The Van Buren press., 1875-12-07
The Southern Pacific Railroad.
ST.. LOUIS. Nov. 2s, 1875.

ST. LOUIS. Nov. 2S, 1875.
FRIEND DUNHAM: The great national Rail-
road Convention is over. 1t was grand sue
cess 1t was admirably conceived. and the
work well executed, As you have read by
this time, the resolutions which were adopted,
| need not 90 into particulars on that point.
There were over seven hundred delegates,
representative men of thirty zone States and
Territories. Perfect harmony prevailed. 1t
WAS the finest body of men 1t has ever been
my privilege to behold. There were very
few spheches, except by special invitation.
The proceedings will be published in pamph-
let form $4,000 copies. hope to be able to
distribute our quota soon.
st, Louis does nothing by halves. She did
her part nobly. in this matter. The reception
the banquet.the excursion, iii fact, every thing
was in the grandest possible style. They ex-
pended their money freely. She Is properly
called he" Future Great" Her leading men
are full of energy and enterprise She de-
serves to be called" Great" Few people, es-
pecislly the business men visiting this city
have Il correct conception Of her magnitude
oh 'bHot SCC lCi iiiiAuultCtoiiCo PhoiiS WI -
etc. She has eighteen miles of river 'front.'
which shows off admirably from the river
On the excursion spoken of there were two
fine Mississippi steamers lashed together
with passways SO that it seemed one cnor-
nous floating palace, and from the tops of
them was a fine view of the great bridge.
On board there were nearly fifteen hundred
people, with bands of music and full dinner
for all. One OF the. greatest qualifications,
to Arkansians, was the general Interest mani
tested In our State. They received cong atu-
lations on every hand, Her delegation was
prominently recognized in other ways, be-
sides giving her the secretary of the eonyen-
Harrell.
We were called upon, at car headquarters,
at the Southern Hotel, by many prominent
men of different States, and were congratu-
lated by Gen. Beauregard on our plan of or
ganization, which was adopted by the con-
vention. Quite number of gentlemen. rep
resenting large interests. express their deter
mnaton to visit our State. with a view to
settlement. Gentlemen from Georgia, Penn
sylvanla, Indiana and Kansas, have arranged
to visit our part of the State during this and
next month. Our fruit, which has gained a
national reputation, being raised where cot
ton and all the cereals are grown, all rules
otherwise, we may look for heavy emil
grafton, during the next twelve months.
| l found work progressing rapidly on our
Little Rock and Ft. Smith Railroad | have
no doubt, now, but that we will have railroad
communication with the balance of the
world by the lst Of July. am making bust
ness headquarters with the popular house fol
Arkansas, Messrs. Appleton, Noyes, & Co
Col. j. b. Maude, who is one of the comm t.
tee on programme of the convention, IS very
attentive to the Arkansas delegation.
Joe. Goodfelow, of this house, as you nj
know Is very properly named. leave fo
home. Tomorrow. The great national con
ycnton at St Louis, on the 23l of November
1875. will be remembered by every delegate
as an event in their lives
Yours, truly, r. j. BRowS,