New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-16
ADAY IN ALTON, ILLINOIS.


.tplication would be made by the reader We do not
stay to decide Certain s, however, were the IN
as,,eripy ss,rr airing himself with this fine, brao
;rg morning On the ST. Louis Wharf with all the
world in busting movement around him, his written
pblo-o1by would con.tzain him 10 classify startling
PROPORTION of his ellew creatures among that very
utefal genus, ks fors du nosde. Such scene Of
rtsmbo animation surely DO other Western city can
d,plsy. Along winding shore Tor an extent Of two
mile nothing il to be seen but hogshesds Of tobacco
boxes of hardware, and bsgs Of conn every des-rp-
ton Of uerchspdise, in fine raw and manufactured,
either pouring into the cspaeous holds OF steamvesse
or being disgorged therefrom. The levee seems Ike
an aphl Of human and equine industry, piles Of rner-
ehsrdise epcumberng the path Of the ineItrcabe
days, and the negro mue,eeu shreking 70 their tan
dem mules nth an agony Of information 70 which Their
patient animate pay surprisingly little heed.
Having few days leisure on our hands, We re-
solved to employ them in the most profitable manner
The lively little town Of Alton, lying at distance Of
twenty-oBe miles up the Mississippi from st. Louis,
was mentioned to being very interesting place
accordingly, at o'clock p We took our station on
the daily packet and quickly found ourselve. proceed
ing upstream.
The Missouri and Illinois shores in the neighborhood
Of St ouis are Of fat and undressing description
on the Missouri eide the city sraggles out for several
miles in long fringe Of shipyards, founder1es end
coal depots while the opposite side the aspect s
equally ainterestng, the country beng marshy bro
ken and unfrntfu. AZ we progressed, the features
improved; the river visibly widened, and the Illinois
shore rising high above The level Of the river, dis
PLAYED bold alterations Of towering bluffs and smiling
patches Of cultivated land BY and by, the left bank
receded and the powerful current rushed seethng past
in mingled lines. The passengers crowded upon the
forward deck and all eyes were stretched N the drec-
ton of the mighty Missouri, which here mngles It's
turbid volume with the majestic Father Of Waters.
Aswe APPROACHED, the minds Of all absorbed in
the .ubmity and vastnese Of this silent Junction OF the
two immense rvers No tumultuous effect visible
only an acceeration of the deep and irresistible cur
rent and deeper discooration Of stream at no time
pure But what unimaginable might lodged in those
apparently placid depths. Viewing the solitude and
vsstness Of this strange scene associated in our mind
with the devoted herosm Of the exploring royagear,
and the dangerous haunts Of the subtle savage, We
felt how trivial, after all is mans boosted conquest
over rude nature. In the serene depths Of her so-
tudes mans presence is passing shadow, and his
30 Wanted achievements dwared TO puerile futlty.
Passing the debouchure we held our way steadily
up stream the bluffs Of Illinois assuming gigsn
tic proportions and wilder confguratons, while the
opposite shore spread ont in narshy LOVELY level,
covered with dwarf oaks and exhibiting none Of the
characteristics Of the Deghborng shore. few MIN
utes steamiDg brought within sight Of Alton, and at
81 in the evening We stepped ashore.
Alton is a city of great commercial advantages, and
is considered to have the best on the
eastern bank ofhe Mississppi-a fat rock Level with
the surface Of the ground forming most oonmcdous
natural wharf. Its proximity to st. Louis, the great
steamboat and commercial entrepot OF the west, OF
course tends to hold Alton in subordinate posiuon
but It's very favorable location, just below the mouth
Of the Illinois river, and its increasing railway con-
nectons render s contguity TO st. Louis IN thus way
an advantage and its trade for the last few years has
been steadily the increase. The establishment oil
the southern terminus Of the Chicago and Mississippi
Railroad in this place has brought great accession of
passenger and transport business to the city; and the
con pleon of the lines TO Jacksonville opposite st.
Louis on the Illinois side and TO La Fayete, Ia, row
in course Of construction will add greatly to its bus
pess and, it is expected, will divert large share OF
trade from St. Louis. It, present population is esti-
mated at 5000 souls
The industry Of Alton is considerable. The estab-
lnhment Of the State Prison here-a large, square
limestone building, overloOkin. tho Missssippi-has
rendered this city the focus of extensive State inter-
ess and the labor Of the inmates in the manufacture
Of barrel slaves shingles, and various articles OF turned
work constitutes material item In the productions OF
the place. The finest timber clothes the land for miles
around, which will afford abundance Of lumber for
numberless years to come; buminOus coal mine sre
being worked short distance from the city and de-
posts Of limestone freestone and buestone, afordng
excellent building material also being exenslvey
quarried.
The following day being Sabbath we resolved to
reconDoitsr the place at leisure. II was besuti
fu morning the air of the rver playing with refesh
ing GOODNESS; and the good citizens Of Alton were
already on the alert some TO worship the Maker in the
epioyment of His works and Others on their way 70
neshborns church, which was pleasantly situated
an elevated terrace. Taking road along the main
street running parallel with the river, diverged in
the direction OF precpitous mountain path, and after
ascending numerous supermposed strata Of limestone,
we fnsay arrived at the highest elevation. Withost
enthusiasm We may declare that more beautiful
Prospect never displayed itself to the adurng eyes Of
maD. Spreading before Us in an irregular level was
lu1uriant green sward reaching miles IN extent; far
down, hundreds of feet below US, flowed the
wesgipg river, here dotted with numerous islands,
aud forming scene that commended Itself to TO the
feelings for its majesty and repose.
Wandering on in no definite course, We eventually
arrived at Upper Alton, which is situated on the same
elevated plain, lying about two miles back FROM the
ryer. The surface Of the country here is extremely
broken, being perforated with deep cavernous ravines
and stretching away on either side Of the road in
succession of hills and hollow which renders Ne labor
of the husbandman Of difficulty and severe toll