The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-09-02
FROM NEBRASKA.
Chicago TO 0maha-The Railroads
Prairies, &c, &c.
LETTER NO II.
OMAHA CITY, NEBRASKA, !
August n, 1867.

August ~, 1901. }
Editors Journal:
The journey from Chicago to On
aha is a wonder to a person from a
timbered country. On, on, flies the
iron horse, for half thousand miles
across Northern Illinois 1876 miles to
Fulton, on the Mississippi thence
three miles down the river to the
magnificent new bridge across the
Father of Waters; thence over the
bridge to Clinton, Iowa; and thence
across this thriving State. 361 miles,
to the Missouri, dark, dirty, and
treacherous as the Aborigines, who
formerly lived on its banks and now
inhabit it's sources, over 1000 miles
from this point. Immediately after
leaving Lake Michigan the prairie is
entered upon, and from that time un-
til the bold banks of the Mississippi
are passed, and the bluffs of the Mis-
souri, are reached, the traveller skins
over an almost illimitable expanse of
prairie. The trip seems much longer
on account of the monotonous scenery
than if it were diversified by hill, for
est, mountain, valley, city, and the
other beautiful objects which abound
In the myriad featured East Timber
is the great and serious want of the
vast domain from Lake Michigan to
the Black Hills, over 1000 miles in
breadth
The Northwestern Railroad is the
only one completed across the State
of Iowa, and that road, belong
ing as it does to a wealthy corpora
ton, is in good order. The track is
solid most of the way; the equipment
excellent; the water tanks, wood and
station houses new and substantial.
The traveller need not leave the car,
except for meals, from Chicago until
he gets into the omnibus near the
Missouri. or the bottom land, west of
Council Bluffs, Iowa, to cross over to
his stopping place in Omaha. A
splendid sleeping car is attached to
each night train, and the eating facil-
tiles along the route are good enough
Some persons complained that. the |
drinking facilities were not so good,
because Iowa had passed law pro-
hibiting the sale of any liquors within
R he, borders sd NAL. snfs anors
sinCouo anu maui iiquoIs. tie law,
however, is said to be eyaded and
violated ION the sly" The curses
against it on the part of some are mot
loud, but deep, while others think |
the law " a good thing if enforced.
AS soon as " Big MUDDY" is crossed. I
whisky and SIGH" appears to be
plenty and easily comatable.
noticed, in passing along through
Iowa, that the "cuts F" on the rail-
road were protected on the windward
side by high, close fences, for the pur-
pose of keeping the snow from OBJ
'tructing the trains in the Winter
The country on the line of this
'oad is not as thickly settled nor as
veil improved as that through which
,he more Southern routes will pass
when finished In the Western part
If the State the improvements are
yery inferior / learn that there is
Tery little public land to be entered
n Iowa, and that in the Northwest
portion Of the State, away from the
abroad line, considerable land is be-
ng entered with warrants and II Col /
ego script"
The State is building a large and
handsome Agricultural College, at
he town of Ames, on the railroad [
I'm describing. some 400 miles north
# Des Moines, at the crossing of the
railroad from ,Des
doines, the capital, to Saint Paul,
.i7-4-e cAtt
The Chicago, Rock Island, and Pa
ifc Railroad is finished nearly to
Des sMoines, and the cars will be
there by the LIST of October,
md probably before, and through to
he Missouri River in about year
The Railroad from Keokuk has been
ompleted to Des Moines for some
ime. There will eventually be built q
continuation of the Chicago and
Burlington Railroad to Council
Bluffs, and the Dubuque and Sioux +,
lily Railroad is progressing toward
he Missouri River. and has reached
owa Falls, nearly half the distance
Gross the State. A road is projected
rom Des Moines toward St. Louis,
10, and one. also from ST. Joseph,
No.. to Des Moines. The road from
1t. Joseph to Council Bluffs is fin
shed to Savannah, fifteen miles North
# st. Joseph, aud to point about
hirty miles South of Council Bluffs.
eaving about one hundred miles OF
tagging between Council Bluffs
nd st. Joseph, along the Missouri
2iver. The Northwestern Road is
lso building branch to Sioux City.
ne hundred miles North of Omaha.
owa will soon be gridironed" with t
ailroads like the older States.
/ shall probably write again soon
nd give some items about this thriy-
Dg young city and State. Nc. :