The Van Buren press., 1903-08-01
WITH THE EDITORS.
Some "reminiscences OF Our Visit to
Omaha, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone
National Park and Other
Points Of Interest,
Points Of Interest.

NatlOnaI iark ana OJner
Points OF Interest.
On July 7th the eighteenth annual
meeting of the National Editorial AS
sociation of the United States convened
at Omaha. The writer having been
selected rs one of the delegates to
represent the Arkansas Press Associa-
tion at this convention of that body left
on July 5th for the place of meeting via
the Iron Mountain Mo. Pacific rail
way.
A twelve hour stay in Kansas City
revealed to the eye the immense damage
done by the food that swept down the
river Kaw about three weeks previous,
carrying death and destruction to
hundreds of lives and millions Of pro.
perty. Words fail to convey to the
mind the seriousness Of this flood. The
section of town known as Armour dale
was the greatest sufferer, being located
where the water had full sweep.
There acres of ground before covered
with the houses Of employees Of the
packing houses, etc, and stores WAS
swept so that not vestage WAS left to
show that at one time it had been densely
populated. The wreckage from this
and drift from the upper reaches OF the
stream piled up against the five bridges
which spanned the Kaw and as result
only one remained standing the Mo.
Pacific bridge. Only 10y heroic measures
was this bridge saved, the company
going to the extent OF weighting the
structure down with ten Of its heaviest
engines, All the other bridges were
lifted from their piers and the bent and
twisted iron structures whole spans In
places were in evidence lying in the
stream to prove the destructive nature
Of the torrent. A temporary pontOon
bridge crossed the Kaw to Wyandotte.
This we crossed and there found more
evidences Of destruction, The bottoms
be low had been the yards for u unmber
Of the railroads but no one would have
suspected it, but for the number Of
overturned engines and cars seen lying
on all sides the tracks, with but.few
exceptions, were entirely washed away.
To the writer It tappeared the Mo, Pacific
was the greatest sufferer ut this point,
Its ioundhOuse and coal shute were u
total wreck and scattered about them
were eight or more engines, apparently
total wrecks. All cars not overturned
were full Of mud-many TO the depth Of
several feet, and all freight remaining
In them badly damaged or entirely
destroyed,
The Wholesale district, Of course was
one Of the heaviest losers but judging
by the work being done In that section
few months will see every vestige Of
the destruction gone,
We left Kansas City that evening In
company with our old friend Geo W
Thornburgh, editor Of the Black Rock
ARK } Blade the only other delegate
attending the meeting from this state
Omaha was reached the next morning
early, where all arrangements had been
made previously by the national sccre.
tary, The first impression was very
favorable, The Union station and that
Of the Burlington route can DO classed
with the best IN the country, while not
~ large m some their interior and
exterior finish IL Of the best. But there
ia one thing that strikes the visitor
unfay0rably In Omaha While there IL
plenty OF hotel accommodation and
several Of these ARE Of imposing con.
struction the service, with the exception
OF one or two, according TO the general
report Of the delegates, Ia not what
might be expected Ia n city Of ils
ll'N'HHi'nN1
Believing description OF ON aha and
its advantages would prove Of greater
interest to our readers than recapitula.
tion Of the proceedings Of the Assoca.
tion which are really only OF interest
TO ne wepopcr men, we give such recap
itulatIon,
Omaha occupies remarkably nd.
van,agcous position and her energetic,
thrifty citizens have lost no time IN
carrying oul plans that make her today
one Of the chief eitiea of the central
west, Next 10 Chicago Omaha is the
largest hog packing center IN the world
and third In the matter of beef packing
The city embraces an area Of twenty.
four square miles aud n good proper,
ton Of her Hlreets are well paved well
lighted aud lined with imposing and I