Washington Township (part 6 of 12)

To-morrow, and the day after, we extead our course to the farther West ; we celebrate the opening of the direct communication between Baltimore, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. The occasion is one of national interest. The system of roads binds iudissolubly the East and the West. The triad of cities are the fortresses of the U nion - the breakwaters against which the angry waves of sedition shall dash only to be driven back - are now but as one in commerce and culture, in the arts of life and the enjoyment of society, in enterprise and love of country. How Madison - who loved the Union with such singleness of affection that after death the word might have been found imprinted on his heart - how would Madison have been gladdened could he have lived to see these days ! And Washington - who, when he last came to the West, crossed the mountain by fatigue marches, bivouaclcing in the and then slowly paddling his way on the Ohio - how would he have exulted, could he but have seen his great and cherished idea of an international highway carried out with a perfection and convenience which surpassed the power of his century to imagine ! Here Young America is fulfilling that destiny which her fathers manifestly designed for her ; she more and more subdues nature and gives freedom to men. Under her influence the world will be united in peace and commerce, and liberty be owned as the birthright of every nation of the earth.

The night of the 3d of June - the day on the great body of the excursionists arrived at the Queeu City^ - was appropriated to a grand fasliionable ball at the Burnet House. The occasion was an exceedingly brilliant and agreeable one, and much enjoyed by the company present, consisting of about five hnndi'ed persons, including many distinguished gentlemen from every section of the Union, and a rare array of ladies, mostly from Xew York, and otlier eastern cities. The dancing was kept up until after midniglit, when an elegant and bountiful supper was served in the great dining liall, by Mr. Coleman, the generous host. Tluis closed the chief events in the fete at Cincinnati.

And Mississippi Railway

The grand opening excursion over the Oliio and Missi.^sippi Railroad was set down for Tlinrsday, the 4tli of June ; but, in order to avoid the rush of tlie ci'owd, many of the guests started for St. Louis on the preceding evening. Still the number remaining of the large party concentrated at Cincinnati was immense, and it was deemed quite impossible to carry all over the road in one day, for want of sufficient passenger coaches to meet the extraordinary demand. Fortunately very many preferred retnaining behind a few hours, in order to obtain needed rest, or to see a little more of the city.

Provision was made to carry about twelve or fifteen hundred passengers, who started at six o'clock on Thursday morning, in two trains - the first containing the City Councils of Baltimore and Cincinnati, the principal municipal officers of Marietta and Chillicothe, a portion of the detective police of Cincinnati, a large number of ladies, and the representatives of the press, of whom there were about fifr\^ [)resent. This first train consisted often passenger cars, and tlie second of eight cars. Gen. Cass having determined to visit his home, at Detroit, did not go on to St. Louis ; and M. Sartiges also remained behind for a day. The cars and engines were handsomely decorated, making a showy appearance as they dashed over the road. The rear car of the first train, in which were the families of the directors of the road, seemed something new in the history of railroad travelling. It was fitted up in four compartiuents, in each of which were two sofas, each sofa seating two persons, and being capable of transformation into berths for tlie same number. Several ordinary |0 car chairs in addition made the numerical accommodations about onethird as large as those of ordinary cars. There were also a wash-room and toilet table in the car, and a patent heating furnace, wliich had the faculty of keeping out the dust and of cooling the air. With rich upholstery and elegant painting, these characteristics made the car one of extraordinary comfort for the traveller who was so fortunate as to secure one of its seats. Shortly after six o'clock, we got well under way, and were whirled along at a rapid rate for about fifteen miles, when just as we came opposite the old homestead of General Harrison, at North Bend, the pumps of the engine gave out, and a detention of over half an hour was the consequence. This gave the party an excellent opportunity of viewing the ancient residence of " Old Tip." It is a plain, republican frame house, two stories high, with wings of one story attached. It is much weather-beaten, and the white paint which once made its front glow in bright contrast with the green foliage of the venerable trees around it, looks pale and bluish. It is inhabited by the old soldier's widow. A few hundred yards distant, on a green and wooded slope, stands a simply arranged tomb, which holds the ashes of the hero of Tippecanoe.

The Ohio River monopolized the attention of the traveller for nearly twenty miles, the railroad being built right upon its bank, and between it and a range of low hills to the north or west of the stream. This narrow strip of level land is exceedingly rich, covered with beautiful gardens, from which rise many neat and tasteful gardeners' cottages, presenting an agreeable ])icture of prosperous and contented industry. On the steep sides of the hills which rise backward from this garden strip, cling the vineyards to which we are indebted for the Catawba wines. Across the river, rise the Kentucky hills, green and grand, dotted and decorated by country residences which seem to alFect stateliness and dignity, when compared with their more modest and unobtrusive neighbors on the Ohio banks.

General surprise was expressed by the guests at finding the Eailroad track so smooth and equal, taking into consideration the sht)rt time since it was comj)leted. Its broad gauge, and commodious wellfurnished cars, together witli the fine scenery of the route, render it a most delightful road to travel over. Every precantion had been taken to render the trip a safe and pleasant one. Extra locomotives were passed at convenient points along the line, with steam up and fretting to be free, ready to take the place of any that should be disabled; and flagmen were distributed at intervals of a mile, to watch the track clof^el}-, and signalize tlie trains siiould danger of any sort present itself. Refreshments Avere freely supplied in the cars, - and the cold ciiicken, ice-cream, and sparkling catawba, were found particularly grateful after the hurried breakfast incidental to an early morning start.

Along the entire length of the line a jubilant feeling seemed to exist on the part of the inhabitants, and the road at the different stations Avas thronged with men, women, and children. In several places the passing trains were saluted with discharges of cannon, and similar demonstrations. At Aurora, we left the Ohio River, and turned into the St.ite of Indiana, through the immense forests of which we progressed for some hours. Vast beech and ash forests, stiff clay soil, small dwellings, an occasional small village, all having a rough look of newness, and barren of beauty or comfort. Much of the land is a swamp, the ground covered with gigantic trunks of fallen trees, in all stages of decay. Occasionally a road, some of them planked, all running North and South or East and West, opened a long vista through the forest. Wherever cultivated, the soil seems very black and rich, the wheat good, standing up straight among the bleached trunks of the girdled trees.

The Big Miami River was crossed by a beautiful bridge twenty miles out, and about a mile further on the Indianapolis and Cincinnati railroad was crossed, both roads here running on a level ])lain. There are stations every half dozen miles along the route, but our train stopped only at the most important ones. At North Vernon, 73 miles from Cincinnati, the road crosses the Madison and Indianapolis railro;d, and at Seymour about 1-i miles further on the Jeffersonviile and Indianapolis railroad. Within a distance of sixty miles the r id crosses the White River, quite a wide stream, four times, by as many substantially built bridges.

Continuing on our way, we arrived in due time at Fort Ritner, Indiana, a station named for one of the engineers of the road, 113 miles from Cincinnati. Here we were overtaken by the second train, and partook of a bountiful cold collation, with coffee, in the unfini.-ihed station-house. Proceeding on, no notable incident occurred until we arrived at Mitchell, 13 miles farther. At this place, a large number of citizens greeted our arrival witli repeated cheers, and a band performed inspiriting music as we passed. Mitchell is named for Prof. O. M. Mitchell of Cincinnati, to whom, as much as to any other .me man, is due the honor of bringing this railroad to completion. His faith in the feasibility of the enterprise, was evinced in such works as few men would have undertaken. Through his zealous instrumentality were procured the foreign loans, without which the work could never have been completed. Near this point are two caves, called Hamor's and Linn's caves. From the mouth of the former issues Lost River, which passes to this outlet for many miles under the ground. About the centre of the State, we come to a region of country that seems to be longer settled, the farms being clear of stumps and well tilled, and the buildings good and large.

The ancient city of Viucennes, Indiana, on the "VTabash River, 192 miles from Cincinnati, and the " half-way house" between Cincinnati and St. Louis, was reached about 3 o'clock. A heavy rain was falling at the time, but great numbers of the citizens were out to receive the train. Flags were displayed from many of the buildings, and the roar of cannon announced the occurrence of an unusual event. Here a splendid dinner had been provided for the tourists by the citizens, under the management of the ladies - a jtortion of the tables being set under the trees where Gen. Harrison made his celebrated treaty with Tecuinseh. Every thing in the shape of eatables, that an epicure would desire, or that a noble effort to furnish an unrivalled repast could procure, was there in bountiful profusion. There was also no lack of generous wine. The welcome extended by the citizens of Vincennes was in all respects hearty and enthusiastic. Toasts and speeches naturally follow champagne ; so a number of the former were soon offered, complimentary of the railroad and its managers, and speeches were made by Judge Ellis, of Vincennes, and Judge Lee, of Baltimore. While this was going on within the building, the outsiders were not forgotten - long tables were spread under teniporary sheds, at which the citizens of Vincennes and many of those who have so successfully lalxired in completing the road, partook of a substantial repast.

The shrill whistle of the locomotive again summoned the party to the train The new portion of the road having been passed over, the double locomotives were here dispensed with, and two new and beautiful iron steeds took their places, one to each train. Tiiey bore the significant names of " San Francisco" and " Sacramento." The enterprising young engine man, in charge of the former, i)redicted that, ere he closed his engineering career, he would have tlie honor of running liis locomotive across the plains and mountains to the Golden city of the Pacific.

a large and splendid wooden bridge, bnilt on the McCallnm plan, and entered the State of Illinois, being to its soil by ex-Governor Reynolds of that State. After crossing the flat prairie bottom, we entered upon the broad prairies, and for mile after mile flew on without meeting an acre of rolling ground, and nothing like a tree. Many fine dwellings, however, were passed on the prairie, and extensive herds of cattle were seen grazing on the fertile plains.

