completion the mammoth work which they have undertaken.

When it is remembered that this great transition has been accomplished in one short year, in a country destitute of labor, materials, and supplies; and with nothing but the dangerous and uncertain navigation of the Missouri River to rely upon during the summer months as a base of operations, it must be admitted that a new era is dawning, or rather has already been successfully inaugurated, in the history of railroad construction.

ARRIVAL AT OMAHA-DEPARTURE OF MR. WILLIAMS.

Arrriving at the Omaha depot in the early evening, we were met by our genial friend Major Bent, of burnetizing notoriety, who kindly assisted us to the Hernden House, and saw that we were comfortably quartered for the night.

We found, however, that the Hernden, which has long been regarded as one of the most prominent institutions of Omaha, was in a sort of transition state, and its guests, as the farmers say, "between hay and grass." Our long time friend, and distinguished host, Mr. Allan, had been called upon by Dr. Monell, the landlord, to surrender its use and occupation into the fair hands of Mrs. Brownson, who had recently leased it, and stood ready to enter upon the duties of hostess as soon as Mr. Allan could find it convenient to evacuate the premises, all of which the said Allan seemed in no haste to do.

An entire week had been spent by the parties in strategy and legal skirmishing, during which it was not unusual for Allan, on visiting the kitchen in the morning, to find Mrs. Brownson's cooking-stove standing in the place of his own, which had been thrown over the adjoining

fence during the night; and not unfrequently were the guests of the house stopped in the middle of a meal (while waiting, perhaps, for more warm cakes), by intelligence from the waiter that the stove had just been thrown out of the kitchen. Fortunately for us, however, Mrs. Brownson's stove was outside of the fence when we arrived, and remained so during the following day, Sunday.

But the condition of affairs about the hotel seemed so unsettled and critical that Mr. Williams concluded to cross over the river to Council Bluffs, during Sunday afternoon, where he could enjoy that rest and quiet which he so much needed after his long and fatiguing journey; and at the same time be prepared to take the stage on Monday morning for Dennison, and there take the cars of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, for his home at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In parting from Mr. Williams, I desire to say, that it has never been my good fortune to spend so many weeks, either socially or professionally, with a more agreeable and intelligent gentleman and travelling companion; and I hope he may live long to give the world the benefits of his sound judgment, and professional skill and experience, in all matters connected with our great national improvements, such as the Union Pacific Railroad, with which he has been so long, and so honorably connected.

VII.

TWO WEEKS AT OMAHA-WILD GEESE AND DUCK SHOOTING-ADVENT OF CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD AGENTS ON THEIR WAY TO DENVER-PARTING SPEECH OF MR. TAPPEN-ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT PACIFIC RAILROAD EXCURSION— ITS ANTECEDENTS AND OBJECTS-DEPARTURE FROM NEW YORK ARRIVAL AT CHICAGO-ST. JOSEPH, AND OMAHA-RECEPTION AND BALL AT OMAHA.

OMAHA, NEBRASKA, Oct. 23, 1866.

The difficulties at the Hernden House, heretofore alluded to, were amicably arranged on the Monday following our arrival from the Rocky Mountains; and Mrs. Brownson, the new lessee, was fully installed in quiet possession.

A favored few of the guests were allowed to retain our rooms in the gloomy, half-deserted house; and vegetate, as best we could, among the restaurants, until the hotel could be renovated and refurnished.

Mrs. Brownson will not only prove herself to be a public benefactor, but do much towards establishing the doctrine of the social and business equality, and vested rights, of women, if she succeeds in the hazardous undertaking of keeping a good hotel. a good hotel. She certainly has the best wishes of her numerous friends in the town, as well as of the railroad people and travelling public generally.

But the city of Omaha should boast of several firstclass hotels. The town is growing, and will continue to grow rapidly. It has the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad; and is the half-way point between Chicago and the Rocky Mountains. No finer site was

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ever selected for a large city; and the country about it cannot be excelled for beauty, as well as productiveness. Elegant residences, and large brick blocks of stores, are continually being erected. "The Credit Foncier of America, and other capitalists, are making large investments there, and the inhabitants are wealthy, energetic, and liberal. Why, then, not give us one or two more hotels, equal at least to the Tremont and Sherman House of Chicago?

WILD GEESE AND DUCK SHOOTING.

Having received orders to remain for the present at Omaha, I was very glad of an opportunity, when other duties would permit, of accompanying my friend Collins on his hunting expeditions to the Florence lakes, a few miles above Omaha, where fat wild wild geese and ducks did much abound. And here I must be permitted to say, that a young wild goose, when cooked under the supervision of Mrs. Collins, is the finest eating of the feathered game kind that I ever tasted.

My friend Major Bent would sometimes join us in these excursions, and then we would be sure to return with enough game to supply our restaurant table for one or two days.

CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY AGENTS.

Another pleasant incident, in this somewhat dull and monotonous period of my Western sojourn, was the advent of Messrs. Tappen, Patrick and Brown, heads of the freight and passenger departments of that "Great connecting link," the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, who tarried a few days at Council Bluffs and Omaha, as they were passing on their way to Denver, for the pur

pose of establishing offices, and making other business arrangements in connection with their road, and its farreaching Western tributaries.

As they started westward, on the morning of the 17th October, in a special train laden with demijohns, cases, canned meats, fruits and pickles, rolls of buffalo robes and blankets; together with almost any number of breechloading carbines and revolvers, one would think that they expected to spend at least six months among savage beasts and Indians, before returning to the land of civilization.

PARTING SPEECH OF MR. TAPPEN.

When the train was about starting from the depot at Omaha, Mr. Tappen was loudly called upon by his friends who remained behind, for a few parting words. Upon which he promptly made his appearance upon the rear platform, raised his hat, bowed gracefully to the audience, steadied himself by a firm hold upon the railing, and spoke substantially as follows:

"FELLOW-CITIZENS: But a few short years ago, the spot on which my foot now rests, was part and parcel of a howling wilderness"-just here, the sudden starting of the train so disturbed the spot upon which the distinguished speaker's foot was resting, that he came near being thrown overboard; but, on recovering himself instantly, he proceeded with great composure to say:

"During a somewhat short but eventful life, I have held every position, from"-at this point, the train being fairly under way, it became quite difficult to hear distinctly, except the closing sentence, which was as follows:

"I leave the Great connecting link in your hands, while I proceed to swing around the"-the remainder of this