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Omaha—tThis is one of the most pro-

gressive cities in the West. It is the county |

seat of Douglas county, situated on the
western bank of the Missouri River, on a
slope about 50 feet above high-water mark,
with an altitude of 966 feet above sea level.
The first “claim cabin” was built here in
1854, and the place named Omaha, after
the Omaha Indians.

it is related that the first postmaster of
Omaha used his hat for a postoffice, and
many times, when the postmaster was on
the prairie, some expectant, anxious indi-

vidual, wouid chase him for miles until he |
overtook the traveling postoffice and re-|

ceived hisletter. “Large oaks from little
acorns grow,” says the old rhyme ’tis il-
lustrated in this case.
postoffiice has given place to a first-class
postoffice, commensurate with the future
growth of the city, which now claims a
population of 24,000.

In 1875, the Government completed a
large court-house and postoffice building,
using a very fine quality of Cincinnati
free-stone. it is 122 feet in length by 66
feet in width—four stories high—cost
$3 .0,000, and is one of the most attractive
buildings in the city.

The State capital was first. located here,
but was removed toLincoln in 1868. Omaha
though the first settlement made in Ne-
braska, isa young city. The town improved
steadily until 1559, when it commenced
to gain very rapidly. '’he inaugurating of
the Union Pacific railroad gave it another
onward impetus, and since then the growth
of the city has been very rapid. There are
many evidences of continued prosperity
and future greatness, one of which, is the
fact that there are no dwelling houses in
the city‘To Let;” besides the organization
of a Board of Trade, with 128 members;
smelting and refining works, employing

140 men, and reducing ores tothe value of |
$5,000,000, annually ; and three banks, with |
a banking capital of $820,000, In 1877, |

there were 2,074 depositors, with average
deposits of $2,587 021.20. These banks’
“exchange” for the year, amounted to $38,-
181,671.28, and their “ currency shipments”
to $8,548,303.00. .

The receipts of wheat, corn, rye, barley,
oats and flax, at Omaha, for 1877,
amounted to 1,756,865 bushels; of flour
16,900 barrels. The shipments for the
same time were: flour, 5,720 barreis; of
the grains named above, 1,795,745.

Omaha has three daily newspapers—

*

The battered-hat |

 

 

CROFUTTI’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

the Herald, the Republican and the Bee ;
two weeklies, the Journal of Commerce and
the Commercial Hachange; one tri-weekly,
the Omaha Post, and one montuly, the
High School.

It has 17 hotels—“ hotels till you can’t
rest,’—chief of which are the Grand Cen-
tral and the Metropolitan Of Churches,
there are 19. Schools, both public snd
private, are numerous, and if the Omaha
people feel proud of one thing more than
another, itis of their schools. The city
has $430,975 invested in free school prop-
erty..employs 44 teachers, and is educating
about 3,000 pupils.

The High School is the finest build-
ing of its kind in the Western country, and
stands on Capito) Hill, on the site of the
old State House, the highest point in the
city, and is the first object which attracts
the attention of the traveler approaching
from the Hast, North or South. Its eleva-
tion and commanding position stand forth
as a fitting monument to attest a pe -ple’s
intelligence and worth. See ANNEX No. 6.

To the north of the High School build-
ing, is the Creighton College, just com-
pleted at a cost of $.5,000, with a further
endowment of $100,000, the ou of Mrs.
Edward Creighton. The building is 54 by
126 feet—three stories and a basement—
capable of accommodating 480 pupils. It
will be a free school, and conducteu by the
Jesuit Fathers.

The annual report of the Board of Trade
gives the amount expended for buildings
and improvements, in Omaha, for 1877, as
$'750,000.—“Figures talk.’—The same au-
thority says: “In addition to the receipts of
base metal and ore, amounting to 3 249
car-loads as freight, there were received
$34,385,516 in gold bullion and coin, and
$15,936,843 in silver bullion and coin by
the Union Pacific "Express Company. In
other words, Omaha handled over $60,000,-
000 out of a total production of $98,000,000.

The Willow Springs Di-tillery, near the
city, used, in 1877, 196,550 bushels of grain,
made 624,000 gallons of spirits, paid to the
Government, for tax, $532,856.10, fattened
1,500 head of cattle, and 2,000 hogs.

The Union Elevator is another new es-
tablishment. It cost $15,000, and handles
grain by gravity. Itis built on the side of
a hill, so that cars are unloaded into the
top of the building. Ten cars can be un-
loaded into the bins on the upper track,
and at the same time ten can be loaded
from the spout on the lower side. The