We crossed the Little Wabash River about 240 miles from Cincinnati, the branch of the Illinois Central Railroad at Odin, 275 miles out, and the main line of the Central road at Sandoval, four miles further on. At Carlyle, a few miles beyond, the Kaskaskia River is passed by means of a handsome bridge, and at Casey ville, nine miles from St. Louis, the train reached the American Bottom, a large tract of low land that is occasionally overflowed, which probably gave the name of Egypt to the lower portion of this State. The passage through this region was mostly in the night, but the Egyptians Avere wide awake. Houses were illuminated at the various towns, wherever they had candles, and where they had not, tar barrels were burned instead. The inhabitants seemed to have turned out en masse, men, women, and children, including babies.

No peofile have more cause to rejoice at the completion of this railroad enterprise, which opens to valuable markets a large extent of country hitherto almost valueless, although possessing the richest soil on the continent. Indeed, the soil for a hundred miles of our course over the prairie, scarce had seen a plough until since the road between Cincinnati and Vinceunes was opened. Now, the country is comparatively thicklj' settled, and the land, which four years ago was much of it quite unsalable, readily brings from five to fifteen dollars per acre. Indeed, nearly all the way from Vincennes to the Mississi|)i)i, the country was one never wearying monotony of living green, rich, deep, and dark. Never was a finer country seen, than tliat succession of long, level prairies, between St Louis and Vincennes ; and never did those prairies appear more beautiful and gladdening than when our party looked upon thtin, waving and swaying their wealth ot emerald, soon to yellow into a richer wealth of golden grain.

As a summary description of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, we introduce the following letter published in the financial columns of the A^CMJ Yo7'k Laily Times, the signature to which fixes its authorsliip upon Mr. Simonton, the well-known special Washington correspondent of that journal :

The Great Railway Opening

St. Louis, Sunday, June 7, 1S57. Dear Sir : - The new.spapers will fiiniish you, through their general correspondence, abundant accounts of the festivities marking the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad opening. Upon that score I could add nothing. Perhaps, however, you would like to hear, from one who has no individual interests to warp or color his judgment, some suggestions as to the advantages of this great work in point of location ; in relation to the character of its construction, its probable diirability, cost of working and repairs, and its prospect of developing a valuable way -business in both passengers and freight. Upon all these points I am free to say that the Ohio and Mississippi road will compare most favorably with any in the United States over which I have travelled, - and I am quite familiar with the principal railroad Knes in the Northern, Eastern Middle, and North-western States. Of course I do not mean to say that the travel and traffic over this road are to become immediately as great as over any other; but I do mean that it passes through a country so fertile, and brings into prompt and the most direct communication points of such great commercial importance, that their speedy development under the stimulus and encouragement of this railroad enterprise, is an inevitable necessitj-, carrying with it a cai-eer of prosperity in the i'uture for the road itself, which can scarcely be over-estimated.

The road between this point and Vincennes, Indiana, has been in operation for some time, and its advantages you probably know all about. It passes in an almost air-line over beautiful rolling prairies, plentifully interspersed with groves of timber, and watered hy many small streams. Between Cincinnati and Seymour, also, the road is not altogether new. Here it winds its way along the margin of some rather crooked rivers, but the curves are easy, and generally the grades are light. Everywhere the land over whicli it passes is exceedingly fertile, holding out irresistible invitations to its speedy cultivation and development. Tliis is true of nearly every mile of the route. Scarce an acre not easily susceptible of improvement is visible, if we except those covered by forests, the timber in which is valuable, and must furnish profitable employment I'or an army of industrious woodsmen. Indeed there is no comparison between Northern Indiana and the southern portion of the State, traversed by this road, so much does the latter surpass the former; and when the "Egypt" of Illinois shall be developed by the population sure to follow in the trade of the locomotive, the boastful counties comprising the northern tier will need look to their laurels.

From Seymour to Vincennes - a hundred miles or more - the road is new. Here we expected to dance by car-loads to the music of the steam-whistle, as we were whirled along over a rough and uneven track. Never were we more disappointed. Although the road is but partially ballasted, the universal testimony is that the running was smoother, steadier, and freer from joltimr tliaii that over the New Jersey and Camden and Amboy Railroads, long as the latter have been worked. Tliis is owing in part, doubtless, to the broad gaiice adopted by the Ohio and Mississipi Company, but it is due still more to the great care which has been taken in grading and solidifying the road-bed, in laying the track, and in the firm elasticity of the material of which the bed is composed. It is not often that these qualities of solidity and elasticity are so admirably combined. A very small proportion of trestle work has been found necessarj' throughout the entire line of this road, - the bridges are not numerous, but veiy substantial, and the constiuction in all respects gives promise of great durability and very moderate cost for repairs, as there is little opportunity for land-slides, washing away of the road-bed, or any of the other accidental incidents which often enhance so largely the cost of keeping a road in order. It will readily he seen that the advantages enumerated - light gi'ades, easy cur\-es, long stretches of straight track, solidity of the road-bed, and Don- liability to suffer from rains or floods - combine to promise a cost of work> ing the road rather below than above the average. Fuel is abundant and cheap, - to be had indeed in any quantity for the cost of cutting. Already the sti-eam of paying travel begins to pour through this avenue of communication just opened between the Atlantic seaboard and the Mississippi, - and all along its line the farmers are anxiously awaiting the hour when they can transport their produce over it, and receive the supplies of light lumber and other staples required from abroad. Perhaps you may deem me enthusiastic in my depiction. If so, I can only answer that I have e.xpressed, in terms quite inadequate, the general and spontaneous convictions of myself and fellowtravellers, who kept our eyes open in going over the road for the express purpose of learning its character and judging of its probable future. I know nothing personally of its managers, save their liberality towards their guests upon this festive celebration ; but if the affairs of the company are conducted with any thing approaching the skill and prudence whicli we may expect from those who had the entei-prise to carry so great a work to completion, I shall relv with entire confidence upon the not distant future to vindicate every word that I have here written.

In closing let me add a tribute to the management of the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad, over which I have frequently passed, and always with new pleasure. It would be difficult to say any thing novel of it, - for the fame of its grand scenery, and of the engineering triumphs it illustrates in climbing and crossing the Alleghanies is world-wide. Its line is completed at last by the opening of the branch road from Grafton to Parkersburg, Va. - a road which, instead of threading the valleys and winding a devious way around the spurs of the mountain, strikes boldly across the ridges, dives through cotmtless tunnelled hills, and opens up a rugged country as rich in mineral resources, probably, as any east of the Ohio River. Throughout the entire line and branches the raangement is as nearly perfect as can be. Certainly, regularity, economy, and safety are everywhere apparent in its operations. Every officer seems thoroughly conversant with his duty, and ready to discharge its lightest detail with unerring fidelity ; while each employe is engaged apparently in amiable rivalry to emulate the example thus set by his superior. But my letter is already too long and I must bring it abruptly to a close.

For reason already stated, a large number of the excnrbionists laid over at Cincinnati one day instead of going on with the " crowd.' These took the regular morning express train from Cincinnati, on Friday morning, the 5th of June, for St. Louis. Nine large passengercars were filled to thoir utmost capacity with the railroad guests, and a fair sprinkling of travellers wlio did not belong to the excursion party. The two rear cars of the train were appropriated to the lady excursionists Avith their " protectors," members of the press, and various dignitaries. Among the latter was Senator Donglas, of Illinois, who had arrived at Cincinnati on the preceding evening, accompanied by his beautiful and accomplished bride.

The events of the day were not important, except in some delays on the roadway, caused by trifling accidents to the locomotives, and a dearth of provisions altogether inconsii-tent with the appetizing eifects of a day's travel. At Fort Ritner, the train halted for lunch, and not less than eight hundred hungry passengers " broke" for the unfinished station house, whence the evidences of culinary preparation were rising in savory steaujing clouds. Never was fort charged more vigorously, but only a small portion of the conquerors succeeded in appropriating a share of its spoil. An excellent and substantial dinner liad been set for about a hundred and fifty persons, and here were more tlian five times that number anxious to be provided for. The shortcoming was unavoidable. The immense throng of the day before Iiad feasted magnificently, eating up every thing, leaving the " fort " as des-titute as an Egyptian field after the locust plague - and the parties in charge of the dining-rooms had no anticipation of any further extraordinary calls, until quite too late to gather in the needed supplies. However, the company took their disappointment good-naturedly. Those who failed of a seat at the table, satisfied themselves with a distant view of its tempting viands, a glass of milk or of hot coffee, at the back kitchen-door, or, where even these could not be obtained, a draiiglit of cool water from tlio " old oaken bucket," at the well-curb. Consoliug themselves with the expectation of a good supper at an early hour, the passengers betook themselves to the cars, in excellent Immor for hungry folk, and were soon steaming away again over the road.

As the train apiiroached the Illinois State Line, it was brought to a stand-still in the midst of a lieavy forest by the breakage of a massive cross-bar sustaining the cow-catcher or "fender," in front of the engine. The latter was at once disconnected, and the engine-man proceeded with it to some point ahead for repairs. Meanwhile, the passengers very generally issued from the cars for a run in the woods. Not knowing how long the detention might last, it was quickly determined to have some stump speaking.

