Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 1906)
3 Why Omaha p " ItlouI d ibe TJnarxkfu BY Dr. OEOK(El!MIMjEK, THE OMAHA SLWPAY BEE: NOVEMBER 2o. 1006. r UK Joy of living I the rotnnion heritage of the human we. All men, clvlliioil and itvur, the rich, who live In pal acea, and the ahject poor, who nwell In ho vela, lovo life and will make and sacrifice to preserve It. flip beauties of nature, the glories of the heavens, the ma.lenty of ocean, the conquests of science In aolvlnf the mysteries of God's handiwork, and the awe. Inspiring- aplendora of the unlvprao, nil thorn with wonder and a deep and abiding sense of their dependence upon the Creator of all things, visible and Invlolble. Hence It Is found that among all racea the spirit of prayer and thanks giving abldea In the koula of men as the one dominating aplrltual forre of human existence. It finds expression In varied forms of appeal to Almighty Qod for blessings and benefits, and In thanksgiving and praise to Him fur divine favora and Immunities, It was reserved for our own land to appoint a day In each year on which alt the people might unite In religious ceremony and rejoicing and festivity In their homes for its observance. In pursuance of this beneficent custom, from the time of tlia l'tirltans to our own, one duy has been designa ted by the president of the Vnlted States and by the governors of the states for universal thanksgiving and prayer. It la gratifying and suggestive that at the very beginning of white occupation In Ne braska, fifty-two years ago, the young execu tive of the territory, upon whom, at the death of Governor Burt, suddenly devolved the re sponsibility of forming the machinery of gov ernment, did not forget to render "homage to the Supreme Architect," quoting the language of the historian, when he Issued In the fol lowing words the first Thanksgiving proclama tion which Nebraska ever saw: A time-honored republican custom, sanctified by Christian observance, has set apart one day In each year for the expression of thanks to the Almighty Dispenser of events, by who-e kind Providence our beloved country has been so abundantly blessed and protected. The ln hahltanta of the vast territory so lately added to the republic may well unite with their fal low countrymen in thanksgiving to Almighty tiod for the continued existence and progress of the federal union; for the blessings of peace In a period of devastating war; for preserva tion from pestilence and famine; for the spread of Christianity and education; for the acquisi tion of a vast and priceless domain for the etcady advance of free principles and the suc cess and permanency of our constitutional gov ernment. Deeply convinced that our humble acknowledgments as Individuals, and as a peo ple, are due at all times to our beneficent Creator, upon whose favor all are dependent, and, in conformity to the wteh of many good cltlsens, I. Thomas B. Cuming, acting governor of Nebraska, do hereby designate Thursday, the thirtieth of November, as the day of thanks giving, and recommend that on that day the people Of this territory unite In homage to Al mighty God for His past mercies and bless ings, and beseech Him for His protecting favor. Given under my hand at Bellevue, Nebraska territory, this ltth day of November, 1854, and of the territory the first. THO. B. CUMING, Acting Governor of Nebraska. Thle graceful and comprehensive proclama tion marked the breadth of view and atyle of the brilliant Cuming, his truly religious and patriotic sentiments, and furnished a foretaste of the abilities which he displayed later In the organisation ot Nebraska under civil govern ment and law. It was probably his Intention when this first public paper whs jued by Governor Cuming t locate the capital of tlia territory at Bellevue. The datlpg of II at that place Instead of at Oinnhu Implies as nrtnli. But the fact msy hsve been a mask to his real purpose. After the capital was located at (maha, the governor, who was the aim of Tlev. tr. Cuming of the Kplscopal church of Michigan, was the chief organiser of that church In Omaha. As to the celebration of Thanks giving in the