Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-06-27

Untll the road leaves the valley o
the Platte, at ashland, it is boundes
on one side by the river, and on th'
other by high bhses, with here ans
there break for the passage OF
creek. Occasionally, the bottom
widens into distance varying to I
mile or more,--b,:t these wide places
arc intrequent.
About Is miles from Plattsmouth
at Omaha Junction, the Omaha 4
South. Western railroad has sort o,
paper crossing OF the Platte, concern
ing which more will be said here
after. The o. IL S-NV. rod is leased
to, and controlled by, THO MIR,
railroad company.
Going as the bin DIS are said to fly,
Lincoln is about 10 miles from the
Mlssonri river, while, by rail, the
distance is So miles. Aside from its
intrinsic Importance as b city, Lln-
coin har c!.ims upon the attention Of
the visitor BY reason of its position
as the capital Of the State, as well as
by reason of its youth. II is only
four years OF age, and now claims a
population of not less than five
thousand people. Here are located
the capitol, the State University, the
Insane Asylum, and the Penitentiary,
the latter two being just outside
the incorporated limits Of the city,
and several miles from the business
center. The city is situated upon a
spur of gentle eminence, not much
dissimilar from that which on Toledo
is built, but without the grateful shade
of groves which Toledo enjoys
Salt Greek runs upon the south
and west sides Of Lincoln, and .
branch creek sweeps along the north
side, leaving the city upon an clcva.
ton pleasant OF view, easily drained
and accessible on all sides. The
business men of Lincoln, with faith
that is said to be equal to any feat,
even to the removal OF mOuntains,
have failed in concentration. The
area devoted to business is spread
over a space large enough for city
OF ten times its size. While . large
proportion of the business houses
are OF a substantial, thrifty character,
the "scatterat,on" policy referred to
gives the whole city an air OF un.
thrift, untidiness, and immaturity.-
1t is true that the representative in.
habitants will boast Of this air OF i'm.
maturity as a virtue, looking with q
sublime faith to future growth OF
town aud country that shall rival
past prosperity. They forget, or do
not know, the experience of nearly
all western towns,-how the tide OF
prosperity rises to certain height,
then recedes, only TO rise again by .
slow, tiresome pace. Lincoln is IN
the reced;ng waYc now. 1t cannot
help becoming, in many respects, .
city of considerable political and
commercial importance,-but its fu
ture greatness cannot be attained
without years of sturdy work.
There has been a great deal OF
money brought to Lincoln. The
large business blocks, solid and com.
modious. mostly brick or stone, the
elegant, not to say, palat,al, private
residences, which in so large proper
,ion are built in excellent taste, tax
en- with other signs, are indications
of wealth and culture OH the part of
the people, not usually observed in
new cities.
Twenty years ago, when the writer
was factory lad, in one Of the vii.
lagos Of northern Rhode Island, he
had for a work mate an eccentric
youth, full Of the viyacious sparkle Of
life, enthusiastic and registering at
times and again at times moody,
thoughtful, fearful and grave, an
earnest good hearted boy, who some
of his best and wiscst friends feared
would 60 crazy, or to States Prison.
Society had no encouragement for
such youth. and he had no trends
of influence to aid him. Conversion
to Methodism changed him some
what, and especially gave hun an OBJ.
ject in lite worth something. Poor
friendless, and unencoursged by 80.
ciety, yet with faith, ambition, integ
rity and courage, he studied aud
worked ana talked his way up in
life to position Of influence aud use.
fulness. The writer found him in
Lincoln, surrounded by ono Of the
largest congregations in the west, be.
loved by all his Pensioners, and &C
cepted as one of the most talented
and successful preachers in Nebras.
ka, where good preachers are not
scarce. This notice OF an old friend,
whose success has been half q mira
Gle, and between whom and the writ
er the attachment Of boyhood's years
has been strengthened as age has
crept upon them, is deserved in these