USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 10
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" Although roads can be easily constructed over the rolling prairies of the west, yet it is
only upon the valley of the Platte, after passing the great bend thirteen miles west of Omaha, Bellevue and Florence, that a straight level and solid road bed can be found which leads in the direct line of com- merce east and west for near a thousand miles. This peculiar fitness would of itself be sufficient to attract all travel and railroad enterprise that might come within a hundred miles of the Platte; but there are other influences, outside of the valley, that tend to throw the migration through the center of Nebraska. The great channel of the St. Lawrence and the lakes, extended by rail- roads and common roads through Chicago, Iowa City, Fort Des Moines (the Capital of Iowa by a recent act of the General Assen- bly), and Council Bluffs, the frontier city of Iowa, and the great daily mail running in four-horse coaches, all tend to bring travel to the valley of the Platte. Several great lines of railroad south of these lakes, and all the leading roads which extend them through Iowa, converge towards Council Bluffs, directly east of the great line of the Platte valley. The greatest States, the largest cities, the most dense portion of our Union, are directly east and near this paral- lel of 41°, and it is, therefore, natural that these elements should flow through the center of Nebraska.
"But another great advantage of the Platte valley is the convenience it offers to branches westward. It leads to those great mountain passes, which are the gateways to Utah, California, Oregon and Washington. It is the best route, and the adopted road to all these States and Territories, and it is believed by your committee, some of whom have been through these routes, and for years intimate with those who traverse the mountains, that it is the Platte valley alone that affords to all those western divisions any natural and easy common way, which will commingle their travel with that of the Eastern States.
" There are still other attractions which
55
RAILROAD BUILDING IN NEBRASKA.
lead emigration through this channel. Start- ing from this more westerly point on the Missouri, there is less of land travel than any other route affords. There is a better connected line of good water, wood, stone,coal, soil and grass, than can be found on any other route; and it is far more inhabited, passing as we may, through the valley of the Great Salt Lake, Carson Valley, and the tributaries of the Sacramento. This route lies also in a zone of the earth's surface, where the greatest variety of useful articles can be produced; where men are capable of the greatest amount of endurance, and where the greatest amount of population and wealth are most likely to accumulate.
" Although the Platte valley offers such pre-eminent advantages, and has for years been adopted as the natural emigrant route across this continent, yet it cannot be denied that other routes from east to west have their attractions, and that for years past commercial, financial and political efforts have been exhausted to direct and establish the trade and travel through other channels. Millions have been expended annually in transports around Cape Horn and through Central America. Extensive surveys have been made to find routes for railroads-far south and north-routes which a distin- guished Senator has recently shown are far more convenient to Mexico and Canada, than to the United States. Southern conventions have been hield, and earnest efforts made to secure a route through by El Paso, and much has been said and done to direct public attention to a route leading southwest from St. Louis. But relying on the wisdom and prudence of our government, and the dis- cerning scrutiny which characterizes those engaged in commerce and railroad enterprises, your committee confidently believe that the great emigrant route by the Platte valley will ultimately, not only retain its pre- eminence as the overland route, but absorb the business that now travels thousands of miles around a southern continent, instead
of passing directly across our own country This, your committee believe, will be effected by the construction of a Pacific railroad. The substitution of locomotives, or land- steamers, that will run through or assist to develop and enrich our common country, for ocean steamers that are now erected mainly at our expense, and sent off to enrich other parts of the world, is the only remedy that will secure our common interests. Thirty years ago Colonel Leavenworth, who then commanded a post in sight of this locality. called the attention of our government to the importance, practicability and expedi- ency of constructing a railroad by way of the Platte valley to the Pacific. Subse- quently the Rev. J. Parker, J. Plumber, Colonel Fremont, Mr. Whitney, Captain Stansbury, and thousands of others at a still later period, have urged the expedieney of adopting a railroad to the emigrant route, thereby connecting all parts of our Republic.