territory under the governor' proclamation, as there were no people In It out side of Omaha and Bellevue. and neither churches nor turkeys In either of the two ham lets, my personal Idea Is that the Omaha ob servance must have been had In Council Bluffs, and that In Bellevue at Petpr A. Harpy's Ft. Mary's trading post, on the Iowa side of the river. My recollection Is that If the day vil observed in Omaha at all It must have been Willi a dinner whose menu consisted of fried side meat, a very brown and solid article of bread, and coffee made from roa-ted b":ins. In my encounters with the dietary of Omaha la 1x54 I 'certainly did not find anything else. - v As it is the main object of this article to Indicate what Omaha should not forget to be thankful for In this fifty-second observance of Thanksgiving In l0a. I respectfully say that the first thanks to God are due that such a, msn as Thomas B. Cuming was permitted to make Omaha possible as a great commercial and Industrial city, and that he and a few other young men brought Into this new laud from their native stales a Gnd-fearing force, and high Ideals which they i reduced to prac tical form In the foundation of rhurchea and schools. But it is due to the history of this vital matter to add that, without the ability of Andrew J. Hanacom as speaker of the first legislature, with the late Andrew J. Poppleton on the floor of the house, supported ' by l r. Enos Lowe, president, James J. Jackson, avA ther members of the town company, It Is altogether likely that the capital would have been relocated at Bellevue by a strong body and combination in the legislature. And before another word la written I pause to say that this great community and Houth Omaha ahould render thanks to God for the religious work of Rev. Reuben Gaylord, Rev. Father Tracy and Bishop O'Qorman of tha Roman Catholic communion. Bishop Robert II. Clarkson, and other soldiers of the cross, for their great, religious work here forty and fifty years ago. Clarkson, In commanding form and force rising above and over all, aa I recall these devoted men, never for a moment forgetting that . remarkable group who directed and de fended Omaha Interests when the question was, not how great a city could be built here, but when the question was crucial at Intervals, for years, can we build a great city on thlg spot at all? They were the men who led the way to Omaha's development, and, who gave to It character, honor, distinction, final success and commanding power. They went dangerously wrong in antagonising Durant. who finally saved the city from destruction when the Union Pacific bridge was formally located at Child's mill. But we ahould thank God on bended kneea, and from our hearts, that the religious stan dards and moral welfare of Omaha were en- t ' GEORGE L. MILLER. trustej to the keeping and direction, of such competent und capable men, men of Intelligence and strength, courage and capacity. Omaha should never forget to offer up thanks for Peter A. Dey and Grenvllle M. Dodge, who lecated the Missouri & Mississippi railroad (now the Rock Island) In the Mosquito valley south of Council Bluffs, Instead of down the Pigeon valley north of It, which killed Flor ence as dead as a smelt. And for Thomas C. Durant also, for accepting the reports of those engineers after he had definitely pledged Florence the terminals, which was at that time larger than Omaha. General Dodge Is final authority for the truth of this statement. In the days of the fierce etrugle between Omaha, Bellevue and Florence for the advantage of railway preatlge, no one here knew what Gen eral Dodge told us at a luncheon at the Omaha club two years ago. God must be thanked also for the great agency of the Union Pacific railroad. To Oliver Ames, Directors Atkinson, Bushnell and Dillon and G. M. Dodge, but to Thomas C. Durant over all, do this people owe more than they can ever repay. The whole story and the whole truth about it are within my own per sonal knowledge and ready memory. Omaha heirs of the strong names slid virtues which honor and enrich them, owe ever) thing hut their nnmee to Thomas Durant and the 1'nlon Pacific railroad. No man of Judgment doubts, any more than the same class of in. 