The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-11-10
Hasty Sketches and Impressions Of Travel.

TASTY Sketches and Impressions Of Travel.
DErEoir, Oct. -, lS6j.
herewith give you few notes taken on
my eastern excursion.
One in travelling in this age Of steam OBJ
tain but hasty views of men and objects
much of interest presents itself for notice,
but time passes and he hastens on, deriving
very littlci if any benefit from his journey,
aiming only to transact his business and re.
turn as soon as possible.
So it is with me at least, and must make
up for n deficiency in facts, b. Impressions,
claiming the indulgence Of yourself and read.
crs for inpcrfcctions # style, &c.
After riding few miles on the cars and
getting tired OF sitting | wish to smoke,
but there Is 10 Smoking ear on this route,
too bad, isn't so at Morris we light a
cigar, AID offer one to the conductor, but he
and one or two others present refuse, and !
conclude to try it alone. So got upon the
platform and took observations and-ciHders
the first few enough, for who can properly
view such panorama as Illinois everywhere
presents when he is moving at the rate Of 80
miles per hour. Impossible! 1t can't be
done.
The crop Of corn loaded with yellow
wealth, more valuable and precious than
gold the reapened fields of wheat or oats,
which have yielded many dollars to their
owners during the season which is now clo-
sing the pleasant homes and hamlets nest
led under the bluffs among the timber, or
standing boldly ont alone on the broad prair-
lie, all 90 dancing by $50 1t seemS) in quick
succession, revealing only but partially their
more prominent features, aud aiiording for
studying their beauties in detail, or Of pro-
ducing decisive impressions
BY this time my Regalia il out, and my
eyes ara full Of cnders the day being cold
am chilled through, and an glad to get a
comfortable seat by the stove in the cars
take book and Try 10 read, but It is "nO
go, for
Thoughts on thoughts, a counties. throug,
Rl-h chasing colhue5a thoughts along
am hOmeward bound after years Of ab
sence and struggles for life aud name
among strangers-l have suffered much,
more than care, had the power to de
scribe have TO some extent overcome the
obstacles in my path, aud known something
Of prosperity, aud now am on my way back
to visit those who knew and loved Us well, "
and | cannot choose bat
Think ~ha, bliss that home vll be,
Look. ~ homo agtl. % .r',
Ana again our name 60 Lrtr,
Muruurpi oui by voices dear
But You will say, give us something be
sides Impressions, give US facts and obaerya-
tons
We'll, since we are now al Joliet, We will
begin here.
Joliet. then, has a population Of nearly 6, %
600 inhabitants, and is really pleasantly ST
unted From the bluff, on hich are many
fine residences, YOU get an excellent view vf
tie city, and Of some Of the surrounding
country The Presbyterian, Roman tathO-
lie, and Methodist churches, the tTo public
school houses, tbs National hotel, the court
house, and quite number ofbrlck block, all
are prominent objects, and add much 10 the
looks ofthc town. Here's Il. Roads (lj miles
Of which are included within the city limits
with 6 pahscng !, and nearly as many freight
trains day, her warehouse calling in hume.
rOus farmers from the surrounding country,
aud her busy merchants and mechanic, all
tend to give her the air ola busting little city,
which appearance she bears very well.
In looking about town saw "a sign reading
young Mems Association Educational
matters not neglected thought, but on
enguiring something about the >iL" OF the IL
brary, Sc, was met with "A cOu,emptuons
"liumph that's an internal know nothing
lodge" Couldn't ascertain whether this was
4 fact or not but 1t was saidt be.
OF cour,e the National is the place to stop at
when YOU visit Joliet. The obilgIn5 landlord,
VIM. Adams, and the very polite and gentle
MANY clerk. q. W. tayer. VII show you eve
~ altsutie aud make you as much at home
as possible, aud then, too, you will be near the
bank, and can easily drop in and SEQ that
"prince of good fellows X. L. GooDELL,
Esq, who having 30 many friends at Ottawa,
il pleased to see them al. when they visit Jo-
liet.
Compared with Ottawa, Joliet is erecting a
less Huhber Of buildings, but ola better kind
that ours, and her structures are more OF an
imposing and permanent order than many N
Ottawa.
II seems queer that with all the facilities FOR
manufacturing which Joliet possesses, nO'h.
inn of the kind is going on there. even the
WOODEN mills already erected are Idle, aud her
valuable water power is not at all used
The "Cut.otf' L. Il. Co. have erected some
fine aud convenient structures on the depot
grounds, but neglected to obtain the .UgHrc,
and can only thus briefly refer to them
Their road, which connects with the VI, &. L.
K. at Lake Station is much used, as it should
be. for passengers by taking this road car
save 80 miles of travel, two or three dollar,
in expense. aud can reach Detroit just a,
soon, and in going to St. Louis they save
- hours time.
Taking at Joliet the "Cut-oh' at night
| reached this place on Tuesday morning
. lust in season for the boat, without having
time to look around this city and take notes
my next letter therefore must be concern
ing lake travelling.
! STEAMBOAT BrcK.EyE STATE, Oct %,
! After tedious nights travel on the cars
We lind oursclf this morning comfortably ant
pleasantly situated aboard this line steamer
which runs in connection with the NJ L, X
K. "Ridjng on rail- u, night, and crossing
the lake next day in this manner affords al
excellent opportunity for rest, as wei as o
comparing the advantages and disadvantage:
of the two modes of travel. On the cars you
are crampcd up in dirty (they mHt get so
YOU can't help ~ ill-vcntilatcd rOom-you
yet hasty, poorly cooked meats, or none a
an, and comfort is a thing not to be though
of: but here, on the Buck.Eye State for IN
stance, Everything is changed. Capt. ). {
Andrews is every inch gentleman, at'd th'
steward and acting clerk, j. Larkln, Is one
the most urbanc and attentive persons whom
have ever had the good fortune TO NEE