, 1872-12-12
OMAHA.
Important Railway Develop
uent3 in Nebraska.
Omaha as q Railroad CenSre--
Her Business GroWth--A
Bit of Retrospect.
Special Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune.

snscial Correspondence Of The Chicago I1ibune.
OMAHA, Neb, Dec. ., 1872.
The last timbers arc now being laid on the
rai1road-bridge over the Platte, and trains will
cross it on the 10th inst. This supplies mins-
ing link. and gives US direct connection with
the South Platte country, and the great South
west. The Burlington & Missouri, in Nebraska,
has bought the Omaha s. Southwestern, and this
bridge is the fret fruit Of the movement South
western trains will, in few days, be running to
and from the Union Pacific depot. About two
miles Of new track was necessary to accomplish
this, and large forcv is at work laying it.
The Land Department Of the Burlington &
Missouri will be moved to this city Jan. 1, from
Burlington. This Company has selected, and is
preparing for sale, large tracts Of land lying
north Of the Union Pacific grant
The construction of large Onion depot, to
be used by the Union Pacific, the Burlington &
Missouri, and other railroads centering here,
will be commenced early in the spring. 1t will
be modelled after tho Cleveland depot which
cost $500, 900.
Up to this time, the Union Pacific has run it's
trains to the west end Of the great Missouri
Bridge, and there stopped. The four Iowa roads
have run to the east end of the bridge, and re-
fused to come further. The Omaha Bridge
T1anEfer has been operated between them,-a
little railroad by itself. This cannot continue
The trade Of Nebraska, ard the lions share Of
the Union Pacific business, which, owing to it's
overland Pacifc-coast connections, is immense,
will be given to the first eastern
Omaha to receive il. This is why
the Burlington l. Missouri bought the Omaha d
Southwestern. It will cross at Plattsmouth,
and by that route DO running it's trains from the
Union Pacific depot, In this city, on the 10th
inst.
This connection Of the Burlington d Missouri
with Omaha would of itself break up the s:pool,"
and compel the Iows roads to CROSS the bridge.
But there is said to be another reason. Horace
F. Clarke. President Of the Union Pacific, nov
after Jan l, be used as link in the great chain
extending from San francisco, through Omaha
and Chicago. to New York. The trains OF the
Chicago 4 Northwestern will run to and from
the Great Union depot to be built next year in
this city, and that Company will contribute to
the cost of its erection.
RAILROAD CENTRE.
Nebraska is fast attracting settlers to her
year, and she has 1900 miles Of railroad in
tua1 operation. These are facts which hare an
Important bearing on our future. Men do not
pioneer in these days as they once did; they
hy sn s1ag @ fe h ra sSeoe apa
prosperous and thriving farming communities in
more than one county in this State where, year
and half ago, the prairie solitude was unbro-
ken, save here and there By settlers cabin.
railroads have worked this CREST change and
they are doing more to-day than ever before.
THE UNION PACIFIC
trayerses the great Platte Valley, and in it's 49,,
1000 acres land grant it received from the
Government. one Of the finest agricultural re-
;,, 1eor1H a land ant il
making the facts known, and land for the
landleas is becoming motto with meaning in
it, both in our older States and in Europe.
Every west-bound car that leaves Omaha takes
out land hunters, and the number OF those who
come seeking homes is go great that colony
train with cheap rates and frequent stopp2ges
has been provided
TIE oMAHA d NORTHWESTERN
follows the Elkhorn Valley, q beautiful country,
and is designed to tap the Northern Pacific and
the extensive pine regions Of Minnesota. Forty
miles are now in operation, and the road is being
= pushed vigorously forward.
TIE OMAHA SOUTHWESTERN
aboye referred to was started at the same time,
and was designed to open the South Platte re-
piou, and the southern portion Of Nebraska, to
the trade Of this city. Omaha contributed iber-
ally to both these enterprises at a time OF busi-
ness depression, because our influential men
thought they saw in these great projects the
means Of concentrating here the trade Of what
Is soon to become wealthy and prosperous
agricultural region. They have not been disap-
pointed, and enough is now known to assure us
that the future is full of promise.
BIT OF RETROSPECT.
In the epring Of 1854, company OF exploring
pioneers arrived at the old Mormon town OF
kanesyille (now Council l.. Blufis), On the east
rniration at the elevated plateau on the opposite
side Of the river, and conceived the idea that it
would form beautiful and advantageous site
for town. Next day they waded through the
1o1 of nh, arn1
the Iowa bottoms, md crossed in a leaky cotton
wood boat. They found the landing on the Ne
braska side go difficult that it was necessary to
get out Of their f1al craft and some distance,
attracted their attention they were enthusiastic
over the prospect and the natural beauty Of the
situation. The land here rises, first in one alb
rupt bluff which has natural openings as il
meant for roaawaJs, and above that and Teced~
ing from the river each plateau is reached by q
gentle accent, q stage higher than tho one
which precedes it. until tho last commands q
magnificent and sweeping view: of the great
Missouri Valley and many thousand acres Of
undulating prairie and forest lands. The line
of vision to the westward is bounded By the
beautiful and productive Elkhorn County.
Our pioneers were delighted with their dis
covery, and, not needing the obstacles in their
1ay, commenced at once to stake off town.
The names Of these explorers, to whom Omaha
owes it's existence, are Dr.. Enos Lowe, an hon
ored citizen, who now resides in an elegant man
sion on the site which he that day selected
Jesse Lowe, his brother, since deceased; Jesse
Brown. They returned to their camp on the
Iowa side wet and hungry, but very enthusiastic
It is well they were go, for the difficulties which
they had to encounter we're such as called fol
time and patience. Nebraska was then
d Territory. almost totally uninhabited BY
white men. the titles to the lands we're held By
Indians, and no portion of them could be had