The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-02-01
LETTER FROM THE WEST.

! OMAHA, Ne5., Jan. Is, 1878.
DEAR WHIG:-We have not been able
for sometime to collect items sufficient to
make respectable news letter. Twelve
months ago we could give an account of
the fearful snow storms west of the Mis-
souri,, with delays of railroad trains i'm
mersed in snow-drifts from 10 to 80 feet
deep; thermometer at 20 degrees below
zero; the heroic exploits of railroad en-
ployees; the self-sacrifice of the passengers;
short rations and efforts to reach the snow
| bound trains by pack mules; the smashing
up of immense engines aud w-plows;
now and then the pleasure of a California
train getting thus far east and one reach
ing San Francisco, with all the various
surmisings with regard to the continuation
of winter in the mountains through Wyom-
ing and Utah.
Now we are bereft OF every miraculous
feat of passengers walking hundreds of
miles III order to reach the advancing
trains to expedite their transit, and in lieu
thereof the trains from the west report
pleasant weather, with very little snow,
and arrive mostly on time, unless broken
piston or some arrangement of machinery
otherwise causes slight delay of trains.
And now we are compelled to look East for
accounts of deep SHOWS, delayed trains
with an occasional collision or telescopng
or plunging through bridge, or over an
embankment.
The Union Pacific Company prepared,
previous to the approach Of winter, i'm
mense snow plows and other apparatus to
successfully battle with the elements, after
increasing their show-sheds to some fifty
miles and fence to four hundred miles, all
of which seem to have failed to induce the
weather king to make an attack; and we
hope this preparation may have the effect to
ward off an attack this winter at least;
although there is yet time before Spring to
give every precautionary movement test
of capacity.
The comparative favorable winter has
afforded the company an opportunity to
perfect work under construction and to
further extend their laterals in Colorado
Territory, as well as make some valuable
connections with the Burlington & Mis-
souri, River road, which will hereafter be
known as the Chicago, Burlington & Pa
ciiic. In few days they will have
through line from Omaha to St. Louis, by
various connections with roads on the
o.. Il 80 81,
the indomitable energy and perseverance
of those two companies, all of which we
have no doubt will be amply rewarded by
the increase of business over those popular
roads.
The reports from the mines in Utah,
Nevada, Montana and Colorado, still offer
inducements to treasure seekers, and we
see it requires an enlargement of the Smelt-
ing and Refining works which have been
in successful operation here for sometime.
We presume the next improvement of this
Company will be white lead mandatory,
which is very much needed the Company
having to ship their crude lead East to be
manufactured.
Civil Service has been effecting some of
the Government employees nervous sys-
TENS: while the use of too much of the
ardent has had prostrating influence on
some few others. When will men learn to
be wise?
We were glad to meet Mr.. Lewis, son of
the late Andrew Lewis, of Lancaster coun-
ty. Pa, who, with his mother and three
brothers, are now in Iowa, near Council
Bluffs, at her son in-law's, John &. Smith.
The daughters of Mrs. Lewis were all here
before she brought the balance Of her fam
lily to make their homes in the West. They
will engage in farming, as soon as they
select suitable locations. Such citizens are
an acquisition to any State, East or West.
We wish for more of this kind.
Yours fraternally,
OCCASIONAL.