Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1870-02-24

First Ground Broken Yesterday
Immense Crowd and much Enthusi-
asm--SpeAehes by Gen. Morgan,
Gen. Prentiss, Col. Richardson,
President Savage and others.
Fronl.the Quincy Wing of February 18th, 1870
Monday marked bright day in the
history of Quincy's progress and en-
terprise, it being the occasion of break
ing the first ground upon the line of
the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Rail-
road road which is destined to give
our city an impetus that will be felt
for all time to come, and place it upon
the highway to greatness; a road
which will pour into the graneries and
manufactures of Quincy the increas-
ing wealth of the Far West and bless
our city with the untold productions
of ten thousand fields; a road, in
short which contemplates nothing less
than spanning this mighty continent
and opening the golden gates of Cali
fornia 70 our peOple-this is the road
we celebrate.
At abOut2 O'clock yesterday after
noon, the ferry boat, Rosa Taylor,
loaded down to the guards with an en-
thusiastic company, steamed from our
levee across to the Missouri shore,
landing few rods below the railroad
bridge Those composing her passen-
gers, some two or three hundred in
number, were among our most influ-
tial business managers, solid men of
the city and capitalists. Arriving at
West Quincy, few minutes walk
brought us to the place where work
upon the road was to be inaugurated-
being at the junction Of the Palmyra,
branch of the H. & st. Joe. II. r.,
with the NJ. q NJ. A. l.. r. r., some
200 rods west Of the bridge.
Upon arriving at the place indicat-
ed, Mr.. Savage mounted u fallen tree.
and in a brief address stated the object
of the gathering to be for the purpose
of breaking ground upon the new
road.
On motion Gen. James d. Morgan
was appointed Chairman Of the meet
ing and the reporters of the various
newspapers present requested to act
as Secretaries.
Gen Morgan then made a few re-
marks stating that he was not so well
acquainted with the history of the
road as were others present, and call
ed upon Gen. Prentiss to make a
speech.
Gen. Prentiss at once came forward,
saying he was sorry some one else
more competent had not been chosen
to address the company. He then
turnedto the crowd and said !:
Gentlemen of Illinois and Mis-
souri,, l am glad to meet you here
on this auspiciOUs OccasiOn-it be-
ing 10 less than the breaking Of
ground upon the Quincy, Missouri
& Pacific Railroad but before |
say anything more, / would suggest
that at the conclusion Of my remarks,
these carts which stand near us be
filed with dirt by this company and
then hauled over and dumped at the
first stake upon the line of this road.
Immense applause and general move
ment toward tho carts The General
then continued: AS a citizen of
Quincy, / feel greatly interested in
this enterprise-it is one which is
fraught with more Importance than
any other enterprise ever undertaken
by US. I know the people Of Missouri
i,
rejoice over the first step, we must re-
must remember that thousands upon
thousands of these people are looking
forward to us with bright hopes for
their own future growth and devel-
Opement, all of wich depends upon
what we do with this road. ] feel
that the day is not far distant when
the wealth of these vast tracts of land
will he poured into the lap of our
craving city. While Chicago has her
lake and shipping, we have the mighty
Mississippi, and these immense tracts.
Let US then improve our opportunity
and push this road through to All ear
ly completion. It stands us in hand
to rejoice that we meet here to-day,
in almost midwinteT, under the broad
canopy of heaven, to break the first
ground upon this road, which is des-
tined to make complete the greatness
of our city. 1t behOOyes us to be rap
id in its construction, for are not other
cities striving to obtain the wealth
which should rightfully flow through
our own. Roads are being built hun
dreds of miles west Of us, and leading
off the commerce which belongs to
=
away to st. Louis and elsewhere,
while even Chicago is bidding for it.
Let us then work with energy and
determination, as city should, which
has two great States to assist her.
Here is where the immense wealth OF
the whole country Will eventually
centre let us then do our duty to that
lovely city on the banks of the mighty
With these remarks the
General closed, saying he was very
called upon and had not
or thought upon the subject
before being called out.
Col. Richardson was next requested
to say something. He at once COM
piled, and commenced by saying that
none Of US seemed fully to appreciate
the vast impOitance of this road and
the great benefits to be derived from
its completion. He spoke of the G.. b.
/ Q. f., which has so richly develop
ed the country lying between Quincy
and Chicago, much to the advantage
Of our city and its own stockholders.
Then, he said, equally rich and pros
porous Will that country west of us
become If it is only opened up by
such thOrOughfare as this road CON
This vast country, this
rich country, must contribute much
to the growth Of our city its produc-
lions cannot ali be carried away from
as; there is a vast country south Of
as, many Southern States which have
no pork, and here is where it expects
10 get II from. Another great trade is
The hay trade. Some thirteen States,
eleven certainly, cannot raise hay, and