Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-07
The Old Reliable.

That Manchester is the best city of
its size in the state is generally con-
coded. Its merchants, and in fact
those engaged in all lines of business,
are prosperous, and this probably &C.
counts for the fact that its citizens are
content with but one line of railroad,
though another or other roads would
beyond question add much to its pros
perity, and they could be had il
reasonable effort were made by its citi-
zens to secure them.
But it is fortunate, having but one
line, that that one is the Illinois Cen
tral,ro of the best in the west, and
this, no doubt, has largely to do with
the apathy of its residents in securing
other railroad facilities.
Having but one means of ineress
and egress by rail, our city is interested
in having the line upon which it is de.
pendent as important as possible,
and every mile of new road
that is added to it should be hailed
with JOY by all our citizens.
The Central has recently completed,
at cost of 100000, a new piece of
first class road 131 miles in length from
Tara to Council Bluffs, from which
point it is continued across the Mis-
souri, river to Omaha by the tracks and
bridge of the Omaha Bridge and Rail.
way Terminal Company. at Omaha
connection is mad. with the trsnscon-
tinental trains of the Union Pacific, the
Burlington, and the Chicago Rock
Island and Pacific Railways.
The line from Chicago to Omaha is
first class in every respect and it is the
intention that its equipment shall not
be excelled by that of any other line in
this country. The through train SER
vice now consists of two daily fast
trains known as the "Express' and
Limited" The latter is a solid, wide
vestibuled train, making but few stops,
and running on fast time schedule.
Its equipment ls new throughout and
consists of buffet library, smoking
car, Pullman sleeper, free reclining
chair and dining car. The Express
does more local work, is a through YES
tibuled train and carries through
sleeping car between Chicago and
Omaha with dining car service en-
route. Il
The new line was inaugurated by the
passenger department of the Central
| extending an invitation to the editors
| along the line to make the first trip on
the Limited" and tifty-ive pencil
pushers accepted, the invitation, and
right glad were they that they did.
The train left Dubuque Sunday even.
ing, January %, and arrived at Council
Bluffs the next morning, where the
editors and their chaperons, Capt. j. F
Merry, the popular assistant passenger
agent of the Central, and his efficient
assistant, Travelling Passenger Agent
J. A. Wheeler, were met at the depot
by large number of the business mer
of that city and conveyed to the Crane
Hotel, where they were Toasted to theil
hearts content. The party was theI
taken about the city and from thence
to Omaha by trolley cars.
Upon their arrival at Omaha they
were met by committee of the Com
mercial Club and were shown through
the packing houses and other points o
interest of Nebraska's grsndest city
Later the party met at the rooms of tn
CommercialClub where brief addresses
were made.
At $50 p. m. the visiting editors
Omaha newspaper men, and residen
officials of the Central were given
: banquet at the Paxton hotel by tn
passenger department of the Contra
represented by Capt. Merry. The din
ner was an elaborate one, and at IT
close toasts were responded to unit
Capt. Merry called time, and none to
! soon, in order for the excursionists t,
reach the Limited" in time for th
homeward trip.