New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-01

day, az extended my journey 70 o. LUIS Ap'
Mississippi River free from ice bat fal, and ri'
inc RAPIDLY and the fine levee in front OF The Ceotrs
CIV rreaen,ed busy and animated aspect stayed
thr,e DAYS in St Louis bu, tho weather wss 30 os1
that saw comparatively little OF its exterior. vas
equally unfortunate lass spring, IN nay WISH lns's
can be no doubt, however, OF the INFERIOR "H-ah
and ,eris iy Of ST Louis II the raios best against
bor o,.,s- wsIls there is much sunshine within -.
I,ouis flows with steady, healthy grosth sni hef
citizens have cain settled confidence IN her future
which fcrrr striking contrast TO 'be EXCITED ana en-
tbu.is.tc sndcipslons OF ether Western cites. sac
b inst IA. .ed through her meet ry ng experiences
her y.cr ha, been fully tested. snj her people so
now mere cheerful snd bcpcfOl than ever.
I,bsesn sno 3ing in s.. Louis on the afternoon OF
The 18th. and when LEI, early the nsHt nornlns'
there VS. sx inches OF snow in the streets. i'e
prsir.es between Alton and Springfield were "o'e
instead OF b.ogn. cluster Of dark specks, relieved
AGAINST this oesr background, revealed to Us o7'o
Of 6eor IN the dstatce found Springfield TIE sane
ssrbonisn bog as ever until Ssterdsy, when me re
moon ushsred in a rtisu Of frost and cod The oes
Of sticking plaster were soon converted into ' ir'n
and The air became intensely keen ana npfIng. A.
Ter two entire moons of severe cold commencing o.
the goth Of January We had but dreary os"p'e'
when the third set in after the ssme fvhion Ia
result thus far proves that the prcgncstcs were cor
rect.
bsde a fnd adeu to Springfield on Monday
morning. the l9th. and came uorhward TO La Sale
TIE dsy wss dark and raw with snow-squsls, sud
tie wind Of the prarles wss in ful force. The cara
rock ed occasionally under its effects until began to
suspect thar they would be blown over bodily. The
fakes OF snow ecusded with srrosy sSiftoess before
tie blast uu.il they found an eddy which WAS gem
e,allv in tie railroad cuts sud th re they all col
leotsd The snow increased as we advanced. but
there were 10 serious drifts until We we're within four
T lie Of Ia Sale where We stuck fast ia depth Of
eighteen igohes. With snow-p.o-, or even Tom
porsrv bosrd fender over tbs catcher. we should
have gore through without difficulty AS we, the
rest q the drifed track shoyeled on, the cars
pulled cue one by one, and in an hour NE we're clear
The remsrder of the read ran along the h'ga b"s.
overlooking tie vesmiIion River, which were blowo
clear. This is very picturesque stream for some
distance above IFS junction with ae Illinois Il DOVE
IN tie bottom of deep chssm, wa ed in With pre-
c'pitCus cliff Of liuestore rock
As we crossed the long bridge over the Illinois the
river WAS clear of ice and running IN small waves
sgains, the gale The reEt morning il was sn I'M
broken sheet Ct ice nearly a mile in breadth. The
dsy was severely bright sud cold. | was bound Tor
Ottawa and waited for the Rock Island train as long
as cared but a. there we're sigBs oft succeeded
with great difficulty in getting vehicle for the jour
new did not woncer at The reuCtauce Of the livery
stable keepers, after re were under way. You might
as well attempt TO drive buggy over ths cefurows
Of the Mr de Glaze es over If these roads, when
-. - IL
road was under water, go we took more circulious
route over the bluffs, under the direction Of the Lske
Superior Major whose praiIieorelt and stories OF
North Western adventure shortened the way con-
siderably. twas Wild, ire guar rosd until we de.
scended to the Ottawa bottoms. The bluffs are
crowned in come places with growth of timber prin
cpelly oak, but OF remarkable for size. On one of
the open tracts saw, for the first time, hock Of
prairie hens 10 the natural state. had previously
seen them only in slices, with curapt jelly.
Ottawa is very pleasantly situated at the junction
of the Illinois and Fox Rivers The valley here ex-
pads cmev hat, allowing broad stretch OF fertile
bottom lard between the bluffs. The town is hand
sosely Ibid ont, well built, busy and thriving LIS
population, believe is about 800 There il great
rivalry be,reen the Cities OF Peru, La Ss and OF
taga as indeed there is between all neighboing
towns throughout the west VI couIse' caun"l
here express any preference for either without eKc
ing the Indignation of the other two. They ali take
Tue TRIBUNE, and would be certain to see what
might soy. This locsl pride Of al Western towns ls
very good thing in its way but its manifestation Is
sometimes quite amusing to d stranger. Wherever
you 90, the question is, How DO you like our
place." Lest year ! simply replied Every vel,
in all case and consequently disappointed The qoes
tiCners. They expected something more intense aud
enthusiastic. This winter reply 81 consider 1t the
"cener Of creston" which generally gives tolefabo
sa.isfacon-for if Western town is not already the
center of the universe it ia going 10 be There
IL TO be railroad from some other place, which will
draw all Eastern and Western trade to focus at that
particular spot They even look further Into utnritY,
sometimes and determine in their minds the site Of
TIE station on the Great Pacific Road, where Asiac
and Eeropean travellers viii be allowed fifteen min
utes for refreshments This pride, however visionary
il may be in cases always helps on the gro With
of the town and az natural result there is gener
ally more liberal public spirit manifested in West
en than in Eastern cities.
shall have to reserve another weeks experience
Of mud wind, snow and railroads for another letter.
Full justce TO tie subject cannot be done in single
rambling epislle. BIT.