After ineffectual calls for '' Corry," " Black," and others, the crowd made a rush for the car containing Senator Douglas, calling on him vociferously for a speech. An impromptu bridge across a ditch, between his car and the forest, was constructed from the material of a neighboring wood pile, and Mr. Douglas passing over it, consented to answer the wishes of his fellow-travellers.

After a few pertinent remarks npon the pleasures of the trip, the Senator proceeded with a relation of interesting facts in reference to the development of the ^Yest, and some remarks upon tlie agency of railroads therein, and the absurd notions which, until recently, prevailed about the sterility of the West. Among other facts be mentioned that when a commission from the War Department was sent to the ten-itory of Micliigan (now hah' a dozen North-western States) to locate soldiers' bounty lands, on " lands fit for cultivation," they reported that in the whole territory of Michif)antkere was no land Jit for cultivation. And so the commission located the lands in Northern Illinois, which causes all the trouble they have there about titles to real estate. So, too, when the banks of the Mississippi were reached, and their fertility was established beyond question, still it was maintained for awhile that a few miles " west " of the river the great wilderness commenced, wherein there was no single foot of land on which man or beast could find subsistence. The Senator wisely eschewed politics altogether, but told some funny stories, provoking much merriment, and keeping tlie audience in good humor notwithstanding their detention, lie concluded with an exhortation to a general interchange of sentiment among gentlemen from all parts of the country, and called out Col. Samuel W. Black, of Pennsylvania.

to the cars, in wliich most of the ladies were still seated. The Colonel reversed this order, and was called upon to turn the other way. He declined, and began his speech by saying :

Just at this point the whistle of the locomotive was heard, and the shouting, laughing crowd ran like mad to the car-steps, and the speaker followed. Nothing further of note occurred ere reaching St. Louis.

Chapter X Ix

It was nearly iniflniglit, of Thursday, wlieu the regular excursion train reached the Mississippi River, at Illinoistown, directly opposite St. Louis ; but hundreds of pine torches, which had been planted in the ground on each side of the track, for several hundred yards, brilliantly illuminated the scene. Our arrival was instantly announced to the citizens across the stream by the firing of cannon from the bluflfs. A great concourse of people had crossed to the Illinoistown Station to meet the excursionists, and greeted them with lond and long siiouts of welcome. The Mayor of St. Louis, lion. J. W. Wiiner, welcomed the strangers in the following remarks :

The agreeable duty has been assigned me, as the Executive of the city of St. Louis, to extend to you a cordial and hearty welcome to the hospitalities of our city. We are pleased to meet you, and rejoice that this occasion has drawn together so many of our fellow-citizens of other States, who will have an opportvuiity of seeing and talking with us - learning who we are, and becoming acquainted with the commercial and other features of our city. In their name I extend to you a friendly greeting.

A short time since it required weeks of travel by the best modes of conveyance to communicate with you - now, we are within speaking distance as it were, and our various interests, then supposed to be antagonistic, have become mutual and common, and we meet not as contestants for our particular localities, but as friends - as brothers of the same household, feeling and knowing that all properly directed efiForts made for the advancement of any portion of our country, where each individual may reside, will prove beneficial to all. As citizens of St. Louis, we are not unmindful of the benefits conferred

I -nnll not detain you longer at this time, and will close by again extending to you a hearty welcome, with the assurance that I but utter the earnest sentiments of the entire community of my fellow-citizens, for whom I am now permitted to speak.

In reply to your hearty welcome, I sincerely thank you. We accept that welcome rs it is given, in all sincerity. Sir, we stand upon the wonderworking machine which has this evening borne us to your city, and which is the cause of the festivities of this occasion. We stand upon that machine which is to make the crooked places straight, the rough places smooth, and the wilderness as a garden. (Cheers.) We accept as official members of the commimity of Louisville, your hearty, cordial, and sincere welcome, and we take heart to follow the useful example which you have set to us in the noble railroad you have here before us.

At present I stand at your feet, Mr. Mayor, but we hope that the time will come when om* place will be not only at your head but fully by your side ; when our prosperity shall be one, and we shall all miite to the glory of the nation, knowing neither North, South, East, or West.

I return for your hearty welcome the sincere thanks of Louisville, and I think I may with safety say, the thanks of all the other cities who are now represented around you.

Four large and elegant Mississippi River steamers, - the " Reindeer," "Baltimore," " Illinois," and "Die Vernon" - had been moored to tlie Levee on the Illinois side of the river, near the point at which the cars stopped. These, brilliantly illuminated, presented a very pretty spectacle, in the darkness of the evening. The guests were immediately escorted on board, and provided witli state-rooms for the niglit. In a few minutes a sumptuous supper was served on board tlie boats, to which amijle justice was accorded by the wearied travellers, who then betook themselves to rest. During the night the St. Louisiana celebrated the occasion by plentiful displays of fireworks, of wliich tlie strangers, who cliose, obtained a fine view, as well as of the great city across the river, liglited up by its thousands of gas burners, and its long levee brilliant with the glare of torches, Roman candles, Grecian fires, or other ])yrotechnic devices.

Ilia stretclied out on the St. Louis side of tlie river iu tlie precise lifj;ht best adapted to give effect to the picture. At an early liour tlie guests were astir, and after a few minutes' survey of the scene, were ushered in to a substantial breakfast on board the boats, which had served us as temporary hotels.

Breakfast duly discussed, the boats cast off their moorings, and leaving the Illinois shore started on an excursion upon the Mississippi River. Gracefully and majestically they breasted the rapid current, and swe t up the stream with music, banners, and other demonstrations of a gala day. The purpose of the excursion was to give the guests a daylight view of the city. The steamers proceeded up the river to the powder mill above the extreme northern limit of St. Louis, and then turning about went down as far the " village" of Carondelet, now the extreme southern limit of the great city. The view was exceedingly fine. St. Louis, with its substantial edifices, public, private, and commercial; its numerous church spires; many and extensive factories, from which tall columns of smoke were wending their way continually towards the great black cloud overhead ; and its long levee lined for miles with steamers, and piled with every conceivable description of merchandise, exacted the wondering surprise and admiration of all who thus saw it for the first time. Though less inviting in its suburbs tlian some other AVestern cities, it was impossible not to see that it is destined to become at some day, as famed for its beauty as it is already for its wealth, its enterprise, and its prosperity.

Nine o'clock A. M. having been fixed upon for the landing at the cit}', the steamers neared their berth promptly in time. The Commitiees of Arrangement had prepared and issued the following

Order Of Ceremonies

1st. The citizens of St. Louis are recommended to observe the day as a holiday ; that all banking houses and places of business be closed, and the steamboats at the levee and the houses on the levee all along the streets through which tlie procession will pass, be appropriately decorated with flags, branches of trees, flowers, <fec.

2d. At eight o'clock the Military Committees, the Board of Aldermen, Fire Companies, the Turners, the different Associations of singers, and all invited to participate in the celebration will assemble on the levee, where the line of procession will be formed under the direction of the Grand Marshal.

3d. The guests having breakfasted on the boats, at nine o'clock the boats wiU leave the Illinois shore and bring the guests to St. Louis. Durmg the

4th. A sufficient number of carriages and omnibuses will be in attendance at the levee to accommodate the guests and the Committee of Arrangeme::ts.

5th. At the landing the guests will be conducted to the middle of a hollow square, formed by the military companies, Mayor and City Council, and the other members of the Committee of Reception.

Jt was evident, as we approached tlie lauding-place designated, at the foot of Spruce street, tliat order No. 1 had been faithfully observed, - for the levee and the adjacent streets, as far as could be seen, were crowded with pei>ple, and the boats Avere gayly decorated witli Hags and evergreens. Bands were playing along tiie line of procession awaiting us, cannon roared in glorious confusion, and the crowd upon the levee shouted with almost delirious enthusiasm. Ever}' body entered into the spirit of the occasion with a heartiness peculiarly Western, each conti'ibuting. in bis own independent way, to the general stock of enjoyment, frolic, and furore.

The guests were received at the landing-place by Mayor "Wimer, Geo. K. Taylor, President of the Board of Aldermen, J. Vogel, Chairman of the Board of Delegates, and Alderman Shore, Mr. Pomeroy, and others of the Board of Delegates. Thence they were escorted to the carriages in waiting, and moved forward to the line of procession forming in accordance with the following order, which had been issued for the occasion: -

Order Of Procession

The diflferent military companies, fire companies, and associations, who purpose joining in the procession on the above occasion, will assemble on this Friday morning, 5th instant, at eight o'clock precisely, the right resting on the comer of Second and Market streets, extending east to Water street, thence up Water street, west side, taking their position in the Hue in the following order : -

7. Missouri Gymnastic Society, the Turners, Socialer Ssenger Cher, St. Louis Sffinger Bund, Gruetli Yerein, Concordia Gesang Verein, and other associations joining hi the procession.

8. The following military companies, in such order of precedence as may be arranged by Capt. Almsteadt - St. Louis Mounted Rifles, ]\Iissouri Dragoons, Jlissouri Light Battery, Missouri Yagers, and Union lliflemen.

The carriages and omnibuses will be formed by the Committee on Vehicles, on Fourth street, south of Walnut, and will be ready at the corner of Main and Market streets, at half past eight o'clock, to receive the guests, as soon as they are conducted to that pouit.

