The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-24
OMAHA HOSPITALITY.
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE WILL
BE WELL ENTERTAINED.
The Good People of the Town are ''""'
Ing Elaborate Preparations for tho "e-
ception and Entertainment OF Visitors
Many Points OF Interest In tho e'y'
ESpecIal Cor-cspondence.l

Especial Cor~cspondence.I
OMAHA, April 1S-The citizens OF omaha
are looking forward TO the month OF May
with anticpatons OF a very interesting mn
ture On May the quadrennlal or gen.
eral conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
church will be opened in this city and VIII
continue, as usual, one month.
In order 10 secure the location OF the con
ference in this city leading citizens pledged
their individual bonds that the entire ex'
pense Of the conference would be borne by
the people Of Omaha. This pledge will be
faithfully kept. Several months ago active
preparations were begun to secure the nee
essary funds with which to redeem this
pledge, and the leading citizens, without
regard to creed or religious profession, have
responded freely, both in subscribing TO
the cash fund and in agreeing 10 entertain
delegates in their homes The citizens
committee having in hand the entertain
ment problem has taken up the work in a
very systematic and businesslike manner.
II was decided TO secure entertainment in
private homes for about 800 Of the 800 dele
gates expected at the conference, and the
remaining 200 will be provided with ac-
commodations at the hotels
In the work Of securing entertainment in
private homes the committee has succeeded
remarkably well, and nearly all that is re-
quired in that direction has been accom-
plished. Many of the finest homes in the
city will be open TO the delegates. A great
many people who reside here have personal
acquaintance among the delegates and
have requested the pleasure Of entertain
s,,,< Tb. NIL Ioc scr.1a1 to
these requests in every instance where
it was possible to DO so, and in that way
the matter of entertaining will become
double pleasure. The question of enter
tanning the colored delegates appeared TO
be something Of a puzzle for time, but the
matter has been so arranged that all diff
Guilty will be avoided, unless some over
sensitive colored man should take upon
himself to find fault where there should be
none found. Each Of the leading hotels OF
the city will take few Of the cOlOred
brethren, and some of them viii be enter
tanned by the well to do colored people of
the city.
The city council will give grand ban
ouet on Monday evening, May 2, in honor
Of the conference delegates and other dis.
tIIEulSUtu NlollOlSs -bd9Di 4p'ibio VIA
make the address of welcome and Hon.
John NJ. ThurstOn and other distinguished
orators will speak
Many of the energetic business men OF
Omaha intend to devote a considerable
part Of the month Of May to the work Of
entertaining the conference delegates.
Numerous schemes are being devised for
the pleasure OF both the entertained and
the entertainers. Luncheons will be given
by the professional men Of the city TO the
delegates belonging to corresponding pro
fessions and business men will strive to
make it pleasant for delegates who repre-
sent their particular line Of business. Ina
score of ways the delegates will be shown
that the people of Omaha are hospitable.
Although Omaha is city OF very recent
growth and possesses no ruins, grand old
castles or any of those antique attractions
that are the pride and boast of older Amer
can and European cities, yet this young
giant Of the plains is not without attrac-
tions that may well claim the attention Of
every visitor. One of the points of inter
est in Omaha is the great Omaha and
Grant smelling and refining works, which
employs nearly 1000 men, and turns out
millions Of dollars worth of silver, "copper"
lead and many other metals. The crude
ores are shipped here from Colorado, Wy
oming, South Dakota and Mexico. The
works cover nearly thirty acres Of ground
and are said TO be the iargestin the United
States.
Another point of interest for visitors is
the American water works plant, located at
the suburban town Of Florence, seven miles
above the city on the Missouri river. In
this splendid plant the American Water
Works company has expended over 81 Co.,
600. From these immense reservoirs the
entire supply of water for Omaha and the
suburban city Of South Omaha is furnish
ed. Fully 10000 people, together with all
the various institutions that consume
water, are supplied from this great pump
ing station.
But perhaps the most interesting insti
tuition in the vicinity OF Omaha, 20 the
average visitor, is the stockyards and pack
ing houses Of South Omaha. This ener-
getic suburb Of Omaha is now third in the
list of pork and beef packing centers in the
United States. being outranked only by
Chicago and Kansas City. Several thou
sand head Of cattle and hogs are slaughter
ed and dressed daily in each of half a dozen
mammoth packing houses located at this
great packing center. The wonderful sys-
TEN, the dexterity and vastness Of the
slaughtering and packing business done
here strikes the average visitor with aston
ishment.
Omaha has few handsome parks, some
great buildings and number of palatial
residences all of which will be shown to
the best possible advantage.
The Lininger art gallery is another point
of interest that visitors should not fail
TO take in. 1t is considered the finest
private collection OF paintings TO be
found in the west. Mr.. Lininger is man
of wealth and has been great traveller.
His collection embraces a wide range Of
the choice works from the hands of the old
masters and many modern pieces Of ex-
ceptional merit. His collection of valua-
bic decorated chinaware is particularly
worthy of careful note. Among his more
valuable pictures there are several that he
could sell at any day for 900 To $75, 600.
Across the river from Omaha lies Coun-
cal Bluffs, a city of about $1,000 people,
which will no doubt claim the attention Of
the visitors for at least one day during the
conference. The delegates need not ex-
pect TO see finished city or people who
have much time TO spare in the pleasures
and pastimes of life here in Omaha, but
they may rest assured that very hearty
welcome will be extended to them and ev-
cry effort will be put forth to make the
sOJOurn OF the visitors very pleasant one