The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-22
OMAHA, Nebraska, Sept. Is


Editorial Correspondence.
Leaving Kansas, of whose people,
soil, climate, and wonderful develop
ment so much more might be said
than l have so imperfectly in my hur-
ried notes, we pass along up the Mis-
souri, Valley, crossing the river, to the
east bank, at Leavenworth. Going
through Weston, in sight Of Atchi-
son. and near to the old site OF Sum-
ner, now deserted, we are reminded
of the border pro.slaYery war and
bleeding Kansas " of 1854 and '55.
An interesting letter might be written
on this broad rich valley between St.
Joseph and Council Bluffs, but the
approaching hour for the de-
parture of the train for the
Rock Mountains, the Sierra Ne
vadas, and the Pacific prevents. But
it would be an objectionable indignity
to the Great West not to pay our re-
spects to Omaha. We were yesterday
morning emptied from the train at
Council Bluffs in the midst of a rain,
which was the continuance of two
days storm, and our entrance through
the almost fathomless mud of the Mis-
souri, bottoms, across the river, and
up into this young metropolis of the
Net0 West, as B0Wles, of the Spring
field Republican, terms it, was by no
means a cheerful or favorable one.
But through the mists and occasional
OR rT0rfapI or
abled to see the place, talk with a
number of its leading citizens, and
meet old friends who had wandered
off to this rising city.
Omaha is just now somewhat under
a cloud-not the rain storm of the
past few days-but, it may be, tran
sition of commercial prosperity. For
the past three or four years, up to the
completion of the Union Pacific Rail-
road, its progress was rapid, business
was very brisk, and the town appeared
on the high road to prosperity and
metropolitan Importance. But the
Road is completed, the work is stop
ped, fat contracts are at an end, the
large disbursement Of money has
ceased, and the swarm of workmen,
spectators, and camp followers is
thinning out and passing away. The
large expectations of business upon
the completion of the Road to the
Pacific are not being realized. And
the general complaint of dull times
is heard and apparent on all sides.
The citizens of this place are begin
ming to examine the foundation upon
which they have built and to inquire
whether 1t is to be a permanent one.
1t is becoming quite evident that the
completion of the Pacific Railroad
of itself will not force Omaha into
the position of large city,
But, from what / have seen and
heard since | have been here, / be.
Iieve her people can and will steadily
build up permanent trade and real
ize much of the expectations so en-
Enthusiastically INDUCED in twelve
months ago. If they do not it will be
their own fault.
For beauty of situation Omaha is
excelled by few cities In the country.
The view from the old Capitol is one
of the most charming In the West.
And the men of wealth and enter
prise have done much to improve the
location. [ should place the popula-
llO0 At aUOub IMO tIAl 10 NAese " -
ansville, say from eighteen to twenty
thousand, and yet the number and
character of the fine residences scat
tered over the hill sides are greatly
superior to ours. These numerous
aud attractive houses give evidence OF
much wealth, taste and social refine
ment.
Another Of the best evidences of
enterprise and progress is the daily
press of the city, which are large. full
of news, and have every evidence of
prosperity and enterprise. The Re
publican, whose name indicates its
politics, is we'll supported bv the
business men and by the CITY and
State patronage, Is ably edited and
full Of life. The Herald, under
the editorial control of DR.. George
l.. Miller, is the ablest Democratic
paper in the Missouri Valley, and is
one of the best Rel1S papers west OF
the Mississippi. Newspapers don't
flourish In a decaying town, or In a
community devoid of enterprise and
liberality.
One who traversed the streets yes.
terday would have been very forcibly
impressed with the great need of i'm.
proved streets, and yet this city is nc
worse off than was Evansville ter