Route Of Procession

Up Market street to Fourth street, up Fourth to Olive, out 01i^'e to Eleventh, up Eleventh to Franklin avenue, out Franklin avenue to Grand avenue, up Grand avenue to the eastei-n gate of the Fair Ground?.

The order of procession was strictly carried out. It is but just to the militarv and fire department to say that they made an exceedingly fine appearance, eliciting many flattering compliments trom the stranger visitors. The rain of the previous day had left the streets in a very muddy and disagreeable condition, adding much to the discomforts of the long and weary march ; but the escort persevered in the duty assigned it, exhibiting a perfection of discipline and drill most commendable in volunteer corps.

The procession was several miles long, and it was over two hours before the rear end readied the Fair Grounds. Along the entire route through the city, the houses were decorated with flags, streamers, garlands, and wreaths, and the roofs, windows, and sidewalks and streets were filled with people dressed in holiday attire. The tout ensemble formed a scene of surpassing gayety and splendor. Amid this exciting pageant the ladies of the " Mound City" shone with resplendent lustre as they waved their handkerchiefs, and smiled a pleasant welcome to the guests.

As the procession moved along, salutes of artillery pealed forth, and cheer after cheer went np as each successive coach load of guests passed by. One of the most interesting scenes, and at the same time one wiiicli touched the stoutest heart, occurred on the route. As the line passed along a remarkably neat-looking building, enclosed by a fence, the walls were observed to be lined with cleanly dressed men, women, and children; as the band of the Baltimore guests (the Bines) passed, they played a plaintive melody, and were loudly applauded by the clapping of hands, waving of handkerchiefs, &c., by the party ; but when many of them turned to leave their posts, they wei'e observed to feel their way : Ave were passing the Blind Asylum. This was a tribute to this fine Baltimore band which came from the heart, and it was one that will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

On the return from the Fair Grounds, later in the day, the omnibus containing the band halted in front of the Institution for the Blind, when the members of the band, together with a number of the officers of the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad, entered the institution and greeted the inmates with several airs, executed in a masterly manner. Mr. Whelan, on the part of the pupils, returned thanks for the pleasure given them, and invited the guests to listen to the music of the ])upils. After several pieces by the blind and the band, one of the Baitimoreans, on behalf of the Blues' Band, presented their banner to the institution. The band also presented to the Institution tbirty dollars, which Mr. Wiielan accepted on condition that the" present should be appropriated to the furnishing of a strawberry feast for the pupils, which was their wish on a vote. After a few further remarks by some of the guests they took leave, delighted with their visit to the institution, and with the consciousness that they had contributed an hour of happiness to the unfortunate inmates.

The Fair Grounds are situated on a high hill, back of the citj', and a little to the north of it. They are, almost unquestionably, the finest arranged grounds for the purposes of agricultural and mechanical exhibitions to be found in the United States. They embrace about fifty acres of land, enclosed with a substantial and impenetrable fence. The land alone, unimproved, cost $50,000. The grounds have been improved almost without regard to expense. Water carried to it from a distance, is distributed by pipes wherever convenience requires, and at night the entire place is illuminated by gaslight. The grounds are perfectly level, and richly carpeted with luxuriant blue grass. In the centre rises a magnificent amphitheatre, 850 feet in diameter, with a centre arena, the diameter of which is 250 feet. Its cost was near $70,000. This amphitlieatre will seat comfortably nearly ten thousand jteople. Each ])romenade will hold eight thousand, so that twenty-six thousand peoi)le nuiy be sheltered under the roof of this magnificent structure. A heavy ornamented cornice surmounts the numerous pillars facing in to the centre, and on the arena in tlie middle of the circle is a neat pagoda with three platforms, handsomely balustraded, up tlirough which and far above runs a lofty flag-staff, from wjiich floated the stars and stripes. In the pagoda, which is of open latticework, a fountain threw up jets of bright water, producing a very pleasant sensation. Great as the crowd was, when the procession, with thousands of citizens, had entered the amphitheatre, it was only partially occupied. The gallery of eleven hundred and fifty feet, on the southern side, was filled with ladies and gentlemen, the gnests of the occasion. A convenient rostrum, covered with clean white linen, was set aside for the dignitaries and the orators; the seats on the right side were assigned to the reporters, who formed a respectable battalion, and were never more comfortably accommodated. The ladies were on the terraced seats on the right of the rostrum, and on their riglit again was a large band of singers of the German Glee Clubs. The arena was assigned to the military, the firemen, and the turners, who marched several times around it with their bands, discoursing lively airs, to the great satisfaction and delight of the spectators.

A bountiful and superb collation had been arranged on three tables extending about 300 feet along a portion of the promenade inside the amphitheatre reserved for this purpose. When the tables were completely set, they presented quite an elegant appearance. Delicacies and decorations were displayed with great effect, taste and convenience being equally consulted by the efficient dinner committee and their purveyor. Many a longing eye and watering mouth was turned towards this (juarter of the scene, long before the hour of attack arrived.

Uj)on the principal stand were noticed the following gentlemen: Hon. Edward Bates ; Hon. Trusten Polk, United States Senator from Missouri ; Hon. J. M. Wimer ; Hon. L. M. Kennett; Mi-. Flagg, of Cincinnati Council ; Mayor Adams, of Chillicothe ; Mayor Pilcher, of Louisville; Mayor Dick, of Yinceimes; John B. Seidenstricker, President of the Baltimore City Council ; Hon. Fayette McMullen, of Virginia; Ex-Gov. Jioynolds, of Illinois; Ex-Gov. Philip Francis Thomas, of Marj'land; Judge Z. Collins Lee, of Baltimore; Hon. Mr. Corwin, of Cincinnati ; Hon. Mr. L. L'Homadieu, of Cincinnati ; Prof. O. M. Mitchell, Cincinnati; Hon. T.L.Price; Hon. Nathaniel Cox, Secretary of State of Maryland ; Hon. W. H. Traver.*, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Maryland ; Dr. D. Claude, Treasurer of Maryland ;

Hon. J. Dixon Reman, from Maryland; Wm. M. M'Pherson, PresUlent of the Pacific Railroad; Col. John O' Fallon; G. R. Taylor, Pres. of St. Louis Board ot Aldermen ; H. D. Bacon ; Hon. J. M. Harris, M. C. from Maryland; H(m. Wash. King; Hon. Charles Jones; J. H, Lucas; Francis P. Blair, Sen. ; Hon. F. P. Blair ; Hon, Erastus Brooks, New York; Gen. W. L. Gaither, S. C. Leakin, J. B. Brinkley, C. D. Hinks, Robert Turner, Ezra Houck, and Edward Shriver, of Maryland, Directors of tlie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

After the military evolutions in the arena were completed, Hon. John M. Wiraer, Mayor of St. Louis, came forward, and, claiming the attention of the vast audience, presented Hon. Edward Bates, of St. Louis, as the orator of the day.

Mr. Bates came forward and addressed the audience, occupying their undivided attention fur more than two hours. We regret to state that no report of this eloquent and able elfort Avas made at the time, and that our repeated endeavors to obtain even a just outline of it, have failed. We are compelled, therefore, to be content with a very brief statement of its general scope and character.

The orator commenced by remarking that he had had imposed iipon him the pleasing duty of welcoming the guests of St. Louis. This selection was made, perhaps, because he was one of the oldest residents of the city : not because he was of St. Louis birth, but because he had grown up with her growth and loved the city as his own. Had the arrival of these guests been casual, St. Louis would have been honored by the reception of such a body of men ; she would have done all she could to render their stay happy and pleasant. But on such an occasion, so many distinguished guests coming from distant cities and States to celebrate the completion of a great work of man, her joy was greater, and she felt that it was an honor deep and lasting. Among the guests present are such as any city would be proud to welcome ; here are heads of States, men renowned in literature, men great in government, men prominent in the arts and sciences - such men as tlie world delights in, and such as the world greets with pleasure and pride.

Mr. B. next adverted to the almost incredible progress and improvement made within the period of his own experience, not only by St. Louis but by the whole of the West, which had grown up under his eye, and by the country at large, in every means of communication. He had frequently spent five and twenty days in traversing on horseback the distance between that city and Richmond, Va. ; now, intelligence was carried by lightning, and personal intercourse was conducted by steam. He compared the present occasion to the annual bridal of the Adriatic, when the Doge of Venice espoused his city to the sea, the source of her pre-eminent wealth and power, and proceeded to speak eloquently iu review of the results to flow from the wonderful triumph of ait wliicli had wedded the Missi^sijipi to llie Athmtic. The railroads now completed, connecting in a line as straight as possible the cities of Baltimore and St. Louis, nearly 1,000 miles apart, had some peculiar features of importance which a glance at the map would suggest. These cities were on nearly the same parallel of latitude, and so the line was not only straight, but also due East and West. Further, as the great river ran north and south, it was, therefore, tapped by this new channel of commerce at a right angle, and that moreover at a central point of its coiu-se, whence you could circumnavigate the nation ; lor the muddy Mississippi had long been connected w^ith the pellucid lakus.

The speaker continued to expatiate at considerable length on the future destinies of the Mississippi Valley and of St, Louis, its natui-al centre, for so her citizens regarded their city ; and he had been for more than thirty years convinced that the commercial centre of the Valley must be at some point between the mouths of the Missouri and the Ohio Rivers. He went back into the early history of the settlements on the banks of the great river ; the high endeavors of the pioneers, from whose small beginnings the great VaUey of the Mississippi was to become the supporting home of 20,000,000 of popvilation. He looked upon the railroads as finally to become the outlet of a superabundance both of people and products.

