The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-09-05
Correspondence OF The Cecil Wing.
LETTER FROM OMAHA.

OMAHA, Aug. 21st, 1868.
Away to the westward of Maryland fifteen
hundred miles, and up the Missouri River from
St. Louis eight hundred miles, lays the young
city of Omaha. The name is derived from n
tribe of Indians who formerly possessed this
splendid country around. but who are now
almost extinct The word is pronounced in the
Indian dialect, O-ma,e- haw, but by the white
people here, O-maw-han. The remnants of this
formerly powerful tribe are now seen only beg
ging through the streets, and are living pictures
of the curse of whisky. They live in a few
tents outside the city liuits, and all the men are
provided with papers certifying that they arc
famous warriors and honest Indians. This is
supposed to be recommendation to the charita-
Bile. One Indian, to whom l once gave ten
cents, regularly sulutes me with the title of " Big
chief. Good. How" and then shakes hands
with due formaity. Those having ssuaws and
papooscs take them along on begging excur-
must have n gift also. The Indians are cor
daily hated by the old settlers, and seldom get
any filvors from them.
Omaha is beautifully situated upon the west
side of the Missouri River, and is the natural
site of large city. 1t is built upon bluff,
and when the traveller approaches it from the
east it presents a splendid appearance. Laying
high up above the river, it can be seen long
way off, and looks larger than it really is. 1t
is nearly thousand feet above the sea level,
and being so far inland its air is lighter, rarer,
and purer than that of Maryland. Lung
diseases are almost unknown and there is none
of that penetrating dampness 50 common i'll the
east. Its climate is really delicious, and not to
be appreciated till fairly tried This hot sum-
mer weather, while the eastern papers complain
of uncomfortable days and sleepless nights, we
enjoy the daily south wind and repose under
blankets every night. This south wind over
the western praires is something curious TO the
stranger 1t comes whence he least expects it,
and feels the reverse of what he fears. 1t usually
springs up about the middle of the afternoon,
and blows strongly till midnight. 1t is cool,
soft, dry and refreshing. But for it the heat
would probably be very oppressive.
Omaha has now from sixteen to twenty thous-
and permanent inhabitants, and is rapidly grow
ing. Last year six hundred new houses were
built. This year the number will be considcra-
bly, less, owing to the subsistence of speculation
though not enough to supply the wants of the
people. Rents are enormously high, and living
proportionately SO. Property which in Elkton
would hardly rent for one hundred dollars a
year, rents here for that amount month; and
the old citizens say that rents have fallen Won
derfully.
The city was founded just fourteen years ago.
At that date the Indian title was extinguished,
and town laid off in squares like Philadelphia.
1t had caprcious existence, however, till about
three years since, when the Pacific Railroad
made Omaha its starting point. Then it gave
Il great bound forward and sprang into busy
place at once. Every body rushed here who
could get the money to carry them thinking all
that was necessary was merely to get fairly
landed and money would flow in upon them
abundantly. OF course there have been many
failures; many have been ruined, gone away
and written dismal accounts of Omaha's de-
cline. The story of its decline is not true, as
all may judge by a visit to this delightful place.
When sharpers and adventures fail, it is not
strange that they should blame the locality of
their failure rather than themselves All the
stories published in the eastern papers of
Omaha's decline" probably came from these
men. Omaha was never SO prosperous as now.
There never was as much real business done as
at present, and there were nover'so many oppor-
tics for competent, honest, and industrious
MI. ts money oft small capital as at
men to Ma. "turSs every kind are needed
present. Manula> nay the original invest
and would bountifullyl IL. are such that
ment, Omaha's advantages '"ted if it
every one here will be greatly disappo'-- ="
does not number fifty thousand people III te--
wears. Everything to the old citizen warrants
This belief. The location, the climate, the SOIL
the en,erprise the facilities for making COM
potency all invite population. 1t Will DO ''''
Chicago of the Missouri valley
Rv reason of these words let no man come
be,e who is not producer of wealth Consuh
49,, merely-the men of the professions anu
"a. s-tind little to do; their occupations are
No But to the man of material forces, he
work out wealth by his own toll from na'"le'
oa,.ho offers an inviting home. Tbs is lne
country of the future. The seat OF the w''in > ;
future empire lays in these splendid Valleys u
the Mississippi and Missouri Hore is land l0r
W. W. richer than any poor Maryland farmer
a.. dreamed Of. and inselaHstlble' Come
ever slime, for Nebraska invites you: p r
while it 4.