Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-03
FIRST HISTORY OF OMAHA
Volume Issued by Chancellor WOOlworth
Fifty Years Ago,
NEBRASKA IN 1857 At CLOSE RANGE
some First Hand views of Men
and Events that Have Been
Much Discussed Ever
Since.

and Events that Have Been
Much Discussed Ever
Since.
One OF the few existing copies OF Judge
James NJ woolworth's Nebraska in 1857
was dug out from the cobwebby shelves
Of Joe Carrolrs antiquarian book store the
other day and was Immediately bought
by M. L. Learned at a fancy price. The
volume is the first History of Nebraska"
and is growing extremely rare. Only at
the public library and some Of the homes
of the oldest settlers can the book be
found now. 1t is a small, red, cloth bound
affair which may be read through at an
hours sitting, but as the years keep up
their procession it grows increasingly in
teresting.
Attorney and counselor-at-law and gen.
eral land agent Omaha City, N. IT," Is
the way the author, long one of the most
famous lawyers Of the west, described him
self and address. The book was published
at New York by c. c. Woolworth and the
old book firm Of A. s. Barnes & Co, which
uses up a number of rear pages advertising
its school text books. The author an
nounced that "he intends to bring out an
GulliOn OF lnG WOTk every year. WIFI SUCH
changes and additions as the condition
of the country may make necessary" but
there is no record Of a sequel From the
, preface it is clear the book was written
more as a guide to the prospective settler
or investor than tome for the edihcation
Of future generations.
Directions for GOthamites.
New Workers are directed very plainly
how to get to Omaha Those whose time
is more valuable and important than COM
fort, and who can make only a flying visit, -
observes the author, "can take the Hudson
River railroad to Albany, then the New
York Central railroad to Suspension bridge,
then the Great Western railroad to Chicago,
then the Chicago and Rock Island railroad
to Davenport, Ia, then the Mississippi &
Missouri railroad to Iowa City, then the
stage to Omaha. The distances on this
route are:
Miles
From New York to Chicago. ............. 96C
From Chicago to Iowa City....,........... 23t
Shortest route from N. Y. to Neb. l,471
Passengers taking this route can leave
New York by the early morning traip and
arrive at Suspension Bridge the same night
Detroit the next morning, Chicago the night
OF the second day, Rock Island the morning
OF the third day. Iowa City at noon. leaving
for Omaha on the night of the third day
and arriving there in three days more, max
ing the trip from New York through ir
about six days and six nights. This is as
quick as the trip can be made"
The fare was $40. The trip now can be
made in thirty-six hours and the fare IL
s29.25.
But 'for those who can spend two OF
three days more time, for the sake OF
greater comfort" Mr.. Woolworth strongly
recommended a route via ST. Louis, finish
ing by a steamboat ride OF 1876 miles up IN,
river. This was a nine or ten days journey
with a fare Of $44 but considerably cheaper
because Of the meat and drink included al
part OF the steamer passage. II was in The
days before sleeping cars and the author
accented the greater ease Of the part wate
trip. Missouri river boats, he said, were al
fine as any in the west
Some Unconventional History.
Chapter is devoted 70 the history of tn,
territory and is not altogether conventional
For instance. the author holds the LAND
SPECTATORS fighting for the location OF tn,
capital responsible for the death of Francis
Burt OF South Carolina, the first governor
makes clear why DR.. George L. Miller anC
others have professed such high regarC
for the abilities and positive character o.
Thomas B. Cunning of Iowa, the first secre
tary. These writings are almost Of cuTren
date with the acts described:
Governor Burt made his residence a
Bellevue. He came in poor health anC
greatly needed rest after his long journey
But he was beset by multitudes OF specu
lators anxious to acquire influence with tn
/ government in behalf OF some place I,
which they wished to secure the capital, o
some other patent measures for making
sudden fortune. Harrassed by the many un
expected vexations OF his position, he diet
in about three weeks after his arrival II
the territory.
Under a provision Of the organic act
the secretary on the death OF the governor
Is invested and charged with his duties
Mr.. Secretary Cunning, therefore, becam,
the acting governor, Upon him devolyeC
the duty and difficulty OF organizing IN,
new territory. He might, indeed. have &c
elined 20 assume the responsibility OF hi
position. under the plea OF waiting for IN
structions from Washington. or the equal!
fallacious excuse that he was not ap
pointed for any such respOnsibiity--tha
even respect for superior ONCE should lea
him 20 decline its most arduOus duties
But here were already thousands Of Amer
lean citizens without government, withou
laws on the wide, Wild prairies, withou
even the moral restraints Of society; an
here was a land, new now. but soon 10 b
a prosperous community or the theater o
unrestrainsd lawlessness, and It's destin
resting on the new governments action
Cunning recognised his duty.
THE dimeulties Of his position were great