November 6, 1858 | Letter
John McConihe's November 6, 1858 letter to John Kellogg contains information about their plans for additional land transactions and McConihe's efforts to pass bills through the territorial legislature on behalf of their town, Beatrice. He also reports that construction on a railroad in Council Bluffs, Iowa has begun and his hopes that it will "in three years connect us with N.Y." McConihe is not excited about another Nebraska winter and requests that Kellogg renew his subscription to a New York newspaper.
November 25, 1858 | Letter
This November 25, 1858 letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg discusses both land purchases and building rental prospects. McConihe predicts a gold rush in the spring, as strikes are confirmed in western Nebraska. He also notes the appearance of the sun for the first time in a month.
December 4, 1858 | Illustration
The railroad depot at Pittsburgh (Harper?s Weekly, December 4, 1858). Pittsburgh celebrated 100 years since Fort Duquesne was captured from the French--the railroad depot stood on the site of the old fort, a symbol of the city?s modernity. By 1861 Pennsylvania possessed over 500 depots, so many that 85 percent of the state?s population lived within fifteen miles of a depot.
December 7, 1858 | Letter
This December 7, 1858 letter from John McConihe to his business partner, John Kellogg, requests money for cattle speculation. McConihe hopes to make a large profit selling the cattle to gold miners in the spring. He also mentions his appointment as one of five Notary Publics in Omaha.
December 27, 1858 | Letter
John McConihe's December 27, 1858 letter to John Kellogg discusses several business transactions and mentions his re-appointment as personal secretary to the new governor. McConihe also expresses his opposition to a plan to annex part of Nebraska to Kansas, fearing it will set Nebraska back "full ten years."
1859 | Newspaper
Comments on the prospects for the Blue Ridge Railroad, with comparisions to Virginia and New York systems.
April 22, 1859 | Letter
In this April 22, 1859 letter from John McConihe to his business partner, John Kellogg, McCohihe predicts the positive effect the Pike's Peak Gold Rush will have on the land he and Kellogg are selling come summer.
1859 | Illustration
Noteworthy for its marvelous illlustrations, this feature article portrays the joys of railroad travel.
1859 | Illustration
"Except for us" - sun coming out after a cloudy journey.
1859 | Illustration
1859 | Illustration
The artist envisions the lasting legacy of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
1859 | Illustration
A visual representation of the relationship between photographers and painters.
1859 | Illustration
Chivalry is part and parcel of the conductor's work.
1859 | Illustration
The plight of the tardy traveller is part and parcel of the narrative of travel.
1859 | Illustration
A key illustration from the article features artists and guests riding the engine.
1859 | Illustration
The characters encoutered along the rail journey are part of the artist's experience.
1859 | Illustration
American railroad progress is compared with the adoption of the technology in England.
1859 | Illustration
July 11, 1859 | Letter
In this July 11, 1858 letter from Sarah Sim to her mother and sister, Sarah describes the summer heat, her children's participation in school and church, and the behavior and appearance of her new daughter. She also mentions the continuing settlement of their part of Nebraska, the lack of a railroad, and the relatively small number of her neighbors leaving for Pikes Peak. Part of this letter is damaged.
July 16, 1859 | Illustration
This image from the July 16, 1859 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a scene on the morning after a terrible train accident on the Michigan Southern Railroad.