The Pacific tourist:

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In public schools, however, Omaha is without
a peer or a rival in the West. In 1866, the
capitol of the State was removed to Lincoln, and
the legislature afterwards donated the square and
capitol building to Omaha for high school pur poses. The old capitol building was torn down,
and in its place was erected the present high
school building; which for beauty in design and
elegance in finish has but few, if any, superiors
in the country. It is 176 feet long by 80 feet
wide. The spire rises 185 feet from the ground.
It fitly crowns a hill, overlooking the city, plains
and valley for miles in either direction, and is
the first object that meets the eye of the traveler
as he approaches the gateway of the Pacific
coast. Its cost was about $250,000, and is the
pride of the city by whose liberality it was built.
Other elegant school buildings have been erected
in different parts of the city, the tota l costs of
which, with g rounds, including the high school
building, amounts to $406,000. There are also
several denominational and private schools which
are liberally patronized.
Here are the government buildings; such as
the head-quarters building used by the com manding officers of the military department of
the Platte; the barracks about two miles north
of the city, and the elegant post-office, courthouse and custom-house combined, finished last
year (1875).
There are also numerous elegant private-residences, with grounds beautifully ornamented
with trees and shrubbery, and magnificent business blocks, which sufficiently attest the solid
prosperity of Omaha's business men.
Travelers who take advantage of the opportunity for rest which this city offers, may be
always certain of good hotel accommodations.'The want of such accommodations was recently
felt, not only by citizens, but by the traveling
public a few years ago. But, happily, this want
has been supplied in the erection of the Grand
Central Hotel, by a stock company in 1873. It is
a magnificent structure, 132x 122 feet, and five
stories high, with large parlors, dining-rooms and
suites of rooms, all elegantly furnished, and is
first-class in its management and appointment.
Those who enjoy the hospitality of this fine
hotel once, are always anxious to do it again. It
is, without doubt, the finest structure, and the
best managed establishment of the kind between
Chicago and San Francisco. Its cost was fully
$300,000, not including furniture. Railroad
ticket-offices and telegraph-offices may be found
on the first floor of this hotel, with furnishing stores, etc., convenient. Its halls and public
rooms are heated by steam, and it has water on
the lower floors, with gas throughout. The furniture cost over $50,000. It has 150 rooms for
the accommodation of its guests.
In manufactures, Omaha begins to loomn up.
She has an oil-mill, which supplies the extensive
with varying fortunes a nd prospects. But in
that year an act was passed by Congress, author izing the construction of a trunk railroad from
t he 100th meri dian- which is about 200 miles
west of Om aha- and two branches, from points
on t he w estern boundaries of Iowa and Mis souri. The first branch that reached the 100th
meridian was authorized to buil d the trunk line.
The terminus of the northern branch was fixed
by President Lincoln in a proclamation dated
November 17, 1863, and from th iis date the
progress of the city has been rapid and sub stantial. This is manifested by t he fa ct that
in 1865 the population had scarcely reached
4,500 souls, whil e in January, 1875, Omaha had
a populatio n of full 20,000, an incr eas e of
15,500 in t en years. T h is remarkable increase
is due almost wholly to the location of the Union
Pacific railroad, and from the fact that this is
the initial point and eastern terminus of the
road. IDuring th ose ten year s marv elous changes
w er e wr ought and wonderful improvements
made, unt il Oma h a can now boast of as fine
bu siness blocks, hotels, school-buildings and
churches as can be found in many older and
more pretentious cities in t he East; while th e
manufacturing enterprises now in operation and
contemplated, will surely make good its claim as
t. he o ecil ls o he commercia metropolis of the Missouri valley. Its geographical position is eminently
commanding. Its railroad connections are increasing, an d as ye a r by year it reaches out its
iron arms, more territory will be brought to pay
it trib ute an d establish its sup remacy as the
seat of influence and power.
The first railroad that reached this city from
the East,was t he Chicao and North-western- the
first train over it arriving on Sunday, January 17,
1867. The n f o llowed the Council Bmluffs and St.
Joe, the Burlington and Missouri Riv e r and the
Chicago, R ock Island and Pacific. After these
came the Sioux City and Pacific, the Omaha and
North-western, and the Omaha a nd South-western
railroads. The last-named road has been leased
by the Burlington and Missouri. It extends to
Lincoln, the capital of the State; then westward uniting with the Union Pacific at Kearney
Ju nction. It has a branch from its main line at
Cr et e to Beatrice, a thriving town near the
southern boundary of the State. Th e Omaha and
North-westernr is completed about 50 miles, and
follows the valley of the M iss ouri on t he west
side of th at river, n orth from Omaha. It will
probably soon be extended. More railroads are
contemplated and will doubtless soon be built.
Omaha is well supplied with churches, and
they are generally well supported, though some
of them are still without edifices for public worship. All the religious denominations are represented in these establishments, and some of the
church edifices are tasteful and elegant,-presenting a fine architectural appearance.
VMS raciple repoisr.
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