patches, informing him of their uniterrupted progress eastward, and safe arrival home. Thus ended the most important and successful celebration of the kind, that has ever been attempted in the world; and it is believed, that its favorable effect upon the progress of the greatest work of the age, will be felt for many years to come. IX. PUBLIC RECEPTION OF THE EXCURSIONISTS AT CHICAGO-SPEECHES OF MAYOR RICE, C. A. LAMBARD, AND UNITED STATES SENATOR B. F. NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 1867. The following extract from the Chicago Tribune, giving an account of the public reception given to the excursionists on their return through that city, together with the speech of Senator Wade and others, on the occasion, affords most satisfactory evidence that the anticipations of the railroad company, with reference to the favorable effects of the excursion upon the public mind, will be more than realized : UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. RETURN OF THE EXCURSIONISTS TO CHICAGO. Formal Reception-Meeting at the Opera House-Address of Welcome by Mayor Rice-Replies by Director Lambard and Senator Wade. The returned excursionists from the Far West, over the route of the Union Pacific Railroad, were formally welcomed yesterday back to our city. The Committee of Reception, whose names were published in our issue of yesterday, met the excursionists at the Tremont House at nine o'clock in the morning, and escorted them around the city. A tug was chartered in which the party visited the crib at the other end of the lake tunnel, then sailed up the river, inspecting those portions of the city which lie along its variegated banks. Flint & Thompson's elevator, and one or two other objects of special interest, were halted at, and the party entertained with a description of the modes of doing business which obtain in our young giant city. The tug having performed its duty, the party proceeded to the Board of Trade rooms, and tarried a few moments; there were, however, no speeches made, those being reserved for the formal reception of the afternoon which was given at the Opera House. At two o'clock the doors of the Opera House were thrown open, and the few who were waiting in anticipation of that act walked in. A little later came Vaas' Light Guard Band, preceding a delegation from the Board of Trade. They entered the hall, and took their places in the orchestra, and while playing the overture—a selection from Massaniello—the citizens came. The attendance was not large, but eminently respectable. Many of our oldest citizens were there, but the great mass of the business world was too much occupied to be able to spare an afternoon on so short a notice. The lower part of the house was nearly filled, and a few ladies and gentlemen occupied the balcony circle. The platform was occupied by the excursionists, the Committee of Reception, and a few other prominent citizens. The scenes were thrown open to the extreme rear, exposing the full depth of the magnificent stage. INTRODUCTORY. Hon. J. B. RICE, Mayor of Chicago, called the assembly to order, and delivered the following address: "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : "I was very much gratified this morning when I was informed by one of our citizens that I should be permitted here this day to speak a word of welcome to the ladies and gentlemen who have just returned, and who have been on an excursion to the Far West, and are back now in the city. It is very gratifying to me, as the Mayor of the city, to find this demonstration made here to receive with welcome and heartfelt kindness these gentlemen who are so earnestly enlisted in improving our country, in opening our great thoroughfares by which cultivation, commerce, civilization, and Christianization shall pervade all parts of our common country. [Applause.] "But little more than one week has elapsed since the ladies and gentlemen, that are here, as your guests, left Chicago for the Far West by railway. Since that time they have been in the midst of the lodges of the Pawnee Indians who are scattered on the boundless and fertile, but uncultivated prairies of our country. This party is called a party of excursionists, but they are really a party of men of energy and ability, with minds to conceive and genius and talent to execute this great national work which is to connect this city of Chicago with the Pacific Ocean. [Applause.] Where could they expect or where will they receive a more heartfelt welcome than they will in Chicago? [Great applause.] Not for the pecuniary gain alone to commerce and to agriculture, but for those higher qualities by which our whole race is to be benefited in mind as well as in body, and which only wait the completion of the work which they have undertaken and are carrying on so successfully. It is no part of mine, being entirely ignorant of what has been done, to explain to you the occurrences and the results of this excursion, this formal opening of so large a portion of the eastern end of the great railway line now completed, I believe, two hundred and seventy-five miles beyond Omaha. Not many of us know even what Omaha is. We will hear. In the first place I will announce to you some resolutions that have been passed, after due consideration, by many of our most eminent citizens, some of whom were in the company. These will be read to you. After these have been read, I will introduce to you some of the men who have been there to see, and who will tell you what has been done and what is going to be done, and when it will be done. I call on Mr. Rountree to read the resolutions." THE RESOLUTIONS. "J. M. Rountree, Esq., then read the following as the resolutions which had been adopted, and were submitted to the meeting for its action. They were unanimously adopted on motion of the Mayor: "In view of the appreciation the citizens of Chicago have always entertained for enterprises which tend to the development of the resources of the country, and to our power, wealth, and unity as a people, rendering us consolidated at home and the special objects of admiration abroad, we recognize in the construction and opening of the Union Pacific Railroad another great achievement, reflecting vast credit upon the American people, binding together by, we trust, indissoluble bonds, the hitherto widely separated districts and peoples, outlets for central wealth, avenues for new enterprise, and another great artery through which shall flow boundless wealth and prosperity to our city. Therefore, be it 66 'Resolved, That the city of Chicago does hereby tender to the Managers of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the excursionists who have celebrated the formal opening of that road, its most cordial and hearty welcome. "Resolved, That we esteem the projection and prospective completion of the Union Pacific Railroad, a matter of vital interest to our city, securing to us the most direct, cheapest and convenient mode of transit from one section to another across our vast continent, rendering Chicago the most prominent point on their. great line of communication from seaboard to seaboard, and the principal entrépôt of ever increasing and multiform products of the vast region which this national highway traverses. "Resolved, That, in the name and in behalf of the citizens of Chicago, we cordially endorse and heartily support the action of the National Legislature, which has loaned the public credit to aid private capital and enterprise in building the gigantic work of national utility and necessity; and we hope and trust the same public spirit which has actuated Congress in behalf of the Union |