Passing to the glorious union of the States, he said it was a fact that the great Valley of the Mississippi was, politically, neither Noi'th nor South - it was the nation's. Until its geography could be changed, and its waters be turned back at its mouth, it was a bond of union for ever. You could see the manners and habits,, and hear the languages of twenty dififerent nations in St. Louis, and these, too, were spread through the whole valley. It was not seotional; and this idea he proceeded to illustrate with point and eloquence.

He presented a mass of statistics with reference to the greatness and growth of the products of the Mississippi Valley, and of the ti'ade of St. Louis, its navigable waters, extent of railroad communication, etc. This valley afiForded to St. Louis 25,000 miles of navigable water, and there had been a like amount of railroad track laid on its borders. Of these railroads 1,100 miles w'ere in IMissouri, and it had required iron to the amount of 132,000 tons for rails to lay it. That this was to be the greatest iron region of the world there was not a shadow of doubt. Their iron mountain now being reached by rail, would render iron and its manufactures one of their most abundant products. The iron trade of St. Louis had already gone up to a yearly consumption of tens of thousands of tons from 312 in the beginning.

Other wonderful facts were also given, set off with a rhetoric and beauty of thought worthy the occasion. The speaker concluded «ith a most eloquent expression of his faith in the perpetuity of this union of States, as a necessary result of their mutual dependence and natural connection. " Not an acre of profitable land," said lie, " along tlie course of this mighty and divinely appointed bulwark of our institutions, the Mississippi, is in truth, politically, either North or South !" The learned orator was enthusiastically cheered by his entire audience, during the progress and at the conclusion of his address.

After the conclusion of Mr. Bates' speech, it seemed to be unanimously determined that dinner should be the next thing discussed. The committee on the dinner, who fulfilled their duty with exquisite system and good taste, proceeded to seat the invited guests, who were without any difficulty satisfactorily accommodated. All expressed themselves well pleased with the viands and wines that were set before them, and for which they were largely indebted to the energy, skill, and enterprise of William Wade, a St. Louis merchant, who presided at the committee, and under whose supervision the dinner was prei)ared. The viands were varied, and excellently cooked, and the wines were lavishly supplied, while the strawberries, ice-cream, and cakes, that were in abundance on every portion of the tables, seemed to be almost inexhaustible. The guests partook of what was set before them with iiearty appetites, and when satisfied found still on the tables enougli to have supplied a company as large as that which had risen. AVe append the

Spfkchics For Maryland And Virginia

After dinner a series of regular toasts, prepared by the committee, were read by Mayor Wiraer, and were generally resjionded to in tboir order.

The first, " The President of the United Stntes^^'' was assigned to Senator Green, of Missouri, but there was no response, in view of the number of speakers from a distance who were expected to occupy the day.

I have travelled over one thousand miles since Tuesday last, and am too much exhausted to respond appropriately to the very complimentarj' notice taken by your worthy Mayor of the State of Marj^land. In common with large numbers of my fellow-citizens througliout that honored commouwealtli, I have come to witness the splendid nuptials by which this day the distant Atlantic becomes the smihng bride of the giant West. With glad hearts we celebrate with you this memorable event. It is an achievement over which the Republic itself may rejoice, because in these times of threatened disruption and disunion, and whilst men are wickedly calculating the value of the confederacy, and without hesitation Avould apportion its wealth and its glories among contending sections, these ligaments of iron with which you are drawing us into closer neigbborhood and most ready intercourse with each other, are so many ties to bind lis together, I trust, as one indissoluble and united people. Over the scenes now trans[>iring around us, romance herself seems to have thrown her ciiains. ]5ut a few years ago how different was the spectacle ! Could De Soto and La Salle be awakened from the sleep of death and behold the exhibition of to-day ; could they mark the contrast between the woods and wilds and solitudes of this western coimtrythen, and tlie life and bustle and advanced civilization which are now abounding here, how wonld they ponder this wonderful change with astonishment ! Instead of the forest waste inhabited by wild beasts and reverberating with the yell of the savage, they would find splendid cities, gorgeous steamers, the hum of machinery, and a country teeming with the farms and homes of happy freemen extending from the rising to the setting sun. For the accomplishment of these things Maryland sends to you this day all congratulation. Nor need you be surprised, if in the future hundreds of our fellow-citizens shall follow to realize the genial hospitality which you have on this occasion, with a liberal Land, so lavishly showered upon us. -

" The Governor of Virginia " was responded to by Mr. John R. Thompson, of Ricliniond, the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger, in an appropriate and pleasing manner.

Mr. Thompson said he believed it was Charles Lamb who declared that he had never taught school but once, and that he had then taught school by giving the boys holiday. He knew not but that he should make a more effective speech by preserving an eloquent silence. But having been selected to respond to the sentiment just annoiinced, he should be recreant to those feelings of filial regard which he had ever cherished for his maternal State, could he leave her beloved name to be toasted without acknowledgment. The honor paid to Virginia had been most fitly rendered through her chief executive magistrate, Hemy A. Wise, and the speaker deeply regretted tliat - [Here Mr. Thompson was interrupted by the entrance into the arsna of the pavihon, of a company of soldiers with a military brass band playing in fall concert.] - When the music had been stopped by order of the Mayor, Mr. Thompson proceeded to say that he was about to remark, when his words were drowned in the noise of the instruments, that he greatly regretted the absence from this glorious festivity of Governor Wise, whose voice would hive risen above the din of mariial music, and sounded indeed as a clarion in itself. But the speaker was glad that he had come a thousand miles and more to mingle in the triumphs of the hour - triumphs more glorious than those of vulgar war, because unstained by blood and significant only of man's physical and moral elevation. The speaker was going on to comment on the commanding interest of ihe occasion, when the noise of a drum and fife immediately belovy him again prevented his being heard. This second disturbance having ceased, he resumed by saying, that there were present a few of his fellow-citizens of the noi-th-western portion of Virginia, who had united with Baltimore in building that grand link in the chain of railway communication between the Atlantic and the Mississippi - the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad - who were justly entitled to the courtesy of being heard at this jubilee, and he felt that he ought rather to speak for them than for the State at large, which was not as yet fully riveted by iron bands to the Great West. But although the Old Dominion had no immediate and controlling interest in this joyous celebration, she was connected with the West by stUl closer and more enduring ties than those of iron, and was represented here by better elements than any of a material kind. We have sent no locomotive engines beyond the beautiful river to bring to us the golden harvests of the prairie, though the time will come when the abundant wealth of this magnificent valley of the Mississippi will flow through Virginia's mountains like a Pactolus to the sea ; but we have sent something better - men, " higli-minded men," to carry Virginia's civilization onward in the pathway of empire, and disseminate her virtues even to the set- ting snn. Her part in western progress had been an unselfish part, and she had acted on the scriptural principle, that it was mor? blessed to give than to receive. As the speaker stood yesterday for the first time on the banks of the Wabash, he remembered that it was Virginian valor in the strong arm of George Rogers Clark which had subjugated this splendid domain afterwards to be voluntarily relinquished for the benefit of the Union, and to-day, it was not long after his eye had rested, for the first time, ou the tawny current of the Father of Waters, that he had reason to feel a just pride in his State, as he listened to the noble oration which one of her sons had here pronounced. It had often been said of Virginia in derision, that it was an excellent State to emigrate from, and the West had long since found out that it was the best of States from which to get emigrants. Yes, said the speaker, if Virginia had never given up an empire to the general government, if she had never endowed the West with the imperial intellect of Henry Clay, this wide region, and Missouri especially, would have reason to cherish for her feelings of lasting gratitude, in remembering that she had contributed to the rising glories of the Mississippi Valley, the genius of Edward Bates. Mr. Thompson concluded by giving, as a sentiment, " The Orator of the Day."

" The Governor of Ohio'''' was responded to in accordance with tlie most general and enthusiastic popular demand, by Professor O. M. Mitchell, of Cincinnati, the pioneer engineer of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, its Financial Commissioner, and finally, one of the contractors for completing the Eastern Division. Mounting the stand he turned himself edgewise to the double audience right and left. This impartiality seemed to give universal satisfaction, and the Professor, taking advantage of a momentary pause in the roll of dnuns, the braying of horns, and clash of cymbals, spoke as follows as nearly as we could report : -

My Friends And Fellow Country3Ien

I know but two enemies, over whom I am disposed to triumph with unmitigated and jubilant satisfaction - these enemies are Time and Space. Such is my temperament, that 1 have actually sufiFered a kind of mental agony from the knowledge of the fact that being at one point, I could not reach another without passing over the intermediate space which separated them. The route passed yesterday so triumphantly between the two focal cities of the

West, I have long battled with on foot and on horseback, in the mud wagon and the stage coach. I have fought with mud, and more - with sleet, rain, and hail storms, with flood and even fire, on these broad prairies : these were the advanced pickets, and the main body and the rear-guard of ray old foes " time and space ;" but on yesterday we had them all under the iron wheel of our flying train, and I must confess to a feeling of proud exultation in the downfall and almost utter destruction of my bitterest enemies.

