New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-27

Health-Esj Gen. Dodge-MsJo U D.
Wheston-Geo. Frsneis Train.
Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune
HKEsDoS House,
OMAHA, n. T., Jan. III, 1906.
As stranger in the West, have been much
interested in the long journey from New England
to this Western or central city of the continent,
and now give you my impressions of this embryo
Chicago, and surrounding country.
OMAHA is finely situated on the wea bank OF the
Missouri River, and as site for great city cannot
be surpassed. The thousands Of acres of bottom
lands on the banks of the Unexpectedly level
give an excellent opportunity for the erection OF
depot buildings, wharves, warehouses, &C.; and
the biut rising with gentle ascent to the table land
on the plateau above, extends with beautiful rolling
prairie tor twenty miles from the river comprising as
good SOIL from three TO six feet as car be found In the
world and beyond this the beautiful Platte Valley, a
region Of country which IT would take volune to de.
scribe, which is continent in itself unsurpassed in the
world for agricultural purposes and being fast settled
by the hardy emigrants who seek frontier life. The
soil produces In the greatest abundance with very little
labor when once the ground is broken. Grapes grow
spontaneously and can be easily and probably culti'
waited, and II has been demonstrated that the finest
fruit such apples aud peers can be made to produce
in the greatest profusion and of the very best quality
Vegetables of all kinds produced in the greatest
abundance, miles Of corn fields meet the eye and the
best Of wheat is grown Tho greatest lack Is timber
but even this want being supplied from the fact that
much more is found in the country than was at first
supposed As soon as the projected railroads are CON-
peted coal can be brought here very nearly IL not quite
as cheap as IT can be to Philadelphia aud beside such
A. .o;I tIokN raaa from no
seed-tbe cotton wood and locustcan be produced in
five or six years for fuel at much cheaper rate than
timber lands in the East be cleared and prepared
for the pow do not think that there is any State or
Territory which is better adapted to the wants Of the
emigrant Of all classes than this. Mechanical labor
is in great demand carpenters, brickmakers masons
taors and in fact all the trades together with aborers
all descriptions find plenty Of employment at re-
muneratiye prices.
For the farmer there Is place with better pros.
poets in the world. The great drawback in the West
in agricultural pursuits is the want of ready market
for the product Of. the SOIL but here all that be
raised is sold immediately and at prices for most ari
cles higher than IN the East The market for Omaha
and surrounding country is Vest There are already in
the mining districts 100000 settlers and there would
be many more If they could subSist there. who draw
their supplies from this direction Capt Hooper Of the
steamer Colorado, who has long been engaged in
freighting the river, informs that Illinois alone
supplies this point with at least 100000 bushels Of
grain annually which is brought across the State OF
Missouri from st. Joseph. or up the river from st.
Louis and to different points along the river His line
alone brought 100000 bushels last year. Now it ia
very apparent that taking into account the great cost OF
sportation that grain could be raised much cheaper
here and also that this would be the great producing
country that IT, together with the Platte Valley, to
supply the mountainous and mining districts Of the
North. West. Colorado DAKOTA, Montana. Utah and
Idaho must, at least for many years be dependent
upon this section for supplies. No intelligent farmer
could come out here and not grow rich. There is one
branch Of agriculture which almost forget to mention
that of the grasses. They ore mine OF wealth here
Z. Creighton. esq., President Of the National Bank.
showed me an island on which he kept 100 cattle,
and on these boundess prares hundreds of thousands
may be fed and fatened with only the expense Of herd
ing. Fortunes are made in this business.
BUsIHEss--BowKy BROTHERS CHICAGO.
The business of this place is very considerable The
Hern6on House is fine brick structure. capable Of &C.
commodatiug about $50 guests, and there are many
others Of smaller proportions. There Is National
Bank doir q large business with deposits amounting
to s500O 600 and another 10 in contemplation. There is
large trade here with the surrounding country and
also with the surrounding districts, as the miners
leave here annually large amount OF gold dust
Firms in the grocery line do business Of $500 900 an
nually and other houses in proportion. wholesale
boot aud shoe dealer told that his business averaged
o. 900 per day. and he had but Just commenced. One
of the most enterprising and weay firms Of Chicago
Messrs. Bowen Brothers have recently purchased lot
and win build warehouse here in the Spring in the
meantime occupying stores under the Herndon House
do not believe that any business either commercial or
mechapical can be started here that will not yield
large profit to those having the and enterprise
to locate themselves here.
SOCIAL LrFE-HoMEs.
Nothing has surprised me more than the society Of
this city. did not expectto find many Of the refine
ments ard delicaces OF the East In this Western bor
der, but am most agrceaby disappointed. Ihaye in
common with many gentlemen soourning In this city,
in connection with the railroad or the army, been FIRE.
ouently invited to the homes Of many Of the best ct
zens and find that in even the luxuries OF life and
certainly social status they compare favoraby with
any of our Eastern cities. The people proverbsy
hosptable and they carry out their Hospitality with
refinement taste and deleacy that woud do honor to
any community.
COL SEYMOUR AND THE COMMISSIONERS UNION
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
This magnificent enterprise 10 being pushed forward
with resstless energy. The Vice President and man.
ager Of the road T. C. Durap esq., Is at present here
and his presence gives powerful impetus to the work
He sees no obstacles fears no difficulties laughs at im
possibilities and thoroughly to understand every
portion Of the work. not on general principles but in
detail attending to the smallest matters as well as to
the weghtier ones and ia, with this Winter weather
pushing the road ct the rate OF half mile per day and