Show COUNCIL BLUFFS AND OMAHA westward the march of empire takes its way has been a term in common use for many years we might trace its first starting away back to the eastern continent to ararat where noahs ark rested and where the descendants of that patriarch began to spread abroad and re people the earth of course as they became numerous they stretched out upon new territory and that territory lay in a westerly course until all the land was filled to the sea coast the story is too lengthy to record here but christopher columbus was inspired to pioneer the way to a new continent which was concealed from their knowledge to a western hemisphere across the broad atlan tic to america the crowded population of the east flocked and planted the nucleus of the mightiest government upon tho the globe from plymouth rock and other points along the atlantic shore the spirit of enterprise and adventure penetrated the forests and nd filled the land with happy homes and cities until the tidal wave of emigration at last found its western limit along the shores of the pacific ocean the effects of all this has made everywhere ite ita wonderful mark even along the region which has been my recent line of observation among the most noted are the cities of omaha and council bluffs the transformation that has taken place here since 1846 inmost is most astonishing at council bluffs a little previous to the date named there hail had been a council held between I 1 think some government officials and certain indian tribes which gave to this point the name of council bluffs A catholic institution of some kind had been beenk established here and one or two of their block buildings were standing in 46 they had bad buried some of their dead in iii the northern part of the present city limits while the city was excavating the ground preparatory to the erection of a large building for educational purposes a few years ago some coffins were exhumed which were conveyed to the cemetery on the hill for final burial it is 11 not my i intention nten tion to dwell upon the history of the building up of this region nevertheless the history is a remarkable one in 1847 the present site of council bluffs was only a small village occupied by the people generally called mor imor mons now its population I 1 am told is forty or fifty thousand streets art are dug through the hills and the elevations are rounded for the occupation of desirable and costly residences the place is lit up by ele electric etric light and electric motors traverse the streets they have four large buildings in the interest of district schools and churches in abundance with a costly and imposing county court house the government appropriated some two hu hundred n thousand dollars which have been used in the erection of a building to be used as a post office and for the accommodation of courts convened for the transaction of united states business to say this is a creditable building would be superfluous bous many Uto Uton niana lans will remember hyde street now madison street this street has been extended eastward among the hills good sidewalks are constructed the whole length and the street itself is constructed ted by the use of cedar blocks through the center are laid iron rails and electric motor cars care run to and fro every avery few minutes at their eastern terminus paths are constructed along the sides and down into the gullies in all directions leading to miniature oi 01 artificial lakes that glisten down in the narrow defiles that divide the several lines of ridges or bluffs bluff s upon the highest point is constructed a band stand from froin which music is discoursed for the entertainment of excursionists close to this stand to Is arranged the stump of a large pine tree had been shipped from california in sections I 1 paced around it and counted twenty three paces seats beats are constructed upon the long ridge that runs along the edge of the missouri bottom upon which people can rest and cloat chat politics religion indulge in mental flights of romance or woo a bride right there is the scene of a reminiscence which I 1 has passed into history and will never die upon the tha highest point of that long sharp ridge that runs emt east and west along the broad bottom land that stretches down from the foot of the bluffs to the missouri river biver the stars and stripes were unfurled at the time the mormon battalion was mustered into the united states service to march against the hostile troops of mexico to give my utah friends an idea of the growth of council bluffs city I 1 will state that the corporation has been extended over a avast vast area of that bottom land and buildings reach from a point considerably north of the miller farm and sweeps southward some two or three milea near to creek they also extend westward in some places half the distance across the bottom while along the line of the mortar track the buildings may be said to be continuous all the way to the river the company owning the mortar line have constructed a bridge upon which their cars as well as carriages and pedestrians cross this bridge unites the commercial and social interests teresta in of omaha and council bluffs it was about one year in building and was ready for use last october A grand jubilee took place between the two cities at the time the completion of the bridge was celebrated it is a great auxiliary in aid of friendly as well as business relations between the two cities which have been rivals to excel in advancing the fame and importance of their locations in this respect omaha has carried off the palm they seem to be shrewd men in omaha commercially they have devised liberal things and thereby attracted settlers and trade while those of council bluffs were too cautious and fearful in the early years of the rivalry the transportation is so quick and easy that the fact of the missouri river biver running between is no hindrance to those who daily go shopping A few minutes and they are conveyed to either city thus enjoying the pleasure of an agreeable ride the omaha merchants offer the council bluffs people free rides to come over and trade at their counters many avail themselves of this and thereby get cheap goods and a pleasant out II 11 the population of omaha together with that of south omaha I 1 was told amounted to nearly one hundred and thirty two thousand their business houses bouses go much higher towards the region of f the clouds than do those of council bluffs some of them are ten stories I 1 went into the bee building its spacious open court inmost is most creditable to the proprietors the COM composing room was closed to visitors tence hence the typos were relieved of my presence the young man who runs the elevator as he took me up said we went up to the height of seven stories ahe the elevation and descent were pleasant and brief that is a magnificent structure and the wonder with me was how the art preservative could invest so much capital ital when ren omaha was surveyed I 1 was living in council bluffs joseph E johnson then the editor of the bugle was one of the prime movers in having the survey surrey accomplished complis hed and set forth in the columns of his paper that a great future invited thither the enterprise and energy of men of capital mr johnson also made beautiful pen pictures of many other nebraska towns which have since attained to some prom prominence ineice the missouri river at omaha is narrower now than I 1 ever saw it it looked to me that a steamboat could scarcely ascend it I 1 hid not go to florence but understand der stand it if remains about the same as it was thirty years ago some borne wealthy men are building and beautifying residences between that town and omaha some are sanguine in the belief that the space between the two places named will yet be filled with residences and business houses nature has done much for this region and if those who dwell within the limits of this glorious inheritance will act their parts wisely the march of empire will continue to add from year to year to the legacy of wealth and social enjoyment bestowed upon them so bountifully L 0 COUNCIL BLUFFS aug 30 1889 |