Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-21
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NJ VICTOR RosBwATBR

MY reference tho other day 10 the death Of Samuel
lNl Bowles Of the Springfield Republican and 10
the unsuccessful effort years ago TO induce his
father TO transfer his Journalistic activities TO Omaha
brought a telephone message from my good friend
and former neighbor. Truman Buck. suggesting that
had overlooked a generation OF the Bowles family
in asrribing the founding Of tho Springfield Rcpdh-
lican 10 the father instead Of to the grandfather
Look into the history Of the Bowles family
little further" said Mr. Buck which forthwith did
and made the correction, although technically we
probably both right In the first instance. My
inquiry disclosed that the Springfield Republican was
founded weekly paper in 1874 by the first samuel
Bowles who connected with it,. bot that was
his son, the second Samuel Bowcs, who In lNi pre-
vailed upon him to establish the Republican a
daily and therefore entitled to the credit OF n'hE
its founder quite az much as was his father.
Ny investigation disclosed something more. and Of
equal interest TO me, as possibly explaining why my
father and the men associated with him i'm promoting
the old Tribune" in 1870 felt that they might per-
sUade the then editor Of the Springfield Republican
TO pull up stakes and come out TO Omaha, and take
charge Of the newspaper they were eager to launch
For although easterner born and bred, Samuel
Bowes ST., had personally explored the west In two
trips across the continent and had described his OBJ
servations enthusiastically in the letters written to
his paper and later gathered together and Issued into
a book running through several editions as TO war
rant the conclusion that ne appreciated the great pos
siblitics this section did few others. and was
enamored Of the country and its life. In the preface
TO his book. which is entitled "Our New West and
is accessible in public library. the occasions OF
these trips thus explained.
THE author has spent two summers in intimate
travel tho regions comprehended In the volume.
The first Gs65) before the railroad was begun.
when he Travelled by stage from the Missouri river
to the Pacific ocean and thence north TO oregon,
Washington territory and Pugets sound: stopping
for leisure study Of Colorado, of Utah and its Nor
mons OF Nevada and Its mines: and visiting all the
distinctive points OF interest. either for scenery, for
business Improvement. for social characteristics
Again in 1865 he passed the then already COM
pleed railroad to the crest Of the great continental
mountain and thence descending the
great folds OF mountains and elevated peaks that
distinguish Colorado, and make it the geographical
center and phenomenon OF the continent spent
weeks in camp life in that future Switzerland OF
America. The company of distinguished and
popular public Mr.. Colfax. the speaker and
vice president and Lieutenant Governor Bross OF
Illinois. during both summers. smc0thed all
ways and unlocked for study all the mysteries
OF social and business life. We welcomed to
hospitality of head and heart. and gained
at competest knowledge OF the states and ter
rtores visited. Study, then since. Of all local
records and authorities. has completed and kept
alive my acquaintance with the growth, character
and capacity of this kingdom of continent"
In the body Of the volume is what l. more TO the
point and moro illuming word-pcture by this hard
headed New Highlander OF the then beginnings OF
Omaha and Council Bluffs and survey of the
progress they had made between 1865 the year Mr.,
Bowes first crossed the continent 1866, the year
OF his second expedition. This account reads fol-
lows
Omaha in 1866. a feeble rival of Atchison. Leav-
enworth and Nebraska City in QUILTING emigrant
and merchandise wagons for Colorado and Utah. and
without single mile of railroad within one hundred
miles has already become the greatest railroad
ter OF the Missouri and Mississippi valleys. 1t Is
the starting point of the Pacific railroad which
stretches completed line of eighteen hundred miles
west TO the Pacific, ocean; to the east two
three completed lines OF five hundred miles
Iowa and Illinois to Chicago and others in
progress TO the south open roads to St Louis
across Missouri; and to the north is finished road
to Sioux CITY, and fast stretching on to st, Paul.
The three great states Of the Mississippi valley,
Illinois. Iowa and Missouri the garden and granary
OF the nation, and seat of its middle empire, are
slashed In all directions by railroad lines completed
or rapidly constructing. meeting as a western focus
at Omaha and Council Bluffs. sister towns on either
bank OF the Missouri, and convorging on the east
into either Chicago st, Louis Their consequent
development In population and wealth. is perhaps
the most wonderful illustration of modern American
growth. II is within this that New England Is
pouring the best OF her emigration and reproducing
herself. in and industry and intelligence on
broader, more generous and more national basis
Council Bluffs, the Iowa bank of the Missouri
river, opened the year 1863 with 5000 inhabitants
having erected 1900 buildings i'm 1865 while
Omaha, opposite counted nearly double that num-
Der. In both the railroads center upon the bot
tom lands, but the beautiful bluffs back and above
invite the living of the towns. Council Bluffs
is almost hidden amid the folding circles Of it's
hills. and has the fascination OF mysteries in the
distance; but Omaha stands out with holder and
more even front upon grand amphitheater over
the river Besides the railroads. these towns have
a river navigation 1000 miles north into Montana and
10 the British line. and 1000 miles south 20 New
Orleans and the gulf
out now upon the continental railroad For 800
miles, straight. level line, the broad plains
along the valley of the Platte. 1t but play to
build a railroad here. Yet there is a steady ascent
OF ten feet to the mile; and for the first 800 miles
the country has the exquisite roll and active fer
ulity OF the Iowa and Illinois praires. Through
this region tho growth Of Nebraska shares that of
those two states and she has the advantage OF them
Generally. in climate, in water and in wood"
After looking little further into the history Of
the Bowles family and into this delightful narrative
OF delighted traveller could understand better the
letter have previously quoted penned by Mr.
Bowles In answer TO his Omaha invitation. l had
said he had brushed II aside very gently" and very
politely" and am inclined 10 believe now, also very
reluctantly.
RS> Or ~ 4