Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-18
ANNAPOLIS Md MONDAY. SEPTEMBER ls. 1899.
WITH THE STAR OF EMPIRE.
WESTWARD FROM OMA-
HA TO DENVER.
Over The Great Northern Pacific Rail
road Scenes And Incidents
Along The Route.

Special Correspondence of the Evening Capt. al
You lett US in our last letter al Omaha.
500 miles from Denver. We are now
travelling on the Union Pacific. one of
the finest equipped roads in the country
1t is nearly midnight and we are about to
turn in and enjoy one OF the new sleep
ers of the Union Paci6c's railroad pal
aces. which were specially built for the
company, and recently put into service
on their famous fast trains.
These veritable railroad palaces are
broad vestibuled, twelve section, draw
ing-room, smoking-room cars. heavily
draped in silk, with seats of embossed
silk plush, and wood work decorated in
the most unique and artistic style. The
berths are four inches wider than usual,
thus adding TO the comfort of the trav-
eler. In the ladies' dressing room on
these cars an innovation in the form of
an empire dresser. with heavy plate mir
rors, is an added feature. In the Union
Pacific trains the arrangement of the gas
lamps is also unique. These are set in
recesses, giving a much softer form OF
illumination than otherwise.
On inquiry we find that the first settle
ment was made at Omaha in 1884, and
that it was named from The Omaha Ind
ians who then possessed the country. In
its embryo, Omaha was a mudhole, to-
day it is one of the finest paved cities in
the West. Its population IS about I4o.
500. and in 1880, II had population Of
only $4,000. The Union Pacific Rail-
road has handsome bridge connecting
Omaha. Nebraska. with Council Bluffs,
Iowa. This bridge is 1850 feet long and
10 feet above the water. and is the only
double track steel bridge over the Mis-
souri,. II provides for the great trans
continental traffic from the Atlantic to
the Pacific coasts. The exposition is
still in progress at Omaha, and the at
tendance is good. Ii is expected 10 close
next month and has been very successful
throughout. A large number OF visitors
to the exposition left the train AT Omaha,
and others who had been doing it,
boarded the train for green fields and
pastures new.
Four miles from Omaha to the south,
is South Omaha. 1t has been dubbed
the "Magic City,. and is conducted by
railroad and street railway with Omaha.
1t was once a suburb OF that city, and its
rise in comparatively few years to the
third greatest live stock market, and
meat packing centre, is phenomenal. -
About forty miles further on, we reach
Fremont. which is situated in the midst
Of the richest and most productive portion
OF the Platte Valley. At this point the
valley stretches away in all directions as
far as The eye can reach. Another thirty
miles and Schuyler is reached. Ii is the
seat OF ColfaN county. and is a growing
and enterprisibg town. Schuyl ler does
large business in wheat shipments. We
are sill in Nebraska, and about eighteen
miles from Schuy Ter we reach Columbus.
which. in 1904, was the frontier town Of
the State. AT this time there were few
settlers in Nebraska beyond the town Of
Columbus. Today it has a population
OF ALSO. In the sixties Mr.. George
Train called Columbus the geographical
centre OF the United States, and advoca-
ted the removal Of the National Capitol
to this place.
Proceeding on our westward course,
forty miles further on stop is made at
Central City, the county seat OF Merrick
county. 1t is located in the southern
part of the county, and is its business
centre. commanding as it does, a good
trade. Grand Island, Nebraska. is the
next stop. 1t has population OF 5000
and is large and important business
place and railroad junction. Several
hundred men are employed at the Union
Pacific machine and repair shops, which
are located there. The station was nam
ed Grand Island, from an island in the
Platte river. two miles from this point.
The island. which is thirty miles long
and four miles v ide, is the largest in the
river. South Of the ridge. separating the
valley from the Platte and Wood rivers.
Kearney is located. Situated as it is,
Kearney affords the natural opportunity
for the establishment of three artificial
lakes, giving an immense water power.
the capacity of which is scarcely disturb
ed by the various manufacturing plants
now operated by it. Another stop is
made at Lexington, Nebraska, which is
the centre of rich agricultural and fer
tile district. About sixty miles west of
this point, we reach North Platte, Ne
braska, arriving here at half-past seven
in the morning by central time. and leav-
ing Ia la Mark Twain. ''before we got
there at 6.3o a. m, mountain time.
Here we set our watches back an hour,
and now we are two hours slower than
when we left Annapolis. We had for
gotten all about the change Of time from
central to mountain, and in consequence
arose an hour earlier than we otherwise
should, tearing the porter had neglected
to call US in time for the "last call for
breakfast" The change in time cores
ponding to change in longitude, is. to
some. quite puzzling. and is the occasion
for ludicIous incidents oHentimes. North
Platte. where the time changes from CEN
tral to mountain, is the headquarters Of
the largest live stock interests in the State
Of Nebraska.-horses cattle and sheep.
(Continued in our next issue.