Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-10-06

range of Enthusiastically shaped hills
which extend North and South along
the Missouri. q distance of many miles
They derive the name from Councils
with the indians held in early times
on or nesr them. The Asylum for the
Deaf and Dumb, State institution, q
large brick building, costing some
sl50.0O0 was passed, and then wo are
At Council Bluffs station. At this
point fine bird's-eye view OF Omaha
is had. Very little Of the city of
Council Bluff, however, Is visible from
this station.
The distance ffom this station to
Omaha is some three miles Had the
choice OF the regular transfer train or
a dummy. The latter lott first. Get
along faster in the word by taking the
frat train. so chose the dummy, and
found myself in Omaha considerably
ahead of Hhme of our friends.
We're dircctcdto the Grand Central,
as the headquarters of everybody in
Omaha. cNcursionisi> in particular.
which we reached in street car.
Here we ound r. Il. Randall. ESQ.,,
who was assigned by the Il. Il NJ. II.
Il. in Nebraska. to the duty of rcceiv-
ing and organizing the eXcursionists !:
4 very agrteablc and efficient gentle
man. inffsBductions and exchange of
cards. followed. until the party, COM
posed of Representatives of the fol-
lowing papers. were found present.
and ready for further movements:
c. L. Morton. Tigaent. Cassapolis.
Michigan w. J. Bennett, Patriot,
jackson, Mich. v. e. Smith. Ne,ps.
Schoolcraft. Mich; II. w. Gurnscy,
Herald. st. Joseph. Mich. s. A. Ep-
person, Reeo, d, Bushnell: A. l.. Cum
ings, Press. Galena; 3. X. Hempsher.
Republican, Decatur; II. B. Hanna,
Independent. Fairbury Geo. l.. Di-
nell. Chronicle, vermont ~. w. Smith,
Piatt Republican. Monticello: James
Ferguson. bulletin, Mendoza j.. w.
Bailey. Rcpublicnn, Princeton: L. X.
Mercer. T.ibune, Princeton; +. l.. AL
les, Sentinel. Pontiac; &. NJ. Worth
ington, Gazette. Sterling;J. w. Hayes
Republican. Urbana; Cadet Taylor,
Inder. Wenona, Ills. j. +. Bishop,
NeWs, Alton; +. McClelland. Times,
Cedar Rapids; H. Bethenod. Gazette,
Pennington: w. w. Junkin. Ledger.
Fairfield; Geo. Sower. Times, Mar
shalltown: John Mahin, journal.
Muscatine: j. w. Norris, COURIER,
Ottumwa; j. Il. Stevenson, Herald,
Wilton: IL. A. Kelley, Hd,ckeye, Bur-
lington; ii. {. Marsh, Gazette, Dav-
enport. Iowa.
On consultation with Mr.. Randall,
it was decided to spend the remain
der of Wednesday in Omaha. Invi-
tations Of citizens to view the city to
visit the State Fair. and attend re-
ception in the evening. were extend
ed and accepted.
THE CITY or OMAHA
occupies = beautiful and commanding
site on the west bank of the Missouri
river. Its foundation is rock. which
the rapaciOus and tickle Big Muddy
can neither obliterate nor wash away.
The ground rises by an easy grade
from tho river to q considerable eleva-
tioD, from which view of surprising
beauty In every direction is obtained.
The streets are wide and laid out at
right angles. Shade trees abound =
The population exceeds 10000. Rail-
roads connect it with tho whole world
in.eyery direction. Many imposing and
eestly public abspt1inss untf urtyrsr
residences auorn The city. Inc High
School building occupying the site Of
the old Stale House the U. S. Court
House and Post Office, built of free
stone at cost of 1915, 900; the Grand
Central Hotel, OF brick, ,l32 feet square.
five stories, $50 rooms, cost S250,OOO:
the Government Headquarters. Build
ing; Central, Creighton s. Caldwell
blocks; the mammoth Depot of the
Union Pacific Railroad, when finished
to be 500 feet long, are among the
most noticeable. There are Is publ
cations, four in foreign languages.-
Most OF the religious denominations
have church ediiices. The Missouri
Railway bridge is 200 feet long and
cost II 100000. A truthful statemen.
of the various public institutions, the
manufactures, and the trade and com.
merce of Omaha, as repeated to the
visitors on this occasion. would make
a atlattering exhibit.
THE STATE FAIR.
In the afternoon tho editors were
in carriages to tho grounds
where the State Fair wss in progress.
The distance is three miles north, over
a level aud excellent road. The
grounds are extensive and pleasantly
situated. Floral Hall is the largest
structure. There arc several smaller
buildings, sheds, pens, &c. There is
fine race course. half II milo i'm extent.
Arrived at the grounds the visitors
were introduced to many prominent
citizens of Omaha, and OF the State at
large. After examining tho various
articles on exhibition, they were in
vited to the Grand Stand, where tho
President OF tho Society. the Hon. j.
Sterling Morton, in words iitly chosen
and impressively delivered bade them
welcome to Nebraska. Tho response
was by j. w. Norris, of Ottumwa.
(these addresses having been mention.
ed in the Omaha Republican and in
the COURIER, it is unnecessary to re.
peat them here,) No one could doubt,
in view of tho satisfactory exhib tion
made at this Fair Of the varied pro.
dnctions of tho field, the garden and
the work shop, excellent Ia all, but ca.
pecially good in vegetables, fruit and
cattle, that Nebraska has not only a
rich soil adapted to all the productions
indigenous TO the temperate zone, but
also An Industrious, cnterprising and
ingenious population, who will persc-
we're and raise the State in due time to
tho first rank among the agricultural
States OF the nation. They were dc.
vastated by grasshoppers in 1874, but
will have enough this year for them
selves, and something to sparc.
We had the pleasure Of meeting at
the Fair Gov. Alvin Saunders, who
has been many years resident In Ne.
braska, and has contributed 40 much
as any one to its growth and prosper
ity. AS hearty and genial as ever, he
exhibits slight evidence OF starvation.
We will also mention in connection,
that We called on Rcv. Reuben GAY.
lord, at his house in Omaha. lie was
formerly of Dsnville, Iowa. He went
to Omaha some 90 years ago. In 1853
or "a we visited Omaha in company,
making the journey from Ottumwa in
six days, in buggy. The foundation
OF the State House was being laid the
year we were there. Mr.. G, has been
De- -