Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-07
OMAHA ODDITIES.
A Trip Through Iowa to tho Met
ropolis Of Nebraska.
Condition Of Crop: Appearance Of the
Country and Ideas Of the People
Council Bluffs and 0maha-A
Brief Subscription Of Each.
AN EASTERN MAESvIEWs OF THEWEsT


of the finest farming lands in the State, and
the corn is yellow and stunted in appear
ance. The reports from all sections OF the
State, except in isolated counties, indicate
that the yield this year will not exceed
much beyond half crop. Secretary Shaf-
fer, OF the State Fair Association, estimates
that there are not over SOC, 900 bushels OF
old corn in the whole State, or about
$1,000 bushels to each county. This appear
ed to me to be very extravagant, and !
felt rather disposed to question the exact
ness of the figures but the statistics OBJ
tanned by Mr.. Shaffer by careful and patti
ent comparison rather diminished the fig.
ures fixed by him.
There is something rather more attrac-
tive in the general exterior Of Iowa than in
either that of Illinois or Indiana; nay l
might almost add the most OF Ohio. Com.
ing across the three States last mentioned
there is very little to relieve the monoton.
GUS sameness of things. On either side Of
any road south of Chicago running east or
west, or southwest one will onl: en-.
counter an almost unbroken chain
of grain fields, swamps and un-
presentable country villages which
as a rule present no striking features, ex-
cept perhaps, their muddy streets, and
other unmistakable points ofunprosressive-
ness. In Iowa, however, the land is more
rolling and occasionally a real hill looms
up in the distance to gil dden the eye OF
the West Virginia mountaineer who halls
it with the same joy that Tell did his Swiss
peaks and crags. Again there is net that
sparseness of woods that is characteristic OF
the States alluded to, but every little while
a belt of timber appears, miniature forest,
bearing no real resemblance to the woods
of Pennsylvania, except in the profusion OF
foliage which is much denser and appar-
emily greener.
From Fairfield / went to Omaha by way
of Council Bluffs, over the c. b. & q. road.
Council Bluffs is the western terminal
point Of all the Illinois and Iowa roads,
making connection there with the Union
Pacific. 1t is wretched town in appear
ance and wreiched in all OF its Characters.
tics. Its streets are a pa-t and parcel OF
the prairie upon which it is built, and but
one or two indications of any attempt at
improvement are visible. For years there
has been struggle for numerical supre-
macy between it and Omaha, but
their relative conditions now make
any comparison impossible Omaha
having nearly twice the population
of her competitor and advancing rapidly
each year. The erection Of the Union Pa.
cific Transfer at Council Bluffs it was ex-
pected would do much toward increasing
her importance, but so fer the change has
not been perceptible, nor from the situa-
ton Of things is it likely to be. The Bluffs
are situated at a distance of from two to
four miles back from the Missouri river,on
account of the low marshy condition Of the
ground on the Iowa side, and this ground
is subject to the sudden and generally un-
accountable inundations from the Missouri
which make their occupancy in this century
at least very problematical. The
new Transfer was erected at a
point nearly equidistant from the river and
Council Bluffs, with the very obvious in
tention on the part of its projectors OF
closing up the hiatus between the city and
river. The building has been up now for
several years and the intention has certain
ly failed of accomplishment for broad
piece OF marshy ground still intervenes
between the city and transfer. There are
several large elevat )rs at the Bluffs, come
few good business buildings, and State
building at some distance back OF
the city. On the whole, as | have
already said, the Bluffs will he
compelled to eudqre her present condition
of mediocrity while her more vigorous
neighbor will soon be one OF the foremost
towns west Of Chicago.
Omaha
Is situated on q bluff, or series OF bluffs,
that rise gently from the Missouri River
and extend some distance west. These
bluffs are very high and from their irsummits
view of as beautiful a panorama as can
be obtained west Of the Rockies can be Sc
cured. The sweep OF the river at this
point above and below, and its great basin,
hedged in by irregular bluffs and hills,
make the scene at orce pleasing and
unique, and the traveller east or west
compelled to await connection either way
is amply repaid in the richness OF the
scenery, natural and artificial, obtained
from the heights Of Omaha The
Missouri furnishes an abundant sup
ply of muddy water to the basins,
where, by some process it is settled, and
comes forth for public use clear as that
drawn from the Ohio river. Omaha is fast
becoming manufacturing city. The
Union Pacific shops, employing 800 men,
are located here, a distillery OF mammoth
proportions, two or three breweries, a linseed
oil factory, nail factory, several elevators,
and other concerns of smaller pretensions.
The streets are a reproach to the city, but
the authorities are pushing the matter OF
improving them as rapidly as possible.
This year an ordinance authorizing the IS
suance Of bonds to the amount OF 100000
was enacted, the issue to be repeated annu-
ally hereafter for the purpose of making
intersections and paving the alleys. In ad:
dition to this the citizens will be compelled
to make up $4,000 annually for the pur-
pose of paving in front of their premises
one-third of the way TO the middle OF the
street on each side, the city TO do the other
third. Something similar TO this
was tried in Wheeling recently
/ believe. but its stupendousnes
was too much in excess OF the grasp OF in
tellect Of the average Second Branch MEM
ber. and il fell through. Warnings sanI-
tary system of sewerage has been adopted
by the city, and will be introduced As rap
idly as possible. A high school building
on Capitol Hill is the boast of the city, and
il is rather a luxury, having cost $3.50, 900.
An opera house, costing $4,000 q hotel
$3.50, 900, another S4O0, 900, are some OF the
products of last year. while alt around the
city massive brick and stone buildings
are going up.
Fort Omaha, at which Gen. George
Crook has been stationed for
some time, is near the city,
and forms one Of the important social
features OF the city. Inc palis ana prone
nades given there at frequent intervals are
highly spoken of by the society folk. Cen.
Crook has been superseded by Gen. o. ..
Howard, who will assume command about
the first Of September. A banquet in honor
of Gen. Crook has been arranged to take
place prior to his departurc::for Arizona.
The principal feature about Omaha, how
over, and from which il derives all its i'm
portance, is the fact that the terminus
OF the Pacific system OF rail
roads, and the beginning Of
the great systems OF eastern raods run
ming through Chicago and 81. Louis 10 the
seaboard. The stock from the plains, near.
" all passes through here. or did until
lately, when the completion of the Dem
yer extension of the c., B. & Q. diverted q
large portion of the stock from Omaha and
sent it directly and rapidly to Chicago.
Nebraska Crops.
The corn in Nebraska has not been near
" so badly injured as in States east of the
Missouri river, and in conversation with
several prominent stock dealers and farm.
ers was alway told that
the crop would be above the
n,n~orn III. -haot and oafa rynpa NJ