I remember full well the time and place when I uttered the prediction, that tlie day would come, and that at no distant period, when the same sun whose kindling rays should illume the train departing from St. Louis, would fling his slant beams on the same train bending to the beautiful curves of the Ohio, as it entered the Queen City. This prediction was uttered on the opposite bank of the Mississippi, in the presence of assembled thousands gathered to witness the upheaval of the first shovelful of earth, and to inaugurate the beginning of the gigantic work whose completion has drawn hither the clustering thousands who now surround this straining platform. It would be utterl}^ impossible, my friends, to give you even a faint idea of the feelings which swept through my own mind, as I flew over the necks of my prostrate enemies on yesterday. Every hiU, and stream, and prairie - every farm-house and cabin, marked the scene of some adventure, or commemorated the achievement of some signal victory. The events of eight long years came crowding upon me like the gigantic shadows of the past - the memory of early friends and collaborators, who with stern and hopeful courage and determined wiU had with me stood foremost in the grand struggle on which we had entered. Alas ! some of them, like the forlorn hope of a beleaguering army, had fallen bravely fighting at their posts ere the shout of victory had come to cheer their dying moments. Honor to their memories - their names are inseparably united with the great woi-k in whose behalf they fell !

Those of you who passed so swiftly on yesterday over the 3-10 miles of intervening space which separates the cities of Cincinnati and St. Louis, reposing on luxurious cushioned seats, gliding with a velocity of thirty miles per hour over hill and dale, swamp, river, and prairie, regaled with the choicest wines and with the sumptuous fare of unbounded hospitality, can but poorly appreciate the contrast between this last journey and the first I ever made between the same two points. Then our toilsome march was on foot, urging forward the survey which was to fix the fate of the enterprise, through rain and snow, and sleet and flood, drenched by day, chilled and almost frozen in caves by night with little to eat and the same to drink - toiling through forests, struggling through toiiruous valleys, piercing the rocky hills ior future tunnels, and spanning the swollen and sometimes furious streams for bridges in embryo. P'lying as I did on yesterday past the scenes of these early struggles, I could not but compare my sensations to those of the liberated Trojans after a pent-up siege of ten long yeai-s. You remember the Homeric song of the siege of Troy - the treacherous Greeks, pretending to set sail for home, and to leave forever the ensanguined plain on which their mightiest heroes had bled, concealed themselves behind the island of Tenedos. The Trojans, frenzied with joy at this unexpected release, flung wide their gates, and, dressed in their gayest attire, issued forth once more on the well-known plain, now freed from the desecration of a hostile foot. The classic scenes were visited and pointed out - Here were encamped the legions of the fierce Achilles - here lay the fleet, and here was fought the battle of the ships - there Patroclus fell, and here has the dishonored body of the mighty Hector been chained to the chariot wheels of his unrelenting foe : - such, in kind, were my own reminiscences as I swept over the scenes of our early adventures, grounds to me consecrated by memories which can never fade.

Pardon me if I indulge somewhat in these seeming personalities. The Siege of Troy has been sung by the divinest poet of the olden time - the Sieore of Sevastopol has filled the modern world with wonder and amazement, making and unmaking heroes, and calling forth inventive skill, fertility of resource energy of character, indomitable courage, cool sagacity, and even reckless bravery such as the world has almost never known - and yet, though one of these sieges with its events, its battles, and its heroes, gods and men, has been embalmed in poetry, and the other has been rendered immortal in history, yet neither the one nor the other has drawn forth greater abiUt3' than the projection, execution, and completion of the stupendous work, which by iron bands this day unites the Chesapeake Bay with that mighty flood, which is yonder sweeping its fast and furious tide to the Gulf of Mexico.

I would not underrate the glory and grandeur of a war of freedom. Bred a soldier, it would ill become me to speak slightingly of the triumphs of the " tented field." But there are civic triumphs, though less dazzling and magnificent, in no degree less important. You have heard on yesterday the booming of cannon ; you have witnessed on last night the blazing of bonfires ; you have seen the streaming of bannei-s, the waving of handkerchiefs, the loud shouts of triumph which hailed our approaching train as we swept through forest or prairie. To you, possibly, it was but the effei-vescence of a fickl population on a, grand gala day. Not so, my friends. These demonstrations were real ; these, bla;^ing fires were lighted by warm and glowing hearts ; those waving emblems of joy were held by the w ives and daughters of a teeming population released from thraldom by the completion of this mighty work, and placed now and for ever in a position of independence and prosperity.

Ah ! if you could have gone with me five years ago to th^ cabins whence have issued the joyous throng which greeted us on yesterday^ and talked with the toil-worn father and the almost desponding ipother, then you might iu some degree have appreciated the triumph.

explorations on the banks of the little Wabash. On all sides of their cabin stretched the rich and boundless prairie. The fertile soil yielded abundant return for the labor of the hard-working husbandman. But alas, the crops were even but partly gathered, and a sort of despondent gloona rested on the brow of the sun-bronzed farmer. " Why don't you gather your corn ?' said I. ".What's the use ?" was the reply. " We have gathered and cribbed more than enough for our own use. It is iitterly impossible to reach a market ; there is no one, to buy, and we have no inducement to labor. Our sons and daughters are growing up around us in ignorance ; the turnpike road has failed ; the State works have failed, and now a last ray of hope has been kindled by the talk of a great railway from St. Louis to Cincinnati. We have enough of every thing, all we want is an outlet. But there seems to be no chance, and we are slowly sinking into gloom and despair !"

Is it nothing to remove the heavy load from that father's heart ? Is it nothing to open warm, glowing, love-giving daylight upon his cheerless cottage? Is it nothing to furnish him with the means to send his brightest boy to college and his beaiitii'ul pet, Daisy, to the young ladies' academy ? Don't tell me those shouts which rang upon our ears, as we swept over hill and dale, were the idle shouts of an ignorant rabble ; I know better. They were the exultant notes of freed men and freed women, thanking God that broad daylight had at length broken in upon them in the wilderness, and that henceforward improvement, advancement, education, amelioration, hope, and happiness were to be bright attendants of their career in life. Aud now to whom are we indebted for this wondrous revolution ? I mean those of us who stand at the western extremity of the iron chain sweeping hence to the Chesape.ake. There is no one within the sound of my voice who is so utterly devoid of reason as to suppose that a work of this gigantic character could have been conceived, carried forward, and finally completed without tremendous effort and terrible sacrifice. Woe to the land when the days of public spirit are numbered, when every grand eriterprise is to be weighed and measured by the rigid standard of ten per centum per annum, - when soul and heart, and flesh and blood are transmuted into glittering gold, cold and dead. I fear the days of liberal minds, of large, generous hearts, of willing, stern, self- .sacrificing devotion are fast passing away. But I thank God that some of the great and good are still left to witness this glorious day, and to participate in a triumph won by their own stem unyielding courage and sagacity.

I would not pass by any of the early and ardent friends of this work. They were all good men and tnae ; but there sits now on the platform and within the range of my eye, one who in sunshine and in storm, iu prosperity or adversity, has ever stood like the ocean rock, firm and immovable, a rallying point upon which we could always fall back with safety, and from which we could organize for a renewed effort. Wise in council, prudent in action, stern in pui-pose, unyielding in energy, such is Col. John 0' Fallon, who first presided over the destinies of the western division of the Ohio and Mississippi Kuilroad. There is one other eminent citizen of St. Louis, whose name justice compels me to mention. I care not what ma}^ be our private relations ; I am constrained to bear testimony to his earnest and unselfish devotion to the best interests of this grand work. Xot, indeed, among its very earliest friends, but enlisting long before any serious advance had been made, - from that moment the success of this great enterprise lay nearest to his heart. With a most lucrative business, with a princely fortune at his command, surrounded by ease and affluence, the moment the dark clouds began to skirt the horizon his keen penetrating glance descried the commercial storm that was cominw. Then he might have withdrawn and left the road to its fate This he scorned to do. " I have set my hand to the plough," said he, " and I never look back." Baffled by the luiwise action of less penetrating minds, beset on all sides by revulsion and disaster, he boldly and fearlessly fought with the tempest, and though shattered and broken, and nearly wrecked, Henry D. Bacon stands this day high among his peers, one of the oldest, firmest, and stanchest friends of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad.

And now I have a word or two to say to my learned friend, who has o-iven us so warm and cordial a welcome to the city of St. Louis. The occasion is one presenting a brilliant opportunity for the elaboration of his favorite theme - the present and prospective prosperity of the Mississippi Valley. We have been told how interminable were its rivers, how broad and magnificent its prairies, how rich and luxuriant its soils, how inexhau.stible and diversified its mineral resources ; but, above all, we have been informed that the " star of empire," arrested in its giant march westward, has come to a dead pause ; and now, fixed in mid-heaven, sheds down its glorious beams from the precise zenith of St. Louis. The Mississippi Valley is one mighty, unbounded, prolific domain of present and future power, glory, and refinement, and St. Louis is its centre.

I cannot quite subscribe to my friend's philosophy. He belongs, I fear, to the old Aristotelian school, which taught the doctrine of circular orbits for planetary movement. This fallacy clung to the human miud for more than two thousand years. (I trust the fallacy into which the eloquent Judge has fallen may not endure as long.) When the truth was at length discovered, it was found that not a single circle existed in the heavens. Nature had adopted a different curve in which to drive her fiery chariots on their appointed routes. She has selected the ellipse, a curve not with one single centre like the circle, but with two j)oinfs enjoying precisely equal qualities and properties, two focal centres; and thus in this mighty valley she has fixed her elliptic limits, and her grand focal cities ; the one St. Lotiis, the other Cincinnati ; and we have this day completed in iron the gi-aud axis of the ellipse, the Ohio and Jlississippi Railway.

