Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-26
A "Trip from Cairo 10 Chicago in May
EB W 1853.

"Trip from Cairo 10 Chicago in May.
1858.
Cairo, as everyb ody knows, lies at the
junction of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers !;
and would, If nature had only more highly
favored it by giving it greater elevation, have
been ere this the largest inland city in the
Union. But unfortunately it lies SO low that
it is subject to frequent overfows and even
if people could succeed by means of high
levees in keeping out the water from the riy-
ers, it would still be flooded after very
heavy rain, so that there appears to be no
practicable method for making desirable
place OF it unless soil can be brought down
from the higher country many miles to the
North. The vast expense necessary to be
entaled in such case will, should suppose,
prevent this from ever being done Yet un-
der such dsadvantageous circumstances
| Cairo is improving most decidedly; q large
and handsome brick hotel near the levee is
nearly completed and there are quite num-
Der Of three and four story brick stores, some
of which would do no discredit to Chicago.
On the whole, Cairo is growing, and will be
quite city one of these days. The Illinois
| Central r. r. has done wonders for it.
The only hotel there at present is frame
| building, which would be tolerably passable
were the charges a little more in keeping
with the food set upon the table. AS it is I
can call it little else than highway robbery to
take two dollars for what is really not worth
over fifty cents, or dollar at the most, even
stretching a landlords conscience to the ut
most.
| Strolling down to the extreme point of
land at the Junction of the two rivers, fell
in company With gentleman who had visit
cd Cairo several years before, and he spoke
of the great changes which had taken place
not only in the town itself but in the charac-
ter Of the people likewise. Then there were
only few miserable cabins and shanties in
habited by the very refuse Of society. At
| the point near which we were standing there
we're the remains of building which had
| been low groggery in which gambling, rob
berry and murder were the common of occur-
rences of the day, and especially Of the night.
He was witness 10 no less than three muir
iers committed there in single night. He
was himself robbed, and came very nearly
sharing worse fate.
On the whole, Cairo is q very undesirable
sort of place ; nothing is to be seen there,
and you cannot walk about with any COM
fort II there were, on account of the stagnant
water oyerfowing many of the streets. The
Kentucky and Missouri shores are both low,
aud covered with dense growth of trees and
bushes so resolved to strike for the North
even if the grass should not be so green, nor
the trees so full Of leaves and blossoms. J.
accordingly took the cars of the l. @. R. r..
and journeyed as far as Jonesboro', where
stopped ior the night.
VILLA RIDGE, PULASKI, uLLIN, wErAUGH.
! These are the names of stations through
which we pass in proceeding from Cairo to
Jonesboro', and none of them are deserving
of any but q very brief notice. AT Fila
Ridge is steam saw mill and few houses,
and is evidently new place, with a very fiat
| country all around. PULASKI has also a steam
saw mill, and few more houses than Villa
Ridge but is miserable looking sort of
place. The country is now q little more roll
ing. At Ultjn are two steam saw mills and
quite a number Of houses mostly small
however, aud OF no pretensons. The stua
ton is very undesirable one. Wetaagh is
about the size of Ullin, but there are several
very neat buildings, and the country around
is much more rolling, and therefore pleasanter
TIMBER.
| From Cairo to Jonesboro' woods line both
sides Of the road in fact there is much more
| timber in the extreme southern portion Of
Illinois than had supposed, and some of it
is very fine.
JoNEsBoRo'.
spent the greater portion of the morning
here, and was exceedingly pleased with both
| the old and new towns for the old town lies
about II miles west of the station around
which the new one has grown up. The
country is quite rolling, and near the old
town is somewhat broken while high wood
ed hills rise behind it, and shut it out from
4 +In 81 %bo ,r,o,lI Ttn
lovely one robins and blue birds were war
bling their songs in the leafy groves and the
| fruit trees were in full blossom.
''It is well through the rich Wild woods to go,
And 10 pierce the haunts Of the fawn and doe;
And to hear the gushing of gentle springs,
When the heart has been fretted by worldly stings
And to watch The colors that fit and rass
With insect wings through the wavy grass;
And the silvery CLEANS o'er the ash-trees bark,
Borne in with breeze through the foliage dark.
Joyous and far shall our wanderings be,
AT the flight Of birds DER the glitterng
TO the woods, to the dinges where violets blow
We viii bear no memory of earthly woe"
Through the trees which overhung the
road could be seen the Court House on
high and commanding situation surrounded
by numerous pretty cottages embowered in
fruit trees and Towering shrubs, while beyond
rose high hill whose features were softened
by the distance, forming a charming back
ground to the picture. Coming from such
place as Cairo, the contrast was indeed great
one but, contrast or no contrast, [ must af
firm that Jonesboro' is charming spot; and
scarcely dare to say all think of it.
~6,.reat quantities Of fruit and early vegeta-
bles are raiser here. and sent to the Chicago
market; and this is o business that is rapidly
increasing.
But the whistle is sounding; and, as mine