Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-09-29
A Short Trip up the River.

Having occasion some ten days ago TO make
short trip up the river, we were fortunate
enough TO get ready Just in time for that excel
lent steamer, the "Alonzo Lhild," commanded
BY our old friend Capt. De HAVEN. In addition
to getting on such excellent boat, we were
fortunate In falling In with an old and valued
acquaintance in the person of the Captain, and
that Pioneer of Missouri Pilots and commanders,
| Capt. 10 HOLLAND. We soon made the acauain-
lance Of MIR. MCBRIDE, who presides in the Of
nee, and who, for young man, has seen, enjoyed
and suffered, as much usually falls to the LOT of
those who number their four score and ten years.
He Is full Of anecdote and incident Of boating Oh
the Western Waters-life on the plains, life in
Californis-and life on the ocean waves so the
trip up to Kansas City, (the point Of our destina-
tion,) was agreeable, and of course speedy.
| We had always supposed the boatnen had ac-
qlired "chronIc habitn of talking about snags,
sandbars, three feet and falling, the difficulties of
navigation, and so on and that othng more special
was meant by it, than desire 10 make passengers
and shippers believe they were getting the worth
Of their money: but this trip satisfied us it was
not all talk. As general thing we found water
sufficient to make fair Roadway, the spars only
being used once or twice. But more abundant
crop of snags, trees, stumps, logs, no stream can
produce, and the only wonder is, that more boats
are not lost. To make head way among them re-
CURES a cool head and steady hand, patience and
perseverance.
The general appearance of the country along
the river conveys no idea of the population, wealth
or productiveness Of our State, and stranger
who would travel on it, TO see the country, would
most likely return disguised. Even the towns are
not observable, from a boat, from the fact that
that they are too low in bottom, like Bruins
wick, or too high on bluff, like Lexington; our
own little city makes the handsomest appearance
from the river of any town or city, from Kansas
to St. Louis and by the way.is far ahead of many
that make mere noise and hustle.
In due time we reached our destination, Kan
sas City, which isstyled one of the "fast towns,
up the river" iin contradistnction ito such old
fogy places as we inhabIt down here in the centre
Of the State. Well, Kansas City is fast town
has now population of some eight thousand-and
is rapidly improving. We spent some three days
there and thereabouts, and were fully confirmed
IN our previous belief, that Kansas City is the
proper site for thrifty place, and that with pro-
per energy and liberalty on the part of her citi-
zers and property holders, she may become the
second city of our great State. At present, nts
and real estate too high, and reduction in these
items to point that would still be remunerative
to owners and not oppressive TO renters or repul-
sive TO those willing to invest, would double her
population in an incredible short space OF time
She may progress under the present rates, but not
SO rapidly as under more liberal scale; and whe n
it is recolected that there are now q number Of
points struggling for supremacy, those especially
interested should beware lest they draw the strings
| SO tight that they strangle their own child.
From very handsome Directory, just publish
ed by Messrs. Sutherland & McEvoy, compiled
the past summer, there is enumerated 1,5i9 resi-
dent citizens and business firms, heads of fami.
lies NOT counting floating population or the resi-
dents of additions outside Of the city limits
There are hundreds Of houses being built, Inclu-
ding large three and four story business houses,
stately private residences, neat little cottages and
cheap houses for those in the humber walks of
life. Everywhere workmen were busy putting
up houses and grading streets. The levee was
crowded with goods and drays-huge piles of
boxes before store doors Indicated that heavy
stocks were being received, and look through
enc or two establishments left no room to doubt
that sales were very extensive.
q We found many old acquaintance, and made
many new ones, and we are under obligations to
them for many favors and acts of kindness which
rendered our stay pleasant. We found Messrs.
VAN HoHN ABEL proprietors of the Daily
and Weekly Journal of Commerce, driving ahead,
and quite confident that the demands upon them
would soon call for an Evening as well as a
Morning Edition of their spnghtly Daily.
Mr.. BATES, of the Metropolitan was absent, and
his Assistant was sick; but not being a stranger
about printing offices, we went in and were polite
ly entertained by those in charge of the business
department OF the office.
Besides these papers, there is a German Paper
ptinted in Kansas City.
We drove over to Westport, one afternoon, in
company with party who were looking about,
like oursef. Westport is an old town, beautifully
located, and at one time did thriving business;
but we Judge it has seen its best days, and must
hencefortll acknowledge the supremacy of s'the
Landing.'' We called at Col. McCARTY's sane
tum, but he was absent-a circumstance much re-
GREETED, as from the talk of some of our party we
took him TO be man whose acquaintance would
do to sslook back to-"
We enjoyed our trip, but as enjoyments for Ed
itors are generally brief and not of frequent &C.
currence, we found our "time up" too soon; SO
acknowledging mentally that there is 'no rest for
the wicked, - we boarded the s'Child" on her re-
turn trip, where we found rooms reserved for US
and ours; and after pleasant trip Of two days and
one night, were safely landed at home, rested and
refreshed, and would advise all our friends to
take trip West and see how the people Of that
section are pushing ahead, We have all grown
up in quiet, slow way, and so will, most prob
ably die, but it is worth the time and money to go
out and see how our neighbors are progressing.
| GLASGOW Male In stitute.