEIGHTON, HIT. REID, d. w. kIIBouRNE,
and c. II. P.RRY. At standstill when they
took it; N inevitable aud chronic nom fpl.
| fllment Of Great Expecta,ions-so the pub.
| lie esteemed the road. Under their vigorous
management obstacles have been overcome !;
cavilings disproved, the work pushed forward,
sickly promise ripened into the grandest cons
summation. All honor to the Des Moines
Valley Company.
1t was representative crowd that gather
ed at the depot yesterday morning at the To-
vitation Of the Company to go on that frst
excursion to the capital of the State Tie
city Fathers were there the clergy was large
" represented; many of our professional and
business men were there. 1t wanted but Keo
kuk sladies to make the delegation complete.
they were an eminently respectable company
that went: learned, grave, digni6ed with
cultured sense of propriety, but who know
what extravagancies they may not commit
when under the influence of - enthusiasm,
and away from the ''morial'' restraining SUI
pervision OF The ladies2
Six handsome cars, one of them the ele-
CANT new car just finished by and for the Ke-
okuk L St Paul Road, composed the excuf
sion train. Master Mechanic NORRIS Sell,
ERs had decorated the engine with consum !,
mate taste. 1t was draped in flags. Upon one
side, beautifully ornamented, was the motto,
"Ihe Gate opens to the Capital;'' on The
other the motto, sd. V. r. r.; the link
that unites u.s. The services of the German
Brass Band had been secured, and their ex.
cellent music was an additional attraction to
the expedition. At the time advertised the
train started out, and went laundering up the
valley at a rapid rate; past stations it dashed
without paying its respects to the gazing
groups. The excursionists were jolly, joker
we're in order; good nature reigned, our Ger
man friends took possession of one car. and
we're determined to have a good time of id
They succeeded. So did everybody. Colo
gel LEioHros, the embodiment. of 'go>aheadat
tiveness' and efgeniahty and Courtesy as we'll.
Superintendent WILLIAMS, that prince Of
railroad men; General Ticket Agent GIvis,
the right man in the right place; and Gen,
REID, active, able and courteous, did the
honors Of the occasion and that is proof con.
elusive that they we're Admiralty done.
At Ottumwa We regretfully parted from the
company. This exacting GATE with its daily
voracioas cry OF "Give, give,' drew us back
10 other hands must the continuance of this
narration be given. The jolly crowd was on
westward in moment We could but fancy
the crowd that would welcome them nj the
- - "N~ S0eASSy VIC Gnc0fD AOu shouting
AID irrepressible publications; and eating and
toasts and speeches and liq- enthusiasm
probably all that, but We we're coming sin..
", and sadly and thank the Lord. soberlv
home again, and the excursionists were on 10
the Capital They got there safely re learn
BY despatch sitter their arrival With the
careful management Of the officer, and n.
eticiept Conductorship Of Mr.. PArcH =.
we're prepared TO hear this. We ah.ll he.
further on their return. Until then We shall
give this from the ReOister :. the probable
order Of exercises at Des Moines:
PROGRAMME.
Railroad celebration At the Cap;tal ct,
Wednesday, August 18th. 1853.
: Inc procession will be formed n the Com.
n = mA.ch 70 the Depot on the arrival
q me train, where the guests win Be rece;v-
"a oy the Mayor Of the City, anda wslcomine
sdorss delivered BY Hoa. John A. Ksssnsl
ORDER or xxsaclsxa
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