The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-07-13
70 III, Editor of the Chicago Evening Po,t.

deed.
To the Editor OF the Chicago Evening Post
Did you ever visit Southern Illinois,
sometimes called "Egypt2n If not, come
with me. This beautiful city at the juno
ton OF the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,
IL called Cairo. Why it received this
name cannot tell, unless II was thought
IL might eventually outlive In splendor
and oriental magnificenee the ancient
city of the Nile, and become the depos-
tory of all the wisdom OF the modern
Egypt the center OF civilization and the
mother of the arts and sciences-the
great fouutain OF light from which should
pour rays Of such efiulgence as TO illumi-
nate the darkned understandings Of the
barbarians of the New World in the
nineteenth century. Whatever may be
the result there is not doubt that foun-
ders of this modern city Of the Faithful
expected their names Ia decend to the
latest ages, commemorated to temples,
pyramids and obelisks, as the model
benefactors of this, the galvanic age of
the world.
Now what do we see ?HTheir fond ex-
pectations are surely though gradually
being realized. The desert has been
made to blossom like the rose. Long
lines Of spacious business houses, elegant
residences and beautiful temples dedi.
Gated TO religion and education stretch
across what was once only n marshy fiat,
where the wildcat and the rattlesnake
ITO say nothing of the copperheads)
fought for the supremacy; where the red
man OF the forest, hidden beneath it's
reeds and fens watched the approach OF
civilization with jealousy more cruel
than the Blue Beard Of fable, or the Sepoy
of India. Where the birchen bark OF the
A.. - a. n 81
La Belle REVERE or the great Father Of
Waters, magnificent floating palaces
and broad beamed, staunch, TRIM built
steamers pillow their way, while the green
"Kentucky shoren re.ochoes the terrible
breathing aud the shrill whistle of the
steam engine. On this point OF land,
for many years considered almost az
deadly IA the shade OF the Upas, now
ten thousand men, women and children
basking in the sunshine Of prosperity,
breathe the pure air Of heaven and re-
joice In the belief that their homes are
as beautiful, their skies as serene, their
hearts as cheerful aud their Physical
comforts as long.lived as under the sunny
cline OF Italy, or amid the white and
glazing domes Of their ancient namesake.
This Is no imaginary picture-Cairo Is
fixture-it IL n solidity-iti IL ~ ching
OF beauty" and, under the reign of sue.
ceedlng caliphs and pachas, it must con.
tinue Joy forever" Progress Is writ
ten on It's past, and success encfrcled
by n halo of glory, IL blazoned on its ia.
ture. Difficulties OF various kinds, and
natural obstacles almost insurmountable,
have been overcome by patience, endur-
ance and skill, and day, Mr. Editor,
Cairo, Notwithstanding the hard names
that have been siven IL and the reproach.
es cast upon II, stands forth as monu-
ment Of skill ard industry, aud as the
chief city Of egypt" proper, the pride OF
Us people. In education, religon arts,
sciences, ana manufactures, IL is making
strides, aud fifty years hence will have
become the nuest city In the Mississippi
valley, the centre OF commerce, and the
worthy and proud successor of the ORR
entail Magnificent
Twenty-seven years ago IL blOated,
purse.proud, aristCcratic Englshman
honored (?l this country with his pres.
ence, aud on his return gave 10 the world
his impressions of our people in Amer.
lean y :" and "Martin Chuzzlewitt.,
The name Eden" given 10 embryo
Cairo In the latter work was doubtless
intended a. irony, but If on his return
In 1867 he had deigned 10 set his dainty
foot within the charmed precincts rem.
dered somewhat notorious by his 'free
and easy" pen he might have discover
ed that the former subject of his mirth
had grown 10 be verify an Eden in
beauty.
Here, during the late rebellion, the
brayest, the wisest and best met, to con-
cert measures for its overthrow. Here
the more brilliant and popular military
leaders that the war developed made
their debu. In the organization OF large
forces and i'm the accumulation Of war
material. Grant, sherman, Mcclellan,
Haileck, Fremont Logan, Pope, Foote,
and host OF other heroes might be
mentioned who made Cairo their mill
tary Headquarters. From this point
nearly every important expedition In the
Mississippi valley was fitted out. Strong
~ fortified, 1t remained military camp
until the close OF the war. Its popula-
dion varied during these terrible wears
from twenty to tifty thousand, TO say
nothing the army and navy.
But Oil these scenes have passed away
under the benign race OF peace; manu-
features and commerce are increasing in
prosperity, and this city Is extending its
influence in developing the resources of
the Mississippi Valley, for the products
Of which II Is growing to be the great
entrepot. Being the halfway house on
the great railway and water lines from
the lakes of the North 10 the Gulf of the
south, and possessing ample room for
expansion, IL must become the greatest
commercial point in the West. Sur
rounded by "a country richer in mineral
resources than any other i'm the Union.
II must soon become the metropolis OF
the manufacturing interests In the West
AS railroad city, from It's very location.
u Is sure To prove the greatest centre la
the Union New roads are being built,
new lines are being projected, all To radi
ate from this cnmmnn centra Amin