'l doubt that the state Itself owes Its niarvc hiix development to the railroads, which It la the business of feather-headed statesmen to deride and belle, and I respectfully admonish the people nf Omaha, ns a matter of personal ol liiion. thut Uod need nut be thanked fur tlm Ignoble activities of these persons on Thunk-J-glvlng tiny. ' Lei everybody give thanks for William A. Paxton. Peter K. Her and other founders of the Union Hloik Yards, which have contrlhuud ae greatly to the Industrial and commercial strength of this city for many years. And we must not forget the Omaha exposi tion of IftDS. of which I happen to know that the late KUward llopewater was the original discoverer, nor should we fall to thank God fer that great enterprise, which bridged us over the black and dreary chasms created iiy the panic of 1S93, and revived confidence In the future Omaha, of which every cltlsen in it is now reaping the rich fruits of prosperity and happiness. Let us all unite In fervent thanks to tho good God who reigns and rules over all, that smh a man of power and sagacity as A. H Stlckney was sent into our midst to blazon and light the way of Omaha to a great grain mar ket, which is already ours by the in xt thing to divine right of trade in our own splendid products. Omaha can never offer tip too manv tlianl.s itor the great banks of Omaha which faced and whipped successive panics to a standstill with never a dollar lost to depositors by these pow erful, honest and capable custodians of lie millions which are entrusted to their care by the thousands of men and women who loll for honest gains. And let us be especially thankful on Thanks giving day for the young army of recruits u the old army of merchants and business men of Omaha who are forging to' the front with honorable ambitions to win their way and share in the success of the greater Omaha. -Why call names that arise to the lips of all at a mere mention. All should Join In reverent thanks to the Author of all that can make Nebraska a great state and Omaha a great city for the mighty help tht lias com to both city and atate from the discovery of 125,000,00 a year in the gold mine of winter wheat In the last past twelve years. Once In about this length of time Hi our history, his royal majesty, king corn, has partly or entirely failed to reward the labois of the farmers of our magnificent kingdom of agricultural wealth. That failure wilt certainly come again, but it will come In the precise season when wheat will be waving generous welcome to the harvester, who can smile away the mishap, whistle cheerful notes through tlia golden horn-of-plenty, and go marching on in gleeful mood, keeping steady step to his own music. For the new departure by the nation In redeeming countless millions of acres of land to productive agriculture, now lying waste In close proximity to Omaha, everybody should thank tliMl in all humility ami fervor. What Is the meaning of it to CiiihIih ' It meHiis a growing nddllton to lis resources, new mar kets fur distribution In u vust region. U i which only water Is needed to secure l lie bounty of great crops. Tills means new populations to whose homes anil farms Oiniiha holds a big golden key. Wuter Is nut more certain to run dun ii hill than Is Ibis new addition to thirf vast produi-tlNe territory, to be our own for all the purposes of trade. I mit I he foreslghted wholesale men hunts of (inuih.i descry the com ing fruit of this great movement to wld"H and broaden their field of ontei prise ; Tor what are those splendid blocks of wholesale houses of steel. In li k and stone arising as If by mngtc. on lower l'arniuii and Tenth sirecm If they are not to murk the time, and march to the step, of the vast Increase of trade unib r the new departure? Let us go to our coining holiday and return honest thanks for the Missouri river and tnu great valley which It creates. It Is richer than the Nile in its Inexliatistlhl" wealth of noils. Henry T. Clarke gets scant hearing In Ills plead ing for protecting these vast acres from the Incursions of the river and from