A HALT AT OMABA. 451 



first doctor, the first lawyer and the first minister 

 settled in her boundaries, also the first steam mill be- 

 gan running. 



January 15, 1855, the large frame Douglas House 

 was opened by a grand ball. It did an immense busi- 

 ness for many years, and became notedly the head- 

 quarters for politicians and speculators. 



The first territorial legislature convened January 

 16, 1855, and remained in session until March seven- 

 teenth of the same year. Where that legislature should 

 meet became a question of vital importance to a number 

 of Nebraska towns. The matter was hotly contested 

 but the metropolis won the prize, acting Governor 

 Cummings designating Omaha as the favored spot. 



Traffic by steamboat did much to develop the ^'Gate 

 City." Sometimes boats arrived seven or eight times a 

 week, bringing new inhabitants, timber, machinery, 

 provisions, furniture, and piling their cargo— human 

 or inanimate — out upon the since washed away levees, 

 to be taken care of as best the embryo city could. 



The first boat of the season was the event of the 

 year. Down the inhabitants ran to meet it, with- 

 out regard to age, sex or race ; down they trooped, 

 laughing, shouting, rejoicing that communication with 

 the great world was once more open. Many a " cotil- 

 lon " was danced on the deck of that first boat, while 

 the unloading was being vigorously carried on below. 



There was little crime in the new city. In the 

 three formative years only one murder is known to 

 have been committed, and no criminal was legally 

 executed until 1863. 



There was never much Indian trouble in this vicin- 

 ity. However, Omaha several times raised troops to 



