Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-07-06
Letter from Joe.
OMAHA, NEB.. June %, 1869
OMAHA ETC.

2:2O, P. NJ, and arrived here about
f:3O this A. M. To get on to the Pa
eific r. K. by rail everybody 6as to
come to this point. From Chicago
there are two "Pacific +" routes
the Chicago and Northwestern, and |
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific |
routes-the latter just completed to |
this place. or rather opposite, at |
Council Bluffs. There are merely
preliminaries arranged for a bridge
across the "Big Muddy" at this
place, so that year or two must
elapse before connection is made by
rail to the Bay of Frisco. 1t de-
wolves upon the east-side companies
to build the bridge, because it seems
agin natur for anybody to build
eastward in this country. This
Missouri River is disgusting ditch
Of yellow water-so impregnated
with sand that, as Tom Benton said,
I" is too thick to SWIM in and too
thin to walk on" 1t dom. look half
as wide, or as big either, as it did
the first time saw it, neither does
the Mississippi-that more respect
able of the two water-courses, more
useful than ornamental. ! look back
ON the scenery OF the Columbia with
much pride-I think, that is Gods
own river, if it is in Webfoot. There
is little variety OF landscape in the
prairie country. As we near the
Missouri, coming west, there is a
broad belt. of very rolling or bluffy
country, otherwise, the entire region
between Chicago and Omaha is very
same-like. The intense mating of
vegetation oVerspreadiDg the Missis-
sippi Valley just now, however, is
good for sore eyes-no need of green
spectacles to save your sight from
the reflection of alkali flats in this
broad section of Gods country"
Omaha is located on the first bench,
which looks as though it had been
formed by the wind wbistling down
a valley from the northwest and
across the point, which leaves the
city badly exposed. There is a nice
protecting bluff or bench bending
round IRON the west TO the south or
river below. Any one acquainted
with this windy country in the Win
ter time, will understand :; the cork
screw jaw-breakers on top of War
Eagle are toys compared to these
biting blasts. This city claims a
population of $4,000, and also that
it is holding its own, but | doubt
the statement just about ten per CT,
with odds on the "bear." George
Francis Train bulled /" it up to its
present status, and then turned his
hor ms against ]. B. in the interest
OF the FiBnigans. There is an under
current prevailing in this same city
of magnificent prospect that one can
understand best BY circulating about
| the suburbs among the mechanics,
laborers. etc. Since the railroads
quit building race, Omaha. has
"slowed down." according to all
hands. who are by no means certain
OF its ever getting such a head of
steam on again. 1t can never be a
second Chicago, but will call it the
Sacramento of this side the Rocky
range. There is splendid back
| ground 70 this location for the CAPT
toll building, private residences, etc.,
of which there. are many tasty and
costly. Away on to the eastward
under the sharp ridge or wall rising
out of the level river bottom, Is
| Council Bluffs, Boosting OF 10000
| inhabitants and continued prosper
| ity, but it is too far from the river
| nnd panha 10 nunr hold a candle 10