The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-06-15
| The Broad Prsiriss-Chicago-st. Louis
Railroads and Prospects-Edwin

-
Booth
MANTESo, H., June 25th, 1867.
DEAR GArE: find myself in the midst OF
the broadest and latest of the prairses oil
Illinois. rusticating at the expense OF some Oh
my "wife's principal male relations, MS
sing sadly the pleasant countepanee OF 'oe
Carr this morning, am reminded to drop
Won fine, and lust about this portion OF fii-
nois. Twenty or thirty years ago, Traveller
crossinrthese vide level prairies would nave
4houab. them worthless, save perhaps Tor
grazing purposes. The country from tins 10
Chicago. nearly fifty miles, Is almost as leVei
as floor; timber is nowhere to be seem ana
vet it is a prosperous and populous eommu'
nifty, rapidly growing in wealth and impor-
lance. and capable Of the highest possible ag'
riculturel development. The soil is rieh |
loan, and, Hat rs il is, there seems to be no
need of drainage. Fences. and houses are
| built from ami Der az timber brought by rah
4 from Chicago Coal procured from neigh
boring coal fields supplies fuel, and altogether
we witness what some Of the old Eastern
4 farmers would pronounce impossible COM
munity not ouly living, but prospenng IN
nlace where there is no timber Every year
experience must tend 10 enlarge our con-
cention Of the resources Of the Northwest
When look over these vast I'a'ns lying
ready fer lie piow, and think what they are
capable OF producing. | get grander idea
or the greatness Of our country. When these
millions Of ucres shall be cultivated as the
old world is cultivated, who can estimate the
{ annual value Of the products Of the Norlh'
west9
Two days spent in Chicago impressed me
with the idea t1at New York j. indeed TO
, find in her, her great Northwestern rival.
Statistics recently collected, show that some
) fourteen of the business houses OF Chicago,
each sold during lsuG, over two millions OF
dollars worth Of goods, and one Of them sold
more than nine millions Of dollars worth
i and the man still lives who has hunted the
e wolf where Chicago now stands. It Is Tact
that may as well be spoken plainly, that 81.
). Louis mus, STIR herself, shake oil her apathy,
! drink ii some Of the Yankee spirit Of thlca~
:, 90. aud reach out her railroad connections III.
i TO, ara through Iowa, at all hazards aud
regard css of expense, else she must ineYia
: Div remain far behind her great Illinois rival
S Many things have combined to make Chicago
e what size is. but principal among the causes
d of her marvellous prosperity aud success
. reckon the fact that whenever she has seen
k and felt that railroad 10 given point wa:
8 essential 10 her prosperity, she has aot rested
/. until Il ,ras btH. Looking at the history o.
d Chicag j. one eAnno; resist the conviction that
if a railroad AS essential TO her growth as the
r Keokul and 81 Paul road is to that Fl ST.
= Louis i..uff b. commenced al oaee and pHshta
G 10 IN e1ffg coapiettgn do not SAY that -
5 Louis lnli no, improve her golden oppoftu
I niiy. nope she will 4 large part o. low 9
# is naturally tributary to Il. Louis. There il
J. the great river. which will surely bear 10 hel
S door great part Of our prodacls, u oul.
: railroads are bulk 10 bring them TO POM
|. below The distractions to navigadon lAt
upper tAd lower rapids have done more tt
IS turn tr.le auI conmerce away from the Ms
n SlssiE if. anu toMhtd1 1hita-hs tHAH "t az
}, APT to realize. Let this difficulty be remove,
n b. providing prompt transportation trfm $
{. Paul e keokak. and we shall at once piac
St. LOWS on an equality with Chieasoi if IN
> deed " 30 u9i give her the advantage.
e Edeia Booth is inst now the centre Of
IF good dead Of interest IN Chicago. hear
re him as 3tulus, il was spIendidly rendered
$ albeit could not helr remembering that TIL
is Is the character which his brother, the ASA.
sin, claimed 50 much to admire aud 10 I'M
tate. Perhaps such thoughts were urJust /
al Edwin, but they wouil "unbidden ttart.
However ii Is certain TINT Edwin Boosh is
tragedian OF wonderful power til dibca
q while listening to him 10 divest ones self {
= the feeling that lis playing IS reality. A. a
~ illustration Of this ] wili mention lat the ris
= Of receiving curtain lecture after this sha
'e appear IN the GArEl thas lady WHIP wa
y with me, and who in my opinion poSsess'
: excellent sense aud self coIsmand, was
7 impressed With the reality Of Booth actin
'ie that she concluded / would be best 70 viii
II draw before he came 10 the assassination.
Yours. Iowa.