"But the importance of such a work is so manifest to all, and the consequent advan- tage which ' must result to the section of country through which such a road would pass, that a contest has arisen among States and cities to secure its location, and that contest has for years paralyzed all govern- ment effort, and retarded the progress and success of private enterprise. Engineers compute the distance from this navigable point of the Missouri to Sacramento City, a navigable point on the Sacramento River, at eighteen hundred miles. At least one thousand miles of this would be in the valleys of the Platte and Humboldt, where it is generally conceded, at least by those conversant with the route in question, that the natural grade can hardly be improved. Much of the remaining eight hundred miles would be on the valley of the Sweetwater, Bear River and other easy grades, leaving not over four hundred miles of what may be deemed heavy work. Most of this would be in California and Utah, where the present
56
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
inhabitants would be able and ready to execute their proper sections of the work, The State of Illinois has constructed rail- roads about equal in length to this Pacific road within the last two years; and the aid of the general government, and the applica- tion of State and private means, in the consummation of so great a work has not been felt by the community.
" Most of the Pacific road could be graded more easily than any of the roads of Illinois, and the worst sections do not present obsta- cles of serious moment to those engineers who have explored or ascertained the char- acter of the country. Similar aid extended to Nebraska, Utah and California, would enable them to do on the Pacific line, what Illinois has done on various lines, and with- out regard to other projects, the old emigrant route by the Platte, through the center of Nebraska, would become the highway of nations.
"The completion of a line of railroad to Council Bluffs, on the opposite side of the Missouri, is a matter so self-evident that your committee have not deemed it necessary to advert to that section. Four companies are organized, four lines have been sur- veyed through Iowa to that point, and the Lyons road, Rock Island road, Air Line road and Burlington road are all contending for an early connection with that point in west- ern Iowa. It is the desire of your committee, and doubtless of the entire population of our Territory, to secure their united efforts in carrying a great trunk line up the valley of the Platte, thereby securing to all of them a share of the Pacific road and to Nebraska a trunk that will expand into a thousand branches.
"With this view and in consideration of our remoteness from the wealth and influ- ence of the Atlantic States, and our financial inability to carry forward, in the morning of our territorial existence, a great though practicable project, your committee have deemed it expedient to present a trunk line,
with a liberal charter, in order to encourage capitalists to invest their means, and pro- ceed with such a work at the earliest possible period. Your committee do this, not only to supply Nebraska with an early railroad connection but to protect her against power- ful efforts which are being made to divert from her the travel which now comes through her great natural artery, and also to secure that great national highway that will revo- lutionize the commerce of the world. If, then, by the adoption of liberal measures and extending to capitalists the strongest inducements to invest their means, we suc- ceed in accomplishing this great result, we will secure to Nebraska an advantage that she cannot hope otherwise to acquire.
" Some idea of the importance of an over- land national channel of commerce can be found by inserting here some estimates of the business of this route. The Hon. Mr. McDougal, in a speech made in Congress on the second day of May last, stated that 443 merchant vessels had arrived in one year (1853) at San Francisco, carrying 423,230 tons, at $30 per ton, costing for its trans- portation $12,696,900.
$12,696,900 Cost for transportation, as above .... Insurance on $100,000,000, the value of this merchandise at 4 per cent 4,000,000
Losses on merchandise not included as above
7,000.000
Interest on capital. 5,000,000
110,000 passengers at an average of $250 each, with $2 per day for 40 days, the time of transit ... 36,300,000
Transportation of mails and naval and military stores. 3,739,000
Freights crossing the Isthmus 3,050,000
Total for one year. $71,785,900
This is only a partial statement, be- cause it only takes note of the mer- chandise which goes to San Fran- cisco. Therefore, add merchandise transportation to other parts of California and Oregon, say 15 of $27,696.000, that which goes to San Francisco
Isthmus freight on same
9,232,000 1,000,000
Transportation of many of these arti- cles from western States to New York, estimated 200,000 tons at $6 per ton. 12,000,000
Travel of passengers and expense in New York $30 each. 3,300
Annual cost to the United States .. $83 221,000
57
MARK W. IZARD APPOINTED GOVERNOR.
