St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-04-09
st. Charles, Iowa, April 9, 1857.
Particular Notice.
Editorial Correspondence ofthe Inteligenccr
Incidents of Travel.
NO. l.
WEST Union March 90. Is

taxing passage OH pOalu walker
fast line, Wednesday noon, l reached
Bradford about dark, with nothing in
particular to mark the course of my
journey, unless I except the fording of
creeks and feeling the way across
mill ponds upon the ice. General
Eaton, Receiver of the Government
Land Office at Usage, was my only
fellow passenger. Of course you will
naturally suppose that the merits and
dement's of Democracy were pretty
thoroughly discussed, as I can assure
you they were.
Arriving at Bradford, we found that
the West Union stage was not in, nor
did it arrive there till noon the next
day. On it's arrival no coaxing would
induce the driver to turn back till
next morning, and we had therefore
to make virtue of necessity. In the
mean time Dubuque lawyer arrived
who had been " travelling the circuit"
down the Cedar Valley, and politics
had to take another revision in order
to- while away the hours till bed time
There also arrived at Bradford legal
gentleman from independence, and the
agent of the Cedar Valley Railroad,
Mr.. Peat each interested in different
railroad projects.
The Independence gentleman gave
some strong assurances that after ex-
tending the railroad from Lyons to
Independence, a North Western branch
would pass up the valley of the Wapsi.
pinicon River toward the great head
of the st. Peters, and would touch the
Cedar Valley at Bradford Or St.
Charles. Thus it would seem that,
whoever builds railroad in the upper
Cedar Valley first is the best fellow.
1t would seem that there are now
two companies fully determined to
commence grading it during the COM
ing summer.
But, to our journey. We left Brad
ford on Friday morning by what is pop
ularly known as the Walker line, the
advantages Of which can only be ap-
preciated by those to whom it is per-
mitted to participate in the walking "
which the line affords. The Wapsy
Country, which we had to cross, every
one knows is famed for the superabun
, dance of it's water privileges, and
, those privileges can never be more
.. fully improved and enjoyed than at
this season of the year. While pass
ing over the country between the Big
and Little Wapsy, distance Of some
six miles, we were imperiled continual
ly "by field and flood" Comingto the
Little Wapsy we found the water
some three or four feet deep over the
bridge, and running strong current.
What now was to be done was the
question. After reconnaissance above
and below, the bridge seemed to af:
ford the only chance for crossing.
With the drivers consent the editor"
mounted the near horse-"the re-
ceiver" took his quarters inside of the
caboose and perched himself upon the
rear seat with mails and carpet bags
in hand +; while the "lawyer" stood
boldly upon his feet on the top of the
drivers seat outside. What a picture
for a painter y In this way we moved
into the water. The force of the cur
rent soon began to sway us down
stream, and the off horse was founder
ing astride log which was placed
across the lower end of the bridge,
but by dint of hard pulling, on the
part of the driver and editor, the horses
were prevented from going over-the
old caboose, containing the receiver,
boat fashion gallantly rode out the
Storm" and all were safely landed on
terra frma, to the great joy of all con-
cerned. 1t was agreed on all hands
that nothing like this had been expe-
rienced since the "perils of the raging
canawl." Our caboose was peculiarly
fitted for aquatic excursions, as it
manifested no inclination to capsize
and there were plenty of holes to let
out the water.
We soon reached the beautiful and
fourishing town of Fredericksburg,
where, after the drying of wet feet
and refreshing the inner man at the
comfortable quarters of "mine host +"
L. Carter, Esq, we all felt better.
Fredericksburg is fast town on
the east margin of the Little Wapsy,
laid out one year ago by Frederick
Padden, Esq, called Fred" for short,
by the "boys" about there. The
place already possesses steam saw
mill, store, blacksmith shop, hotel,
circus and race course, theatre, and
other important institutions which
time will not permit me to dwell upon.
We here parted with our staid and
ouoolIon4 Jr;,or NJ ~ N Elo,uor