The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-08-11
BRINGING UP THE REAR.

80
was at their disposal, and plenty Of
it disposed of. A superb supper wss
served, and then not needing the
sacred hours, speeches were iudulged
till the clock spoke the hour of one,
when we departed, and once more
boarding the train pushed on fo-
Council Bluffs, where we arrived at
I next morning. Carriages and
omnibusses conveyed the party to
the Planters House, where it break
tasted, after which the carriages
were at the disposal of the party,
who made good use of them in riding
around the city. Council Bluffs is
pretty smart place, but we must
acknowledge that we were consider
ably surprised to find it not SO
boundless as real estate agents void
have Us imagine. It is, however, q
very fair Iowa town, and no. doubt
has Tho upper hand on her rival,
Omaha, in railroads, etc. About
four miles, south of the city is loca-
ted the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, or
30 much Of it rs is completed, fne
viewed from q four
mile distance, as the carriages were
not driven nearer than that circum-
scribed limit. We were also much
deceived as to the relative positions
of the two cities, Omaha and Council
Bluffs, having been under the i'm.
precision that Omaha was north of
the Bluffs. The towns are situated
precisely opposite each ether, east
and west. A level plateau extends
from the western limits of Council
Bluffs, four miles to the bank of the
Missouri. To gain tho river from
the Bluffs, it is necessary to take 4
street car, which plies from the city
to the bank. The city nestles under
huge bluffs, rich in verdure, green
and fresh in forest and glen. The
denizens Of that noted city will
pardon US if We can't enumeratc in
Imagination, for we verify
believe our own Ottumwa is
equally as populous and substan tial.
Yet Council Bluffs may have
many advantages which q sleepy
chaperon hadn't time to expose to us,
a. we rode about in stately pomp,
willing our shirt collar in twisting
about to catch glimpses Of whatever
might have been of some note. Mr..
Chapman told US in his speech, to
"tell our readers tho truth plainly
and pointedly, aud remember that
we all belong to the same State, and
that whatever tho interest OF one
commonwealth in any locality, is OF
benefit to the whole. Build up the
cities Of your own State first, and
after that it will be time enough to
write up the foreign rivals" Per-
haps the gentleman didn't under.
stand that the excursion was not o
party of dead boats, blowers and
strikers, claoquers for any particular
city, and didn't understand the calling
of their profession, or he would have
len unsaid that which would have
como with better grace from some
one outside Of Council Bluffs. We
take his advice as at first intimated
and ten the truth 10 our readers, just
as we know the facts from tho facili
ties afforded us to ascertain them
First-wc love Iowa because of hel
Fertile fields, her geographical posi-
ton; her delighsf1l climate; her in
telligence; her affection; wo Low.
every spot in Iowa, and mono tn,
less Council Bluffs, for having Q saga
cious landlord in the Planters, wht
couldn't bear to see us quietly tax,
up our fabby valise and depart
without depositing in his itching
palm three dollars for cup of th1
same sort Of coffee we heard Of in st
Joe, I tolsrAbly fair bad on just th,
first landing beneath tho twinklinl
starr; 3 slico OF steak, and littl'
more Of that Same coffee in. tho morn
ing; and twenty five cents for . bu
ride 70 the dept. That was q gran,
Aourish at the tail Of an excursion
more renowned than the visit Of tn
Empress to the harem of the Tnrkisl
Sultan, and upon pressing, tw,
months old invitation to come an,
sec our cousins too.
In the afternoon Of Monday, Capt
Bill, OF our town, and myself, took
buggy and, driving across the plazs
crossed the muddy Missouri on
steam ferry, passing en- route, th
works on the mighty bridge whicl
is to span the water opposite eac
city. OF this bridge, we must say
word: 1t is being worked up-th
piers being built by pneumatic Tilinl
Gen. VIM. T. Smith is engineering th
work. These Pneumatic piles AZ
Of hollow iron, probably half An inc
thick, and seven feet in diameter, an
ten feet long. The pieces arc joine
together by fianges, rivcted and Q,
mented as strongly as steam boiler
The men were down inside this tub
digging, which permits the tube
descend as fast as the digging pr,
crosses. At last they have struck
rock foundation, seventy-two feet b
low low water line. 1t is stupel
duous work, and, undoubtedly, mi
lions of money, and as many pount
of brains will be expended in its cor
Ipletion.
| Touching our feet on Nebrasli
soil, we felt like as though We wei
launching upon grounds disputed b
! roughs and spectators, but our live
imag aginings were quickly set at res
when We entered the mouth Of Ma
street, and slowly drove along
Ilensth, to witness the systeIa, enc
| gy and enterprise displayed on ,
hands, iE the city Of Omaha. III
founders OF this city did not NAL
! the error commonly committed in Il
west, Of laying out narrow streets
! this one is one hundred and twen
feet wi4s between curbs-the paw