Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-05-18
CORRESPONDENCE.
Correspondence Of the AMERIcAN.l
Letter from the West.
DENIsoN, Qowa,) May s, 1862

bENiSoN, Nio"a,J hias y, AOOis
Friend IVlrert
Please continue the "Americann
to my address, as its visits are always very
welcome TO me.
Since my last letter to you, business had
called me to Woodbine, a new place 80
miles down the Boyer river, in the heart of
the Bower valley, and at present division
of the c. & NV. r. r. spent four months
there, and the place proved to me u pleasant
retreat during the severe winter. Altogether
we had the severest winter | ever endured,
the thermometer frequently ranging 20 deg.
In all about 76 inches of snow, which af-
forded one hundred days of good sleighiEg.
This season of snow was interrupted by the
most violent storms ever witnessed, block
aiding the railroad for ten days at four diff
ferent times, which made travel and arrival
of mails distressingly uncertain. Hardly
were the last snowdrits plowed through.
when the spring freshet came in dreadful
violence and swept the whole valley, taking
in its irresistible course miles and miles of
track. This occurred when the first rush of
travel westward was at its height. causing
an untold amount of disappointment and
inconvenience to emigrants. Scores of men
were seen with satchels in hand, going
;,
100 miles on foot.
These misfortunes, together with the very
late spring, has somewhat unfavorahly i'm
pressed new Corners, but since the fair wea-
ther has opened the tide of emigration
comes moving on; train after train loaded
with anxious passengers, aud train after
train of white covered wagons follow each
other in rapid succession, seeking for homes,
"a han m in in Z bn fran Il
easy" air of these broad and fertile prairies
Council Bluffs, Omaha and Sioux city,
rival towns, are filed to overfowing with
the result of "Westward, no I" and lively
trade is the consequence. A large amount
of building material and rolling stock is be-
ing taken over this road for the U. =. II. r.,
which is being pushed forward with the
utmost vigor. 1t will this season be com
pleted to Denison, when travel to the mines
will be greatly facilitated At the present
rate of progress, only few years will be
required to make "both ends meet" and the
Californian can, in a few days travel, visit
his friend in New England, and return
Salt Lake City will be very prominent
point on said road, and upon its advent
there, the downfall of MOrmonism or Poly
gamy, is sealed. No violent means are ne
cessary to accomplish this result. II will
die out by reason of its own inherent absur-
dity. have spoken with quite number
of intelligent persons from there, both Nor
mons and ''gentiles," and they all agree
that the system cannot survive a large "gen-
tile" immigration. Hardly one "wife" in
twenty, they say, would not rather have
one whole gentle as husband, than the
tenth or twentieth part, of a saint. The in
ference is plain. The arrival there of suf
ficient number of bachelors from these and
more eastern parts to provide homes for
those women, individually, will result in
the downfall of Polygamy.
Our own little town is growing consider
ably this spring; business is lively, plenty
of good land to be had, and a large number
OF settlers wanted. We can now boast of a
newspaper. of which send you the first
number. IL tells its own tale. p'
With my best wishes to you, and all
friends in old Northumberland. remain,
- Yours, Cordially,
ISAAC KEABEL.