The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-03-09
CORRESPONDENCE.
ron TIE Union AND JOURNAL.


Having spent now two months or more IN
and about this city, | cannot commend it as
much as the people hisway, and especially the
railroad companies. would have mo do. The
most that is written concerning the West is
written by those who are more or less interest
ed in the railroad companies, or who have some
other self interest in view, and they say much
of tho advantages of the the country leaving
the disadvantages to the experience OF the new
conner. Many young men from the Eastern
States have thus been induced hither with the
brightest hopes OF prosperous future under
the fortune bearing auspices Of the West; but
far more frequently their hopes soon fade and
are anxious to return.
With regard to this place might say, after
the language Of Caesar, that it differs from the
East in language customs and laws. A large
proportion Of the population is German or
foreigners from other nations, and on either
hand you may be answered with sine no stan
English."
The ladies here who consider themselves as
belonging to the first class do not often appear
on the streets, except that they ride considera
bic in carriages and in this way do their shop
ping. They minglc comparatively but little
in the society of gentlemen, and tho young man
thus deprived to great extent of what might
elevate and cnoble his character, generally
seeks some low order of amusement in the
drinking saloon, theatre or house of i'll fame.
All these especially flourish. In many OF the
country towns the principal amusement is what
is called "playing cards for the drinks and by
this practice many we'll minded young man
has welded himself to habits runous both to
health and character. Sundays seem to be set
apart rather as day Of amusement than day
Of worship.
The style Of living could not recommend
with SO much favour as might bo desirable.
Good cooks and domcstics are wanting and food
is seldom served to the best advantage.
Tho laws. as they are executed seem to bc
more for extorting than protecting and he too
Oittl NlUo WIZ Huo tilO uocs hhN tSO
pie complain of heavy taxes and the large sala-
rics. of their officers. Licenses, State county,
and city, are required for most everything, and
arc expensive. An auctioncer's license will
cost him about $1,000 year besides his taxes,
government license &c. House and rents Of all
kinds are very high, and business just now is
anything but encouraging. The price of board
is about the same as in the east, but meats and
many kinds Of provisions arc much cheaper.
The people generally do not manifest that
degree of libcrality that they do in the East
and q stranger seldom gets tho slightest favor
done without paying an oxorbitant price.
The winters are not so long and severe rs in
New England, though thcwcathcr is sometimes
quite cold. This winter is said to bo colder
than usual. The mercury OF tho thermometer
has frequently fallen to zero and sometimes as
low as Is or 90 degrees below. The MissisSip'
pi at this point was entirely closed up for more
than month so that the heaviest teams load.
cd could cross on the ice. A few days Of warm
weather in January, however, with rise Of
the water set the Ice in motion. II moved
down the stream in one vast unbroken sheet
for more than day, when it broke up and
permitted the ferry boats to cross.
There was large number Of fine river boats
at the lCvce, caught by the ice, many Of which
were crushed like an essshcll, and very few
escaped serious injury.
The city suffers very much for the want Of a
bridge which will probably be- built at some
future day not far distant.
Missouri at the present time is said to be the
great centre Of immigration, and the inhabi.
tants are looking forward to tho time when it
will be one of the most populous States in the
Union: and st. Louis will even surpass New
York itself in population and trade. New
York, think, however, will have but little
cause of alarm, although undoubtedlySt. Louis
will increase rapidly in the future, and as an
inland city it might command an immense
trade, but at present its traders are too eager
to make money and instead Of inviting custom.
ers, as Chicago does, they tend to drive them
away by demanding exorbitant prices.
Missouri is said to possess some of the finest
farming land in the United States and this nc.
counts believe chiefly for thcgrcat flow Of i'm.
migration. might say much more OF this
country but pcrbapsI have said enough for
this time, and "sic iiur ad .faem."
JOHNSON.