Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-08-17
FROM OMAHA.
OMAHA, NEB August 8, 1870

OMAHA, NEB, August 5, 1870
FRIEND KEYEs i have been told by
! friends, whose opinions / respect highly,
that Omaha has seen its best days That
there are SO many roads and so many com
peting towns starting up that in short
time Omaha would be left in the back
ground entirely. 1t is now five months
since came here, and | must think that
these trends are mistaken in their views,
and l wish in a few words to say why
think So In the rst place Omaha is sit
uated right at the gateway between the
East and West, and must remain in that
position Just notice The Railroads ter
minating here from the East One leading
from Sioux City, the Northwestern railroad,
the Rock Island, the Burlington and Mis-
souri,, and the ST Joe; and still another
projected and will be built from st. Louis,
shortening the distance between that point
and Cheyenne via Omaha over 100 miles
less than by tn % way of Denver So we
viii have six roads making this their ter
minus from the East On the west of US
we have the u P r. R.; we have the South
Western; as is name indicates running in
n Southwest direction already to the Platte
River, and in short time it will make con-
nection with the B. & NJ. r r. which ex-
tends as far as Lincoln in that direction
There we have the Northwestern, which
viii be completed as far as Blair this season.
We are situated as | look at it, very much
ike an old fashioned hour glass, Omaha
being in the small part, through which all
iie sands must pass.
At present large force are at work up
IN the railroad bridge at this point across
Missouri River, which is tculy giant I'M
dortaking. The piers are made of immense
ron tubes, 81 feet in diameter, one and a
half inches in thickness, sunk down through
the quick sand to the rock below, which is
about rs feet. These large tubes are then
iIled with cement and stone and made
perfectly solid. 1t is expected to have this
part of the work completed this fail, and the
coming winter put on the bridge and have
the whole completed for next years business
What Omaha needs are manufacturers Of
nearly all kinds started here at once to sup
ply these Western States and territories,
which are springing up so rapidly. The
Common Council, short time since, voted
bonus of $50, 900 IN city bonds to Com
pany who would engage in the making Of
Agricultural implements here, to continue
for five years and to employ one hundred
and fifty hands. Another project is talked
of good deal, and that is for capitalists
to engage in sweltering silver ore, which is
now passing through here in large quanti-
ties to New Jersey, and then worked up at
very great profit These are part of the
projects talked of but there is no end to the
wants of this city in the line Of manufac-
turing. Everything that is needed in any
community can be made with profit here,
and ready market found shortly in this
rapidly rising and growing country.
Now submit if have not made my case
clear for Omaha. If not I will add that
our trade extends wit little OF no inter
ruption to towns and cities hundreds and
thousands Of miles away back in the noun
tains where they dig for gold and hunt for
furs. O. K COE.