The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-29
THE RAILROAD EXCURSION.
IRON or o,pn Correspondence

To-day closes the Kansas eXcurSlOn oI Tue
General Ticket Agents and their friends, and a
more entertaining, pleasant and successful
party has never been gathered together or
more agreeably carried through than this.
You will reoollect it started from st. Louis last
Saturday morning., the 9th, after the close OF
the General Ticket Agents Semi-annual Con-
vention, proceeded as far west as Ogallah Sta
zion, on the Union Pacific Railway,
Eastern Division, 319 miles west Of
Kansas City, killed twelve buraloes or
bison ard wounded as many more,
Witnessed the delightful country of the vast
plains of the great West, in which are the
splendid lands of the National Land Company,
offered at such very low prices to purchasers,
passing comfortable nights in SedAlia, Mo-,
Salina, Kansas, St. Joseph, Mo-, aud Quincy,
ILL.,, and arriving here, in the leading city Of
the West, without accident or anything to mar
the harmony and pleasant associations Of
either participant, inside of week, illustrates
what is being done every day through the
admirable railroad system of the country,
and the remarkable management of the skilled
and attentive attaches Of the respective rail
road companies.
Leaving Quincy, in the three Pdllman cars
referred to in my last letter, in the morning,
we rapidly passed over the Chicago, Burling-
ton, and Quincy Railroad, in charge of Harry
Starring, Esq, the popular General Baggage
agent, and General L. r. Wadsworth, the
General Freight Agent of this company. On
some portions Of the Chicago, Burlington, aud
Quincy Road we ran at the rate of sirty miles an
l.. r1k IL, . ;rl,
rate of speed there was no alarm on the part of
any of the tourists, but a surprising degree of
pleasure. The road was SO smooth and the
motion of the cars so delightful
that the extraordinary speed was
enjoyed rather than feared. The road runs
northwest from Quincy, through country of
remarkable fertility, beauty and interest,
and trip over it convinces the traveller of its
deserved popularity. No corporation in the
Union can boast of more efficient or ener-
getic set of officials-each one proficient in his
peculiar line of duty, and ever on the watch
to render the passenger safe and his or her
transit easy and comfortable.
There are several very fine, tlourishing
towns on this road, the largest ons being
Aurora, 40 miles from Chicago, in which
the principal shops of the Chicago,
Burlington, and Quincy Railroad are
located, and where all the celebrated
Pullman cars are built, as well as the
company's elegant passenger cars. Aurora is
situated on Fox river, and contains popula-
tion of $4,000. 1t is place of considerable
manufacturing Importance, and point of
heavy shipment of grain, wool, and pork. The
City Hall is magnificent building, and many
of the stores and private residences are large
and commodious. There are two woollen mills,
three Touring mills and several manufactures
in Aurora.
Mendoza, the junction with the Illinois Cen
tral Railroad, 81 miles from Chicago, has 5000
inhabitants. Situated in an undulating prai-
rie, on an emneHce, it commands an extern
sive view Of country. 1t contains two -four
ishing colleges and several manufactures and
mills.
Princeton, 112 miles from Chicago, has a
population of 1000. This is one of the most
enterprising towns of its size in Illinois, beau.
tifully located, and inhabited by live and
exceedingly hospitable people. 1t is the
county seat of Bureau county, and sur
Ny oouhbiy PiolihN AL i1o Pio1uO-
tion OF cereals and wool. The courthouse is
large and elegant building, and infinitely
superior to your Philadelphia hall of justice
Some Of the stores are quite large and hand
some, and among them that of Rawson
Brothers, who do an immense trade.
Kewanee, 1872 miles from Chicago, has 5000
inhabitants, and Galva 140 miles, 5000. Both
are thriving towns and important business
centres.
Galesburg, 165 miles from Chicago, is rapidly
improving, and already contains a population
of $1,000. 1t is the junction of the Peoria
branch road, 50 miles long, and destined to
become large city. A female seminary is
located in the place.
Monmouth, 179 miles from Chicago, has
1000 inhabitants; Macomb, 203 miles, 5000;
and Burlington, 206 miles, 10000. This latter
city is in Iowa, situated on the Mississippi
river, As miles above Keokuk and $50 above
st. Louis. 1t is city of rapid growth, and
one of the most beautiful in the West.
Peoria, on the branch road, is on the Illinois
river, 20 miles north of Springfield, and 2l5
from Chicago by rail. The river being navi-
gable in all stages of water by steamboats,
renders it quite commercial centre. There
are regular lines of packets running to st.
Louis and through the Illinois and Michigan
Canal to Chicago.
The Chicago, Burlington. and Quincy Rail