Omaha daily bee., 1883-12-01

tages and other improvements,
Impressed with the Importance of your
efforts in behalf of our city, and DESTROYS
to express gratitude of u citizens there
for, the board of trade of Omaha APP
pointed undersigned committee to tender
you public banquet at Herndon house at
such time as may suit you convenience.
With every sentiment of esteem and
respect. j. Patrick,
G.. H. COLLINS,
G. w. BURT,
Committee.
HRRNDoN HOUSE,
OMAHA, December 20, 1865.
Dear J. Patrick, G.. II. Collins and c. W..
Burt:
Your memory is good, SO is mine.
You gave me a western welcome then.
How can l forget it, Iugratitude is
mans strong point. 1t is my weak the.
Few have the generosity to praise. Many
Important events have been crowned into
my short life, but of none, of which am |
more proud than striking the first sod on
worlds highway. Some grand event
s~tartles mankind every two thousand
years. -Four thousand years ago the
Pyramids were built. Two thousand
years later the grandest enterprise of
China and Egypt were created. But
grander than all is this gigantic project
driven through the Rocky mountains.
While the third Bonaparte is cutting
canal through one continent to Eastern
Asia, Durant is making his way with
steadfast energy through another CONT
nent to Western Asia. Paris to Pekin
in thirty days. Two ocean ferry boats
and a continental railway.
Men have gifts, l cannot play the
fiddle like Paganini, nor piano like Stra-
kosch, but with strong intuitions l have
always been successful in mapping out
the future.
The reform club, headed by Golden
(and his free traders), went into Illinois
Central railway. That enterprising com
pany spent for many years one hundred
thousand dollars a year in advertising
All the world poured into Chicago.
Hence Illinois, in twenty years, almost
doubled Massachusetts in population, in
two hundred and twenty. Omaha is bet
ter situated than Chicago! Pittsburg,
Cincinnati, Louisville, New Orleans and
st. Louis, are just as much feeders o.
Omaha as northeastern cities through
Chicago and the northwestern population
through the mining regions! No great
water course wet but the Grand river,
flowing two thousand miles north to the
gold mines, and two thousand miles
south to the ocean! Omaha, like Chica
go, will be a railroad center!
In two years, three railways will cross
railroad bridge from east to the great ter
minus of the Union Pacific at Omaha
Another from Sioux City will u along
the mighty river to connect you with st
Louis by Missouri and Kansas railway
system2 By that time Union Pacific viii
reach Fort Kearney! The Platte will b.
b~ridged, also, giving Nebraska City thes'
great railroad connections, and openin!
up the great salt works of Lancaster
Some artesian well may open up at you
door, coal, iron and gold, and food you
city with pure water, and your Contra
Park will have a thousand acres of fores
trees!
We like those who like us. That is al
there is of life. You are as Independent
of me as ! am of you, yet the sam
strange destiny which so mysteriousl,
governed my life has brought me agail
to Omaha, and seems to link me with it
progress and prosperity! Success is bes
evidence of success. When | see OIL
your wharves car loads Of tea on thei
way from China to London and Paris,
shall feel that my mission, in part, ha
been accomplished! accept thanks bu
excuse me from accepting invitation.)
G. f. L.
These were my predictions long ago
The world can now judge who was right
This was part of Credit Mobilier evolu
ton! Does fraud develop a nation2
Reporters there any doubt abou
the profits of the contract 81.
G. #. T.-No, it PANIED out Just as
represented when l organized Cred
Mobilier and got capital.
But there was no fraud in the Offer
December IL, 1867, they declared a div
dendof 81, 800, 600 from profits, one half
trst mortgage bonds, and the other ha
Union Pacific stock at par. January 8
1868, $3.50, OO0 in bonds; June IL, 1865
81, 800, 900 in stock and 50, $50, 90
"hhCh wac paul ouly, ioOt
the Credit Mobiiier assigned its interes,
to the trustees directly, except il
claimfor sums then actually du
to it, and thenceforth the trul
tees continued to build tho roa
under this new assignment and diyidln
as profits July 3, 1868, So, 812, 500 i
bonds, July 8, 1868, 81, l25, 900 in casl
December 80, 1868, rs, 1000 shares of stoc
of 500 each, valued at 81, 800, 900!
I Yes, as / never forgot anything, an
EDurant sat at my table during I'll
seven years the road was bein
constructed, of course every appointmeI
was discussed from Dey, the first engine,
(who resigned because he did not mar
up the estimates) through Snyder, ReeC
Evans, Seymour to Dodgel (Who coul
have imagined that Durant's rodmau O
Iowa road would have been appointe
major general in command of 80, 600 me
and afterward e~ngineer-in chief an
IN anauinp diracfor of un;on D.:G.M