In Nebraska, the Union Pacific Railroad construction begins on the western side of the Missouri

At three in the afternoon, outside the city of Omaha, a large celebration was held at the ground-breaking of the Union Pacific Railroad's construction on the western side of the Missouri River.  Nebraska's Territorial Governor Alvin Saunders led the dignitaries as they ceremonially wielded shovels before around a thousand people, largely from Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Festive events went on in Omaha that evening.  (By John Osborne)