The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-04-19
vvrGRANTs IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

'pgcially 10 immigrants taking the |. = H. i
west:
7 The nrw depot of the Union Pacific road "A
Council Bluffs !, ct very Imposing odiilce, l.
most substantially bull, conveniently ar
ranged and sufficiently commudiouN for pres
sent needs, although ii affords, even now, Ou
=, little room that Is not actually needed Inc
j first floor /, occupied by The ticket Office bag
gagc and waiting rooms, general baggage OF
| ticcs of the Union Pacific road the lunch ano
news stands, telegraph Office, and spaciou,
dining room; and the second and only othei
| floor is devoted to the hotel parlorS and guests
rooms
The hotel portion i, IN charge of Mcssrs. J
! l.. Market Il Co., the former of whom has run
some of the leading eating houses on the road
since It's completion
No trains enter the building, those arriving
| from the east dcpooiing their passengers on
platforms not vet covered, AT the eastern en-.
trance. and the Union Pacific trains receiving
their passenger, from platforms at the western
entrance \ covering will doubtless be pro
vidcd for both these platforms at IN early day
Each of the roads has its own track and
platform, and rs all the trains arrive and de.
part al about the same time, the scene To be-
witnessed ON their arrival and departure is Il
most animated one, particularly so because OF
the fact that the great mass OF passengers, cs-
prcially those westward bound, are emigrants,
with their boxes, bundles and children; their
babel of tongues and infinite variety Of ages,
costumes and conditions.
And right here want to speak Of a humane
provision by the Union Pacific company in
the interest Of cmigrants, of which the general
public does not seem to be aware. Every rail
way man knows something of the innumerable
schemes and tricks that are sought to be prac-
tiCcd, and too often successfully, upon unsus-
pcCllng cmigrants upon their arrival at halt
ing places on their Journeys For several
years Omaha was far from beng above re
proaCh in this respect.
TO remedy tins most serious evil, Mr.. ThoS
L. Kimball, the general passenger agent Of the
Union Pacific road established an cmigrant
hotel close TO the station, which, although
leased to Mcssrs. j. f. Markell & Co., is un-
der the supervisory control of the railway
company, and TO which cmigrants are shown
Immediately ON the arrival of trains. Here, II
clean room ard clean, comfortable bed are
furnished at the low price of % cents for the
night; meals are furnished at % cents each,
and ordinary supplies are sold at the lowest
possible prices. The cmgrant is required to
Duy tickets for room and meals on becoming
Il guest and If, when he is ready to start on his
Journey any of these tickets remain on his
hands they are redeemed at the price paid for
them.
A large wash room for each sex is provided,
so that those who go away have only them
selves TO blame if they have not, at the small
outlay named, obtained sound nights rest,
substantial meals, and thorough cleansing.
AT no time from their arrival until their de
parturc are they subjected TO the lmportunings
of boarding house keepers, gamblers, or sharp
crs of any description, but through this noble
provision they are secured absolute immunity
from all these and kindred nusanccs. The
furnishes all cmigrants who desire
it, for the small sum of two dollars, II mattress
and other requisites of comfortable bed made
so as to be placed over the seats Of the car by
turning them to face each other and which
may be used from Omaha to San Francisco,
and then sold for near its original cost or
made to do still further service for the emi-
grant to whose comfort il has so materially |
The care, attention and libcralty bestowed
by the Union Pacific company upon this class
Di its patrons have indeed been most Credita- |
BILE, and more particularly 50 in view OF the
absence of competition. Its cmigrant rates
have been reasonably low its representations
10 secure business have been fair and truthful,
and its treatment of these people has been hui
name and in every sense honorable.
The cmigrant house Of which have spoken
IS frame building, two stories high with two
wings, and will accommodate two hundred
people. The idea was Mr.. kimball's, and
was adopted by the company some five years
,go, II has proven u death blow to the petty |
by boarding house keepers, thieves
md gamblers, which ilourshed up to that
line.