This is mainly the business of this country, that passes from the east to the west side of the Republic. There is the trade of our country and all Europe with India. Who can compute that? It is reasonable to suppose that good railroad facili- ties across this continent would se- cure more than half of the above itenis, amounting then to ... 41,610,600 Add for increase which a railroad would naturally create-50 per cent 20,805,300 Add local business that would come to the line and equal the through .. 62,415,900
Total $124,831 800
"To this add whatever may be drawn from the commerce of the world, and the apparent business of the road would be greater than one single trunk road can do-not less than two hundred millions per annum. Like all the great east and west lines, it will immedi- ately require doubling, and will produce a large profit on the cost.
"This gross income could only be secured after several years of business; but it is easy to see that the vast amount of trade and travel which does now follow the tedious ronte by ocean, would immediately pass through this new, safe and speedy channel of commerce. The millions of Europe would be brought into contact with the hundred millions of Asia, and their line of quick transit would be, to a great extent, across our continent. Their mails, their ministers, their most costly and interesting travel and trade would take this route and augment our business and multiply our resources.
"In view of the comparative cost to the wonderful changes that will result, your committee cannot believe the period remote when this work will be accomplished ; and with liberal encouragement to capital, which your committee are disposed to grant, it is their belief that before fifteen years have transpired, the route to India will be opened and the way across this continent will be the common way of the world. Entertain- ing these views, your committee report the bill for the Platte Valley & Pacific Rail- road, feeling assured that it will become not only a basis for branches within Nebraska,
but for surrounding States and Territories."
It is doubtful if any prophetic vision of the future of a country was ever more accu- rately realized. Within a few months less than the fifteen years given for the comple- tion of the road, the last spike was driven connecting the Union Pacific and the Cen- tral Pacific roads, and the " common way" of the world became what the author of this report had declared it should become.
The remaining proceedings of the first Nebraska Legislature are devoid of any special interest. They consisted of the enactment of civil and criminal codes, boundaries of counties, incorporation of cities, universities and private associations, establishment of ferries and the numberless acts which, necessary as they may be at the time of laying the foundations of a com- monwealth, possess little general interest after the occasion which gave rise to them have passed.
The codes, however, enacted at that ses- sion, principally adopted from the several codes of the adjoining States, were found by experience to be incongruous and con- flicting in many important respects and the doubts and difficulties arising in their appli- cation led to many errors and omissions in the administration of territorial affairs.
Governor Mark W. Izard, of Arkansas, had been appointed to succeed Governor Burt, and arrived in the Territory on the 20th of February, 1855, immediately enter- ing upon the discharge of his duties and superseding acting Governor Cuming. At the second session of the Legislature, which was held on the 13th of December, 1855, Governor Izard recommended the adoption of a civil code which had, during the sum- mer, been prepared by a board of commis- sioners. The criminal code of Iowa was adopted as the code of Nebraska, the neces- sary laws to provide for the local machinery of government were passed, and much useful work done. Prior to this time, James C. Mitchell had been appointed sole Commis
58
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
sioner to locate the capitol building, and the envious and censorious asserted that this office accounted with exactness for his sudden change of front on the question of capital removal. He reported to the Gov- ernor on the 17th day of March, 1855, that he had that day selected the centre of Capi- tol Square, in Omaha, at present the site of the Omaha High School, as the locality for the edifice. By December, when the second session was held, Governor Izard was able to announce that the foundation of the capitol building was completed. For the present the danger of an early removal of the seat of government from Omaha seemed to be at an end.
