112 WESTERN INCIDENTS.

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. [Ap-
plause.] Where could they expect or where will they receive a
more heartfelt welcome than they will in Chicago? [Great ap-
plause.] 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 en-
tirely ignorant of what has been done, to explain to you the oc-
currences 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 Omahais. . 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 in-
troduce 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.”