averllow, but If ever a man was right on any question of pith and moment to our state hiuI to Omaha, Mr. Clarke Is right In demanding from the gov ernment the redemption of this great valley by giving protection to agriculture and a broad system of Improvement for ils navigation. If never a boat floated n Its savago bosom such Improvements would oierate to regulate railroad rates, and would Insure a cheap and free outlet to the gulf ports for our vast and Increasing surplus. Mr. Clarke's propositions are intelligent and 'practical, In my Judgment, and Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri should nulla their commanding power In congress to begin a system of Improvement for the protection of these millions of acres of land, and for making the river a safely navigable stream for barges and light draft boats to the Mississippi and the guir. Did it ever occur to the readers of Th Bee that tills grand old yellow river Is the only enduring monument to Aboriginal life and savagery that the white cannibal can neither control nor destroy? 1 am Inclined to render thanks for this grand old barrier to the de structive rapacity of my brother pirates who cannot permit even the .beautiful birds to lla in their old haunts, and many of whom InslHt that a horse's tall is no longer beautiful, but It must be cut short off into a hideous and ugly stump. Whether I can get anybody to Join me In thanksgiving for the Missouri river and Its richest of all valleys, and for horses which are still allowed to wear their own beautiful tails. I shall render them all the same, with vigor and resolution. Plnce the above was written, a "History of Early Steamboat Navigation on the Missouri River" has come under my notice, by Captain Henry Martin Chittenden, U. 8. A. It was published in 10.1, Includes a blugraphy of Joseph La Barge, the old navigator of the river, whom I knew very well. In a closing (Continued on Pafe Seven.) We Close evil Day Thanksgiving Day. I Diamonds. Watches Cut Glass, Art Goods. THANKSGIVING CARVING SETS An elegant Una of atag horn handle. $340 t lls.OO. Sterling Silver handles, tUAQ to a.0O. W have other nice set tn Pearl. Composition, Ivory and Plated Silver. BEAUTIFUL DRASS GOODS ..... Nothing would be mora acceptable for a Christmas present than one of our dsk sets. We have them In brass, copper and Verdi Green Metal with art glass. Jewel Boxes, Glove Box, Stamp Boxes, Book Racks, Etc., In heavy Baa relief and other too numerous to mention. Come In and aee them. Mawhinnoy . Ryan Co. Import Arc of FashlontbU Jewelry 13th AND DOVCLAS STREET i; ti OMAHA i nnnGwroi CUSTOF. MADE Made under ray own supervision, in my own factory. Can make de liveries ' in ten days' time SURE. Leave jour orders now for holidays. My line of Men's Furnishings for the holidays is larger and Btrortger than ever. I Good at Popular Prices. I CAIJRIP AIJYSHIRI DUT Albert Caiin Shirt Maker and Men's Furnisher, l'ARXAM KTRKKT. ii iTi Ifil '" I 5 1 umm I 4 -Mi. fx I m fin The Purchasing Power of Thousands of Hints nf TIIC riCC a'tncrci2s Western Families is Found Udln Ul I III. UtL (Mi (Cdreti (CdDiniiry Some Opinions from Men Who Have Seen It: 1 akviiu Vcoerl tMawMO in, trV I ION JOHN SEBASTIAN', Pa. Traffic Mgr.. Kork Island-Frisco Lines, 113 lalaU St. taMoa, 1153 rrisc Bid, 4 Caleaa, It. Louis, PUa$0 $nd mi Texas Gulf Coast books and full information about low ratss, tc. Nam. Post Of fie. Stat. OaiGAOO. III.. Oo. U. I. Ma Jobs Gsbivtuh, r. t. a.,i'ku, in. tar ilr Is raelrte rears ol the Hah lut. UI mi I have bm te the Oslf Ooeat a Uk4 it w well thai I bnebt ! la thsvl. loie? el Oara OhrUtl. 