I cannot longer trespass on your patience. It is needless to refer to the wondrous position held by the road whose completion we are met to celebrate.

It holds indeed the gi-and axial line. From its eastern extremity radiate the iron tracks to every point on the Alantic seaboard. From its western terminus starts the line which sooner or later must terminate on th3 shores of the Pacific. Already radii are starting to the south and to the north - gathering into this n.agnificent focus the rich and luxuriant products of this vast and advancing region. I will utter no predictions for the future. The (A) Delta of the Ohio and Mississippi is completed ; we stand on the dividing line of two grand eras. Let us in quiet confidence await the actual development of time.

" 77ie Governor of Illinois^'''' - the next in order of the regular toasts - was responded to by ex-Governor Eeynolds of that State, wlio made a happy address in relation to the advantages of tlie railroad line, the opening of which was now being celebrated.

'- The Goternor of Indiana " drew out Judge A. T. Ellis, of Vincennes, to whose efforts tlie country is largely indebted for the early progress and successful completion of the Oliio and Mississippi Road.

" The Governor of Xeio Yorh''^ was responded to by Hon. Erastus Brooks, who eloquently and effectively spoke in behalf of that State, and in exemplification of what her capitalists and men of enterprise had done in rescuing and carrying through this great work.

Mr. Mayor : - In reply to the invitation of your city government, we are come. Though our chief is not here, yet the representation is sufficiently large to testify how we value your invitation. Our council numbers thirty-four members - twenty of us are here - two more than a quorum for doing business ; and so hearty is your welcome, so kind your attention, so thoroughly at home do you make us feel, that if 3'ou don't look out we shall be for holding a session in the midst of you, and go to work passing ordinances, as is our habit.

We come, sir, from a place you mny have heard of, called Cincinnati, holding about two hundred thousand souls. I cannot give you its exact latitude and longitude, but you'll find it on any modern map. I can tell you this much about its locality, that it is some three hundred miles due cast from here, or ra'hcr vas at that distance. Yesterday the city in question was moved into your immediate neighborhood by the magic of modern locomotion, and liavlng become \'our near nciiibbors, we have stepped over to-day to say good morning, to inquire after your Large family of children, and to express a hope

Yes, sir, we have long been too distant from you - so remote, in fact, that many of the twenty I mentioned, were till yesterday quite ignorant of western matters and things - quite verdant on the subject of prairies, and wholly unsophisticated and fresh on the subject of Mississippi water. I for one, sir, for the first time, this morning set foot on the banks of yonder big dritik, as the Indians called it - for the first time quaffed its refreshing flow, and breathed the invigorating air that moves upon its surface, like the breath of the Great Spirit, moving upon the face of the deep.

Let us be speedy to make one another's acquaintance ; joined by the bonds of a permanent commercial union, let there be not only mone,^ between us, but love also. Let each learn from the other what the other has to teach, and the spirit of generous emulation inspire both to move with a swifter pace in the quick march of modern progress. We, sir, on our part, while reviewing your numerous public places consecrated I)y a wise forethought to fresh air, recreation, and repose ; while enjoying ourselves in this delightful seventy acres, but last year a cornfield, now green with sod and sparkling with fountains, where, in an amphitheatre that can hold fifty thousand men, you receive and feast your guests in such lordly style, may learn that dwellers in cities must not necessarily be prisoners in brick and mortar, but may easily enjoy all those quiet, elevating delights that come from communion with nature, who, if we will only give her space, will descend and dwell among ns - spreading her verdant carpet and erecting her shadowy tent, while the zephyrs of Heaven descend to cool the brows and gladden the hearts of the children of men. And you, sir, may learn from us, that fire can be conquered by water better than by whisky. Step over aud we will show you eight streams from 2 k inch spouts, united in one grand steam fountain that can wash the horns of the moon and sprinkle the stars.

Sir, your reception is magnificent ; it is more - it is comforting to the inward parts. I have attended public dinners all my life, and never, till to-day, found any thing fit to eat. But your board is groaning with luxuries, and the feast has sparkled, let me say, with most excellent wine of your own make. Your greatness duly impresses us. We begin to realize somethii;g of what have heard. I have listened with expanding ideas to the detail of your resources, from the honored orator of the day. He has taken an arithmetical and geographical view of things, and planted St. Louis in the centre of the vast empire that must, as I tnily believe, ere long make her seat here, or hereabouts, grasping an ocean in each hand, with her feet upon the great gulf of the South, and holding on to the north pole with all her teeth. Our scientific friend, Prof Mitchell, hailing from our own promising little clearing, has taken, however, an astronomical view of the subject, and informs us that, by the teachings of modem astrouomy, movement is found to be, not in a circle, with just one centre, precisely in the middle, as was taught by Ptolemy, but in the form of an elongated cur\-e - an ellipse - with two foci, or twin centres, one of which may be called St. Louis and the other Cincinnati, if you please. I concur in this view ; but if there must be only one centre of the nation, I will state my case in the manner of Frederick the Great, who, when he had made up his mind to shoot a man in his army, not wishing to wound his feelings, would say, "mj'good friend, either you or I will be shot about six o'clock to-morrow morning." The soldier drew his own inferences. Now I will say, that the centre of all things will be either St. Louis or Cincinnati. But with this great trunk road to unite us, with its iron rail for a common axis that splits the continptit tliroiigli the middle, so that we can turn and roast it like a joint of beef and eat it up between us, why can't we hoth be the centre. This great trunk road - aliem - it may be an excellent trunk road, but I can tell you it's worth nothing for carpet baffs; it took mine back home before I got half way here - worse than that, it conveyed back, also, Mr. Gould and his charming party who attempted to get hither in that magical car, which one may well name the wishing carpet, after the wishing cai-pet of the Arabian tale. Sorry am I for one, he and they and it are not here to-day.

Sir, let us rejoice together that the men of New York have found their profit in coming out here and completing the route. Aspiiiwall, Chauncey, Alsop, Gould, Barlow, Parsons, and others, sitting in the shadow of Trinity Church spire, and inspired by the clear logic and persuasive genius of Henry D. Bacon, figured it out arithmetically that money could be made in the enterprise, and thereupon uniting together in a simple partnership with a capital of four millions, divided up, for the benefit of their poorer associates, into shares of one hundred thousand dollars each, they took up the enteqirise as it slipped from the feeble grasp of those who were exhausted in the effort, and sooner than they had promised, accomplished the thing. But, while we rejoice that there are princes of money this side the Atlantic with sagacity enough to foresee the profit of the undertaking, and gold to carry it out, - let us also do them the justice to say that if they had not also possessed greatness of soul - capacity to feel the enthusiasm such a vast work like this should arouse - an expansion of intellect beyond the province of mere money -getting - for years to come the only T-rail between us would have been the old Indian trail.

This is the third time lately that the Atlantic has been brought to kiss the Mississippi. About a year ago there was a rallying call went out, and thousands of the powerful men and beautiful women of the land made their swift pilgrimage to the river at Rock Island. It was a great affair, and they had a good time - all honor to Sheffield & Farnham, who led it off. But the time was not yet. On that occasion the North called to the North, and the North answered again ; and the North-east clasped hands with the North-west. A month ago another call Avent forth, and the chivalry and beauty of the South swept over the land, bearing to the river the waters of the ocean, which, on the levee at Memphis, they spirted into the stream with those little toy affairs called hand fire engines. They were in advance of us with respect to time - all honor to them for it,, but the time was not yet.

Again the call goes out from down East to far West. Westward ho ! is again the cry. Again the cars are tied to the steed that snorts but never pants. Again the pas.sengers are " all aboard " - again the engineer's foot is in the iron stirrup, and his hand upon the lever ; it is " all right," and " go ahead," and we have come, swift as the flight of an eagle, strong as an armj' with banners, splendid as a tournament, grand as a crusade. Our banner, a trailing smoke cloud, spangled with fire - our music, the voice of the brass bugle, to wliich the steam-god puts his liot lips and blows a rereille to creation. I'hat bugle has sounded ; by the river-side and over the meadow - through corn-field and beside vine hill< - sounded upon the dizzy bridge, along the steep ravine - sounded on the rocky ribs of the Alleghanies and among their verberatirig gorges - .sounded in the bowels of the tunnelled mountain, made its echoes bellow as in pain, while at the other side something larger than a mouse issued forth in liappy deliverance and sped along the curving trestle ; " Not lightsr does the swallow skim, Alonw the smooth lake's level brim.''

By the Ohio's margin that bugle has sounded ; on thi> prairie it has blown defiance to the north-west wind " Kewadlin,'' aul its jubihiting notes are only now dying away up and down the Mississippi, an 1 this is the time and the orcision. This is what tlie others were not - the opening of the mid Ho path of the march of empire - the national route, piercing three States called Soutliern and three called Northern, and drawing them together as one. It is the medium line. Puck, who said he would put a girdle about the earth, would have run it where this line runs, for while the breast may be up North, an I the knees down South, the waist - a large and round waist I allow - is here. Cincinn.'iti, for years switched off the track, finds herself again in the line of the march of empire. St. Louis - never yet off tlie track, already is lookinj; westward, to lay it straight for the setting sun. Steamers shall track him across the Pacific, and the end is not even at Whampoa. No, and I say to all here that I hope to meet as many of them as possible, at the opening of the great central China, Northern Hindostan, and Southern Tartary road, when we'll astonish Europe by entering iu at her back door.

