The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-09-02

Que0t repooooo01o8vo III. WlDoo ~ 49,
eat and hsar hin spaa 'sNy Pslieyn ald ~
political situation. Let every body coshs. =
CELEBRATION A. DEs noEIns.
Aiier long years :of patient Watching and
waiting on he pass q he people Il Do Yah
ley, end Of snceasing lsbof aad untiring sesl
By those connected With the enterprise, ~
iron horse, With its attendant traiq, rolls into
the capitol city of Iowa The 'Gsae opens
TO the Cspitol,p and the Gais and CApsos
cities of this great State are =. length con-
neetsd by ianumes.ble ties and iron hands
Truly this s an occasion for much re>
io;cins and jubilation. Many hearts
are male glad nov that they have been
permitted to witness their hopes ripen into
glorious CONSERVATION. Especially i this
the case with those, who through much trial
and circulation, have been indom'tApie IN
their efforts to forward the work TO IL sue
cessful completion. Il is finished. Inc
erest work, in spite of all obstacles,
achieved and those OF Des MONIES, Who Tor
years have been anxiously listening for the
sbrill sound or the locomotive to awaken the
echoes throughout the great Wiley, have been
eratifsd, and are ready TO say "Letus depart
in peace since we have witnessed its COM
NJ"
At three O. clock on Wednesday time
appointed for its arrival-the shrill scream OF
the locomotive resounded for the 6ut time
throughout the Valley, and was echoed back
BY the booming of cannon A. the FIRST train
entered Des Moines. 1t was met and vel.
coined BY an immense soncourse of the clti-
zens Of Polk and adjoining counties, whose
numbers were estimated by some to be not
less than twenty thousand. Old and young.
| male and female weret there. Aged men whose
hairs were whitened by the frosts OF many win
tiers, sndwho had never before seen the" iron
steed' with resounding wheels; young
men, whose lives had been spent in the mids.
of prsiries, Who had heard Of it. coming.
talked Of its coming, and wondered what
manner OF spirit II was; women, bowed down
by a lifetime of cares and sorrows, and who
had expected to be carried to their graves ere
the glory of the arrival: maidens, with the
first flush of beauty on their cheeks, gazing
on-they knew not what-all these were
there, TO greet and welcome the iron horse
and its living freight, with cheers and sccla.
nations of JOY.
There were some three hundred Of the ex
cursionists ana they were welcomed in .
pleasing speech BY Hon. J. A. kassen, 70
which response was made by Mayor Patter.
son Of this city. Col Leighton was thsn call
ed for and spoke at some length, giving short
history of the road from the commencement
and ef4he obstacles which had been overcome
befors its completion. He was followed BY
Geo. B. Smythe, President Of the road, who
spoke briefly and to the point. Gen. Rod
| followed in few brief and pleasing remarks.
DR.. ard.ley. of the Hork-Eye, responded
TO a call and spoke Of the generous ri>
valry existing between the cities Of Iowa.
E. H. Stiles, of Otutmwa, and Col. Gillespie
of the same plsce-shs latter gentlems n be-
ing, as Dixon expressed it, ''the heaviest
man in the crowd" also spoke briefly Tho
closing speech was made by Judge Wright
and was one of his happiest efforts. He
heartily welcomed everybody to the capital,
and kept the vast audience 10 . continual
roar
After the speaking three rousing cheers
were giving to Superintendent Williams and
| the officers Of the Des Moinss Valley Road.
Wheuthe excursionists were conducted to
the coaches, of which there was large num-
her in atten dance, and conveyed to the WEST
side Of the river, where ample provisions had
bees made for oil their wants at that best Of
botels the Slavery House whose accommodating
and generous landlord with his efficient and
gentlemanly clerk done the agreeable in .
most complete and satisfactory manner.
Supper over the guests sailed forth ID view
the city and gain some idea if possible Of its
extent and learn Of its peculiar attractions
and advantages, many Of which they presumed
it must possess, after such greeting q they
had received from its inhabitants,
nor were they disappointed, for each and
every one returned delighted with all they
saw and, fully convinced that the capital Of
this great State was located in the right place.
As was published yesterday, the exercises
OF the day closed with grand complimentary
chop At the Slavery" and another at the
',Demoine. The evening was spent 10 trip
ping the eight fantastic toe, to the sound Of
excellent music and having good time"
aboul~Aown aud not until the ives anna
hosrs" did ali the "guests" seek that repose
which their exhausted frames required.
The forenoon of tina following day yesterday
was spent by the excursionists in sEsight
SEEING doing 10 the city" and discussing
the proceedings of the day previous. A. II
o clock the gong sounded and We were re.
called With 3 samrtuous repast such IS only
nine host So very can furnish; which finished
We slowly wended our vsy towards
the Depot, rgretting that the time w.s SO
nearly approaching when we should say fare>
we'll to Des Moines. and its hospitable and
generous citizens At the Depot vas . large
crowd, only exceeded in number BY tho one
OF the day before, to witness our departure.
~ AS1~ NJ SouaCt tue OCt AtuB5s ob0 suS
train moves slowly from the Depot amid the
cheers and farewells Of the company. Thus
ended the celebration At the capitol. The
return trip waa without incident Of note.
We tssk supper y Otumva. viii thst prince
Of casersrs, P. G. Bsliingall, At the Depot
Hotel, Who outdid even himself and his
justly earned repatAtiou, the day before in
providing the eaiirs party nth an elegant
lunch, and 70 him ars they ill indebted tor
other and numerous hvoru, Of which We shall
speak moro fully hereafter. Here too We
parted With our Burlington friends, but not
without regret for they had added mpch 70
the enjoyment, ssd especially were We in
debted to our friend A. g. Adams, for Z
ceaseless fow of humor which kept their car
| in eeoutinual roar At 9 O'Clock - started