The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-06-17
FIFTY YEARS OLD
HALF CENTURY LIVED OVER
AGAIN BY PIONEERS,
NEBRASKA'S SEMI-CENTENNIAL
Golden Jubilee of Organization of Ter
ritory is Made Memorable Event
An Odtpouring of Venerable Resi-
dents Showing interest They Felt.

S''SS ''N~'SS NV
OMAHA-The splendor of the pres
ent; the wilderness hat was; and how
and why. For the contemplation of
which was the semi-centennial.
The people of Nebraska in Omaha
commemorated the approval Of Pres
ident Pierce May 80, 1854, of the Ne
braska-Kansas bill which permitted
the organization of the territory of Ne
braska.
A benefcent providence forbade the
rain hat fell slightly in the morning
and the remainder of the day was SO
fair in character as to induce thou
sands to view the parade down town
and pack the huge Auditorium to it's
last seat.
The celebration was everything the
name implies and was divided into
three distinct phases. First, in pa
geantry and display by the grand
civic and military parade; in thought
full consideration of the circumstances
combining to make the state, its pres
emit and it's future, by the meeting in
the Auditorium, at which Henry d.
Estabrook delivered a brilliant ad-
dress; and third, in Renaissance and
good fellowship by an informal old
settlers reunion at the Orpheum the
alter in the evening, at which nine of
the oldest and most prominent citi-
zens told of the events that shaped
the commonwealth.
The %outpouring Of venerable resi-
dents who came to Nebraska and
Omaha in the early days was esne-
cially remarkable and indicated the
deep interest felt in the affair. The
men and women classed as pioneers
were too many for the sixty carriages
that had been provided and the many
private cCnveyances, and some diff
Guilty was encountered in giving all
of them an opportunity to ride in
the parade. At the Auditorium more
than 5000 people of all ages and con-
ditions-probably one of the most
truly representative and cosmopolitan
groups that ever assembled in Omaha
proved that the great building is
none too commodious in its present
unfinished condition.
The commemOration did not begin
unit afternoon and from II o'clock on
the day was given up entirely to the
occasion, all public buildings and
many private ones being cl1sei. The
throngs that c~ongregated down town
to view the parades have been equaled
only by some of the Ak-Sar-Ben on
gregatiops, when thousands of visit
ors were in the city. For a celebra-
ton of the kind the parade was IN
fine.
Most marked of all the. feelings ex-
pressed and felt was that of deep
wonder over what had been accom-
plished in Nebraska IN fifty years;
--earty self-congratulatiOn upon the
condition of the present and earnest
faith in the future. This was the
spirit that predominated the gather
II was a truly happy celebra-
ton, without tumulr, but with many
happy smiles and frequent handclaps
betokening feelings of brotherhood
and awakening old memories and as
sociGtions.
DR.. George L. Miller, president of
the day, presided V the exercises
in the Auditorium and made brief
Introductory remarks. Governor
Mickey also spoke briefly. Bishop
A. L. Williams, bishop of the diocese
Of Nebraska, offered the invocation.