The disastrous year of 1857 dawned upon Omaha with brightness, and the prospect for the future seemed unusually cheering. " Another year of unexampled prosperity, crowned with the blessings of health, peace. and an ample remuneration to the labors of our people in all the industrial pursuits of life has passed away," said the Governor, in his message of January in that year, and he added, "No citizen of Nebraska can look around him and contemplate the unexam- pled degree of prosperity which has crowned the efforts of our infancy without feelings of the profoundest gratitude and satisfaction. And when we reflect that but two short years have passed since Nebraska (almost unknown except by name) was a vast, uncultivated and unsettled region, with scarcely a mark to indicate that civilization had reached its borders, its present condi- tion almost startles us with the conviction that the hand of magic, rather than enter- prise, wrought the change. We can boast of a population of more than fifteen thou- sand intelligent, orderly and energetic citizens, who may challenge comparison with those of any State or Territory in the Union; of flourishing towns and prosperous cities, with their handsome church edifices, well regulated schools and busy streets; of our
broad and beautiful prairies, thickly dotted with comfortable farm houses and well culti- vated fields, yielding their rich treasures to the hand of peaceful industry. The appre- ciation of property has far exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. Busi- ness lots upon streets where the wild grass still flourishes, are readily commanding from five hundred to three thousand dollars each; lands adjacent to our more prosper- ous towns, sell readily at from fifty to four hundred dollars per acre; credit is almost unknown in our business circles; no citizen oppressed for debt nor crippled in his ener- gies by the hand of penury or want; but all encouraged by the snecess of the past look forward to the future with eager hopes and bright anticipations-stimulated to greater efforts and renewed exertion. * * * * Our banks, the chartering of which by the last Legislative Assembly, was considered of doubtful expediency by many of our citizens, have so far worked well. By reference to their annual reports, made to the Auditor and published in conformity with law, it will be seen that they are in a healthy condition." Just nine months from the delivery of this message occurred in the City of New York the failure of the great Ohio Life and Trust Company, with its capital of millions and its ramifications extending over the whole country. From that grave disaster the City of New York soon recovered; two or three days of terror. apprehension and gloom passed away and business at that metropolis assumed its wonted appearance. But when the blow reached Omaha, the cardboard institutions of Nebraska went down like a claim shanty before a tornado. One or two of the Omaha banks, founded and managed on sound business principles, weathered the storm and still exist as monuments of the sagacity of their founders, but of most of the banking concerns in this vicinity, there remain only the exquisitely engraved and beautiful cir-
59
CAPITOL REMOVAL SCHEMES.
culating bills, to remind the credulous of that day of their glowing anticipations and the unhappy reality.
Early in the session of 1857 the agitation respecting capital removal was again started by Mr. Jacob Safford, who was what is termed a " float" representative, represent- ing the counties of Dodge, Cass and Otoe jointly. His resolution, which was agreed to, was " that a select committee of three be appointed by the President of the Council, to take into consideration the expediency of relocating the seat of government of Ne- braska Territory, with instructions to report at their earliest convenience. by bill or otherwise." The committee so appointed consisted of Mr. Safford, Mr. Kirkpatrick, of Cass, and Mr. Clancy, of Washington. This committee, appointed on Tuesday, the 6th, was ready to make its report on the morning of Thursday, the 8th. Through Mr. Safford, their chairman, they declared: " That they are unanimously of the opinion that the best interests of the Territory, present and future, demand that the capitol be removed from its present locality to some point in the interior. In arriving at this conclusion your committee have been influ- eneed by so many considerations that they dleem it impossible to go into them at length without making their report too voluminous; but which will be well understood by those who have been conversant with the history of our Territory from the beginning. Your committee will therefore merely state some of their reasons in as concise and general a form as possible.
" When the first Governor arrived in this Territory he found but one place entitled to the name of village even, anywhere north of the Platte River. The town of Bellevue, the first fine townsite north of the Platte, was the place where it is well known it was his intention to locate the capital. His death, however, left the matter in other hands, and the capital was located at its present site.
" Your committee are loth to say what influences are universally believed to have been brought to bear in inducing the present location. It is, perhaps, sufficient for them to say that the people of the Territory are by no means satisfied with the location or with the means by which it was located, and still less by the means by which it has been kept there.
" Again, the capital as located is not in the center of our population, or nearly so, as will be seen by the fact that there are only six representatives north, while there are twenty south of Omaha; and this disparity from the nature of the country will prob- ably not be lessened when we become a State.
