WESTERN INCIDENTS. 105

ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN.

The train was halted for nearly an hour directly oppo-
site the monument designating the point where the line
of the road crosses the one hundreth meridian of longi-
tude, for the purpose of enabling Professor Carbutt to
photograph some views representing the excursion train,
with groupings of Government officers, members of
Congress, Directors of the road, and excursionists, com-
ing to this point from the west.

This being accomplished, and the train which had been
placed at the disposal of the Government Commissioners
having been attached, the excursion train sped onward
again at the rate of thirty miles an hour, stopping only
for wood and water, until it reached a point about four
miles below Kearny.

PRAIRIE-DOG CITY.

Here the train halted for nearly two hours, for the pur-
pose of enabling the excursionists to pay their respects
to the inhabitants of by far the largest town through
which they had passed since leaving Chicago. This
pleasing duty had been in contemplation as the train
passed westward two days previously, and was prevented
only by the lateness of the hour.

This town occupies an area of about twenty-five square
miles, and the railroad track passes through its centre.
The visit was evidently a surprise to the vast number of
its quiet and peaceful inhabitants, and no preparations
had therefore been made, as at Omaha, for the reception
of their distinguished guests.

Their native politeness and curiosity, however, induced
many of them, soon after the arrival of the train, to peep

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