Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-06-07


so READING. - Forest D. Gson.-l
BRANDON Samuel ". Baiiey-l
From, the Yves, --visii 10 yermontcrs.--
Corn Raising.--Nia gnra Fails.
Core spondcnce Of the Bellows Falls Times.
DEAR TiMEs:-I wrote you last from St. Louis,
at which place l remained only few days, my
trip being a hasty one
St. Louis is beautiful city. You will see here
more the resemblance than in any other Western
city The streets are narrow and clean; the build
ings lofty and substantial 1t is the seat of great
commercial interest and activity passing under
dark cloud-at present sad victim of secession
madness. Business of almost eyerykind is nearly |
suspended; numerous steamboats, remain idle along |
the levrc and thousands of people have either
temporarily or permanently, left the city Through
the kindness of friend received letter TO Gen
eral LYON who kindly admitted me to the arsenal
ground and buildings. Here great activity exists.
all is life and animation. Nearly the entire force
are actively engaged in the preparation of arms
and munitions of war, undergoing thorough mill
tary drill. Large quantities of the Mimic ball are
manufactured at this arsenal. To those who have
never before seen them they are an object of great
curiosity and their mission is truly terrible. The
arms taken from the secessionsts at Camp Jack
son are being repaired and fitted for 1t is not
uncommon to see among the priyates of the Ger
man Regiments men of gray hairs keeping step
to the music of the Union Their movements
possess a vigor and accuracy attained by few
They have seen active service in their mother
try, and have no fear of the smell of powder
NV visit to St. Louis was made doubly pleasant
by the kind attention of friends, among whom
cannot well refrain from mentioning Wells w.
Felt and A. S. Baxter formerly of your place, and
| b. w Lowell Esq, late of Springfield. Mr. Felt
continues at the head of the celebrated Planters
Hotel and by his many kind attentions and pleas
ant manners draws around him host of friends
When he left Bellows Falls, it lost one of its most
useful citizens, and dare say that there is not
man now living there, who has not many time
wished him back again. But in his present en-
arged sphere of usefulness, he finds warmer sup
port and greater rewards.
Leaving St. Louis at o'clock P. NJ, on the
spacious steamboat Northcrner" the passage up
the Mississippi River is truly delightful. From
St Louis to Rock Island and Davenport we pass
many points of interest and importance. Lousana
and Hannibal the Missouri side, Alton and
Quincy on the Illinois side, and Keokuk, Burling
ton, Muscatine and Davenport in Iowa. are all pleas
ant and thriving towns. The scenery along tn,
River is beautiful There are, it is true no loft
mountains, no classic High Lands" no cragge'
rocks no laughing waterfalls, but there is the broa'
River, the great father of waters" rolling in sol
emn majesty with its lake.like surface dotted witt
almost innumerable islands, while on either side
stately forest trees and dark green foliage mark til
margin of its waters.
Between Davenport and Rock Island, the frs
bridge spans the broad Mississippi 1t is a raj
road bridge and the object of opposition an
t intense hate. St Louis and the River interest
. have wagcd continual war against it. 1t has bee
once set on fire. and strong guard keep watc
over it every night Several steamboats, have bee
injured in passing the draw" and just below I'll
, bridge remains the wreck of the Inflated Grey FL
gle, whose wreck was so recently attended by gre,
loss of life
There is gicat anxiety among the people
!. Davenport. Rock Island, and Moline about the e
d adjustment of U. S. arsenal upon the Cover
mcnt Island, instead of the one recently destroyc
at Harpcr's Ferry Should one be established ther
it would, no doubt, be of great advantage to eaC
: of these places.
a have long had desire to take ride over Il
le Western prairies So on one pleasant afternoon
last week, | took team, and in company with
friend, started up the fSiver on the Iowa side FRO
Davenport. 1t beautiful drive, and the rieI
IF rho ond sco,,or., oc-oc;oII,- n, ~.
son of the year, beggars all description. We pr
y ceeded far up as Princeton, about twenty-i
W miles above Davenport, where we crossed over
y to Cordova on the Illinois side, and there renal
ne cd that night Cordova is literally village
i the woods, and is a striking example of the rap
growth of western villages But few years a.
u scarcely building marked the spot. TWAS THE
rs ly covered over with oak trees mostly seco
growth there is pleasant village among
trees. In making the streets and erecting bull
TO ngs, great care was taken not to remove mo
~ trees than necessary, and the result is that t
ms streets and nearly every dwelling are shaded
the native forests, while small stumps are striyi
Z to sprout up again in the very streets. From C,
'iu dova we passed down the River as far as Port
ron, and then struck over across the bluffs a
across she prairie. Our route took US across
ID Rock River, and as we passed over the bolt,
p. lands Of the Rock and Green Rivers We had son
ID thing Of an idea Of low prairie travelling ]
bottom lands extend for many mile on cid
:" side Of the River. Leaving the rolling prairie.
struck across the low land with rapidity imped
only by used up livery horse. Our aim v
D. to strike the River at point where there wa
pa ferry. There was no road to guide US except vi
a. on tracks, and here and there they would dive
in nearly every direction, leaving Us no choice
u cept instinct and our general knowledge of
''s points of compass, and the direction Of the Ri,
in After proceeding for miles We begun as we thoun
m to have some idea, on a small scale, Of what il
i,s - to cross the prairie Here We were, ont NJ
!. the uub' oxen prairie with no wrought road.
amid Wild prairie flowers and large herds Of no
d looking cattle At length, By din, Of pcrscvcra