"Again, it is important to the rapid growth of our population, that the capital he established at some point at a suitable distance from the Missouri River.
" Again, it is manifest to your committee that the appropriations made by Congress for the erection of our Capitol building have been expended in a manner to enhance the interests of Omaha City, and to the detri- ment of the Territory, and to the injury of other points, to say the least, equally deserv - ing. That in fact immense speculations have been made in the whole affair, by the exer- cise of the public patronage and offices; and that the power thus acquired in conjunction with the public patronage and offices has heen and is still operating to force every- thing into one channel, to the manifest injustice of other points. It would always seem that those having the control of the Capitol appropriations are determined not only to impress the public with the idea that this is to be the permanent capital, but to make it in fact so by the most lavish and unnecessary expenditure of public money.
" It will be remembered that the appropri- ation by Congress for the purpose of ereet- ing a capitol was fifty thousand dollars ; this was deemed and is in fact amply sufficient for the purpose, if properly
60
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
applied. But by reference to the Gov- ernor's message of Dec. 18, 1855, it will be seen that the Executive indulges in the most pleasing reflections on the magnificence and grandeur of the future capitol; challenging in fact the whole architecture of the Union and at the same time estimating the cost at $79,705.79, which will appear by reference to the Council journal of 1855, pages 6 and 7. At the last session of Congress the Territory failed to get an additional appro- priation, and now, after the lapse of another year, we are told by the Executive that it will be necessary to ask of Congress an additional appropriation.
"Your committee forbear to give, at this time, any further reflections on this subject, under the belief that under another form the matter will undergo a full investigation. But this much they will say, that the object of all this seems manifest ; and that they are impressed with the belief that Congress neither will or ought to appropriate one cent to complete the building if it is to cost that sum. But your committee are of the opinion that Congress ought and doubtless would appropriate $50,000, under the cir- cumstances, to a new capitol, which will be amply sufficient to erect a capitol which will answer every purpose.
" Your committee would further state that there are other interests in the Territory that require the fostering hand of general government; among others, universities. colleges, and prisons for the confinement of convicts, &c., &c. But the course of policy heretofore pursued and still recommended absorbs everything in this enormous build- ing and other interests around Omaha.
"For these reasons your committee have been induced to offer the accompanying bill as a part of their report, entitled 'An Act for the Relocation of the Seat of Govern- ment of the Territory of Nebraska.'"'
This report was straightway adopted and the hill accompanying it read the first time. As the members of the Council apparently
stood nine in favor of relocation to four against it, the opposition was feeble and the bill finally passed that body on the 10th of January, 1857. In the House of Represent- atives, to which the bill was immediately sent for concurrence, the opposition, led by Mr. Ilanscom, was more active, and from the fact that on the 12th the Governor thought it necessary to assure the House, by a verbal message, that the disposition of the citizens of Omaha was peaceful, and that the body might proceed with legislation in safety, it is manifest that no little excite- ment was felt throughout the city relative to the pending question.
The opposition by the minority continued so vigorous that on the 13th Mr. Finney. of Nemaha, offered a resolution that the rules be suspended and that the Council bill for relocation be taken up and read a first and second time, and that the said bill be thie order of the day from day to day, and no other business be transacted until the same shall be finally disposed of. This resolution was adopted by a vote of twenty-three to eleven. Things were beginning to look dark for the future of Omaha. Dilatory motions of all kinds were made, but the majority made short work with them. Among them was one that James C. Mitchell be prohibited from advising or counseling the Speaker or members of the House on what course they shall pursue in relation to their deliberations, and that unless he refrains from so doing he shall be prohibited from coming within the bar of the House. On the 15th the bill was finally passed, by a vote of twenty-three to twelve. Thus act provided that the seat of government should be located at the town of Douglas, in the county of Lancaster. It is not a little sin- gular that ten years later, after Douglas was in his grave, and the war of the rebellion had largely changed the politics and thoughts of men, almost this identical spot should be chosen for the capital of the State of Nebraska, just admitted to the Federal
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