Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-11-09
Letter from Kansas.

asked me alter / reached Kansas 10 give
some account of my journey. We left
Vermont and reached Boston Sept. 18th.
There was a fine shower that day which
was all the rain / have seen until last
night. There was little mist once or
twice, and only mist. We left Boston
October I'd, at A. NJ, and reached AL
bany at 80 P. NJ; took sleeping cars,
a good institution, Mr.. Everett to the
contrary notwithstanding. The annoy
ance of a conductor to wake you up ev-
cry half hour and punch hole in your
ticket is uncomfortable. We reached Buff
falo ct 4 80 A. NJ, the Sd, stepped into
the Wordsworth House just by the de-
pot, found fine parlor, and sofas, and an
excellent breakfast; left at by Buffalo
time, reached Cleveland at 2 80 P. NJ. i
rested till 6. I ought to say that fruit
was never better or more abundant, and
Cleveland market viii tempt the palate
of the greatest epicure. We left by
| Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati R.
r. to Crestline, changed cars to Belle
fontaine Road, took sleeping cars, went
to bed, and no conductor disturbed US
until O'Clock A n, when we were
reused in indianapolis, breakfasted at z
Is, passed over the St. Louis, Alton and
Tenehant Railroad, through almost end
less cornfelds in the Hoosier and Sucker
States. ! am entirely unequal to the
task of describing the Grand Prairie, it
must be seen to be enjoyed. Corn must
be " king" instead of cotton" 1t was
in all stages from green stalks two feet
high to the greatest perfection. Corn
I and wheat must have great influence
this year, and viii run cotton i" into the
ground" We reached St. Louis at z
20, making the actual travelling time from
Boston so hours so minutes, making over
an average of rs miles per hour, inclu-
ding all stops.
Politics were the theme, and republi-
cans were as thick as blackberries in
june" and the "Wide Awakes" walked
everybody up.
ST. Louis is the Queen City of the
west; no pressure oil circumstances.pre-
vents her improvement. 1t goes ahead
of any other city within my knowledge,
in actual, permanent improvements
The iron pavement is probably one of
the great improvements Of the age, GER
tajnly if it proves a success. The Lin
dell Hotel ts really the wonder of the
, world; it is 272 BY 227 feet on the
ground, the roof is 112 feet from the
sidewalk, beside the observatory above
. that is to be "a feet high; there are 3G
large stores besides other rooms on the
! first floor. There are eight millions Of
=, bricks m the edifce, 700 tons CT cast
iron, 100000 feet of flooring, beside
j marble thing and tagging, 10000 yard.
= carpet is required, 10000 lbs. Of LEAD
. pipe, and 10000 lbs. wrought iron pipt
is used in gas lights. The cost befor,
furniture is in is 81 100000. The gen
:, tleman's ordinary is 128 by 40 feet, la
dies &c by IS, carving room between 5!
by IS feet. There is over an acre o
e plate glass used, and between Z and
IL acres Of flooring. There are GOO room
in the house, beside reception rooms
: porters rooms, &c, ranging from 13 b
&c to 20 by 50 feet, and from Is to 2
3 feet high. There are eighteen stair &C
ses beside steam apparatus to conve
II guests from the basement to the sevenf
story without an effort, and water enoug
on the roof to drown out common size
u hotel. This work has been in constar
" progress since 1856, through the pres:
- ure and hard times, without any laggin,
and is now nearly completed, SO nearl
- that it is rented.
- We took the steamer Warsaw fl
Quincy, Illinois, the 10th Oct, at /
l. NJ, beautiful boat with excellent a
- commodations, reached Quincy at
a. III. the 18th; stopped at the Quinc
n House, a good hotel and well kept. TIL
u is fort town of about $4,000 inhabi
u ants, is on the bank Of the river, has 70,
\ principal streets broadway, Vernon
ne New Hampshire and Maine,) running
ne right angles with the river, and Gro
Oh streets at convenient distances for lar.
10 blocks, large park near the cent?
~ very good buildings, fine town.
! At 8 o'clock on the 18th we start.
= again, crossed the river, took the cars f
Palmyra junction, changed at Hannib
, and ST. Joseph, cars reached Pott
House, ST. Joseph at 80 P. NJ, a S
:. perb hotel. Took cars at z A. NJ. Il
18th for Atchison, and boat at 9 A. ]
for Wyandotte, where we arrived at