" The Mayor of Baltimore.'''' - IIou. J. Morrison Harris, of Ballitnore, and John B. Seidenstricker, President of the Second Branch of the Councils of tliat city, were buth selected to acknowledge this toast; but both had left the stand before it was given out.

Oldo and Mississippi Railroad Couifumj'''' was responded to by Lewis B. Parsons, the Financial Coinuiissioner of the Company, in substance as follows : -

Mr. Mayor and GExxLEiiEif : - I deeply regret that the unexpected absence of our Vice-President, S. L. M. Barlow, Esq., from whom I hoped you would have had an eloquent response to this sentiment, devolves upon me the responsibility of replying to your call. Of the magnitude and importance ot our enterprise - of the ditficulties and embarrassments attendant upon the history and early progress of the work, you have already heard from the eloquent lips of your distinguished guests, Professor Mitchell, and others. Of the later history, though myself connected with it, it may not be imprfiper for me to speak, that the just credit may be given to whom it properly belongs, and I am sure that you, as citizens of St. Louis, will be glad to know that when two years since the progress of the work was arrested, having embarrassed and prostrated two of your distinguished fellow-citizens, who had perilled their all to insure its succljss, and after many efforts had been made, and many unsuccessful plans proposed to push forward the enterprise, one of your fellow-citizens again put his hand to the work, and after much difficulty succeeded in inducing his personal friends, the present managei-s, Messrs. Aspinwall, Alsop, Chauncey, Comstock, Leavitt, Iloadley, Barlow, Gould, Hall, Lord, and others, to undertake to finish the road by the first of November next.

o Mr. Bacon, and prompted by their desire to aid his house quite as much as from the expectation of a profitable specuUition. Thus, while great credit is due, as you have heard, to other cities and individuals, I am sure that the completion of this great trunk road to-day, instead of in years to come, is justly and fairly to be attributed to Henry D. Bacon, Esq.

Gentlemen, after years of labor and sacrifice, this great arterial line of road is completed, and we are met from all parts of our common country to exchange kindly greetings and mutual gratulations on the west bank of the Father of Waters. You have come in a multitude to this geographical centre of our country. You have passed by thousands over our work. You have seen our prairies in the full bloom of spring. You have seen our towns, and witnessed the changes of a few years - have participated in the festivities of the occasion, and experienced something of the hospitalities and Union-loving feelings of our two great central cities of the Mississippi basin, and I am sure, when you shall have returned to the quiet of your own distant homes, you will feel that, however separated we may be by distance and sectional lines, we are still of one origin - one family - and bound together, not alone by a unity of interest and iron bands, but by the stronger and the silken cords of riendsbip and kindness. Then, myself and associates feel, that whatever have been our labor, our cares and anxieties, in carrying out this excursion trip, our efforts have met with the most ample reward.

llie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad'''' was responded to by Mr. Ritchie, of Frederick, Md., in the absence from the stand of General Win. Lingan Gaitlier, one of the Directors of the i-oad, who was selected by his associates to j)erforin the duty.

" The President and Directors of the great Trunh Line Railroad, tchich connects the Atlantic and Pacific ;'''' responded to by W. D. Wallacli, editor of the Washington Star, who made a happy and eft'ective speech, in -which he spoke at length of the strong points presented in the great trunk line over which he had just travelled so pleasantly, and told his auditors that he was brought up a civil engineer, and was the better able, therefore, to give an opinion upon the subject of the toast. " The Press ;''"' assigned to Hon. Erastus Brooks, of the New York Express.

" The Ladies ; " responded to by Win. Pinkney Whyte, of Baltimore, whose ertbrt was pronounced one of the most original and telling that the occasion drew forth.

After several humorous allusions, he briefly referred to many examples of woman's heroism and devotion. But, said he, women were formed for love. Oh ! what illustrations, in tradition and in story are given of their undying devotion ; their patient suffering, and their long-tried suspense. Who does not remember Heloise, who, amid all her trials and sorrows, clung with such love to Abelard? Have you not read the story of Evangeline, weary and with bleeding feet, traversing this snow-covered wilderness in search of licr lost Gabriel ? These are t^'pes of woman's afiection.

Again, he said, how do they light up and radiate our homes ? A house, uuchecred by them, seems but a furnished sepulchre. We cannot live without them -

Night was now approaching, and the company left the grounds to return to the city. Here, as elsewhere, the liotels were not sufficient to accommodate a tenth of the strangers in town. Resort was accordingly had to private hospitality, and soon every body was comfortably provided for in the families of generous and wealthy citizens wlio exhausted every eftbrt to enhance the pleasure and gratification of all.

The general formal ceremonies of the occasion were now over, and accordingly the New Yorkers, who had participated therein, called a meeting to express their sentiments of grateful appreciation of the perfection of the festival. The following are the proceedings of this meeting as officially published.

At a meeting of citizens of New York, held at the city of St. Louis, June 5, 1857, on motion of John P. Crosby, seconded by Capt. Comstock, of the United States mail steamer Baltic, Charles Tracy was. chosen Chairman, and Oliver De Forest Grant, Secretary. On motion of Hon. Erastus Brooks, seconded by Caleb O. Halstead, it was

Hesolved, That the thanks of the citizens of New York, present at the Railroad Celebration in the city of St. Louis, this day, be gratefully tendered to the President and Directors of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Company, for their courtesy and kindness to us and liberal provision for our comfort and gratification during the excursion ; and that we congratulate not only the Company, but the East and the West, and the whole land, upon the nuccessful achievement of their great enterprise.

On motion of Silas Brown, seconded by Henry T. Vail, it was further Resolved, That our heartfelt thanks be tendered to the authorities and citizens of St. Louis, for their bountii'ul hospitality which we have enjoyed during our sojourn in their beautiful and prosperous city.

In tlie evening tlie entire city was illuminated brilliantly, the theatres were opened to the guests, and many of the most eminent citizens gave private entertainments. The hospitalities of the city of St. Louis, in all respects, were on a scale of unparalleled liberality, cliaracterized by excellent taste, and a geniality which made all the strangers feel at liome. The people vied with one another to make tlie most favorable and permanent impression on the hearts and memories of their visitors, and they succeeded. The impression which was thus produced should be worth millions to their enterprising city. Mr. Bacon, the popular and courteous banker of St. Louis, who risked a princely fortune in this road, was the mainspring of the grand entertainment at St. Louis.

Too much praise cannot be accorded to the principal officers and Directors of the Ohio and Mississippi road, who were present at the festival. Wra. H. Clement, the General Superintendent, who had but just entered upon his responsible duties, deserves special praise for the complete success of his first official action in transporting tlie enormous crowds over his new road with such promptness and safety. Mr. Charles Gould, the Treasurer; Mr. Parsons, the Financial Manager; Mr. S. L. M. Barlow, one of the Directors, and other gentlemen connected with the road, were incessant in their etforts to render the affiiir brilliant, agreeable and memorable, and such it must ever be in the recollections of all who had the good fortune to participate in it. And every gentleman and lady who particii)ated in the excursion from Baltimore to St. Louis seemed to feel a hearty satisfaction in thanking the officers of the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad, whose attentions and exertions - and which were unabated even as far as St. Louis - to pro mote the comfort of all, were highly extolled.

The Second Day'S Celebeation At St. Louis

As we liave alread}' stated, the following morning, Saturday, June 6tli, brought to the city ot St. Louis another large instalment of excursionists, who had supposed that the St. Louis ceremonies would not take place till the following Monday. Much disappointment was expressed by many of the party wlien they learned what they had missed ; but an hour or two in the liands of the hospitable people of St. Louis ])ut all in good humor, and prepared them to enjoy the festivities still in store for them, and which were at once decided upon for their benefit.

During the day, the Baltimore Band visited the armory of the National Guard, by invitation of Captain Pritchard, where a number of the guests of the city, chietly Baltimoreans, were also assembled, and an animated and pleasant communion was enjoyed. The entire company was bounteously regaled by the gallant officers of this spirited corps, whose armory and other appointments were much admired.

Early in the evening of Saturday, the Independent Blues' Band of Baltimore - whose performances had elicited general notice among the citizens and strangers - gave a public concert upon the balcony of the New Court House on Fourth-street, and were listened to by a great throng of people. Upon both Friday and Saturday nights, the same band, under the pioneership of the Baltimore visitors, serenaded a number of the most active and prominent citizens, to whom they felt themselves indebted for their kind treatment in St. Louis. Among the gentlemen thus complimented were lion. John W. Wimer, Mayor, George R. Taylor, William Wade, J. E.Elder

Early on Saturday evening a general meeting of Eastern guests, had come by the Baltimore route, was held in the Mercantile Library Buildings; the proceedings at which were thus officially announced in the St. Louis papers of the following Monday, viz. :

In accordance with a published call, the excursionists who came to this city by the way of the Baltimore and Ohio, Marietta and Cinciimati (or Baltimore and Ohio, Central Ohio, and the Little Miama, via Wheeling and Columbus), and the Ohio and Mississippi Railways, held a meeting Saturday night at the Mercantile Libraiy Hall, in order to give some expression of feeling in response to the many courtesies received from the Managers of the mentioned roads.