Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

and west of Twelfth; the Third, that be
tween Farnam and Davenport and east o
Fourteenth; the Fourth, that between tn
same streets and west of Fourteenth; tn
Fifth. that north of Davenport and east o
Sixteenth, and the Sixth. the remainder.
The streets, even in the business center
were unpaved. The and cross
walks consisted, for the most part, o
wooden planks, though the pedestrian es
teemed himsel fortunate to find continu
Gus sidewalks at all. There was no stree
| railway, no electric lights, no telephones
no sewers, no The people
drew their water from wells and cisterns
| and water for fire protection was stored II
| public ~cisterns at the intersections OF Ger
tain streets. In one thing the town pointed
to an up-to-dateness that placed 1t heac
and shoulders above its comprehensive
was it's gas works and gas lamps, which
had been introduced two years before
| Still the use Of gas for Illuminating stores
and dwellings was a luxury afforded by
exceeding few.
PANORAMA FROM CAPITOL HILL.
Let me quote a pen picture written
shortly before this very time;
commencing near III ilNti oh Aio VI
attention is attracted by several substantial
brick buildings used as breweries, while the
heights which bound the city in this direc-
ton are crowned by handsome private resi-
dences. Passing west we notice in sue
cession the gas works, W hall and the
Nunnery; thence crossing to the north we
reach the old capitol. now redeeded to the
city for educational purposes. An ascent
to it's cupola will well repay the fatigue
imposed. Immediately below lies the city,
with its wide, regular streets, its lofty
ranges of business houses interrupted here
and there by churches and lines of pleasant
trees; beyond rolls the Missouri with its
regal pomp OF waters, while in the distant
east sleeps Council Bluffs at the foot of the
picturesque hills from which IL takes its
name. Before one four or FIVE busy lines
of railroad carry the through traffic of the
continent, and a valley unsurpassed for
fertility and beauty can be traced for miles
as 1t stretches away TO the north.
Coming down into the city and reaching
Farnam street we notice the Congregations
church, military headquarters and the court
house; east OF these Kountze's bank; next
Shoaf Brothers billiard hall and the Offices
of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
railroad. At the foot of the street are
several hotels and the offices of the Union
Pacific railroad. Passing up Douglas street,
the Metropolitan hotel is the first object
of interest; then ON Twelfth, but a few
steps from the main thoroughfare. the rooms
of the Young Mems Christian association,
a credit to the zeal and devotion of the
young men Of Omaha. Just beyond
Twelfth, the Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran
church and Visscher's block. Next com
the Omaha National bank and the offices
OF the Herald and Republican. On Seven
teenth we see the new Presbyterian church
with It's conspicuous spire and the Metho-
dist church, but partly built. on the corner
OF Fifteenth and Davenport the new Baptist
church Is approaching completion and prom
ises TO be one OF the fairest architectural
additions TO the city. Following east on
Davenport We reach an open space overlook
ing the river bottom, and the eye is at once
arrested by the extensive shops of the
Union Pacific railroad. The barracks TO
the north OF the city also will repay a