Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-10-05
A TRIP WEST.

Washington, Iowa, with the promise
that we should give them the benefit OF
our observations still further west. Be
fore leaving Washington, however, we
" ould say that new road is being built
from this place through the Western
Counties, which will open up fine
tract of country. Leaving on the four
o'clock train. We arrived again, in the
course of an hour, at Fairfield on the
B. i NJ. Road. At nine o'clock We took
tile fast time on this latter road on our
way to Omaha. The accommodations
on this train are very fine indeed. One
can feel perfectly at home. The Pull
man Sleeping cars are very comfortable
and home-like. We took berth and
retired for the night, sleeping as sound
ly nearly, as though We were at home.
This part of Iowa we did not see as we
were going ont. 1t is fine tract and
will be one of the best portions of Iowa
1t is now settling up very rapidly
through the great inducements given by
the Burlington & Missouri Railroad
Company who own great deal Of land
along their route. OF this We shall
speak again. At Ottumwa the North
No., and the Des. Moines Valley Roads
intersect the B.56 M.5Road. This is
town of considerable Importance, situ-
ated on the Des Moines river. At Red Oak
about sixty miles on this side of Omaha,
there is a branch of the B. Il NJ. road
running TO Hamburg on the Missouri
river nearly opposite Nebraska City, in
teresecting the st. 10 d Kansas City
road. By this branch they send their
business into Missouri and Kansas. On
Wednesday morning we awoke and
found ourselves in a beautiful rolling
country, tolerably well settled. along
the railroad. The corn crop seemed to
be very fine indeed. We were extreme
ly well pleased with the appearance of
the county in this part of the State. AT
ter making our morning toilet, we
went forward to the Dining Car for
breakfast. These dining cars are good
institutions, and Il great convenience to
travellers. Meals can be had as regu-
slarly as at home. Everything is in the
best order, and the fare is equal to any
eating house we have ever seen. One
or two hours ride brings us to Pacific
Junction. 1t is here that the B. d M.
road intersects the St. Jo & Kansas City
road, both roads running over the same
track from here to Omaha, Missouri
Station. The B. & NJ. Passengers for
Plattsmouth and Lincoln are taken by
an extra train from this Junction to the
river, opposite Platrsmouth, Nebraska.
When going out We passed on directly
to Omaha, crossing the river by Ferry.
The Missouri is very muddy river, yet
chemists say its waters are freer from
vegetable matter, and consequently
purer than the great majority of rivers.
We took one of the several Omnibuses
and according to our wish, were taken
to the Wyoming Hotel. 1t was now ten
O'Clock, and having couple of hours
at Omaha. The City is not built on fat
to spare,we sauntered out to take look
or level ground as we had supposed it
was, but, on the other hand, the ground
is somewhat rolling, being in some parts
of the town slightly hilly. The busi-
ness portion is mostly level, the streets
being nicely graded and very wide,
which certainly speaks well for the City.
Getting back from the business portion,
among the residences, the ground is
rolling enough to make it pleasant and
beautiful There are great many fine
residences in Omaha. Some have
a show of grandeur even. There seems
to be a great deal of wealth. most OF
which has been made right there. The
public buildings are all good, some of
which are very fine indeed. A hotel is
in process of erection that will cost $500,
600. The new school building isa grand
edifice, which will cost nearly $25O,OOO
when completed. This speaks well of a
town or city. There is nothing SO sug-
gestive of an intelligent people as fine
school building. Where schools and
churches exist and thrive, there We may
expect to find enterprising and reliable
people. All through the wess wher-
ever we have been at least, we noticed,
with pleasure, that the school bnildings
held very prominent place in the town
or city and almost invariably were
among the most prominent edifices.
Having a card of introduction to DIR.
NJ. T. Anderson, an old citizen of this
county, subscriber, and correspondent
of the REPUBLICAN,, We called on him
and found him well and in good spirits.
He at once volunteered to show us
around over the city. We went with
him to the Office of the Herald and the
Tribune and Republican, and. were in
troduced to the editors whom we found
to be wide-awake men, We also called
on our old friend, Rev. Ira c. Billman,
formerly of Millersburg. Mr.. Billman
is now pastor of fine congregation in
Omaha. The county Fair was being
held about mile from town, and as the
weather was pleasant, and being anxious
to see what kind of fair Nebraska
could get up, the Doctor and ourself
concluded we would go and see what We
could. We were very agreeably sur
prised, at the number Of people in at
tendance, as well as at the amount of
vegetables, machinery, flowers, fancy
articles, stock, &c. 1t went far beyond
our expectation. Indeed we have sell
dom, if ever, seen such a handsome va
riety of flowers and plants at any coun-
! ty fair we have ever attended. Some oi
the most magnificent flowers, and many
Of the richest plants were on exhibition.
Our people in this county, who are gen.
orally lovers of plants and flowers,
might take lesson from them. 1t was
an object of great interest to us to study
the faces and manners Of the people. Ii
any one of our readers imagines to him
self that they are all "ninnies" out west,
rough, coarse and uncultured, he is very
much mistaken indeed. We have never
in the eastern States, seen more intel