The book of the great railway celebrations of 1857 Volume 1-2 ; embracing a full account of the opening of the Ohio & Mississippi, and the Marietta & ... of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad: with hist

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 Excerpt: ...Hon. John M. Wimer, 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 for more than two hours. We regret to state that no report of this eloquent and able effort was 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 upon 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 the 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, an...