Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-06-15

depot of the Union Pacific railroad on the
Iowa side of the Missouri river opposite
Omaha at the time when the eastern trains
arrive over their several railroads at Coun-
ell Bluffs; for here all eastern trains stop,
and their passengers and baggage are
transferred to Omaha by the "Dumy
line or are taken on board the westward
bound Union Pacific railroad trains which
Puck in hereto receive the through passen-
gers.
The Union Pacific railroad built the
bridge here. and controls the passage of
every person from all lines east centering
here. A twenty-five cent ticket takes you
to Omaha, and the transfer business of
this line is in itself bonanza of the first
water.
One gets even a better view here of the
immense emigration into our western
lands from foreign countries than at Chi
cago, for the reason that it is all concen-
trated within one depot. The peculiar
language, dress and manner of each emf
grant strikes you with decided force, and
in less than an hours time you can hear
spoken nearly every civilized tongue on
the globe and without the trouble of a
sea voyage can get glimpse of the dis
tinctive thoughts, behavior and manner
peculiar to the different countries of the
east. The men seem strongly active, ener-
gctic usually, and animated; but the
women look care worn, jagged out and
homesick, as a rule. All look dirty and
grim from their deck passage on ocean
steamers, and their railroad ride of fifteen
hundred miles carried the smoke and dust
of the train. One full grown but little
fellow, black almost with dirt that was 80
worn into sweat and skin that it seemed
almost part of him, was running around
in an excited manner with big valise of
striped cloth under one arm, and under the
other arm roll OF wheat bread nearly as
long and quite as dark with dirt as he. |
saw him sever, times in different places
about the depot. He was always in hur-
ry,always in a rush, and always the strip
ed valise and the dirty roll hove first in
sight and parted last from view.
Swede, Swiss, German, Hollander
Norwegian, Pole, Russian, Prussian,
French and Italians, all were here. Each
nationality-in clumps, and led by their
emigration agents-were all at last safely
united in the long train of cars which
moved out with stately grace over this
trans-continental line, carrying this COM
posite mass from many nations out into
the far west, where he from the lands of
eternal snow and frost builds for himself
home, name and fortune by the side of
him from the lands of eternal sun and the
vine, and together will rear happy fami
lies in hearty accord with the American
idea of " liberty, equality and fraternity"
To say that the Missouri river is mud
dy stream conveys to an eastern mind
but scant idea of the real truth in its
intensely dirty reality. Conceive the
muddiest mud puddle possible on an east
ern road, and magnify both dirt and size
ad dbitUnt, and still you would fail to
catch the Missouri river idea of mud. And
yet, at Omaha, such is the western craze
at the present time to drink of river wa
ter that they were actually laying the pipes
and placing the engines preparatory to
supplying the city with water from the
river of Missouri for drinking and general
purposes. One could readily see how
they could easily dispose of the little water
that will be left when the dirt is precipi-
taed, but what will be done with the
mountains of dirt that will thus be precip-
itatcd? But they claim to have solved
the problem, and are now busy in ideal
zng the waters of this dirty stream
when settled, as 1.-The purest water in the
world, sir. This dirt is all of mineral
quality, precipitates readily, and the water
is right from mountain springs" If their
art is u 1.-THE as great as their faith the
question of 1.-The purest water on earth y
for Omaha is forever settled
Omaha itself is rapidly assuming the
character and proportions of hourishing
city. 1t has many elegant buildings, both
of a public and private character. 1t has
street lamps and street cars, but it has not
tirst-cass hotels. The city slopes back
from the river, the business part being
built on the bluffs near the river, while the
residences go farther back upon the high
lands west.
My ride from Omaha to Lincoln was in
the night; hence can give no description
of the country between the two cities.
know that rode by the side of the Mis-.
souri, for II little distance and by the side
Of the Platte for quite way; then crossed
it, and in due season reached the capita
OF Nebraska, at present substantial city
of twelve thousand inhabitants after bu
twelve years of existence. Here are the
principal public buildings owned by the
state. Near the centre of the city is th'
university, massive brick building three
stories in hight, standing in the midst o
grounds prettlly laid out, comprising nbou
ten acres. There are about three hundred
students in the university, with fourteen
professors. The building cost 300, 900
At the highest point in the city are tb'
state house grounds of twelve acres. Th'
original building not answeringthe presen
necessities of the state is being removed
and one wing of the new building is nov
in process of erection. The design is Of
main structure and two wings TO cos
S325,OOO. The wing now being built il
estimated to cost $4,000, 1t is construct
ed of local hard and white limestone
which is capable of taking fine polisl
almost equal TO marble
In Salt Greek valley, about one and
half miles south of the city, is the stat
penitentiary. 1t now contains one hundre'
and sixty cells, with as many more in tn