Incidents of a Trip Through the Great Platte Valley, to the Rocky Mountains and Laramie Plains

US32428-67.5

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In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

TO MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. DIX,

President of the Union Pacific Railroad Company;

American Minister to the Court of France, etc.

GENERAL: The following narrative of personal incidents, connected with a professional visit to the Rocky Mountains, and Laramie Plains, during the months of September, October and November of the past year, in company with Hon. Jesse L. Williams, Government Director, and Gen. G. M. Dodge, Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad, was originally written for, and all but the last three numbers, published in the "New York Times."

Your appointment by the President of the United States, as Foreign Minister, made it necessary for you to leave the country before the numbers were all published; and also prevented you, much to the disappointment of yourself as well as of your associates in the management of the road, from participating in the great celebration of the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad to the one hundredth meridian of longitude, which is imperfectly described in the last numbers.

I have, therefore, taken the liberty of collecting, revising, and dedicating them to you, in their present

TO MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. DIX.

form, hoping that their perusal may afford you some pleasure in your moments of relaxation from the cares and responsibilities connected with your high official position.

I have the honor to be, General,

Your obedient servant,

SILAS SEYMOUR.

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 1867.

CONTENTS.

I.-New York to Pittsburgh—Chicago—Omaha--Fort Kearny and

Denver-Progress of the Union Pacific Railroad-Visit of Govern-

ment Directors.

II.-Denver City to Golden City-Idaho-Empire City and Berthoud

Pass-Valley of Clear Creek-Mining Operations-Scenery of the

Rocky Mountains-Mr. Williams' Letter from Berthoud Pass.

III.--Snow Storm in the Rocky Mountains--Empire City to Idaho-

Central, Golden, and Denver Cities-Virginia Cañon-Russell

Gulch-Quartz Mills at Black-Hawk-Junction Ranch-Guy's Hill

-Clear Creek Cañon-Entrance into Denver.

IV. Colorado Agricultural Fair-Denver to Laporte-Virginia Dale-

Stone-wall Cañon—Steamboat Butte--Antelope Pass, and Laramie

Plains-Arrival at Fort John Buford.

V.-A Day at Fort John Buford-Mr. Williams' Letter-Eastward
Bound-Death of the Elk-Stag-Crossing the Black Hills at
Eavan's Pass-Descent towards the Plains--Lone Rock--Camp
on Dale Creek-A Herd of Elk--Camps on Lone-Tree and Box-
Elder Creeks-Death of the Antelope-Return to Laporte.

VI.-Parting Supper at Laporte-Return Trip to Denver-Kearny and

Omaha-Ben Holladay and his Friends-Tribute to T. C. Durant-

Remarkable Progress of the Union Pacific Railroad-Arrival at

Omaha-Troubles at the Hernden House.

VII.—Two Weeks at Omaha-Wild Geese and Duck Shooting--Advent

of Chicago and Northwestern Agents on their way to Denver-

Parting Speech of Mr. Tappen-Anticipated Arrival of the great

Pacific Railroad Excursion-Antecedents and Objects of the Excur-

sion-Synopsis of Pacific Railroads-Speech of General Simpson-

Departure of Excursion from New York-Arrival at Chicago-Saint

Joseph, and Omaha-Reception and Ball at Omaha.

VIII.—Morning after the Ball-The Excursion Train-All on Board-