1 weat to oa the Ooart. sad tram what I kMrd mmi thlak the oonutry la all that to alaia it w he. 1 think aa wall el It that I etaitee a Irian for Chare thta starala. wba baa law la ioeele, a4 tbare are elhara ho will aoaa aoaa nt tkaji caa tell tbair fclacaa her. Yoara tralr. K. It. Kdicx. HI Moarae St. Imiliuit, III., October M. la. Ma. Joss Iiiuiim. ZMar Sir: Baaifias ta jaar latter etthatia: . I wast Sataaihr Mtk an was vail aleeaa with taa ituiiri. I beaght las as will fa iawa this fait tiso. A. Dt'cswosm. OaaiLLac. Miea.. omt.m.im. Ma Jobs asaeriAa. r T. ,0kiiae, Ul. ar Sir Oai! Relative ta tha Oaaat Oaatitry: I hat bee thai sa ae ot rear eiesraien. aa fewad thlacaao favor able, that I iaresta aa4 aaa already praparla ta av dawn. Ya.r.,.rMr.lr C. H. riAta. ItxtAaOirr M. (apt. It. 1K. Jeaa tiunun, Ksa. Itear fir. Xatarriac ta 'lis Ma. flMaL 1 ha,a aa4s a trip to Tejtaa aa par. abaaad aome laas aear Cluanar. Yeura tralr. Aaast Woesaoa. OaiSLBTOix, Mtcb., Oct. t, IMS. Ma Jos gBsitrua. r I. a..eaiMei hi, itaar t aa Iw sa mi wwa Jwiat aaat raeohea, aa I loaka It w earffwlla awfara I bewaht. I laua eridawtlr aotkinf but taa ttrwth la tha daaarlatlra iMki of tha lu bait Cwt Gouaiir. Twill truklr stake ta ataaamaat thai that ta ao load la GaUfurwIa that will aaool It fat pre. duatlfeaeaa apt tt haaa altaiaM agaal to that ol Bauihera w Mlaaia Oait lurnla. I rUlted that opaatrr peraanaJIr. have looko It evar aafarultf, hafoie I beat-lii forn aetat V ai la auath al the tow of rUraioad'tiio, 6a a ne vouaty, Tap., aa hlak I maJa tia kaat boraata ol air lite. Baaptotrallr raws. Ckirm'ITatLah- $50 to $400 an Acre Yearly Net Profit from land which you can buy NOW for $25 an acre. That ma? seem too good to be true. But if i Iru. You can go down and sec it for yourlf. Low rate excursions twice monthly only $; from Chicago, I20 from St. Louit, round trip, with thirtv daV limit. . This land is paying such freat profit because it is unrivaled in productiveness by any farm land in the country. The climate is like that of Souther California, even tho' it it within 48 hours of Chicago. No extremes of heat and cold practically no winter. Crop after crop can be raised the year 'round vegetables in midwinter when the markets are anxious to pay the fanciest prices for them. Crops are always sur because you have BUnty of par rftut icafar mm your wm mrpriy lor the cheapest irrigation. This land is a becaus it is from 10 to 15 miles inland, and from 60 to 100 feat abor tide-water. N land will produce a greater variety of fruits, vegetables, staple crops, or produce them mor abun dantly. And this land will produce crop t seasons whea mm other land emm, i addition to producing them at mil seasons in which njr other land can. There are o long weary months of winter idleness here. No tune when this land stands idle while expenses run on. For you can tak proliisout of this land every month in the year, and it is all within from So rods to 4 mile of a railroad station. . Nowhere oa this globe can vou bad a finer placa ta Umm and vJf a, or land that will bring you better, surer profits. Remember, these statements ar made by one of the largest tailroad systems in the world, and we could not afford to say the things tinlets each statement had been carefully verified by facts. Vou can buy this land so cheap noi, because it has just been opened up to agriculture by the discovery of artesian water and the building of a railroad ('.he St. Louis, Brownsville k Mesicc) which Is tm-day carrying hundreds of carloads of produce out of this section straight to the country' best markets. Send m the coupon below or writ an a postal will do and dm at jm before you forget it. I will Mod ye an 84-page book containing photo graphs and full information about this country of wonderful crops. I will give you names and addresses of men In th Texas Gulf Coast Country who ar making fortunes. You caa write thta and they wilt tell you the facts. I will make you a rate of tS fro us Chicago, 29 from St. Louis, to any point oa ta St. Iuis, Brownsville ft Mexico Rail way: proportionate reduction from other points. You can take a trip to Texas and see for yourself. That' th best way. 'I hen you will taa that w have not told hmlf of the advaaUge yoti can gain by buying soas of thai land nour. You caa buy oti easy term asd make profits right from the start tart very farst year. I will show you a sal and easy way to gain indepeodea ta a few short years. Such land as this nuaf raped ly 1 in price. So writ new to JOHN SEBiSTIAN, PMiLf t Traffic MaYZULger ROCK ISLAND-FRISCO LINES J fcsr!?f It$fh Jdand'FrUeo Lint haw no land to tfL V an interttted oh!y in katUlng up this country. J. 3 'Ml
