The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-12
SANTEE Agency, NEBRASKA, !
july %, 1869. I
inuc of tie UiSnntch :

TO Mc Editors Of the Dispatch:
As many of your readers arc well ac-
ouainted with the agent at this place, have
thought some account OF the country
through which we passed in coming out,
and also of the Indians and missionaries
We found here, might not be uninteresting
to them. We commenced our journey from
Harper's Ferry the 2lst Of May, spent
one day in Richmond, Ind, and a part Of
day in Chicago, where we visited many
places Of interest. We had beautiful
view Of the lake. There is a railroad
bridge three miles in length running
parallel with Michigan avenue and short
distance from it. The city authorities re-
fused TO have it on land, because the ave-
nue. was built up with handsome resi-
dcnccs, and the smoke and dust Of the en-
zine would be very annoying 10 the citi-
zens. We passed through the river tunnel,
which is 1870 feet in length, reaching from
shore to shore beneath the Wabash river,
and in returning we crossed the same river
on a draw-bridge.
We visited the water works at the tcrmi-
nus of the Lake tunnel, from which the
city is supplied with water. The machinery
is very fine.
We left Chicago al 3 P. NJ, crossed the
Mississippi at Clinton ut P. NJ. 1t being
cloudy we had not so fine Il view of the river
as we otherwise would have had. We ar
rived at Council Bluffs about P. NJ. on the
Goth, found omnibusscs there waiting to
convey passengers to the boat and across
the river to Omaha. We drove into large
ferry boat, in which were already several
loaded wagons and omnibusses. When VIC
arrived in Omaha it was raining quite fast,
and continued to rain all the morning. The
next morning was cool and damp, and the
soil, which is remarkably black, seemed
worked up into q mire, as is usually the
case at such times, the streets not being
paved. Steps are, however, being taken to
have the principal streets paved. As we
looked into the street from our boarding
house we decided that Omaha was Il very
gloomy, insignificant place; but before sun
down the ground was hard and dry, so that
we walked up on the hill, where we could
have fine view of the city and river,
which caused us to change our opinion
| The sun was just setting, the crimson clouds
were hanging above the horizon, while the
Missouri river spread out before us with
three steamers sailing down its course. Tho
Bluffs rose majestically beyond, presenting
a grand and picturesque appearance. The
town lay before US, showing it to be q much
larger and prettier place than we had be-
fore imagined. 1t has one strcet-car pass
ing through the principal business parts OF
the town.
Finding our goods had not arrived we
went out to Elkhorn station on the Union
Pacific Railroad, twentyeight miles west Of
Omaha. We were very much pleased with
this section of the country. 1t consists o!
vast rolling prairies rising gradually one
above the other as far as the eye can reach
We had fine views of the valleys Of the
Platte and Elkhorn rivers. The soil here
is, very rich. There is but little timber
except cottonwood but many persons arc
setting out groves of oak, maple, walnut
chestnut, &c., and it is said they grow much
more rapidly than they do in the East. The
principal drawback to this country seems t
be that it is not so well watered as it is il
Virginia, yet it compares fayorably in this
respect with many and perhaps most of the
Western States.
We left Elkhorn the 18th of the sixth
! mOillll ANU Cullt dCIOSS lHc GUILTY. ~
miles, in little spring-wagon, arriving
here on the goth. We were very much
pleased with the country through which VIZ
passed, yet there was feeling Of loneli
ness as we rode for hours without seeing q
house or human being, and this feeling
was greatly enhanced by coming to two
roads leading far apart over the prairies
not knowing which to take, and there being
no one near to give the desired information
But knowing our course, and by watching the
sun, we got along without going far astray
and several times as we were going along
with some doubts in our minds as to whether
VIC were in the right road or not, we were
favored to meet some one, or as we ascended
hill and looked beyond in the valley be-
low we were cheered by the sight of a
house.
We did not go more than mile or two
out Of our way at any time. Sometimes
we found our host and hostess to be Vir-
ginians, who were glad to meet with cold
lirpi ne ~ n6 nvnrywhnra ,ro mat with