The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-10-24
Correspondence of The Cecil Wing
correspondents OF thu NVNII :" Ut
LETTER FROM OMAHA.


That which makes Omaha city, and
without which it would be an insignificant
frontier town, is the Union Pacific Railroad.
This great railroad, starting west from here,
now carries passengers more than eight
hundred and fifty miles. Three years ago
it was begun, and has been pushed forward
with rapidity heretofore unknown to rail-
road enterprise. AS many as five miles OF
track per day have been laid this summer
in the gorges of the Black Hills. Now the
summit of the mountains has been passed by
the locomotive, and its ad-lights have
flashed down the western decline of the ever
lasting hills. Such quick construction has
not only excited the admiration, but the
WONDER of the country. Ten years was the
contemplated period of construction; but
now the fall of 1869 will see the continent
linked with iron bands. The profits OF the
incomplete road have already more than
paid the interest on the cost, and it Is a rea-
sonable superstition that when the whole
grand line is open the profits will be i'm
mense. With prospects before it such as
no other road has, it is a matter of course
that its bonds should be favorite invest
ment That the road will be success and
pay large dividends, no man in this part of
the country doubts for moment.
The shops of the Pacific Railroad located
in OMAHA on the banks of the Missouri
river, surpass in size any thing west of Chi
cago. They give employment to about one
thousand men, and are run night and day.
In them are constructed nearly everything
pertaining to o railroad, except locomotives
and railroad iron. Next year large build
ings will be put up to manufacture locomo-
tives all in use now were purchased at the
East. These shops, in few years, will be
the largest in the country. The contract for
the large iron bridge across the Missouri
was let few weeks ago at million and
half of dollars. The bridge is expected to
be completed next year, when it will proba-
bly, be one of the finest structures in the
country. 1t will connect Iowa with Ne
braska, and all teams from the East and
South will pass over it to Omaha.
Although built so rapidly, the road has
been SO well constructed as to excite the
admiration of railroad men from the East.
Several delegations of Eastern railroad men
have been to the end of the track this sea-
son, and all united in saying that the road
is built and equipped in the very best man,
ner The officers are men of great energy
and of the highest capacity. In short, the
Union Pacific Railroad is the greatest enter
prise of the century and will revolutionize
the trade of the g far Cathay.'
During the present season Omaha has
greatly increased in population and size
The stories sent East of its decline can best
be answered as follows 1T is estimated
that six hundred new buildings have been
erected this year. Many of these were ele-
CANT residences and large brick stores
Many more would have been bnilt but for
the lack of materials and mechanics. I'm
p, ovements, it is agreed on all hands, will
he much more extensive next year than the
present. The increase of population has
been very rapid probably as great as fifty
per cent. Last year the number of inhabl-
tants by count was fifteen thousand: this
year the number of voters registered to vote
is thirty five hundred, almost as many as the
entire number in Cecil county. If the same
proportion exists here OF voters to popula-
ton as with you, then Omaha has twenty
five thousand inhabitants. Let this state
ment answer all stories of the citys decline.
Since wrote my first letter, understand
that some parties in Elkton are DESTROYS of
coming to Omaha to better their fortunes.
To all of these simply say these few words.
If you want to come to young city and
grow up with it and be here when it grows
larger than St. Louis, and think that will
be to your advantage, then come. But
don't come unless you have the money to
pay high rents, high board, large expenses,
and can afford, and have the patience, to
wait for the city growth and your eventual
prosperity. But no one should come with
out sufficient money, and energy and pa
tience to wait for the city's growth; for it
will not do to merely set foot on Nebraska
soil and expect money to flow into the
pockets almost without work. There Is
competition here Of the fercest character.
s. p.