Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-04

be constructed and IN operation, yet they
did not think they would live 70 see the
day when II would be in operation.
RIMS First Line West.
The dreams Of General Dodge. how
ever, came true and many years sooner
than he had anticipated. In 1853 General
Dodge found himself at Davenport. Ia,
a point to which Engineer DeY nd pie
viously gone. Here General Dodge was
given a commission as chief engineer OF
the Mississippi a Missouri Railroad com.
pany and was instructed 10 run line
from tho Mississippi river 20 n point Un
the banks OF the Missouri, and after
reaching the last named place 70 make
some observations west OF the river. In
due time the line to the Missouri river
was run. II terminating ut Council
Bluffs.
Going out from Council Bluffs, with
his party. General Dodge crossed the
river 10 the site Of. the city OF Omaha.
This was in the fall of 1853. The pertyi
! came over the river In flatboats. landed
whore Omaha now stands and proceeded
In southwesterly direction to tho
Papplo. thence striking across the country
to near the present town of Valley From
Valley the engineers, with General Dodge
at their head. followed the Platte out
100 or so miles and then returned. oolng
back 10 Iowa CITY. where the Mississippi
g. Missouri railroad headquartersN bad
been established. General DODGE reported
10 Engineer pey. He informed him that
be had found feasible route Cor rail
road west OF the Missouri river and gave
him an idea Of the country, ~
! Comes 20 Councl Bluffs. g.
The year 1854 found General Dodge los
Gated In Council Bluffs. but engaged in
The mercantile business, did n little bank
ing and put train OF wagons on the
road between Council bluffs and what
Is now Denver
In 1856 some Of the tribes Of Indians
in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa
became restless and showed indicstions
OF going on tho warpath. Instinctively
Of military habit OF mind. General
Dodge took time by the forelock and
organised and equipped the Council
Bluffs Guards. .he first military organi-
saticn- IN Iowa. He waa elected captain
of the company that subsequently be-
came Company p. Fourth regiment, Iowa
infantry volunteers.
4 Eniisss In 1891.
In 1861 when the civil war prolSe out,
General Dodge rendered his services
land the services OF the military corn.
lpahy OF which he was captain to
Governor Kirkwood OF Iowa. The gov
ernor rejected the offer. contending that
at any time the western border OF the
state might be menaced by an uprising
OF the Indians And that It would be
unwise to send the militia from this
l.. "a -.
lie later declined a proffered cuItaincy
In the regular army, and stlll later en-
tered the service a. colonel OF en- Iowap
volunteer regiment He served with dis
tinEuished ability curing the wa. and
rose through the several grades until he
became a corps commander under Sher-
man. and fought In the greas battles
under that leader His military esrser Is
brilliant chapter Of his active life.
Becomes Chief Engineer.
On May 1. 1905 having finished thiI
military work and retired with the rank
OF major general. General Dodge assumed
at Omaha the duties OF chief engineer
for the Union Pacific railway, His work
in behalf Of that road became scarcely
less memorable than his battle records,
and his wartime experience served ad-
niirably 70 ut him for that sigantio task
OF blazing a way through the wilderness
and planting the rails that were to bind
In intimate relations the Americans OF
two seaboards while opening up vasi
intermediate empire OF industry.
Active In Butlding Road.
During ali the time General Dodg
served In the army he was more or les'
occupied with the Pacific railroad prob
lem and when he left the service It wal
TO take up the active work Of bulldinG
as chief engineer OF the Union Pacific
In 1857 he was a member OF congress
from Iowa. serving one term. In politics
he was always a stauneh republican
He succeeded General sherman as presi
dent Of the Society OF the Army OF th'
Tennessee. He was also president Of ths
New York commandery OF the Loya
Legion In lsee he was a member OF th'
commission appointed 70 inquire into tbs
: management OF the war with spain.
General Dodge was for many years
: director OF the Union Pacific railroad. ii
! was elected 20 congress from Iowa a. I