Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-06

The Great sensatIOn-TheU Union
Pacific Railroad.

American people-niore particularly aS
much has been said and acted on by way
of immigration, by the Memphis people,
during the past spring and summer. And
IS I desire TO oOnfine myself to facts
rather than poetry or soothing
compliments towards those Immediately
interested in this road, you will not at
tribute my statements to bitterness Of
spirit. -
We will start ffOm Omaha, the So
called Magic City of prosperity aud
promise, located on the west bank OF the
Missouri river, and smile adieu TO the
cozily locsted city of Council Bluffs,
which, to seek shelter from the harsh
winds and storms that sweeps along the
bluffs Of Iowa, retreated some four miles
from the river bank. Omaha, 8 primi-
tive city of the West, has now popula-
ton of, say eight thousand, looks
| healthy, if not subdued, as the fire and
fever Of last spring has died away in
its arteries, sffording opportunity for
| thought and reflection, as well as time
| to balance their accounts. Real estate
has deprecated, and ss it is the inteu-
ton to establish the depot of the road
on the Iowa side of the river It is gene
rally conceded that the future growth
OF Omaha will be consequently linn
tied. George Francis Train being
part owner of this town, il would form
subject Of debate whether his invest
ment in this or holder Of Irish Repub-
Iicsn bonds viii be most lucrative.
Many good blocks of business houses,
well filed with merchandise, give credit
to the enterprise Of its merchants, whose
faces were bright with hope while their
footsteps we're directed to the setting
sun. The attractive features of Omaha
- haor4fff,I f,s nd
valley, clothed with rare verdure, vary
ing with an occasional isolated farm,
guiltless OF tree or shrub, and hence
looked upon cOldly as q farming coun-
try.
We jump on the cars and leave this
avaricIous population, poor hotels and
deeayed vegetables, and steam along the
Union Pacific Railroad, through Nebras-
ka and the valley of the Platte, Daco-
tab Territory-an even sRmeness and
open plaius-onward, still onward, moth !
Ing attractive save q horizontal plain 1
below and clear blue sky above, varied |
by the pleasant sight of those swift |
bounding, graceful aEtelOpes, that fur |
nish much food for mOHatRineers aud !
ranchmsn. At distance of some ten /
or twelve miles are small encamp
ments OF eight or ten soldiers, q |
BAOAGItAtA " Vic A4AGA ~ LAO may
be making repairs on the road /
from the raids OF the noble Red Man" /
These squads Of soldiers are reviewed 4
daily from the steps Of the ears by an Of 1
fcsr from Omaha, who sees that all are /
present" present arms, right face, dis |
miss away We go, twenty miles an 4
hour over this wild country, the home /
proper OF the Indian, with its dry slkali /
surface.
We approach Cheyenne, and as we 1
near that % incorporated city" with its /
Tel2essee Mayor, we behold, apparently 4
near, though some forty miles distant, q /
belt Of the Rocky mountains, its peaks
and gOFges covered with snow, which il /
retains through the sEmG3er, Cf5en snow
falling in July and August. 4 cool,
sharp sEd bracing wind sweeps down
from these mountains, on the vast plains
beneath, q relief from the burning sun of
Omaha, and security from cholera aud
yellow fever. Cheyenne is 5l6 miles
from Omaha, town Of logs, boards and
tents. It's glory is fed; its name almost
forgotten. The progress of the road,
and locating Of new towns By the
Railroad Company, induce these
+" "eit.zsns ~ will say "eamp follow
ersn-to draw stake and follow up the
road, the base Of operations. Weremain
one hour at Cheyenne to wood and
water" and ascertain that sin and bad
whisky are prominent features. Thus
far no country ever afforded more level
sqFfsos for track laying, enabling the
Contractors to lay four to six miles day
the North Blatte river, q limited
stream, presenting the Sniy obstacle to
the uniformity OF the road. We leaye
Cheyenne" nameless here for ever
more "-and start for Laramie" an
other /" nsg" town of tents and broken
lumber, laid cut Oh tie Laramie plains,n
some seventy.five miles fFSrn Cheyenne.
and here commences the rougher fea-
tures of the road. This varies from the !
Platte valley by the proximity and
threatening altitude of the adjacent
mountsins-a more pefceptibls show of
snow, with lighter and more bFsclng air
aud winds. Passing through this dis
tance OF seYeBty-ive miles, cur nerves
for the first time became sgitated. a
rocky, mountainous country, if not the
Iodian, seems to question and dispute
Northern enterprise; but it is overcome
hurriedly-by scrateh.n
The road here is insecure, and would
be considered by even an irresponsible
insurance company as extra hazard
ous," and l am safe in stating, from
operatives on the road, that tiss aud rails
have been placed on snow embankments,
while at other points the track is laid or
slender bases OF broken rocks and drift
snow. But who cares foF lifs in the face
OF this marvellous enterprise. when the
pays Sl5,t00 a mile for
building on the plains, ana $50 600 a mile
when obstacles, like those described, are
to be overcome. But the work should
be we'll done? So it sheuid, and no
doubt would, did not the Government
hold out a very pernicious inducement-
one that taxes the honesty and integrity
OF even more reliable parties than those |
e.-that another company
is operating from the Pacific side with
legion If Cinnamon, and the company
that + irst strikes the central point of the
road receives the entire control of the
road,
We thank a merciful Providence that
we arrived safely at Laramie, July 9.h,
where summer clothing ls obsolete-mis-
taking the season of the yesr- looking
at ourselves with pity and hurling anath-
emas at the wrstches that creep and
crawl to the tune Of gamblers and
"eitizensn of this new, un-
country. WeTemained three DAYS
iu Laramie, awaiting transportation TO {
Benton, the newly laid out town one
hundred and ten miiee from Laramie, /
and seven hundred miles from Omaha,
and the worst located snd least inviting
Of any thus cOmpssssd.
.Cutoa frsn the land that bore as.
Betrayed by the land we # "a
Here "a 8 balloon town, made In three
hundred tents, some of cir
,us capaeify-mud houses, logs and
loards to an equal number No ice.
saov is brought from the noul.
and sold for five cents per pound.
a,hs : haulsd two miles and sold for
ne dollar pt osIse M me s.it,;ro pTy a|FeugtS
resents ss .,.ta Of Benton. Green
aanlty - - LIS sais t,on, here, will be the
ivsr' o,st tov ndnoIntDtbsnee TT = Salt Lake.
he supposed focus Of our lab eFs' Inc
mployees of the road number '~"ne
3. COO. LAST winter and spring great in- 8
ucements were echoed throughout the s.