Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-08-09

The ExcurSlon 10 Cedaf k'aAls.
The followingis an extract from the &C.
count in the Dubuque Herald Of the Excurs-
ion over the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad
to Cedar Falls on the S1st ult:
Leaving and receiving few more friends
at Waterlee, we sped onward rapidly to The
end Of cur journey, reaching Cedar Falls at
one o'clock. A dozen evidences around the
Depot showed it to be the terminus Of a pio-
nccr railroad--a forest cut away last year,
freight for the interior counties and new
look to everything.
The Cedar Falls Brass Band with their
handsome wagon and a marshal, whose name
we did not learn, led tbs way over fine
bridge across the beautiful and rapidly flow
ing Cedar to q grove in the western part Of
tho town where banners were displayed
and seats and tables were prepared for the
occasion. A rotary swing, constructed be-
meath an immense tent was offered as one Of
the amuscments.
70 A large number Of the party had many ac-
rcctly to the Hotels for a good dinner, and
''mine hosts" Geo. Secord Of the American,
and Wilcox Of the Carter House, had to re-
ceive more than house full Of guests. They
had time to say about atword and a half a.
piece to each of the strangers. 1t was hot
hotter-hottest kind-but the visitors were
80 much interested in seeing Cedar Falls they
scarcely thought Oft.
It had been intended to receive the party
with reception speech by some one appoint
ed for that purpose, and to receive responses
but so many Of us were scattered through the
town that tho proper time for such things
did not arrive before the company assembled
at 4 o'clock to return. Some had lagered
and liquorcd on the way out and still more
at the Falls, to keep cool-somc found the
brewery and some found the cooling drinks at
other places. Everybody was glad they went
tho citizens Of this best town on the road
met them with such cordiality that every
pic.nicker will for ever be sure 10 commend
strangers westward bound. to Cedar Falls.
The Independence Guardian gives very
pleasant account Of the Excursion, from
which We quote:
AS VIC approached the Cedar timber, and
came within the valley of that river, the coun-
try became more thickly interspersed with
farm houses and cultivated fields. The crops
Of oats and wheat seemed rather short and
thin in many places, showing that the light
loan Of thit locality had been unable to with
stand the dry weather of the past month.
AS ", neared Waterloo, the land became
more fat and level, and exhibited beauty and
richness We never yet saw surpassed. Fine,
thriving farms, with rich fields Of corn, and
crops Of ripcned grain, showed themselves
around us in every direction. Waterloo soon
doomed up, covering considerable extent of
surface, and with its large Court House and
churches presenting very fine appearance.
We passed at too grcata distance from it..
however to gain any proper appreciation of
its attractions. At half past one we reached
Cedar Falls, where the great concoursc uncoil-
cd itsclffrom the cars into an atmosphere of
100 degrees Fahrenheit, and followed by the
Cedar Falls Brass Band, with the sun shin.
ing upon them with torrid power, over the
two bridges spanning the river and the mill
race, to grove at the upper end of town,
where facilities for eating the provisions
brought were found ...s
We had so little time to look around the
village, and the intense heat was so little
calculated to invite motion, that we must re-
frain from speaking particularly of Cedar
Falls Its location did not seem to us to be
attractive, but its fine water power, great
Touring mills, saw mills and many business
houses, showed gratifying degree of pros
pcrity and business energy, and gave evil
dcncc Of those substantial advantages which
must make the town one Of considerable
importance in the future. The two four sto-
ry stone Touring mills Of Messrs. Brown and
Ovcrman were as fine mills as We have seen
in the State, and with the never failing pow
or of the Cedar mus. have capacity to flour
a vast amount of grain. In the second story
: Of Ovcrnan's saw mill, we found our friend
Keller experimenting a large amount of i'm
proved machinery for turning out furniture.
Mcssrs. Ely & Co. employ some dozen hands
generally in furniture manufacture, and their
ware rooms, in the second story of our friend
Plummcr's building, shows a very large as
sortment Of manufactured work, very nicely
finished. Plummcr has an excellent new
drug store well filled with goods. and is do
ing gatifying business. We found him
knocking around among customers, but
none too busy to give cordial welcome to
all his Independence friends.
Messrs. Stead & Diehl, we believe. have
( sold out their sash manufacturing machinery.
but are still at work in the business. We
had no time to call on them.
We paid flying visit to the Gazette
Office, which is located in Oyerman's fine
three story brick block. We found the Sc
nior editor gone, but the junior around to
give word Of welcome to his brother quilts.
Accompanying him and Mr.. Melendy. the
energetic President Of the horticultural So
cicty, we went to visit the Horticultural
Rooms, where we found some interesting old
time relics. This Society has the nucleus Of
fine library, and is doing much, as we'll for
the literary character of the town, as for the
cultivation Of horticultural and agricultural
taste.
Exciting Affair at the st. Louis Arsenal.
The St. Louis Democrat gives the following
particulars OF an exciting incident that oc-
Cured at the Arsenal in that city on Tues
day last:
The wife and daughter Of prisoner were
visiting him in the tent assigned him. He
left them temporarily, and in his absence an
intoxicated soldier, a member of the Second
iowa regiment, entered the tent and grossly